This BookTok Creator Wants $1,000 to REVIEW Your Book?! | PB Squamer Controversy

WEBVTT
00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:07.759
And then he says he then will require additional$800 to post an actual review of said book.
00:00:07.919 --> 00:00:10.480
Sorry, so$1,000 to listen to it.
00:00:10.800 --> 00:00:11.759
$1,000 total.
00:00:12.080 --> 00:00:14.000
Definitely got ruffled some feathers.
00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:15.119
He got reamed out.
00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:17.039
I think it's how he went about it.
00:00:17.120 --> 00:00:19.519
He definitely went about it so wrong.
00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:20.559
What?
00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:23.519
Wild.
00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:24.160
That's wild.
00:00:24.399 --> 00:00:24.960
That is wild.
00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:27.839
In my head, this shouldn't even be happening.
00:00:36.159 --> 00:00:40.240
Welcome back to Plot Twist Please, where we sip, flip, and spill the tea on Books and Booze.
00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:40.799
I'm Cass.
00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:42.159
I'm Susanna and I'm Beck.
00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:54.159
In today's episode, we are diving into the drama of one specific content creator having the audacity to ask for a thousand dollars from indie authors to read their book and post about it.
00:00:54.240 --> 00:00:55.840
But he's not actually reading it.
00:00:56.000 --> 00:01:00.240
He just wants to listen to the audiobook and then review it.
00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:01.439
What?
00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:04.400
Wild.
00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:05.200
That's wild.
00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:05.840
That is wild.
00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:06.159
Yeah.
00:01:06.319 --> 00:01:10.000
Alright, so a drink of the episode is sparkling ice.
00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:12.159
These are great.
00:01:12.239 --> 00:01:17.680
You can get them from Costco, and I love them because my grandparents used to have these all the time, so it's nostalgic.
00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:19.599
They are they've been around a while.
00:01:19.760 --> 00:01:20.079
Yeah.
00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:21.359
My papa used to love them.
00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:22.560
Which one are you drinking?
00:01:22.799 --> 00:01:25.040
I'm drinking a black raspberry.
00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:27.120
Black cherry.
00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:29.280
I'm doing coconut pineapple.
00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:30.480
So good.
00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:31.040
So gross.
00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:31.920
You don't like coconut?
00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:32.480
I love coconut.
00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:33.359
No, I bought those.
00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:38.640
I like it came in the pack that we got, and I was like, Nate, you can drink all those, and I will have the rest.
00:01:39.120 --> 00:01:41.920
When coconut water was like at the height.
00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:45.519
I kept trying it because I was like, I was at like the height of like their healthiness too.
00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:48.959
And I kept trying it being like, yeah, straight coconut water.
00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:49.760
No boiling.
00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:51.359
Oh my god, but some people love it.
00:01:51.519 --> 00:01:51.840
I know.
00:01:52.079 --> 00:01:56.159
Going off of that, Nate and I ran out of the perfect match seasons to watch.
00:01:56.400 --> 00:02:00.959
We also stopped watching Love is Blind because we're like, we're done with all those seasons too.
00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:03.359
And we love a good reality TV show when we're eating.
00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:07.359
And Nate is one of the few guys that will actually like want to watch those things.
00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:09.680
We were watching Too Hot to Handle.
00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:11.039
And I was like, okay, let's feel this.
00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:14.319
So it's not really that much different than Perfect Match, still provocative.
00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:14.639
Yeah.
00:02:14.719 --> 00:02:15.199
In its own way.
00:02:15.520 --> 00:02:15.840
Provocative.
00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:16.639
It's very provocative.
00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:24.879
But we were watching, I think, the last season of it, and they got a winning prize of$250,000.
00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:29.280
And the one contestant was like, I could buy a lot of coconut water with that.
00:02:29.840 --> 00:02:35.199
And then the the um I wanna or whatever the person, the little robot likes the thingy?
00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:37.439
Yeah, they're like, Dream big.
00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:40.960
And I'm like, I would not buy that much coconut water.
00:02:41.039 --> 00:02:41.439
That's insane.
00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:42.560
That's a lot of coconut water.
00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:45.680
My new obsession is Diet Coke with Malibu rum.
00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:47.759
I have heard that that's very good.
00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:50.719
It's so good, but it's just like the right amount of coconut.
00:02:50.800 --> 00:02:50.960
Yeah.
00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:52.479
Where it's not super overpowering.
00:02:52.960 --> 00:02:53.759
I'm gonna have to try that.
00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:54.960
Yeah, highly recommend.
00:02:55.199 --> 00:02:59.120
But before we get into this particular Audacity, what is everyone reading?
00:02:59.199 --> 00:03:00.319
I think we're all reading the same.
00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:00.960
I think so.
00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:03.919
Yeah, our book club book of the second half.
00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:06.719
For me, kill for you by Steve Kavanaugh.
00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:07.919
Steve Kavanaugh.
00:03:08.080 --> 00:03:08.960
How far are you guys in?
00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:10.400
I am, let me see.
00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:11.120
Let me check.
00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:13.199
I'm not really enjoying it that much if I'm honest.
00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:13.759
31%.
00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:15.120
I replied to a comment about that.
00:03:15.199 --> 00:03:16.479
That was like I want to do anything.
00:03:16.639 --> 00:03:17.120
I don't hate it.
00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:18.879
The the book club picks for this month.
00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:20.879
Have just I have not hating it.
00:03:20.960 --> 00:03:22.159
I'm enjoying it.
00:03:22.400 --> 00:03:23.520
Yeah, I'm not hating it.
00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:25.439
It's okay to the most part.
00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:28.719
Like I'm I'm enjoying it in the fact that I'm not hating it.
00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:29.520
Okay.
00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:31.919
I like Riley Sager's book.
00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:34.240
We should have done the so much better.
00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:36.240
I'm really loving the paranormal thrillers.
00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:43.759
Um, if you aren't in our Fable Club chat, it is private, but you can like send us an email, apply, I guess, for the Fable Book Club.
00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:44.800
Like, tell us a little bit about yourself.
00:03:45.199 --> 00:03:47.199
Because we do like that close-knit community.
00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:47.599
You're 50?
00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:49.039
Dang, that was fast.
00:03:49.120 --> 00:03:50.080
You just finished like three books here.
00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:53.599
Well, not well over the like between like Thursday and Friday.
00:03:53.840 --> 00:03:54.560
You just did your reviews.
00:03:54.639 --> 00:03:55.840
Like I didn't, I just did my reviews.
00:03:55.919 --> 00:03:56.080
Yeah.
00:03:56.240 --> 00:03:57.199
I was like, oh, I was wondering.
00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:03.039
I was like, anyway, I didn't even realize because I think like depending on how you finish a book, sometimes it pops up with the review, sometimes it doesn't.
00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:03.280
Oh.
00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:04.400
It depends on how you do it.
00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:14.960
Because I think if you mark it red and then say you've finished it, but I didn't like I'd go to the next day being like, I finished it the day before, so I'd mark it, like I'd mark it finished, and it doesn't come up with the Oh.
00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:17.839
Going back to what I was saying, the Fable Book Club.
00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:24.560
Um, if you're not a part of that, I posted last night from when we're filming this, it would be August 16th, uh, when this happened.
00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:29.759
But Once Upon a Broken Heart, the pink book back there flew off my shelf and leaning on the floor.
00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:30.560
And it's pink.
00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:31.759
It is pink.
00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:33.120
That looks are you colorblind?
00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:33.920
No, that looks bad.
00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:35.680
I would think you might be colorblind.
00:04:35.839 --> 00:04:36.639
That's a that's a movie.
00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:38.560
No, it's it's like a well, a movie color.
00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:39.439
It's like rosy brown.
00:04:39.600 --> 00:04:41.600
Yeah, it's not like pink pink, but it is pink-ish.
00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:44.240
Yeah, like a pinky-orangey brown.
00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:45.600
It's not important for the story.
00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:46.399
It is important.
00:04:46.639 --> 00:04:47.759
Like a taupe.
00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:53.120
Anyway, I've been reading so many paranormal books that it's happening to me.
