I'm sure you've heard the advice to make sure you get as many reviews as you possibly can, especially on Amazon. You've probably also been told to “ask for a review”. You may even be following the playbook of giving away free copies of your book “in exchange for an honest review”. Sending out advance copies so that your advance readers can all post their reviews within the first 24 hours. All fine, right? Unfortunately, no. If you're following this strategy, you could come up against Amazon's TOS. Worst case, those lovely five-star reviews you worked so hard to get people to leave could simply be deleted in one go. Amazon requires reviewers to declare if they have been compensated for the review. This includes receiving the book for free (i.e, “a free product”). When you-the-author use the words “in exchange for an honest review” you're indicating to the reviewer that this is indeed an exchange and that there is an expectation of a review. Thus, they have...

When not writing, Maryann likes to play on stage.  Here she is as Mildred in "Squabbles." Today we welcome one of our own for an interview. Maryann Miller has a new book out from Five Star Cengage/Gale, the second in her police procedural series set in Dallas, Texas. Stalking Season was r eleased December 19th, 2012. The underlying ground in the series explores issues involving racism, rooted in the partnership between the two female police detectives, one white and one black. Here’s a brief synopsis: In this second book of  The Seasons series, homicide detective, Sarah Kingsly, and her partner, Angel Johnson, are pitted against an uncanny killer while still struggling to feel like real partners. Neither wanted the pairing in the first place, and it isn't getting any better. A young girl is killed in a cheap motel, and when her identity is discovered, an influential Dallas businessman brings the heat down on the department. It isn't easy to work un...