
The First Ten Focus Group Feedback for Chasing Diana - Perception Vs. Reality: Inspired by Our True Story
Because Chasing Diana - Perception Vs. Reality was Book of the Day, some of our most trusted members have carefully looked over the cover, the description, and other aspects of this book as a part of purchase-intent focus group. We then asked each participant in the focus group if they planned to buy and read the book, and why they planned to buy and read the book or not. Their answer to that question and reasons are displayed below. We call this awesome feature The First Ten Focus Group.
Keep in mind, the responses from the members are not reviews. This is purchase-intent focus group which means the participants are people who have NOT yet bought or read your book. A purchase-intent focus group is an important and extremely useful marketing tool for any product, not just books. For other products, you might walk on the street and show people an item in a package and poll them about whether they would buy if or $X or not. These kind of focus groups are one of the ways big marketing companies find the ideal price points for products and test the effectiveness of different packaging. The focus group can help you identify your market so you how to target ads of your book, and it can (but may not) provide you new useful info about your "packaging" (e.g. your book cover, your book synopsis on Amazon, etc.). The point of the focus group comments is to give you information from people who have not bought or read your book about why they plan to buy your book which will help you in marketing the book. These are not reviews or critiques of your book because they are not from people have read the book. This is a marketing tool, not reviews. The trick of book marketing and book advertising is that you have to convince people who have not read your book yet that your book is worth buying and reading. For marketing, it doesn't matter much if people love your book after reading it if you cannot convince potential buyers before they read it that they will love it.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable. This is because we only poll about 20 or so readers, and all readers have to say "no" to almost all books. Over a million books are published each year. Even a very active reader cannot come close to even reading 1% of books out there.
This is also why publishing books is such a tough industry.
Momlovesbooks

I'm intrigued by Diana's life. I remember when her wedding and then death were big news. I read the first few pages and knew this would be interesting. It's from a different point of view. I look forward to reading it.
First Ten review added on August 13, 2017, at 12:41 pm by Momlovesbooks.
classicaltwist

I would not read this book based on my first impression. Neither the title nor the cover caught my interest. I didn't like the blurb at all. It read like an loud, in-your-face infomercial. I much prefer blurbs that give a brief description of the plot that naturally draws you in and makes you want to read more. This blurb was just screaming at me, "PLEASE READ ME! I HAVE WIDE READERSHIP APPEAL! YOU'VE NEVER ANY BOOK LIKE THIS ONE!!!" This shouldn't be necessary for a good story.
The sample did not change my mind. Honestly, it struck me as exploitative, especially since it's formatted as a screenplay, and I have no interest in that. There doesn't seem to be an official OnlineBookClub review, but I don't think it would've changed my mind. I will not be reading this book.
First Ten review added on August 13, 2017, at 11:52 am by classicaltwist.
Jeyran Main

This is a fascinating book. I believe the couple was a witness of the whole Diana crash and cause of death. The first ten page, especially the intro was sufficient for me to identify if I really wanted to read the book. I believe had I not read that first ten pages, I may not have chosen this book. The work is professionally edited. I am not a big fan of the book cover.
First Ten review added on August 13, 2017, at 8:20 am by Jeyran Main.
MarisaRose

Chasing Diana isn't a book I would purchase blindly. After reading the blurb, parts of the premise seem interesting, but the overarching theme of Princess Diana's death didn't interest me. After sampling the first ten pages, I thought the writing was interesting, and the story moved along well from the first page. However, I wasn't hooked by anything in the sample, and I'm still not excited about the premise after reading the sample. I don't plan to buy this one. I didn't notice any grammatical errors in the review.
First Ten review added on August 13, 2017, at 8:05 am by MarisaRose.
CarrieMe

