Here are some interesting parts of the most recent KDP Newsletter, and a few rules and guidelines about Amazon reviews that are guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Here’s the good stuff first.

How to write a good book description. Good to know for all authors, especially those who didn’t come up in the trenches of the query wars like I did. (You learn this when you learn to write a good query letter.)

One of the most crucial elements to selling a book can also be one of the most difficult to create. The book description is your lead in, your chance to hook a reader and get them to crack the cover and satisfy their curiosity. Even in an online environment, the book description can bridge the gap between having just another title among a sea of choices and a sellable book worth reading. Read more about how to write an effective book description, courtesy of CreateSpace.

Make your own book covers. More useful info.

Want to create a cover for your book? Try our Cover Creator tool currently in beta to quickly create a high-quality cover design for your book.Read more

Now for the part that will make you smile.

I’m not posting it in full, because most are just too ridiculous to bother with. But there is a link below.

No comment from me this time. It is what it is.

Q & A on Amazon’s Customer Review Policies

Lately there has been some confusion around the guidelines Amazon uses to evaluate Customer Reviews. Customer Reviews are meant to give customers genuine product feedback from fellow shoppers. Our goal is to capture all the energy and enthusiasm (both favorable and critical) that customers have about a product while avoiding use of reviews designed to advertise, promote, or mislead customers. Below are answers to some common questions we receive on Customer Reviews. For more detailed information please visit the Customer Review Guidelines.

Q. Are authors allowed to review another author’s book?
A. Yes. We very much welcome Customer Reviews from authors. However, if the author reviewing the book has a personal relationship with the author of the book they are reviewing, or was involved in the book’s creation process (i.e. as a co-author, editor, illustrator, etc.), that author is not eligible to write a Customer Review for that book.

Q. Can I write a Customer Review of my own book?
A. No. You are not eligible to review your own book, but there are other ways to communicate with your readers on Amazon such as Author Central.

Q. Can I pay for someone to write a Customer Review for my book?
A. No. We do not allow any form of compensation for a Customer Review other than a free copy of the book provided upfront. If you offer a free copy of the book in advance, it must be clear that you welcome all feedback, both positive and negative.

And there you have it, right from Amazon. You can read the rest of the rules at the link I’ve provided above under Customer Review Guidelines.

Check out my post tomorrow. I may have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale…or maybe a bag of magic beans.