00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:59.920
Well, so we had a comment today that someone had recommended The Silent Patient and any book by Riley uh Sagar.
00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:01.920
And then Incidents Around the House.
00:05:02.079 --> 00:05:02.240
Yes.
00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:06.639
And I was like, Susie and I just did that one, and I was like, I also just did the silent patient.
00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:09.120
I was like, so like just finished those.
00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:09.759
Top thrillers.
00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:17.120
Nate finished Incidents in the House last night, and the night before he said, There's a scene, and you've read it, right?
00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:17.680
I haven't.
00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:18.639
The bathroom scene.
00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:25.120
Don't spoil anything perhaps, but he read the bathroom scene and he said that he was so scared that he didn't want to go to the bathroom.
00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:27.839
And like he's read Stephen King like he's very much into horror.
00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:36.240
And the fact that that scared him to the point where he wouldn't go to the bathroom is telling the whole time I'm reading it, being like, I wonder at what point Susie got scared.
00:05:36.560 --> 00:05:37.439
The first eight pages.
00:05:37.600 --> 00:05:38.000
Oh, okay.
00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:41.759
For me, it wasn't until like later until like things really started ramping up.
00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:44.240
Oh, as soon as she came out of the closet, I'm like, yep, okay, I'm scared.
00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:44.959
No, it wasn't.
00:05:45.040 --> 00:05:45.759
It wasn't until later.
00:05:45.920 --> 00:05:49.600
And then like I literally was like, and then so I'm lying there in bed.
00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:54.800
It's like 11:30, 12 o'clock at night, and I don't have too much of the book left.
00:05:54.959 --> 00:06:00.959
Like, I want to say like a hundred pages, but I'm lying there just like, what is that?
00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:01.839
What is that?
00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:03.680
Is that someone just walking?
00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:04.240
What is that?
00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:05.360
Was that a door?
00:06:05.920 --> 00:06:08.639
And I don't usually get like super like freaked out.
00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:12.720
And then I was like, Well, I'm not going to sleep, so I might as well just finish the book.
00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:13.040
Okay.
00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:15.600
So counterproductive there.
00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:18.639
I was slept over at my mom's house a few days ago.
00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:21.199
And ever since reading that book, I've been scared of the dark.
00:06:21.600 --> 00:06:25.920
Like any sort of lump or like shadow or whatever freaks me out.
00:06:26.079 --> 00:06:29.279
And I was like, give me my flashlight and like look around the room.
00:06:29.439 --> 00:06:36.480
And at the end of the bed on this like shelf, she had like these two real life looking pig figurines.
00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:39.120
And the eyes were just staring into me.
00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:42.639
It was like, oh, and I she has no air conditioning in her house.
00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:43.759
I had to bring my own fan.
00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:44.720
Even that wasn't good.
00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:47.600
But I have this huge duvet like right up here.
00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:50.079
They can't get me if they can't see me.
00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:51.279
Hilarious.
00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:52.879
Anyway, that's what we're reading.
00:06:52.959 --> 00:06:53.199
Yeah.
00:06:54.319 --> 00:06:55.759
I think we're all on a thriller kick right now.
00:06:56.000 --> 00:06:56.879
Maybe me and Susie.
00:06:57.040 --> 00:06:57.759
Paranormal thrillers.
00:06:57.920 --> 00:07:01.120
I mean, I've I've already read two just in the last week, so I'm excited about it.
00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:02.079
I want to read that one next.
00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:02.959
And the presentation.
00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:07.839
Oh, but the person who commented actually had recommended the audiobook for instance around the house.
00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:08.160
No.
00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:10.160
Once I'm feeling less creeped out.
00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:11.040
Maybe.
00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:12.319
And then there's the movie.
00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:16.319
So the unknown audiobook is what I did, and that was pretty good.
00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:21.439
It wasn't like to the point where it was super creepy, but there was points where like they were doing the voice for the spirit.
00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:21.759
Yeah.
00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:23.040
And it was very scary.
00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:24.160
I loved that book.
00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:24.639
Yeah.
00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:25.279
So good.
00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:26.319
All right.
00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:27.600
Shall we?
00:07:27.839 --> 00:07:28.800
We shall.
00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:31.680
So if you missed the drama, here's what happened.
00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:35.279
Content creator PB, I think it's Squamer is how he did it.
00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:35.759
Squama?
00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:36.319
Squamer.
00:07:36.480 --> 00:07:36.879
Squammer.
00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:41.759
I think it's Squamer because I I went back and watched one of his like reels, and I think he said Squamer.
00:07:41.839 --> 00:07:42.720
If I'm wrong, whatever.
00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:48.879
Put up a reel, basically claiming that he's had indie authors reach out to him or wanting him to review their books for him.
00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:51.040
So he's like, okay, I'm going to start doing it.
00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:52.160
I'll actually start doing it.
00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:58.000
But I'm going to require a$200 deposit just for me to read your book, just for me to have a copy of it.
00:07:58.240 --> 00:07:59.120
Ari, that's stupid.
00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:01.600
Then he goes to say, but I'm not going to actually read it.
00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:08.319
So I'm going to need you to give me the audiobook for it because my ADHD is too bad and I can't actually sit down and physically read a book.
00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:13.360
So I'm going to need the audiobook, which if you're an indie author, you probably don't have an audiobook for your book yet.
00:08:13.920 --> 00:08:16.800
You probably would be sitting there just reading your own book on voice notes.
00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:18.160
Yeah, literally.
00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:19.199
Ah, so painful.
00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:26.639
And then he says he then will require additional$800 to post an actual review of said book.
00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:29.439
Sorry, so$1,000 to listen to it.
00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:30.720
$1,000 total.
00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:33.279
So$200 deposit just for him to read it.
00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:33.759
Oh, okay.
00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:36.720
And then if you want him to actually post a review,$800.
00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:38.720
How many followers does he have?
00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:39.440
We'll get into that.
00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:42.000
Because I I get into who he is and what he does.
00:08:42.240 --> 00:08:42.879
Oh, I see it.
00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:43.200
Okay.
00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:43.519
Yes.
00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:47.279
Then he says if he hates the book, he's not gonna lie about it.
00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:50.559
And he's gonna make a video with his honest opinion of this book.
00:08:50.799 --> 00:08:51.840
Which we do want.
00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:56.559
But if you're paying someone a thousand dollars for them to roast your book, right.
00:08:56.720 --> 00:08:57.039
Whew.
00:08:57.360 --> 00:08:58.399
I don't know how I feel about that.
00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:01.840
Yeah, I'm just gonna I'm gonna pay a thousand dollars to get my own feelings hurt.
00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:03.200
I wouldn't pay at all.
00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:06.480
And possibly, you know, put a little blip in my career.
00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:06.879
Right.
00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:08.320
I would send them a free book.
00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:09.279
And you know what?
00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:10.639
If they want to read it, they can read it.
00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:10.879
Yep.
00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:12.799
If they want to post a review, they can post a review.
00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:23.039
But get like these indie authors don't have a thousand dollars just to give to one influencer who could potentially ruin their influencer who have never even heard about until now.
00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:23.840
Yeah, exactly.
00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:43.679
So, on top of this, prior to this, he also has faced major backlash for signing copies of Novessa Allen's Lights Out at reader events while cosplaying or acting as the um MMC Josh, claiming that fans, quote unquote, would come up to him asking for his autograph.
00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:44.639
That did not happen.
00:09:44.799 --> 00:09:46.480
I'll pay a thousand dollars to him.
00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:50.879
So he I guess online he would cosplay as Josh.
00:09:50.960 --> 00:09:51.120
Yeah.
00:09:57.519 --> 00:10:04.080
So Novessa Allen actually publicly asked him to stop stating that he has no affiliation with him.
00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:04.559
Yep.
00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:11.519
He eventually ended up posting to his socials a video explaining his side and captioned it.
00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:14.480
Does he sign them as Josh or as like PBS?
00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:16.320
I think it's as P Squammer or whatever.
00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:16.720
I don't know.
00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:18.879
I didn't even looked that up.
00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:21.039
Oh no, we're gonna get roasted.
00:10:21.120 --> 00:10:22.320
We're not doing our research.