When I realized that this book was about the death of Princess Diana, I didn't think I'd be interested. However, the beginning of the blurb really caught my attention and drew me in. Unfortunately, I was less excited by the time I reached the end of the blurb, because it just seemed like it was trying too hard to convince me that this is the best book ever. After reading the sample, I don't plan to buy or read this book. I found it really strange that although this book is written in a screenplay format, that wasn't mentioned on the cover or in the blurb (at least not that I could tell.) I'm really not a fan of that format, so this book isn't for me. It seems professionally edited, although i did notice one or two small errors.
First Ten review added on August 13, 2017, at 4:03 am by CarrieMe.
Annelore Trujillo

I would not have sampled this book based on the genre, blurb, and the fact that there was not an OBC review. The Princess Diana story just didn't interest me. After sampling the book, I won't be finishing it. I didn't like that it was written as a screenplay. The format of the sample I read was also kind of confusing for a screenplay; I'm not sure if it is better once it is downloaded. I didn't notice any errors other than the formatting.
First Ten review added on August 13, 2017, at 2:07 am by Annelore Trujillo.
Kdonegan91

The cover is creative and eye-catching. It definitely makes me want to read it. However, the sample left me disappointed. I did not enjoy the format or how difficult it was to understand. Therefore, I will not be purchasing this book.
First Ten review added on August 13, 2017, at 12:12 am by Kdonegan91.
AA1495

Had I not sampled the book, I wouldn't have read it. I usually read pure romance books. Having read the sample, I liked the use of relevant quotes by the author. However, the long list of main characters in the introduction made me feel like the book would be a little difficult to follow. The book seems professionally edited. Since I do not read the genre usually, I will not be reading the book further.
First Ten review added on August 12, 2017, at 6:06 pm by AA1495.
Naval Aulakh

"Chasing Diana" is a well written novel. After reading it's review on OnlineBookClub, I decided to read it's sample available on Amazon. I enjoyed reading the sample. It is a very good book. I liked the concept of the book.
Moreover, I did not find any grammatical errors and spelling mistakes in the sample. I would like to read the entire book.
First Ten review added on August 12, 2017, at 5:57 pm by Naval Aulakh.
L_Therese

As a thumbnail, the cover was pretty hard to see, but when it enlarged, it was much more mysterious. I didn't immediately associate Diana with Princess Diana from what I saw initially. As I learned more about the book, I realized it was a screenplay. Having never read one before, I explored the first ten pages. I found that the format doesn't work for me as recreational reading material, and I decided to pass.
First Ten review added on August 12, 2017, at 4:05 pm by L_Therese.
Alice Heritage

I would not have chosen this book based on the title or cover as I thought it would be non-fiction. From the sample it became apparent that the Firestones were compelled to fictionalize their experiences. That is fascinating, but ultimately it did not change my mind, and I won't buy and read the whole book, as I'm not overly interested in reading about Diana's death right now. I noticed the error "one couldn't help take in", but this may well have been professionally edited. What I liked best was the truth of the message that the effect of a shock does not go away after 20 years. On the down side, the point about how what happened to the Firestones was all Meant To Be became more and more labored. I did not see an official OnilneBookClub review.
First Ten review added on August 12, 2017, at 2:14 pm by Alice Heritage.
CrescentMoon

I like the cover of this book. Its very apt considering Princess Diana was running from the paps. I'm actually very interested in this because I remember growing up and hearing about how Princess Diana died so it would be interesting to read eyewitness accounts of it. I unfortunately don't have the time to read this right now but I would like to in the future.
First Ten review added on August 12, 2017, at 1:11 pm by CrescentMoon.
Jaime Lync

Chasing Diana by Jack and Robin Firestone is a historical fiction novel inspired by the couple's experience with regards to Princess Diana's death in Paris, France. They were eyewitnesses to the aftermath of the car crash that claimed Diana's life. This tale is not about Diana but rather about love, honor, and justice. Unfortunately, I do not have the time to spear to read this book anytime soon.
First Ten review added on August 12, 2017, at 12:57 pm by Jaime Lync.
bookowlie

