Comments on Reviews at Amazon

Amazon is now allowing comments on reviews. Evidently (I have not tried it, so I can't confirm this) the author of the book can respond to a review on her book.

Oh boy, talk about opening a can of worms!

Ann Rice responded to some negative reviews once on Amazon. It was highly entertaining to read, but as an author, I don't recommend it.

Reviews are a reader's opinion. And readers generally love to talk about books they read, the good, the bad and the ugly. I know my sister and I can spend a long time debating a book. It's part of the fun. Amazon has become another forum for readers sharing opinions.

The author interfering in that is probably not a good idea. We tend to get our feelings hurt and strike out in anger. Come on, admit it, we do. Who wouldn't? And secondly, I think we're sticking our nose where it doesn't belong. Our job is to write the books, it's the readers job to talk about them. (Promotion is a different thing, I'm just talking about Amazon reviews and comments here). I don't think it'll help our promote us and I know it will suck up vast amounts of emotional energy that would be better spent on writing.

That's my opinion--what's yours?

Season Premiere Dud

I was so excited to accidentally stumble onto the Gray's Anatomy TV show this summer! I loved it. Dr. Burke is yummy. Dr. McDreamy just makes me want to slap him, but whatever. Christina so does NOT deserve Dr. Burke...

I totally got sucked in. I was so looking foward to the season premiere last night.

And...YAWN. I was bored. Flashbacks, scenes with people sprawled on the floor next to the heart broken grieving Izzy...Whatever. Boring.

Where's the tension? Where's Dr. Burke? Why isn't he dumping Christina and calling me???

Oh well, maybe the next show will pick up the pace.

Anyone else watch the show? Am I the only one disappointed? And shouldn't I be writing my book not chatting about a TV show?

Blogging: What Do You Think?

I'll do better at blogging, really! Today's just chit chat.

I did blog yesterday at the Brava Website and everyone was so nice. It was my first time.

I'm transitioning from mystery writer to romance writer, and I really hadn't given it much thought until I wrote that blog. I've always had romance in my mysteries, so it's not a big stretch for me. In fact romances these days are so much more diverse with all kinds of different plots, subplots, and ever paranormal worlds. It was interesting to see if readers over at the Brava blog liked the direction that romances are going.

I'm wondering what you all think about blogging? I love the personal connection it creates, but I also have trouble keeping up. Between writing, research, promotion, email...the computer seems to rule my life. And yet, blogs can brighten my day with a laugh (Jill Shalves is priceless!), or provide information, or too many things to mention. So what do you all thing of blogging?

Spoiled Witch

I am so totally into being a witch :-)

This weekend, I was hanging out with some writer friends talking about blogging. The conventional wisdom is that we should put our photo up with our blogs. Name to face recognition.

Whatever.

I've see my face everyday, and it's not that interesting. Well sometimes it's interesting when my rash flares up, but not interesting in a good way.

But a witch, now that's interesting and fun! (Thank you Cele!) So I put a witch in the place of my photo and now I'm blogging as if I were a witch. Hmmm...That could be psychologically interesting...

But I did have a point. I think. Spoiled, right. Saturday, I went to my Orange County Chapter of Romance Writers of America meeting. I love it there! I had a blast, hanging with friends,listening to editor Anna Genoese from Tor/Forge. After the meeting was over, I didn't want the fun to end. So I called my husband.

"Uh, you know that reception for the editor that I said I wasn't going to go to?"

Smug male voice. "You're going?"

Me, guilty. "Well yeah. Unless you need me at home?"

"No, go on. Have fun."

"Uhh, can you find something for dinner?"

"For myself?"

I pause here. What? Did he think I meant for Jessica Simpson? I immediatly feel guilty too. I hate the idea of my husband eating dinner alone. Really hate it. "Well yeah. I won't be late, but we're having pizza at the reception and..."

"Sure. I find something for dinner."

"Okay, I won't be late."

Laughter. For the two years I was co-president, I was never home before ten so he's laughting AT me. Then he hangs up.

Ha, I wasn't late! I was home around seven. Not late at all! But when I got home, I saw that every single window in my house sparkled in the setting sun. While I was off having fun and calling it work, my husband had cleaned all the windows in the house for me.

Spoiled. But the odd thing is that few people realize how much my husband does for me everyday. I don't know why. They tend to focus in on the fact that I like to cook dinner (really simple dinners!) for him every night no matter what. Umm, maybe because he's so good to me?

JOKE: How to Solve A Man's Mid Life Crisis

A friend (Hi Susan!) sent me this joke...

I was married 25 years. I took a look at my wife one day and I
said, "Honey, 25 years ago, we had a cheap apartment, a cheap car, we
slept on a sofa bed and watched a 10 inch black and white TV, but I
got to sleep with a beautiful 25 year old blonde every night.

Now, we have a nice house, nice car, big bed and plasma screen TV,
but I'm sleeping with a 50 year old woman. It seems to me that you
are not holding up your side of things."

My wife is a very reasonable woman. She told me to go out and find a
beautiful 25 year old blonde, and she would make sure that I would once again be living in a cheap apartment, driving a cheap car, and sleeping on a sofa bed.

Aren't older women great? See how easily they can solve your mid-life crisis?

Hero Trumps Goddess

Dear Author with a Goddess Complex,

When I agreed to this gig as a hero, you promised me sun, sand and sex. What did you give me? A heroine on the run, a friend playing his twisted version of matchmaker, and a heroine who is NOT MY TYPE. Sure she's sexy, and she makes me laugh, but she needs me. Okay, maybe she doesn't realize she needs me but she does. And I can't walk away, damn it.

You don't play fair, author. Why should I?

And seriously, get over yourself. You might think up the scenes, but I make them work. I'm the hero!

Nick

No More Ms. Nice Author...

Dear Nick,

I tried to be nice. I gave you a lovely woman for a heroine and all you had to do was cooperate. I put you in a beautiful setting at a beach resort. Heck, she got over her no-one-night-stand rule and wanted you.

And you said no.

Huh? You're a guy! What the heck is wrong with you? You want her; you've wanted her ever since you first met her months ago. What's this about your rule—no mixing work and relationships?

Dude, you have some serious control issues.

I'm done being nice. You hurt the feelings of my heroine, buddy, and you are going to pay. You will learn what jealousy feels like. You will learn what it's like to be completely, one hundred percent out of control. You will fall hard, and later, you'll thank me.

Don't mess with me, I'm an author and that makes me the Goddess of Your World.

Sincerely,
Jen

BravaAuthors.com

I'm posting AGAIN! Three days in a row! Amazing!

In January, my first full length Brava comes out, THE SEX ON THE BEACH BOOK CLUB. Brava is the name of the imprint by Kensington Publishing.

Today, the Brava authors are launching our new website Bravaauthors.com. If the hot link doesn't work, here is the addy http://www.bravaauthors.com/ Please go look and tell me what you think!

Much of this effort has been headed by Sylvia Day. Thank you Sylvia! I just read Sylvia's book ASK FOR IT, and wow, it was awesome! If you like hot sex with your regency love story, run out and buy this book!