00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:23.039
Oh no.
00:10:23.360 --> 00:10:26.159
Five years from now, opening up your lights out being like, oh, I'm gonna read this.
00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:28.080
Who the heck is PB Squammer?
00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:28.320
Yeah.
00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:29.279
Squeamer, whatever.
00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:31.600
We'll have the podcast police in our comments.
00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:33.679
If I'm saying it, I'm gonna be a squeamer.
00:10:34.080 --> 00:10:35.279
So basically you posted this.
00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:37.360
We should just call him that anyway, knowing that.
00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:37.840
Yeah.
00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:38.240
Yeah.
00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:39.840
Uh squeamer.
00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:42.480
He posted a video and captioned it.
00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:43.840
It was an apology video.
00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:44.559
Sure it was.
00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:45.360
Captioned it.
00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:48.320
I signed a solid 10 more after I made this video.
00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:49.120
Dot dot dot.
00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:49.360
My bad.
00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:49.840
Completely.
00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:51.279
We can play that here.
00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:53.360
This is a video for Novessa Allen.
00:10:53.759 --> 00:11:01.919
Um I listen, I know we message sometimes, and we I I consider us acquaintances, even though we've never met in person, but we've DM'd enough.
00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:12.159
Um I have signed in the last probably two weeks, I would say 200 to 300 copies of Lights Out in some way.
00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:15.039
Either the special edition or the regular edition, whatever.
00:11:15.360 --> 00:11:17.039
And I'm sorry.
00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:22.480
Part of me, like actually not even part of me, a lot of me feels bad because I didn't do anything for this book.
00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:28.159
You you it is your brain child, it is your mind, it is your amazing creation.
00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:35.279
But I did a bunch of the lights out character, and I'm a TikTok dude, so a lot of people think I'm Josh.
00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:37.279
And so they bring me lights out copies.
00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:48.399
And I hope that you're taking that as, oh great, people are buying my book, and not this dude is trying to take credit for something he had nothing to do with because that's not my goal, and I have made that clear to everybody that makes me sign it.
00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:49.360
Not makes me.
00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:50.080
I love signing things.
00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:54.559
It's weird to me that I sign things, but still, hope that's okay.
00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:56.399
It's a bit ridiculous.
00:11:56.799 --> 00:11:57.200
Wow.
00:11:57.360 --> 00:11:57.519
Okay.
00:11:57.840 --> 00:12:02.720
In the video, he basically says that he has chatted with Novessa Allen like one-on-one.
00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:06.559
I don't know if she's reached out to him because he was cosplaying Josh and whatever.
00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:15.759
Before we break this down and get into the drama and just overall topic, let's get into a bit of who he actually is and what his content consists of.
00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:22.960
So he primarily started out doing bike talk, so basically thirstrapping uh women wearing a helmet on a motorcycle.
00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:25.759
The MC book club book talk lovers.
00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:26.320
Yeah.
00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:26.879
Okay.
00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:30.399
Um, then he branched out into bookish commentary and comedy.
00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:48.960
So he's done book reviews, also has general personality and comedy content, and he also co-hosts a podcast called The Smash Cast with his co-host Steven Walker, where they talk about books, they interview authors like Lexi Black, uh Kaylee Smith, who wrote Phantasma, has apparently been on there, and Kate Crewe, as well as other creators.
00:12:49.200 --> 00:12:57.919
He currently has 331,000 followers on Instagram, 7,000 subscribers on YouTube, and 569.2,000 on TikTok.
00:12:58.080 --> 00:12:59.279
So he has a pretty big reach.
00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:08.240
I was gonna say Instagram reach is pretty like what he's asking for in terms of like an ad is actually pretty low considering his follower count.
00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:08.480
Right.
00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:11.759
So like if he was doing any other brand deals, like I would expect him to ask for more money.
00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:15.200
But I think reviews and ads are very different.
00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:16.320
And we'll get into that later.
00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:16.720
Agreed.
00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:29.039
When I was writing down all the information I wanted to talk to about today, I was going through his page to see, and he had actually recently posted a updated video in response to the backlash he got from his thousand dollar request video.
00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:31.840
It was like an apology video, so we can play that as well.
00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:33.360
So I messed up.
00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:38.799
A couple days ago, I posted a video saying I wanted to work with small authors on doing a review for their books for a fee.
00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:45.519
I've gotten like really overwhelmed lately with the amount of emails, DMs, and books being sent to me in my P.O.
00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:49.360
box asking for content, asking for shout-outs, asking for something.
00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:56.559
And I know a lot of other bookish content creators get paid to make content for authors, so I said, okay, let's let's open up an avenue to do that.
00:13:56.720 --> 00:14:03.039
And I didn't take two seconds to plan or think about how it was gonna be done, so I just posted that and I was like, well, let's see what people think.
00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:05.600
Yeah, and the answer was uh people really hated that.
00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:09.279
The video came off entitled and a bunch of other things, which is not my intention.
00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:11.200
I come on here and I try to be as honest as possible.
00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:13.519
I have no PR training and I'm just trying to make content.
00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:20.080
It is never my intention to take advantage of an author who is struggling to get out or figure things out or anything like that.
00:14:20.320 --> 00:14:22.320
He definitely got ruffled some feathers.
00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:23.440
He got reamed up.
00:14:23.759 --> 00:14:25.360
I think it's how he went about it.
00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:27.840
He definitely went about it so wrong.
00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:28.320
Yeah.
00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:38.080
I don't think it's the the issue in hand at like itself, because like you said, like you don't think it's necessarily like an overreach for the cost.
00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:38.480
No.
00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:40.320
But I think yeah, it's it's how he did it.
00:14:40.639 --> 00:14:45.360
I also think it's what he said for indie authors, it's a very unrealistic ask.
00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:45.919
It is, yeah.
00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:53.919
Because I think the angle we should go about for this is not attacking him personally.
00:14:54.080 --> 00:15:00.240
Content creators, they need to take a step back and remember why we started reading in the first place, and it was for the enjoyment of reading.
00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:04.399
If this all fell apart and book talk just crumbled, how many people would actually do that?
00:15:04.559 --> 00:15:07.919
How many people would actually continue reading just for the joy of reading?
00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:10.480
Or are they doing it specifically for money?
00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:15.440
I would like to think a majority of people in this community would still read, but I would.
00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:15.840
Yeah.
00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:19.120
I know that's it's been my life for my life.
00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:19.919
Same.
00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:26.080
So there's nothing inherently wrong with monetizing as a content creator if you have a major platform, especially.
00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:34.080
Um, but content creators absolutely deserve to be paid for their time, reach production, and editing, but a review is a little bit different than like, say, like an ad.
00:15:34.159 --> 00:15:34.799
You know what I mean?
00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:44.000
Like, yeah, if an indie author is paying a creator specifically to read and review their book, there's an obvious question about whether that review can still be considered like an independent review.
00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:47.919
I will say I would say we're struggling.
00:15:48.159 --> 00:15:58.559
I will say that I think people would argue that, you know, the book is the product and it's no different than an actual, like, let's say someone is selling this drink.
00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:02.480
It's no different than that because it's still a product and you're still promoting something.
00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:05.679
This drink could be absolutely terrible, but the influencer could say it's great.
00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:08.639
So authenticity comes into question no matter what you're promoting.
00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:09.120
Yes.
00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:14.159
I just think it's taking advantage of indie authors, and also because the reading space, it's different.
00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:16.960
And I don't know how to describe that as different, but it is different.
00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:17.600
It is different.
00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:21.759
Like technically, as an indie author, you're a tiny, small business.
00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:22.159
Yeah.
00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:29.840
You're starting out at the bottom, you're generally self-published, so funds are not in exuberant amounts.
00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:32.879
Well, I think he just thinks that he's like bigger than he is.
00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:38.480
Well, he also said in his original video that he he's like, I need to make more money, so this is how I'm gonna do it.
00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:40.240
Like the way his approach was so bad.
00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:41.279
Like his original video?
00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:42.000
His original video.
00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:43.120
Is that still up or not?
00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:43.840
No, they took it down.