The title and stylistic cover of this book are intriguing and made me want to know more. However, I wasn't as intriguued by the long-winded summary blurb. Although the blurb appears to be professionally edited, it is too wordy. The sample pages are also long-winded, with two separate author's notes/introductions. I did like the diagram of the crash site roadway map, but I found the style of the Prologue hard to follow. Based on the beginning pages, I am not interested in reading further.
First Ten review added on August 12, 2017, at 11:42 am by bookowlie.
ReviewerDiksha

The stories woven around historical accounts, especially the controversial ones, often catch the fancy of a reader. The story of Princess Diana and anything even remotely related to her falls under such a topic. The fact that their story is not the one we have previously heard makes it even more intriguing. That is why I would certainly pick this one off a bookshelf. I hadn’t heard about this book before, let alone reading the reviews. And it is only the first few pages that have peaked my interest. The introductions by the writers are written wonderfully and already start drawing a reader in so that we are compelled to keep turning the pages. That it is personal to the writers is also brought out effectively by the writing style. However, being used to the descriptive way of storytelling, and also after what we see in the introductions, it comes out as a surprise that the story is written in the form of a play and not as a proper novel. I, personally, would have preferred the latter but it will be interesting to see how the story turns out with this approach.
First Ten review added on August 12, 2017, at 10:52 am by ReviewerDiksha.
Gravy

I would not have looked at this, as it just isn't my kind of book. The choice to write it in the style of a screenplay is a bold one. I'm not sure it worked, at least it didn't for me.
Everything felt a little over the top. I could see how it would play out on screen, and it, frankly, would have gotten on my nerves.
I can say that I saw no errors, and that all the jargon was accurate.
Because of my previously stated issues with it, and it not being of interest to me, anyway, I do not intend to read this.
First Ten review added on August 12, 2017, at 10:11 am by Gravy.
Christina Rose

I do not typically read historical fiction novels or memoirs. I like the cover of this book. I think the candle smoke merging with Princess Diana is very original and creative, and from what I read of the book it is well worded and properly edited. The personal accounts help the reader to empathize, and to feel both anger and sadness. Although I will not be buying this book, if ever a movie is made I would definitely be interested in watching. The material is personal and relevant even after all these years. Sharing this experience could not have been easy, but at the same time probably did offer relief. I do think others would find great value in this book, and I thank the authors for sharing this work with the world.
First Ten review added on August 12, 2017, at 8:19 am by Christina Rose.
Kitkat3

I like the title and the cover. The blurb makes me interested, and the book has received great reviews. I may have sampled this book without this program. It appears to be professionally edited so far. A OnlineBookClub review would be helpful to let me know if the book was for me. I won't be buying and reading this now but maybe in the future.
First Ten review added on August 12, 2017, at 6:04 am by Kitkat3.
jwalker73

The topic of this book interests me, particularly since it is written by witnesses to the event. The blurb and customer reviews are also appealing. I have never read a screenplay novel before and find I am struggling with this format a bit. For that purpose, despite wanting to know more about this story, I will not be buying this novel today.
First Ten review added on August 12, 2017, at 3:36 am by jwalker73.
Miche Sora

Interesting concept, that the story was originally written as non-fiction, but ended up as historical fiction and written in play form to boot. The ineptitude of the police and lawyers is sadly not surprising. I have never understood the world's obsession with Princess Diana, but I can't even imagine being even a peripheral part of the circus around her death. Talk about life changing.
First Ten review added on August 12, 2017, at 3:05 am by Miche Sora.
ananya92

This is a book in the thriller genre. From the lengthy description itself, it is clear that this is not a book for light reading, and it takes a spin on Princess Diana's fatal accident, and how it affected the family which is in centerstage in the story. Since, I couldn't find a review for this book, I had to rely on the sample, and from the sample it was evident that the book is going to be a roller-coaster of a ride, with quite a few complications and twists. Much as I liked the idea of the book, I'm not in mood to read lengthy books right now, therefore I'll skip this one.
First Ten review added on August 12, 2017, at 1:19 am by ananya92.
Izesicle

