Amazon blindsided me a couple of days ago. I got a message that because of “irregularities,” they were taking away my ability to review on Amazon and deleting ALL of my reviews. That is at least 15 years of reviews. I have tried to appeal, but there has been no response yet.
Basically, in this era of scams against authors, I was out there trying to provide free and honest reviews, and Amazon’s AI somehow found something suspicious, and now I can’t review on Amazon anymore.
For anyone I have promised a review, I can still review the book, but I cannot put the review on Amazon. I can put it on Goodreads, Bookbub, Instagram, Audible, and wherever else you want, but Amazon has blocked me and has not given me a reason.
I used to pick up your books on Kindle Unlimited when possible, because it helped you out, but I am cancelling my Kindle Unlimited because I can’t review the books I borrow there, so why pay for it?
Basically, my good deeds have been punished. I will still continue to try to do them, but I can’t do them on Amazon.
Sorry for the rant! Let me know if you no longer want me to review your book, knowing the review won’t be on Amazon.
Indie Spotlight is my attempt to help Indie authors with marketing. It is a daunting task, and if I can help even a little, I’m glad to do it. You can help too by sharing this post with all the readers you know. Below is a review of Pon My Puff by Peter Stark Lansley. It was discovered, edited, and published by his son, Dr. Charles Morris Lansley.
Book Review
This is an autobiographical novel by Peter Stark Lansley about his childhood on the Isle of Wight in the 1920s. It was discovered 60 years later and edited by his son, Dr. Charles Morris Lansley, who also provides notes about the history and background of the era, the location, and the family.
We watch young Peter living an everyday life and celebrating big moments. Peter fondly remembers starting “morning school,” a crush on his teacher, attending horse races, meeting his friend Vicki, and more. I loved the Christmas traditions portrayed, including “stirring the pudding.” There are notes from the editor describing this Victorian tradition and its deep spiritual meaning.
One of my favorite parts of the book was when Peter asked his Gramp what would happen to him when he died. He said, “When I die I’m going to Mount Joy,” and went on to explain that “It’s the Down overlooking Newport…” And on a clear day, …you can hear the angels playing their silver whistle-pipes if you stop and listen.” This appears to be the name of a cemetery, but it became Peter’s euphemism for going to heaven, and he was quite glad when he was told his Aunt Emily had gone to Mount Joy.
“Pon my Puff,” was Gramp’s favorite saying, and is used as an exclamation throughout the book. “Pon my puff,” said Gramp, “You do ask some questions. Now, where do I begin?”
This book reads like a big hug, a look at an idyllic childhood that will put a smile on anyone’s face. It hearkens back to a simpler time, and Peter’s relationship with Gramp is truly a joy. This is a fun, special, well-written, and well-researched autobiographical novel/history.
About the Author
Peter Stark Lansley was born in Portsmouth and died in 1999 on the Isle of Wight after 80 years of a varied and interesting life at sea and in aviation. Between 1938 and 1939 Peter was a radio engineering student at the Municipal College Portsmouth, now the University of Portsmouth. His course was interrupted by the outbreak of war, so Peter joined the Merchant Navy on the staff of the Marconi International Marine Communications Company as Radio Officer and went to sea on board M.V. Port Hobart.
While serving on MV Wandby as Second Radio Officer, his ship was sunk by a German U-boat off the coast of Iceland after being torpedoed on 19 October 1940. He survived and served as a radio officer aboard various ships until being released from the Merchant Navy in 1946 on medical grounds. After this, he worked for the Ministry of Aviation as a telecommunications officer based at Eastleigh Airport, now Southampton Airport, completing his aviation career at Heathrow Airport before retiring to the Isle of Wight in 1981.
Peter loved writing and was a member of the Southampton Writers Circle in the 1950s, during which time he wrote numerous short stories and the notes that were to form his book Pon My Puff!
About the Editor
Dr Charles Morris Lansley has strong connections to the Isle of Wight through his father’s side of the family, who lived on the Island, his Stark and Morris ancestors having had grazing rights in 1425 in the reign of Henry VI. He still maintains his connection to the Island through his home in Shanklin and his interest in Island family and social history.
After discovering his late father’s manuscript of his autobiographical novel forgotten in a trunk for almost 60 years, Charles Lansley edited the notebooks by piecing together the stories and by providing annotations to give background information on the villages and villagers in the 1920s.
Charles Morris Lansley’s other research interests are in 18th and 19th-century natural history, science, and literature. He was awarded his PhD by the University of Winchester in 2016 for research into Charles Darwin. His book, ‘Charles Darwin’s Debt to the Romantics: How Alexander von Humboldt, Goethe and Wordsworth Helped Shape Darwin’s View of Nature’ was published in 2018 by Peter Lang. Prior to his research on Darwin, he worked in education and training before retiring. He is a Fellow of The Linnean Society of London.
** The UK version is the current version from Austin MacAuley Publishers. The US version appears to be an older issue.
Before You Go
If you read this book, remember to post a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and anywhere else you review books. Your review does not have to be a masterpiece. Just a couple of sentences about how the book made you feel will make the author’s day and help them immensely.
I usually write a book review of between 200 – 300 words, because I have been reviewing for The Historical Novel Society for about six years, and their word limit is usually 200 – 300. It works well for me. I see a lot of really long reviews on Goodreads and I usually quit reading halfway through, because they are just too long. I don’t find mine either quick or very long.
Death at King”s Cross is the second book in the Four Queens of Crime trilogy by Roseanne Limoncelli. It will be published on July 21st. In the midst of war, the Four Queens of Crime, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Margery Allingham, and Ngaio Marsh, help DCI Lillian Wiles solve the murder of a young woman at King’s Cross Station.
What Did You Recently Finish Reading?
Black Thursday is the third book in the When Heroes Flew series by H.W. “Buzz” Bernard. Starring a different WWII flier each time, this one is the story of a deadly day when the U.S. 8th Air Force suffered catastrophic losses during a bombing raid in Germany.
What Do You Think You’ll Read Next
1905. A young suffragist fleeing a deadly Atlanta rally ends up in the hills of Tennessee.
Blog Update
It has been a while since I’ve posted, which I am trying to correct. I have been editing and writing reviews for The Historical Novel Society, starting a garden, and easing into the writing phase of a book with Doug. It is as yet untitled, but will, of course, be historical time travel, my favorite genre mashup.
My garden has tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and herbs. I planted okra seeds, but they are apparently not coming up. I’m in the process of ordering okra plants online.
I have decided to pause review requests until November 1st, and I’m a bit overwhelmed with everything, but I will start writing Indie reviews again on the requests I have received prior to the pause. However, if I have reviewed your book before and you have a new one coming out, the pause does not apply to your book.
I hope you all have been doing well!
What About You?
What Are you reading right now, and what summer activities do you have planned?
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