00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:44.480
Oh, dang it.
00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:45.039
Yeah, dang it.
00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:48.000
It is screen recordings of partials of the clip.
00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:48.399
Yeah.
00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:53.759
Okay, every smaller author keeps asking me to read their books and make content about them.
00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:55.279
So I'm gonna start offering it.
00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:58.240
It's going to be a$200 deposit for me to listen to the book.
00:16:58.320 --> 00:16:59.279
It has to be an audiobook.
00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:00.799
I'm sorry, I can't do physical books.
00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:02.799
I physically cannot sit down and read them.
00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:05.039
My ADHD is too terrible and I can't offer it.
00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:10.559
So a$200 deposit to listen to the book, and then an extra$800 to post a video about it.
00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:15.200
And the reason I'm asking for the deposit is if I hate your book, I'm not gonna lie.
00:17:15.359 --> 00:17:18.000
I'm gonna make a video with my honest opinion of the book.
00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:25.440
So I will make the video, I will send it to the author and be like, hey, this is the video I made, I can post it, or I can not post it.
00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.720
I'm not gonna make another one.
00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:31.119
But I avoided doing this for so long because I didn't want to upset people, but I'm poor.
00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:35.119
I I need the money, I there's a lot of things I want to invest back into my content.
00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:36.720
I want to move out of this house.
00:17:36.880 --> 00:17:39.839
So I was trying to avoid this for a long time, but honestly, I'm kind of hurting.
00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:43.279
And right now, I there's like no books that I'm dying to read at the moment.
00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:48.240
It'll be the same video posted on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook threads, YouTube, and Snapchat.
00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:50.000
It'll be under three minutes long.
00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:55.039
You might get more content out of it if I love the book, but or if the book's really crazy or anything like that.
00:17:55.279 --> 00:18:03.279
But guaranteed one of the same thing posted across all platforms, and I average around 40,000 views per video spread out across all platforms.
00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:06.559
I'll maybe I'll get more, depending on good the book is, depending on how good the video does.
00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:06.960
I don't know.
00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:08.640
But that's what I'm offering.
00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:10.480
I hate when they do that.
00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:12.640
Guys, did you just spell?
00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:14.480
It's stripping.
00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:15.519
It went up my nose.
00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:19.279
You can just see it like a line.
00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:22.799
It's all over the line.
00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:24.480
Oh my gosh.
00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:26.640
I hate today.
00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:27.759
We're fired.
00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:29.759
It went right up my nose.
00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:42.319
Okay, so a$200 upfront fee can be very problematic, in my opinion, when the author is essentially paying for access to the creator's like reach, like their platform, rather than simply paying for a defined service.
00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:42.720
Yep.
00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:56.240
Then there's the audiobook requirement, which I briefly said, like if the creator is saying they can't physically read the book, therefore requiring the author to provide an audiobook, plus additional payment, that raises an even bigger question.
00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:59.519
Because what exactly is the author paying for?
00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:04.640
Not to mention, like I said, most indie authors don't have audiobooks.
00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:09.119
That requires them to pay like voice actors and narrators.
00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:11.680
And or again, you take the time and you just sit there and you greet it.
00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:12.480
Read it yourself.
00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:13.759
Yeah, the whole thing.
00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:15.440
Like get a horrible review.
00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:17.759
And then you get a horrible review based on that.
00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:19.440
Like hated the narrator.
00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:21.839
This book was horrible to listen to.
00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:25.839
Just someone narrating their own book and then I'm hurting my feelings two times.
00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:26.400
Right?
00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:29.039
Uh you didn't like my story and you don't like my voice.
00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:30.079
That sucks.
00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:31.359
So it's all around.
00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:32.079
I would just give up.
00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:38.880
To answer your question, just briefly, I think you said it earlier, like they're paying for access to that creator's audience, and then that's basically it.
00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:40.400
That's what all the clause is.
00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:45.440
But you might not get a positive outcome from that reaction.
00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:46.400
Exactly.
00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:47.839
So it's a big risk.
00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:48.319
Yeah.
00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:57.039
Most importantly, the disclosure issues matter because if a review is paid for, viewers should know that before treating the creator's opinion as an organic recommendation.
00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:07.119
Someone reading a review on their own time, not being paid, you're probably going to get a more genuine um review of that book because nobody's paying you.
00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:10.400
If you read it and you hated it, you can talk about it and that's fine.
00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:13.039
Or if you loved it, it's going to be more genuine.
00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:21.279
Even um people who will do like, oh, these are my favorite Amazon products, or they'll show something on their story, and I'm not going to name names here, but you guys will know who I'm talking about.
00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:27.200
These particular cucumber dill pickle chips, and they're like, This is my favorite from Amazon.
00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:29.359
I go to Amazon$30 per bag.
00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:32.559
I message them and they're like, oh yeah, they're actually$7 from Costco.
00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:34.240
Okay, so why are you Amazon liking them?
00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:35.759
You say you bought them from Costco.
00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:38.720
Because they'll make money off of it if they have the Amazon storefront.
00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:39.039
Yeah.
00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:39.440
Yeah.
00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.319
It's so annoying.
00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:42.160
That's a crazy price difference.
00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:42.720
I know.
00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:46.319
I'm not paying$30 for a snack that's gonna be gone in one sitting.
00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:46.720
Yeah.
00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:55.759
A distinction I think that is important for this specific topic is creators deserve to be compensated and authors should pay for reviews.
00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:57.599
They're not necessarily the same argument.
00:20:57.759 --> 00:21:00.480
A creator can charge for like promotional stuff.
00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:03.599
Like you've had sponsorships before, Susie, in your channels.
00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:05.119
Those are legit.
00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:06.640
Those are big companies.
00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:10.319
They know you have a reach, so they're gonna pay you for your time.
00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:10.799
Yeah.
00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:17.839
The only difference, like yeah, the if you're a content creator, I'd say the best thing that you can do if you're gonna get sponsorships is to vet them yourself.
00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:22.559
And if they're products that you actually love and will use, that's how I manage my sponsorships.
00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:24.000
Like I get requests all the time.
00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:25.680
BetterHelp is awful.
00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:29.200
They've reached out a few times, and I'm like, no, you're awful.
00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:30.160
And I don't tell them that.
00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:32.079
I tell them that straight through their face.
00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:37.839
And I think that's how we well, I know that's how we would be too, is we're not gonna promote something that we don't use.
00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:39.759
That would be so hypocritical of me.
00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:41.279
Exactly.
00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:44.240
Zach's heard BetterHelp on a lot of the podcasts he listens to.
00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.359
Oh my gosh, yes.
00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:49.519
And I'm pretty sure that was one of the sites he had recommended to his mom because of that.
00:21:49.759 --> 00:21:56.240
Kind of goes to show like Zach is very specific on like what podcasts he like he listens to and like that he enjoys.
00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:58.480
Um, he always has opinions on ours.
00:21:58.640 --> 00:21:59.279
Hi, Zach.
00:22:01.359 --> 00:22:11.200
Um, but you know, like so you're listening to these people, you do have like that parasocial relationship with them, and I think you're like, hey, if they're recommending it, there's a reason for it.
00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:11.440
Yeah.
00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:11.680
Right.
00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:11.920
Yeah.
00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:16.079
And so I think he's like, well, I've heard it on all these podcasts, like it must be decent.
00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:21.119
No, it's just that they're the highest paying therapy service for creators.
00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:21.599
Yeah.
00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:29.440
So I think definitely content creators should be compensated for the work they put in because there's a lot that goes into making these videos.
00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:29.839
Yeah.
00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:30.640
A lot.
00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:32.400
Behind the scenes, too, right?
00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:38.720
So promotional content, sponsored posts, um, interviews, author features, promotional packages, etc.
00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:40.799
Those are all like I think acceptable.
00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:45.200
Whereas a review, I feel like is a little bit more of a murky water territory.
00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:46.000
In my opinion.
00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:46.480
Yeah.
00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:50.480
I don't like I don't think I would ever charge someone for a book review.
00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:51.839
Good, bad, whatever.
00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:52.559
No, no.
00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:55.839
Um, we've had indie authors reach out to us, they've sent us their books.