I sampled the book because the title was interesting and well done. When I read it, I found out that it was about princess Diana's death and that it was a screenplay. It seems to be professionally edited. Historical fiction that is in the form of a screenplay is unique for me. The authors have credibility in the content since they were deposed eyewitnesses. On the other hand, I thought 2 author prologues were too long and too much. I'm also not interested in the subject matter plus I'm not fond of reading screenplays. There was no review and I am curious enough to read a review about it, but I will not buy the book.
First Ten review added on August 11, 2017, at 11:52 pm by Izesicle.
Kourtney Bradley

Just from the title of the book, I immediately thought of Princess Diana. Even though I had no idea what would be contained within the story yet, I just had this feeling that it would be her. I remember watching an interview once with her, and it seemed that she was expressing concern that her married family would never accept her as queen, and from then I always questioned whether there was suspicious actively surrounding her death. I always enjoy reading stories with true references, so I'm looking forward to reading the eye witness account of what really happened.
First Ten review added on August 11, 2017, at 11:42 pm by Kourtney Bradley.
Vermont Reviews

Chasing Diana- Perception Vs. Reality by Jack & Robin Firestone
today's book of the day. After reading the preview I did purchase the book. As we all know the news isn't always the 'truth' I am looking forward to finishing the story.
Vermont Reviews
First Ten review added on August 11, 2017, at 10:50 pm by Vermont Reviews.
Snowflake

I might have sampled this book without the first ten program. I have always been interested in Diana. However, I am not usually interested in sensationalized stories and it's hard to tell what this story will be like just from the cover. The Amazon review was decent but was a bit over the top in a couple of places. The sample included mostly the introductions by the two authors. The introductions were interesting and gave a decent background to the story. They seemed to assume that the reader would know who they were though and I did not. I did not notice any obvious typos or grammar errors and the writing seemed to flow well. I am not a big fan of the screenplay format. I am curious about the authors' story but not enough to read any further. I do not plan to read the rest of this book.
First Ten review added on August 11, 2017, at 9:41 pm by Snowflake.
Donnavila Marie01

This is a book about life's lessons. The author makes the reader feel that he is just listening to a friend over a cup of coffee while they are both recounting the events of the past. This is an inspiring book which may serve as a source of courage. My only issue with this book is the grammatical errors I encountered. This book needs the assistance of a professional editor.
First Ten review added on August 11, 2017, at 9:03 pm by Donnavila Marie01.
CataclysmicKnight

I ended up reading the Author's Notes as my ten pages since the sample doesn't include any of the screenplay itself, but even it was really tense and emotional! I was amazed at how much Robin was able to connect to Princess Diana's death and just how ridiculous the events after her death were. While I don't see buying it myself, it definitely looks like something for anyone who is interested in the death of Princess Diana for sure!
First Ten review added on August 11, 2017, at 7:56 pm by CataclysmicKnight.
Azeline Arcenal

After reading the sample, I decided not to buy the book. The sample was like a movie script which made it nothing like a novel. I also am not interested in reading books in this type of genre. However, I do like the book cover and I think it looks interesting.
First Ten review added on August 11, 2017, at 7:53 pm by Azeline Arcenal.
Seraphia Bunny Sparks

After reading a sample of, Chasing Diana - Perception VS Reality by Jack Firestone, I have decided that I will not be purchasing this book. Personally, I've never been that interested in the Royals, so this book doesn't interest me. Based on the title I knew that this book would not interest me. After reading some of this book that opinion has not changed. While this book sounds so heartbreaking, I believe that many will still enjoy it. Based on what I have read this book appears to be professionally edited. This book does not have an official OnlineBookClub review, but that did not impact my decision.
First Ten review added on August 11, 2017, at 7:52 pm by Seraphia Bunny Sparks.
micoleon13

This is a great cover page and title. The candle smoke following the woman (Diana) is a tribute to the song Candel in the Wind. I don't read plays, but the concept of this interests me. There was unfortunately no Onlinebookclub review to help me get a better idea of the book. The pages which I read were well written and edited. There were two very long introductions by the authors, which did drag a bit. The first, however, was very emotional which caught my attention. I think people will enjoy this, but I just can't get my head around reading plays, so I will not continue to read this.
First Ten review added on August 11, 2017, at 7:28 pm by micoleon13.
Cjgarland89

