Spice Trails

In The Footsteps of Nutmeg and Cloves

Travelling around the fabled Spice Islands was a joy for Phylipa and myself.

Everywhere we went, the food was wholesome (including the snake, and no, it didn’t taste like chicken), the people beyond generous and the history of the area was palpable – the old Dutch cannons on Banda Neira were lying in the street, and Afo, the oldest clove tree that contributed to the downfall of the Dutch East India Company was still in place.

Cocktail hour at Alona Beach, Panglao Island, The Philippines

The book that emerged from this adventure is not just a catalogue of spices or a tedious index of discoveries. It’s a travelogue – this book hums with the stories, the serendipities, the fleeting moments that always make travel rewarding.

Now, with the book uploaded to Amazon as both a Kindle and a paperback, I find myself on the threshold of a new and terrifying world: self-publishing. In my dreams, I’m running with the big dogs, though I’m barely past the starting line. No doubt J.K. Rowling remains unperturbed, and Bloomsbury has not yet convened an emergency summit.

As you probably know, Amazon’s gears are greased by the almighty review. A scathing one can send potential buyers fleeing, while a glowing one draws them in like moths to a flame. 

This is where you come in. Your opinion – yes, yours – carries weight. Your contribution isn’t just a favour – It’s everything.

“Spice Trails: In The Footsteps Of Nutmeg and Cloves”:

• The paperback version will be available for $7.99 from today, Wednesday 1 January until Friday 3 January 2025 (there are printing costs etc to cover)

• The Kindle version will be FREE from 2 January until 3 January 2025.

So I’m clear – I’m not after the cookie-cutter “Great book, highly recommend!” nonsense. That kind of fluff serves no one. What potential buyers need is a review that truly speaks to them; one that reflects on how the book may have changed your understanding of, for example, the range of spices in your kitchen, the unusual culinary habits of Asia, how the history of the region was unknown to you or how, reading about a place made you want to go there.

These are mere suggestions – your own words will be far more valuable.

              – – – – –

 Here’s the drill: 

1. Go to your own Amazon account where you live – eg .co.uk, .ca, com.au and key in the book title. Here’s the link on Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRRTPRSD
2. Only if you’re an Amazon customer (anywhere in the world), can you scroll down the Amazon page on which you downloaded/bought and leave a review. If you’re not, you don’t need to do anything. Don’t worry you’re still welcome to download the Kindle version for free. 
3. Don’t be too hasty to leave a review – Amazon’s crafty algorithms know if you leave a review without first downloading/buying it.
4. Take some time to skim through the ebook. Amazon’s algorithms are equally sharp here too – they’ll know if you leave a review moments after buying.
5. If you download it in the morning, wait until the evening or the next morning to review it
6. That’s it!

On Saturday 4th the Kindle version will be listed at $5 and the paperback at $15.99

We truly value all your contributions

Graeme Dinnen

ResourcesForLife.net