00:22:55.920 --> 00:23:02.160
Like, we will read them, we don't charge, we don't charge, we will review them, send our honest feedback.
00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:07.440
Well, like I had to charge emailed Casey, like for her book, which I really enjoyed.
00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:18.880
But like I didn't want to leave a review before having a conversation with her, especially because I was like, I know this is like such a not a touchy subject, but I was like, I don't want to do you wrong as an indie author.
00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:20.400
Um, and I'm new to this as well.
00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:24.559
So it was like I wanted to reach out to her and be like, hey, this is these are kind of my thoughts.
00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:30.559
Like I loved the story, and I even kind of like I told her that I was like, after reading it, I don't think it's suited for you guys.
00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:33.039
And I told you guys like these are the reasons why.
00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:41.119
But yeah, like, and again, like that also is kind of the being subjective when it comes to reading, is that like I enjoyed the book, but I don't think you guys would enjoy the book.
00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:41.519
Exactly.
00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:41.680
Yeah.
00:23:41.839 --> 00:23:44.720
So my review would be very different from what your guys' review exactly.
00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:48.799
So and sponsorships, like, well, I can kind of give some insight into that.
00:23:48.880 --> 00:24:06.880
So when you are getting paid for a sponsorship, typically they will give you a uh like a content brief and they will give you specific points that you need to bring up in your integration that you're doing, and then even then they have like one to two rounds of edits and you have to get like the preview approved before it can actually go into your video.
00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:11.519
And sometimes they will even like you know, um, limit what your video can be about.
00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:24.319
But if you're asking money from someone for a review and you're saying, I'm gonna say whatever I want, like if you're going to charge people for something, or if someone's gonna pay you for something, typically for sponsorships, they will tell you what to say.
00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:29.599
Yeah, it's too big of a risk if they just pay you and you can be like, Yeah, this product sucks, but thanks for the money.
00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:30.319
A hundred percent.
00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:34.160
Like, so that's another reason why I would say these this is such a different thing.
00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:42.960
Yeah, because you might not like their book, but someone else might enjoy that, and you've just ruined that chance, their career, especially with that amount of like followers.
00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:44.480
Yeah, exactly.
00:24:45.359 --> 00:24:47.519
Discussion time, let's discuss.
00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:52.720
Should content creators be paid to review books or does payment inherently compromise the review?
00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:53.839
No one, yes.
00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:57.519
I think it does compromise it, at least to a point.
00:24:57.759 --> 00:25:05.119
Well, I think people will have a harder time believing your review, especially if it has like the paid promotion, which if you're getting paid for something, you have to.
00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:07.680
Yeah, people are not going to take your word for it.
00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:08.079
I don't know.
00:25:08.160 --> 00:25:09.759
I think it will turn people off of the book.
00:25:09.920 --> 00:25:14.559
I don't believe content creators should be paid to review books, just going back on what I said previously.
00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:17.200
That's a big reason why I think it shouldn't even be a thing.
00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:17.440
Yeah.
00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:20.799
At what point does a paid review become an advertisement?
00:25:21.039 --> 00:25:26.240
The minute you get paid for it, because again, they have to have the paid promotion checked off.
00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:26.799
Yeah.
00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:31.599
It's you can't post on Instagram or YouTube or TikTok without adhering to the guidelines.
00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:32.000
Yeah.
00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:32.319
Right.
00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:32.720
Yep.
00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:36.960
Is charging an indie author 200 plus for a review reasonable?
00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:41.680
If it was a product, like an actual, like like this drink, that shouldn't even be sitting there.
00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:42.319
Yes.
00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.519
For a review, no.
00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:45.519
Yeah, I was gonna say, I'm gonna say no.
00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:45.839
Yeah.
00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:49.839
Should the size of a creator's following affect what they can reasonably charge?
00:25:50.079 --> 00:25:50.319
Yeah.
00:25:50.559 --> 00:26:00.319
People would brands pay for the outreach, um, how many people you can reach, how many views your videos typically get, the engagement, that all goes into the the factor of what they're willing to pay you.
00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:00.640
Yeah.
00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:04.240
I would say$800 is pretty low for what he has.
00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:05.200
Well, it was a thousand.
00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:05.839
A thousand.
00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:12.319
But typically, like for the amount of Instagram followers he has, it would be like$3,000 per post.
00:26:12.559 --> 00:26:13.039
Per post.
00:26:13.119 --> 00:26:13.279
Yeah.
00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:18.960
Does an author paying for a review create an expectation of a positive review, even if the creator says it doesn't?
00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:19.440
Yes.
00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:19.920
Yes.
00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:21.119
I totally think so.
00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:23.680
Okay, so let's get into indie authors specifically.
00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:27.599
Do indie authors face an unfair amount of pressure to pay creators for exposure?
00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:30.079
I think there's some desperation there for sure.
00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:30.720
Yeah, for sure.
00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:34.720
Well, I mean, we're even seeing Nate kind of start to navigate content creation.
00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:45.920
Content creation and exposure and shout out, go subscribe to his channel because the YouTube monetization requirements went up, and in February it needs to be like 8,000 hours and 4,000 hours is already hard to hit.
00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:50.480
So go subscribe and go watch his videos and help him hit monetization before those requirements up.
00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:51.599
Okay, I'm done.
00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:54.480
Just being a supportive wife over here.
00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:54.880
Yes.
00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:55.519
Yeah.
00:26:56.240 --> 00:27:03.440
But yeah, like we're watching him try to get that exposure as someone who in the industry is completely unknown.
00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:03.839
Yeah.
00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:04.160
Yeah.
00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:08.720
I think if someone sends us a free copy of their book, that's payment enough in my eyes.
00:27:09.039 --> 00:27:10.880
Yeah, they're already losing out revenue on that.
00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:13.119
Yeah, like that's still coming out of their pocket.
00:27:13.359 --> 00:27:14.319
So shipping costs.
00:27:15.119 --> 00:27:15.759
Like exactly.
00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:20.559
And we've had authors send us three copies, one for each of us.
00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:21.039
Yeah.
00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:22.319
So like that's yeah.
00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:26.000
Is it ethical to charge indie authors significantly more than established publishers?
00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:26.400
No.
00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:26.640
No.
00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:26.960
Yeah.
00:27:27.119 --> 00:27:27.279
No.
00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:30.559
If anything, I would charge established publishers more if you were to do that.
00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:30.799
Yeah.
00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:32.319
Because they have more of a budget.
00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:33.039
Exactly.
00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:38.400
Would you guys personally trust a review if it was disclosed that the author paid for it?
00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:38.720
No.
00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:42.400
I like as soon as paid promotion comes up, I'm like, okay, they're getting paid to say whatever.
00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:42.640
Yeah.
00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:45.119
Because I like I know how sponsorships work.
00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:50.960
And again, like I'm a little bit more honest and I will only partner with brands that I really enjoy and use.
00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:55.519
And I have those long-lasting brand partnerships because of the fact that I continue to use their products.
00:27:55.680 --> 00:28:02.240
That being said, when I just look at influencer culture as a whole, whenever I see paid promotion, I inherently don't trust it.
00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:02.559
Yeah.
00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:08.400
Well, it is kind of hard because like those are your ethics, your morals of how you work with your sponsorships.
00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:08.640
Yeah.
00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:09.519
But not everyone's like that.
00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:13.200
And like I we kind of were saying, like with the better health, whatever, like yeah.
00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:21.680
Yeah, a lot of people just see the money in the dollar signs and they're like, yeah, I'm gonna sell my soul to promote this product that is absolutely horrible and has ruined lives.
00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:23.519
Yeah, like okay, so let's bring it into this.
00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:31.039
Does disclosure of a paid promotion solve the ethical problem, or does the conflict of interest still exist?
00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:32.559
I think it still exists to a degree.
00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:33.359
To a degree.
00:28:33.440 --> 00:28:42.319
I think it does solve the ethical problem, but at the same time, this whole being paid to do a review thing shouldn't even exist in the first place, in my opinion.
00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:44.240
And I I say you guys would say the same.