Based on the cover alone I was interested in this book. I've always been fascinated with this story even though I was very young when it happened. After sampling I am completely drawn in to wanting to see the rest of the book and what the first hand account is like, and how it differs from popular belief. I didn't see any errors in the book.
First Ten review added on August 11, 2017, at 6:56 pm by Cjgarland89.
Lennycat

Had I not read the first ten pages as a part of this program, I probably would not have read this book because I would rather remember Princess Diana how she was. I think the book cover is well-balanced and looks professional. The color scheme is complementary and the font is appropriate. I read the sample and I though that the print is really too small. It was quite difficult for me to read. I did not find any grammatical or technical errors and it looked professionally edited. When I got to the main part of the book, I was disappointed to find that it is in film script. It was a turn off for me because I think I would have rather read a first-hand account from the eyewitness' perspective. Unfortunately, I would not choose to read this book, but I would recommend it to others who would be interested.
First Ten review added on August 11, 2017, at 6:37 pm by Lennycat.
dhomespot

When I saw the cover and read the blurb, I was interested in this book. I stayed interested in the book when I first started reading the first ten pages. It lost me when it started reading like a screen play. I find I cannot fully follow a story written in this style. The book looks to be professionally edited and I did not notice any errors.
First Ten review added on August 11, 2017, at 6:28 pm by dhomespot.
gali

I probably wouldn't have sampled the book on my own, as it isn't is not the usual sort of book I read. The cover isn't too appealing and the blurb is far too busy. The sample consisted mostly of some praises, cast of characters, two tedious introductions, one was enough, and a screenplay jargon before moving on to the prologue. The prologue was written in a script form, not my favorite narration style. I understand the entire book is like that. I won't read the book as I don't like the format and the writing.
First Ten review added on August 11, 2017, at 6:17 pm by gali.
Gingerbo0ks

It's not immediately obvious from the cover but this is a book based on an eye witness account of the aftermath of the Paris crash that killed Princes Diana. I read the whole sample of this book and whilst the first two introductions are engaging and written well, I believe the actual book is a screenplay format. I'm not very familiar with reading these and would find it hard to follow. However the author's background is in acting and screenplay so this would explain it. I would prefer to watch something like this rather than read it.
First Ten review added on August 11, 2017, at 6:04 pm by Gingerbo0ks.
Scerakor

From the cover, blurb, and description of this book I would not have read it. I am not only not interested in screenplay type books, but also not really interested in the topic at hand. After reading the sample of this one, I did not change my mind. Although I do think that this is a very unique approach to one of history's marking events (and that it seems well written and edited), it wasn't enough to convince me to buy and read the rest of this book. The lack of an official OBC review did not affect my decision at all.
First Ten review added on August 11, 2017, at 4:49 pm by Scerakor.
DDunstock

I normally shy away from non-fiction. Also, when Princess Diana died, I was pretty young, so her story and the intrigue of her death doesn't really resonate with me. Even though the bit about the murder mystery is intriguing, this isn't a book I would pick up to read.
What I did not get from the blurb was that this is actually a screen play. That's quite interesting! The dialogue is good - but the lack of punctuation of the character's names is a bit jumbled. I would still probably choose not to read this screen play.
First Ten review added on August 11, 2017, at 4:41 pm by DDunstock.
Total ~ 22%
Chasing Diana - Perception Vs. Reality earned a score of 22%.
In other words, out of the top-level reviewers who read at least the first 10 pages of this book, 22% plan to read the whole book.
IMPORTANT: Any score over 10% is considered very good. And any score above 0% is acceptable.
Over a million books are published each year. Any given person could not even read .0001% of the books out there. This means readers have to be very selective. Even taking the time to look over reviews and blurbs, let alone read samples, is more time than most readers can afford for most books. The First Ten is a powerful focus group that addresses those issues. It creates a helpful tool for authors, publishers, and other readers.
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