The Next Book

Time to move on to the next book. It's strange to leave one world behind and sink into another, but then that's the joy of being a writer. I'll let you know how this one goes.

Zen and the art of reading book reviews (when they don't like your book)

Storm Tide just got it's first bad review. I won't go into detail, since I'm not into self flagellation, but let's just say this reader won't be picking up my next book in a hurry.

So what's a gal to do? How does one respond to such a thing? I mean I don't have to respond to him actually, he's somewhere in Florida, thank goodness, a whole continent away, but I mean in my heart, how am I to respond?

My first reaction was to give him the finger (figuratively, of course), but now I'm not sure where to go from there. Maybe he has something valuable to say. Maybe there's something in his dislike for the book that can teach me something. Hmmm... maybe I'm not ready to move on to that reaction yet. Give me a day or two of sticking him the finger.

I guess it was inevitable that someone wouldn't like my book. Maybe many people won't, but that's not going to stop me is it? Surely not. Maybe I'll just ignore it, turn that page and move on to the next project (with a quick review of positive reviews to bolster me first). And while I'm at it I'll practice the art of being zen about bad book reviews. Ommmmmmm.....