00:28:44.640 --> 00:28:49.440
So answering these questions are a little bit hard because, like, in my head, this shouldn't even be happening.
00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:57.839
But in the off chance that people think that this is acceptable, I would say the disclosure, like it's better than someone getting paid and not disclosing it.
00:28:57.920 --> 00:28:58.079
Yeah.
00:28:58.319 --> 00:29:01.440
So the ethical part of it is like, you know, good, taken care of.
00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:01.920
Yeah.
00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:05.839
But the conflict of interest does exist because, again, it's just weird.
00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:06.400
I don't know.
00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:06.960
Yeah.
00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:07.599
Okay.
00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:15.200
So if a creator receives a free book, audiobook, PR package, should that also be considered compensation that needs to be disclosed?
00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.480
Under guidelines, yes.
00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:21.119
It's still different because you're not being paid to review it or open it.
00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:25.200
You're more or less sent a free, like a PR package or a book.
00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:25.440
Yeah.
00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:32.559
And if that's the case, like you have to legally check off that paid partnership, even though you're not getting paid monetarily for it.
00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:32.880
Yeah.
00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:34.319
Paid in goods.
00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:35.680
Yeah, paid in goods.
00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:40.160
But in your description or in your comments, you can say, This was sent to me.
00:29:40.319 --> 00:29:41.920
I'm not actually this is my honest opinion.
00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:44.559
I'm not getting paid to do a review, but it was sent to me.
00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:47.519
And under because it was sent to me, I have to disclose that it's paid.
00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:47.920
Okay.
00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:58.000
But I feel like people don't or aren't willing to do that because they want people to think that they're getting paid monetarily, like other brands, for their reviews.
00:29:58.319 --> 00:29:59.440
Because that draws in other brands.
00:29:59.680 --> 00:29:59.839
Yeah.
00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:03.200
Because they think their opinion is actually worth something and other people are willing to pay for that.
00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:05.920
So it's like, how do you navigate that?
00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:06.240
Yeah.
00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:10.720
Should creators with large platforms have different ethical standards than smaller creators?
00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:12.400
No, it should be the same across the board.
00:30:13.039 --> 00:30:13.200
Yeah.
00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:13.440
Yeah.
00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:17.599
Because you're still reaching people, whether it's on a smaller scale or a very large uh scale.
00:30:17.920 --> 00:30:21.119
Your video could go viral and you reach more than the person that has a bigger amount of followers.
00:30:21.359 --> 00:30:22.559
Yeah, you just never know, right?
00:30:22.880 --> 00:30:28.079
If a creator can't actually read a book themselves, should they still offer paid book reviews?
00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:28.960
Wait, what?
00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:29.680
Exactly.
00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:31.039
The audiobook.
00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:31.680
Huh?
00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:33.279
Like him listening to the audiobook?
00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:33.680
Yeah.
00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:36.799
I mean, if we are still consuming the content.
00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:37.440
Still consuming the stuff.
00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:41.519
So incidents around the house is set up very weirdly.
00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:41.839
Yeah.
00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:42.160
Right.
00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:50.319
And I think it was like one of the first things that messaged you about it was that I'm like the setup took me how they wrote the book, the setup of how they they wrote it.
00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:50.640
Yeah.
00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:51.680
Is so strange.
00:30:51.839 --> 00:31:00.240
And even I I put it in my review that it at times it was a little confusing because the dialogue was separate, but there weren't quotations, and it was a little hard at times to follow that.
00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:00.640
Yeah.
00:31:01.200 --> 00:31:06.240
And it was hard at times, not too often, but there was a handful of times where it was like, who said that?
00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:06.480
Yeah.
00:31:06.799 --> 00:31:08.720
Just because of how it was set up.
00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:11.119
Still loved the story, thought it was great.
00:31:11.359 --> 00:31:18.240
But if you were to listen to the audiobook compared to reading the actual book, you wouldn't even know about that.
00:31:18.640 --> 00:31:18.880
Right.
00:31:19.119 --> 00:31:20.160
It would be a little confusing.
00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:20.559
Right.
00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:25.279
So like my review is as reading the book, the setup is strange, takes you a little bit to get used to.
00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:28.799
It does get a little confusing at times, but I still loved the story.
00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:30.720
I'm pretty sure I gave it like four and a half stars.
00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:31.680
Yeah, it was good.
00:31:31.839 --> 00:31:40.960
And like I said, like we had someone who commented that the audiobook for it is very well done, that they recommended it, would love to listen to it, but you don't get that.
00:31:41.119 --> 00:31:42.319
How did they build the story?
00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:45.839
How did you know you can't comment on the writing style?
00:31:46.240 --> 00:31:46.400
Right.
00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:48.400
If you haven't even physically read it.
00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:49.039
Yeah, true.
00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:49.519
Yeah.
00:31:49.680 --> 00:31:52.960
Like still stand behind like the audiobooks' reading discussion.
00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:55.200
If that's your only if that's your only way.
00:31:56.000 --> 00:32:05.599
However, like what Beth said, like that, I think that's a big part of a book review is the writing style, the the grammatical errors or you know, lack of errors, which I would hope so.
00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:08.640
Um all that goes into a book review.
00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:13.359
If you're getting paid to do it, you're a professional book reviewer, you have to take into account all of those things.
00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:15.359
Just listening to the audiobook is not enough.
00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:15.759
Right.
00:32:15.920 --> 00:32:18.960
Unless you're just doing a review for the audiobook itself.
00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:19.519
Yeah.
00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:20.000
Yes.
00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:20.559
I agree.
00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:21.519
That's a good way of handling it.
00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:31.039
So you'd almost like, and then, but then again, like if you're an indie author and you are having to pay for someone to do this or you're having to do it yourself, then you're being judged on two different sides of it.
00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:35.119
Couldn't be for your book as well as possibly for your like your own reading style.
00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:35.519
True.
00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:35.839
Yeah.
00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:36.640
So I don't know.
00:32:36.880 --> 00:32:38.480
The spicy questions.
00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:39.119
All right.
00:32:39.359 --> 00:32:44.480
Would you consider a paid five-star review dishonest if the creator genuinely liked the book?
00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:45.920
I wouldn't say dishonest.
00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:47.119
I would just be a little bit more skeptical.
00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:47.680
Hesitant.
00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:48.000
Yeah.
00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:51.119
Would you have actually given it five stars or is it more of a four-star?
00:32:51.359 --> 00:32:51.440
Yeah.
00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:52.319
And you just bumped it out.
00:32:53.039 --> 00:32:53.200
Right?
00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:53.519
Yeah.
00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:55.519
Four point I seven five.
00:32:56.400 --> 00:32:57.279
4.71.
00:32:59.359 --> 00:33:00.960
That made me spit up my drink.
00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:02.960
Join me over here.
00:33:03.359 --> 00:33:04.720
Thanks, sloppy mess.
00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:06.720
The two of you, I'd be I'd be laughing.
00:33:06.880 --> 00:33:08.400
It's do you want to do you want to know what happened?
00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:11.920
Is I squeezed it accidentally while I was drinking it.
00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:14.319
So then when I took my mouth off, it just went.
00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:18.240
So dumb.
00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:18.640
Okay.
00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:25.680
Would your opinion change if the creator guaranteed only that they would review the book, not that the review would be positive?
00:33:26.720 --> 00:33:26.960
No.
00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:31.119
No, because I feel like you're still getting paid way a little bit.
00:33:31.279 --> 00:33:31.599
Yeah.
00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:32.640
Yeah, I agree.
00:33:32.880 --> 00:33:36.880
What if the creator charges$200 but gives the book a one-star review?
00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:37.440
Is that fair?
00:33:37.599 --> 00:33:37.759
No.
00:33:37.920 --> 00:33:38.720
Don't ask for money.
00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:41.039
Don't ask for money and then also shit on the book.
00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:41.599
Yeah.
00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:45.279
Because then that makes you look bad too as a content creator.
00:33:45.519 --> 00:33:54.319
It's just taking advantage of, I don't care what the author is, if it's indie or you know, a traditional published author, it's taking advantage of that person's work in general.
00:33:54.480 --> 00:33:54.720
Yeah.
