Those darn reviews

There's an old saying that authors shouldn't read their reviews. If you listened to my podcast with Jess Michaels, you will have heard she is in agreement with that. I agree with it, too, up to a point. 

A review can be helpful if you've completely missed the mark with a book. As an indie publisher, I have the opportunity to go back and fix it. Or feedback can direct me into what's working and what isn't. Is my Hillendale series resonating with my readers? What about the Epitaph series? What should I write next based on how well previous books have been received? 

Here's the thing. When a new book releases, you want that "money quote" that will help promote it to other readers who haven't read it yet. A review will provide that. But after a certain point in time, you reach a point of diminishing returns. Reviews become ego feeding or soul crushing. I hit both when I went looking for that money quote for my new book. I stumbled on reviews I didn't know I had.

Who is Chad?? Demolished? And "knowing the author..." I don't know anyone named Chad, so I can only assume knows me through my books. The wait is over, Chad! Go get 'em! And thank you for the review.

I made the rounds at the major booksellers - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Kobo, Goodreads. Then, because I was on my tablet, I took a shortcut to B&N through their Nook app and found some that aren't on the B&N website. Interesting... Never would have thought to look there separately.

I have reviews from one person who absolutely loved the Hillendales, and then moved on to the Epitaphs. She reviewed every one of them on Goodreads and raved about how wonderful the books,  recommending them in glowing terms (Thank you, Bobbi!). Definite ego boosters. With each review, I relived each book and remembered all the things I'd loved about them when I was writing them. 

Then there's the review I blogged about a couple of weeks ago, where the reader basically said she liked the story while bashing my ability to write. One thing every editor I've worked with, every contest I've entered, has told me is that I know how to write. So who is this person? An English teacher with an axe to grind? Not "soul crushing" but definitely disappointing. I know I'm not for everyone, which is why I try very hard not to dwell on the reviews from people who "don't get me."

Double-edged swords, those reviews. They're important when it comes to promotion. Books need a minimum number to qualify for some promotions. And you know what? Some days the good reviews are what keep me going, knowing there are people out there who enjoy reading what I write as much as I enjoy writing it.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me on my writing journey with a review, both the good and the bad. I hope I can continue to "demolish" expectations with each subsequent story.