A life of realized adequacy is far more fulfilling than one of elusive excellence.

That’s the premise of my first book Aim for the Middle: How to Achieve Happiness, Success, and Love Through the Unbridled Power of Mediocrity.

It’s a tangy tome of glib wiseassery chock full of supernumerary words, cursory theories, and hella pop culture references so it’s EZ to understand

But what does MY premier piece of published purple prose have to do with YOU?

Glad I asked. I’m organizing an Advanced Reader Team (ART) for my book’s release and I would be honored and surprised if you’d join my Release Police as a duly deputized officer of the launch.

The ART is a stealthy operation to help my book (hopefully) achieve the highly coveted (by me) Amazon Best Seller Rank (ABSR). Now, you’re probably thinking: This sounds a lot like a cult… Will I be asked to do anything illegal, immoral, or imperious? Not exactly.

Next Tuesday, July 30, I’ll email you a link to download a FREE copy of Aim for the Middle (damn, we haven’t even started yet and you’re already getting free shit). You’ll have about one month before the book’s official August 28 launch day to read some or all of it. (Spoiler Alert! Book reviewers do not, and need not, read the entire book—that’s an industry fact.)

Then, on the August 28 launch day, you’ll log onto Amazon (the .com, not the Rainforest) and commit three acts of inducement:

1. Purchase my book for 99¢ (damn, we haven’t even started yet and I’m already asking you for money)

2. Give the book a star rating

3. Post a (brief) review of the book

That’s all there is to it.

Now, you’re probably wondering: Is this some sorta bunko scam just to sell some books for 99% of one dollar? Not exactly.

Amazon (still the .com, not the Rainforest), requires a purchase to post a review. The sale, review, and star rating combined contribute to a book’s ABSR and can boost sales by up to 20%. (If you’re interested in how, read on. If not, grab a cocktail and meet me in the next paragraph.) Amazon's mythical, magical, almighty algorithm considers positive reviews and star ratings when determining a book's search result placement (the more and better, the higher). And once shoppers are force-fed a book through searching, 93% of them decide to purchase it (or not) based on reviews—that’s an industry fact. So you can see how your rating, review, and 99¢ will make a BIG difference to an aspiring author like meself fighting against the Goliath of Big Publishing just to sell a few measly eBooks.

For the record, I’m not asking that you to automatically give my book 5 out of 5 stars or a glowing review. That would be dishonest. However, if you do read my book and think it blows like the west wind, please, keep that negative shit to yourself and throw me a pity rating. Believe me, I am not above it.

Confused? Conflicted? Concerned? Not to worry. Once/if you agree to join the cult team by clicking/tapping the button below, I’ll send you email reminders throughout this dubious process replete with details, dates, and directions.

Look, I can’t promise you my book is any good, but I can assure you it is hecka typed—290 pages worth. No matter how you figure it, that’s a lotta work you’re getting for just 99% of one dollar—and that’s an industry fact. (Not exactly.)

On tenterhooks,

Michael

2-legit 2-quit