00:33:54.880 --> 00:33:55.279
I hate it.
00:33:55.599 --> 00:33:56.000
Don't do that.
00:33:56.160 --> 00:34:02.079
And then what if this content creator charges$200, say, for the review, and then they never actually review the book.
00:34:02.240 --> 00:34:02.880
And that happens.
00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:05.200
Then you're just like taking right advantage of them.
00:34:05.359 --> 00:34:05.519
Yeah.
00:34:05.599 --> 00:34:05.759
Yep.
00:34:11.199 --> 00:34:15.840
And I'm gonna go ahead and say you're probably paying$200 and sending them a copy.
00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:16.239
Yeah.
00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:16.719
Yep.
00:34:17.280 --> 00:34:17.599
Tisk.
00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:18.320
The shame.
00:34:18.559 --> 00:34:18.719
Shame.
00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:20.079
We need myself.
00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:30.000
Is the attitude I have a large following justification enough for charging authors hundreds of dollars?
00:34:30.320 --> 00:34:32.159
Authors, no, brands, yes.
00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:32.559
Yeah.
00:34:32.960 --> 00:34:37.679
Um but even the the thing, I have a large following, just is so egotistical.
00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:38.639
So egotistical.
00:34:38.800 --> 00:34:56.000
Like I hate when people have a large following count and they are just the most egotistical, like not humble people I've ever met, just because they have a large following, or they start from humble beginnings and they grow from the ground up, and then as soon as they get successful, they become the most out-of-touch influencers and people.
00:34:56.400 --> 00:34:59.199
Well, and the other thing too is like he's got a great following.
00:34:59.280 --> 00:35:02.800
His numbers right across, but especially on Instagram, are fantastic.
00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:08.000
One of our followers commented today that they didn't know who the big three for book talk were.
00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:09.599
And was like, I didn't know.
00:35:09.679 --> 00:35:10.639
Susie had to tell me.
00:35:10.800 --> 00:35:12.880
Well, not a lot of people are chronically online like me.
00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:14.159
So you know what I mean?
00:35:14.239 --> 00:35:17.679
But just like I've always been in the book threads, book talk, all that.
00:35:17.840 --> 00:35:20.079
I didn't know there's there was even such a thing as a top three.
00:35:20.159 --> 00:35:21.039
There's one top three.
00:35:21.199 --> 00:35:23.119
I know there was a top three.
00:35:23.199 --> 00:35:23.519
Yeah.
00:35:23.679 --> 00:35:25.280
Um, how did they get to the top three?
00:35:25.519 --> 00:35:26.320
That's what I want to know.
00:35:26.480 --> 00:35:31.119
Yeah, and then the other the other side of it is like, so he's got a decent following, never heard of him before.
00:35:31.280 --> 00:35:32.719
Yeah, I've never heard of him either.
00:35:33.039 --> 00:35:37.519
Yeah, you could be charging people, but I was like, that doesn't mean it's gonna hit the right people.
00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:39.920
Yeah, it's gonna reach everyone that you want it to reach.
00:35:40.239 --> 00:35:43.760
And because I mean these creators have not been reaching me, apparently.
00:35:43.920 --> 00:35:44.639
Yeah, same.
00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:50.719
At what point does supporting indie authors become a marketing business model the minute you charge?
00:35:51.119 --> 00:35:51.760
Yeah, agreed.
00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:52.880
I think that's yeah, yeah.
00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:57.840
Because I feel like if you're just promoting them, oh, I read this great book by N this indie author, blah blah blah.
00:35:58.000 --> 00:36:00.000
It was amazing, gave it five stars, vibes.
00:36:00.320 --> 00:36:00.639
Yeah.
00:36:00.800 --> 00:36:03.599
Well, I promote the the charmed leaf legacy series.
00:36:03.679 --> 00:36:05.280
She's indie author, Rachel Morgan.
00:36:05.440 --> 00:36:06.800
Love that series, she's indie.
00:36:06.880 --> 00:36:09.199
I'm not paid to review those books.
00:36:09.280 --> 00:36:10.239
I paid for those books.
00:36:10.320 --> 00:36:11.679
Well, they're on Kindle Unlimited.
00:36:11.840 --> 00:36:18.480
And then she had like a novella that she sent through like ebook only for her newsletter or something like that, which is like a little novella.
00:36:18.639 --> 00:36:22.000
Anyway, I wasn't paid to do these reviews, and what were you doing?
00:36:22.159 --> 00:36:23.280
You're just like a little novella.
00:36:23.360 --> 00:36:24.000
A little novella.
00:36:25.199 --> 00:36:26.400
It's 3 a.m.
00:36:28.480 --> 00:36:29.360
Um, anyway.
00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:30.400
I'm glad to do that.
00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:34.960
She's my sister, so this would be a good one to ask Nate, but I'm just gonna ask in general.
00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:45.519
If you were an indie author with a limited marketing budget, would you rather spend$200 on creators' paid reviews or spend that same$200 on advertising that is openly labeled as advertising and why?
00:36:45.760 --> 00:36:46.159
Hmm.
00:36:46.320 --> 00:36:47.360
I wish he was down here.
00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:47.760
I know.
00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:48.559
He's not camera.
00:36:50.800 --> 00:36:51.519
Yeah, he'll have to comment.
00:36:52.400 --> 00:36:52.880
In our comments.
00:36:53.119 --> 00:37:00.239
If you're in an indie author with a limited marketing budget, would you rather spend$200 on creators paid review or spend$200 on advertising advertising?
00:37:00.480 --> 00:37:01.119
Advertising, I think.
00:37:01.440 --> 00:37:04.639
If you're on Kindle, you can I think you can do like Amazon advertising.
00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:06.079
And like it will push the code.
00:37:06.239 --> 00:37:11.360
I mean, you can you can even do that on insta like if you have like your Instagram, you can do your own advertising.
00:37:11.679 --> 00:37:12.639
I think I probably would do that.
00:37:12.880 --> 00:37:15.360
I do so much advertising for Amazon books.
00:37:15.519 --> 00:37:22.159
Yeah, there's one there's one who's on there, she's a romance author, and I think she just does like the little short little romance and stuff, but they pop up all the time.
00:37:22.239 --> 00:37:23.360
I'm like, ooh, that looks so good.
00:37:23.599 --> 00:37:30.559
Yeah, I'd rather do that and then build like people just getting awareness of my book organic following that.
00:37:30.880 --> 00:37:38.159
Instead of turning people off of your book because you paid an influencer to review your book, whether it's dishonest or a positive review, like just too big.
00:37:38.639 --> 00:38:00.960
The only time like if I was an author, an indie author coming into it, is if like, say, like a book talk reviewer read my book, did like a review on it, that they loved it, then I probably would contact them being like, Hey, I saw that you loved my book, would love to send you the second book, or you know, I'd love to work with you on something for this, but would have already naturally been an organic they loved, you know.
00:38:01.039 --> 00:38:06.000
I mean, like you wouldn't have worked with them previously for that initial review, but no, you would have reached out like if you saw that.
00:38:06.079 --> 00:38:06.800
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:38:06.960 --> 00:38:08.239
Yeah, I agree.
00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:12.960
Questionners, questioners, question questioners?
00:38:13.519 --> 00:38:16.320
Questions for the questioners out there.
00:38:18.320 --> 00:38:19.360
It's now a thing.
00:38:19.599 --> 00:38:21.920
Listener questions is now questioners.
00:38:22.079 --> 00:38:22.400
Yeah.
00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:23.440
Now you know.
00:38:24.719 --> 00:38:27.519
I amalgamated listener questions.
00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:29.840
The question questioners.
00:38:30.159 --> 00:38:36.800
At what point do you think monetizing a platform crosses the line from supporting authors to taking advantage of them?
00:38:37.039 --> 00:38:41.280
And would knowing a creator was paid to review a book change how you trust their opinion?
00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:42.400
Let us know in the comments.
00:38:42.719 --> 00:38:45.440
Now it's time for Lines We Loved.
00:38:46.159 --> 00:38:46.639
Ooh.
00:38:46.960 --> 00:38:47.440
I don't know.
