First, a huge thank you to everyone who has already supported Surfing in Heaven. Your support and enthusiasm for my story have been truly inspiring.

If you’ve had the opportunity to delve into the pages of Surfing in Heaven, I’d be honored to hear your thoughts. Your reviews are pivotal in connecting this story with a wider audience.

Progress and The Snowball

We are at a critical point in the journey of Surfing in Heaven. Since our amazing book launch event on January 11^th, we have sold 183 books. That makes me happy, and I know Mount Hermon will be too! ☺

But here’s the reality: We’ve built a decent sized snowball to start, but now we need to keep it rolling (and growing!). There are 29 million surfers worldwide. That’s a humongous snowball. This is where most books fade (or melt) into obscurity. 3,000 new books are released on Amazon every month! To keep Surfing in Heaven from getting lost in the heat of new releases, it must have more book reviews. They are critical to keep our snowball rolling.

Why Reviews Matter

Reviews are the most effective way for new readers to discover Surfing in Heaven, and they’re one of the most impactful ways to support indie authors like me. They are a beacon for new readers. Here are just a few ways book reviews can illuminate the future of this book:

• Books with at least 50 reviews on Amazon see a significant increase in visibility due to Amazon’s algorithm favoring frequently reviewed books.
• Every additional Amazon review increases sales by 4.6% on average. (Northwestern University, 2021).
• Books with over 100 reviews can see up to a 200% increase in sales compared to books with fewer than 10 reviews. (K-lytics, 2022)
• Amazon shows books in “Customers Also Bought” sections more frequently once they hit 25+ reviews.

The more reviews Surfing in Heaven gets, the more Amazon and other platforms will recommend it to new readers—ultimately leading to more sales!

Call To Action: Leave a Book Review in “5 minutes”

Amazon doesn’t require a minimum word count, so just a few sentences is totally fine. Short, concise reviews are just as valuable as longer ones.

Here’s how you can leave a review in 5 minutes (see below):

1. Go to the Amazon or Goodreads page for Surfing in Heaven.
2. Click on “Rate this book” (on Goodreads) or “Write a customer review” (on Amazon — scroll down).
3. Select the number of stars you want to give it (be honest!).
4. Write a quick review in the text box.
5. Click “Post” to submit your review.

Not sure what to say? Here are a few simple prompts to help:

• What did you enjoy most about Surfing in Heaven?
• Did any particular story or chapter resonate with you? Why?
• How did the book make you feel while reading it?
• Would you recommend Surfing in Heaven to a friend?
• What was one key takeaway or insight you gained from the book?
• Did the book inspire you to think differently about surfing, life, or faith?

If you leave a review on Goodreads or Amazon, feel free to copy and paste it onto the other too—it really helps spread the word!

✨ Bonus: Get a Free Bookmark!✨
I will mail you a custom Surfing in Heaven bookmark (available only at my launch) to the next 25 people who leave a review.
Simply reply to this blog with your mailing address.

In the meantime, my marketing activities are continuing.
Here are some new materials I am using to help get the word out:

• 1-page PDF of my Bio
• 2-minute video reviewing the Jan 11^th book launch
• 50-second video with surfing footage for an overview of the book

Hang Ten!

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