I’m a bit nervous this week as my latest book came out last Friday. It’s the first historical novel I’ve written to be published and I just know the historical police are coming to haul me off. I’m sure I’ve broken some rule or used some phrase or fabric that wasn’t in vogue in 1920 and I’ll be called out on the mistake. Anyone have a jousting lance?
Seriously, I try not to look at bad reviews because I know some of my stuff won’t appeal to a lot of the people out there. We don’t all like the same things so why would I think my books would be universally loved? They won’t be and that’s all right. I write because I enjoy it and I fall a bit in love with all my characters- especially the heroes. I write what I like and enjoy. I can only hope that my stories bring pleasure to one or two other folks out there in this vast, lovely world that has room for all kinds of literature.
So, do I shudder at bad reviews? Yeah, but I also shudder at the good ones, because it humbles me when someone that doesn’t know me, likes my voice and my characters. It’s amazing to read the good ones.
If you want to try that historical and perhaps joust with me, check it out here: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/StoreFront.bok
Angela Schroeder
Patricia Kiyono
Elaine Cantrell
Jeff Salter
Joselyn
Tonette Joyce
Four Foxes, One Hound 
Congrats on the newest release, Jillian! And I know the feeling. Once it’s out there…well, you have no control over it and can only take what’s coming to you and hope that it’s good, LOL
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Thank you, Danica.
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I’ve been through reviews, eons ago, with the two non-fiction monographs I co-authored. Fortunately they were mostly good for our first book … and sales were dramatically affected. The second book was only so-so reviews and it languished.
So even though the reviewers may be opinionated & ignorant (on the negative side) some can be wonderfully perceptive and brilliant … if they like our stuff. LOL.
Just like movie reviewers Siskal and Ebert. If one of them loved a movie, I could figure I prob. wouldn’t like it (don’t recall which guy). If one of them hated that movie, I figured it had a pretty good chance with me. Diff. strokes for diff. folks.
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Same here Jeff. I almost always agreed with siskel and never ebert.
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Congratulations on the release. I’ve read reviews where I say a Thank you that the reviewer didn’t do one of mine. But so far I’ve been fortunate and I hope it stays that way. If not I’ll be writing for support.
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Thanks Lavada. I hope it stay that way for us both
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I LOVE that cover. 🙂 And I know what you mean about reviews. I do read them, but like you, I try to read them with a grain of salt. About the time I start letting the good reviews go to my head, one of the not-so-good ones comes in and rights my world. Sigh. But don’t those good reviews give you a warm fuzzy feeling for a while? 🙂
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The good ones do make you feel great.
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I’m not to that point to worry about reviews, but I’m sure those will probably trump my fear of the critique. But you have nothing to fear from me, my dear friend. It is a gorgeous cover and I will soon be reading it. Congratulations!
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Thanks Micki.
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Hope you enjoyed your release day and have been enjoying the journey since. I’m all nervous about getting reviews. I know there will be people who hate my debut novel, who love it, who will kinda like it and some who couldn’t care less to even pick it up. LOL!!
We’ll just weather it together, right?
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Thanks Lynn. And yep, together we can weather it.
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