Reviews

The good news first, THRILLED TO DEATH got a really nice review from Publisher's Weekly:

"…This hard-to-put down cozy will please committed fans and attract new ones."

I have mixed feelings about reviews. The nice ones make me feel good for a couple minutes, and the bad ones stick in my memory forever. But in the end, they really are one person's opinion. We know that reviews can have a marginal affect on book sales.

The true power behind book sales is word of mouth. People love the book so much, that just like that old shampoo commercial, they tell two friends, who tell two friends…you get the idea. We know that readers will purchase a book on a personal recommendation over reviews.

A perfect illustration of that are literary novels. They often get exquisite reviews and low sales.

So back to my point about reviews: I was just discussing with a small bookstore owner. She told me that the advantage of good reviews in the big outlets like Publisher's Weekly, Kirkus and Library Journal is that they can influence book buyers for bigger chains, and the small independent bookstores, to order the books.

But what about bad reviews? Kirkus did a hilarious slice and dice on my first book DATING CAN BE MURDER. It comes with the territory, especially when you add humor and sex to a book that can invoke an adolescent reaction in some people. I usually just suck it up and move on. Not everyone is going to love or appreciate my books. I can live with that.

But what about when a review crosses the line and becomes personal as happened to Tess Gerritsen? You can read about it at her blog here. To quote part of what the reviewer said,

"…the only author I have read in 40 years who makes me want to slap her."

That crosses the line. Any newspaper or media that printed that should be ashamed of themselves and are ethically-challenged. That was a personal attack on Ms. Gerritsen, a writer whom I happen to admire for many reasons. The irony in this is that the reviewer called Ms. Gerritsen's novel "abusive garbage" and yet the reviewer is being abusive in this review. This just makes my blood boil, and it makes me cringe for Tess. I've never met her in person, but the world of publishing isn't that big and I've heard nothing but positive things about her.

She also writes excellent books.

So in the normal course of things, reviews can be a mixed bag. But reviews that go after the writer personally are clearly out of line and in my opinion, should never be tolerated.