00:38:47.599 --> 00:38:50.079
Can you every single time we just stare at her at the time?
00:38:50.239 --> 00:38:51.280
I don't have a line.
00:38:51.519 --> 00:38:54.400
What I should even be surprised.
00:38:54.719 --> 00:38:55.119
Thank gosh.
00:38:57.039 --> 00:38:59.280
Do you know how hard it is to find a line you loved in thrillers?
00:38:59.679 --> 00:39:00.320
So many.
00:39:00.559 --> 00:39:03.679
Ooh, I feel like this is so fitting for today's episode.
00:39:03.840 --> 00:39:04.480
I can't wait.
00:39:04.800 --> 00:39:05.360
So fitting.
00:39:05.440 --> 00:39:07.199
I'm so happy with this pick.
00:39:07.599 --> 00:39:08.639
Do we want me to go first?
00:39:08.800 --> 00:39:09.360
Yeah, go first.
00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:09.760
Okay.
00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:14.400
So this is from Daybreak by Autumn Woods, page seven, and it's very fitting for today's episode.
00:39:14.559 --> 00:39:16.880
There's this sort of sickness that comes with money.
00:39:17.039 --> 00:39:18.800
The more you have, the more you crave it.
00:39:18.880 --> 00:39:23.920
We've always been rich, but when the zeros started piling up on my father's net worth, he became a different man.
00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:26.960
It's an addiction, a total loss of sight of the important things.
00:39:27.280 --> 00:39:27.760
True.
00:39:28.320 --> 00:39:29.199
That was very fitting.
00:39:29.360 --> 00:39:30.639
Yeah, that was very fitting.
00:39:30.800 --> 00:39:33.440
I'm gonna do Hollow, Crown of Hearts and Chaos Book One.
00:39:33.599 --> 00:39:34.400
This is the Twisted.
00:39:34.800 --> 00:39:35.039
Hollow?
00:39:35.199 --> 00:39:35.760
Just Hollow.
00:39:35.920 --> 00:39:37.119
Oh, Caroline Peckham.
00:39:37.199 --> 00:39:37.360
Yeah.
00:39:37.440 --> 00:39:38.639
Oh the Twisted Sisters.
00:39:38.880 --> 00:39:39.039
Yes.
00:39:39.360 --> 00:39:39.519
Okay.
00:39:39.679 --> 00:39:40.880
This is page 182.
00:39:41.119 --> 00:39:42.559
Have they ever come for you, Ferris?
00:39:42.719 --> 00:39:44.480
Have you ever felt their nails on your skin?
00:39:44.639 --> 00:39:48.000
Smelled their rancid breath, seen the manic nothingness in their eyes.
00:39:48.159 --> 00:39:50.320
She turned to me again, recoiling at my words.
00:39:50.559 --> 00:39:51.760
Yes, she whispered.
00:39:51.920 --> 00:39:52.320
And you?
00:39:52.480 --> 00:39:54.079
I looked to the hollow, saying nothing.
00:39:54.320 --> 00:39:58.239
Oh Ferris, if only you knew what I'd been through, the twisted fate this world has handed me.
00:39:58.400 --> 00:40:01.920
Spirits be, how you will tremble in my presence once you learn the truth.
00:40:03.360 --> 00:40:03.679
That's good.
00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:05.280
Is it better than Zodiac Academy?
00:40:05.440 --> 00:40:07.599
I think you would like it better than Zodiac Academy.
00:40:08.079 --> 00:40:08.800
Like better written?
00:40:09.920 --> 00:40:12.880
I can't say if it was better written because I've loved all of them.
00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:14.559
Very fair.
00:40:14.960 --> 00:40:19.199
But it would say like I will say that so far, because I've done the the Never Keep series.
00:40:19.360 --> 00:40:20.719
I've started this one.
00:40:21.039 --> 00:40:23.679
Um compared to Zodiac, they're very different.
00:40:24.400 --> 00:40:24.559
Okay.
00:40:24.719 --> 00:40:33.280
Like even like Never Keep is in within the same world, but it's very, I'd say they're more fantasy yearny base rather than like Zodiac Academy is very sexual.
00:40:33.679 --> 00:40:34.960
Susie would love the yearn.
00:40:35.119 --> 00:40:36.880
So I read your review.
00:40:37.039 --> 00:40:39.119
Wearn up to 85%, and I'm in.
00:40:39.360 --> 00:40:39.840
Yeah, yeah.
00:40:39.920 --> 00:40:43.599
And then the yeah, then there's a very nice little spicy part.
00:40:44.000 --> 00:40:44.480
Spicy scene.
00:40:44.719 --> 00:40:45.280
Skip the skippy.
00:40:45.920 --> 00:40:47.039
Yeah, skip the skippy.
00:40:47.119 --> 00:40:47.280
Yeah.
00:40:47.440 --> 00:40:47.679
Okay.
00:40:47.840 --> 00:40:52.159
Mine is also from Daybreak by Autumn Woods, page 136.
00:40:52.320 --> 00:40:54.800
Twice in my adult life I've forgotten how to inhale.
00:40:54.960 --> 00:40:57.280
Both times involved you in a backless dress.
00:40:57.519 --> 00:40:57.760
Yeah.
00:40:58.000 --> 00:40:58.320
Nice.
00:40:58.480 --> 00:41:01.199
Also, I see you ditched your mast thing.
00:41:01.360 --> 00:41:02.000
That did not last long.
00:41:02.320 --> 00:41:02.639
My what?
00:41:02.800 --> 00:41:03.440
Your chain.
00:41:03.599 --> 00:41:04.000
Your chain.
00:41:04.159 --> 00:41:04.719
Oh, yeah.
00:41:04.800 --> 00:41:05.360
It's in my car.
00:41:05.440 --> 00:41:05.519
Oh.
00:41:05.920 --> 00:41:08.239
It's hanging up on my w window.
00:41:08.480 --> 00:41:09.920
It just window.
00:41:10.559 --> 00:41:12.559
It was I don't know how you guys do it.
00:41:12.800 --> 00:41:14.559
It's funny to piddle with.
00:41:14.800 --> 00:41:20.079
I actually think the only thing is like when I'm like like grabbing it, like to be quiet, and it's like, Yeah.
00:41:20.320 --> 00:41:23.119
At the cottage, we didn't have Ainsley in a crib.
00:41:23.199 --> 00:41:25.199
So she was just willy-nilly.
00:41:25.360 --> 00:41:25.760
Yeah.
00:41:25.920 --> 00:41:29.679
So I would have to lie with her in order for her to stay in bed and fall asleep.
00:41:29.760 --> 00:41:32.719
And then yeah, like trying to like leave, and I'm like, be quiet.
00:41:33.440 --> 00:41:36.000
Yeah, it's just so and mine had so many things.
00:41:36.239 --> 00:41:37.360
Things like dangles on it.
00:41:37.679 --> 00:41:38.719
Dingly danglies.
00:41:39.039 --> 00:41:40.880
One more questioner for you guys.
00:41:41.280 --> 00:41:42.400
Do you have Kindle Charms?
00:41:42.480 --> 00:41:43.519
And if so, do you like them?
00:41:43.679 --> 00:41:45.440
And if you don't have them, tell us why.
00:41:45.519 --> 00:41:46.320
I'm curious.
00:41:46.559 --> 00:41:47.199
All right.
00:41:47.440 --> 00:41:47.920
Bye.
00:41:48.079 --> 00:41:48.400
Bye.
00:41:49.119 --> 00:41:54.559
You can find us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube at Gotwist Please Pod, or also anywhere you can get your podcast.
00:41:54.719 --> 00:41:58.159
So make sure you're following or subscribed so you never miss an episode.
00:41:58.320 --> 00:42:00.000
If you love this one, hype us up a little.
00:42:00.079 --> 00:42:03.920
Leave us a comment, drop a rating or review, and tell us what you would like us to read next.
00:42:04.159 --> 00:42:06.719
Thank you so much for joining us on this episode.
00:42:06.880 --> 00:42:10.480
And as always, keep your glass, your bookshelf, and your TBR full.
00:42:11.199 --> 00:42:11.440
Cheers.