The Writer's Alphabet - R is for Reviews

Reviews is a sacred topic to an author.  To some it might be the difference between making the best-selling list or falling way below the quadruple digits on Amazon.  It might also be the thing that makes you a household name with the readers of your genre.  See?  They are serious things.  I don't give them for that reason.  I don't think I can be impartial enough.  Others are simply AMAZING reviewers and I have had the good fortune to be reviewed by several of the best, in all my genres.  But, the whole review issue has come to a head.  I wrote a blog topic on this earlier in the year and its a perfect theft for this blog.  I learned quite a few things and this is the perfect place to remind you of them.


So, here are the things I learned:

1. Reviewers read and review books because they love to read.  And they love the authors.  Of course, I knew this, or at least suspected it, but it was cool to read it from a certified source. Remember, this for the next thing I learned.
2. Reviewers would love to have your book.  And anything else you might offer. I used to be embarrassed about asking for reviews, but I have changed my opinion on that now.  I'll ask anyone, but I always offer a copy of my book in exchange for an honest review.  
3. If I am requesting a review on a book I have in print, I offer that book, signed, as well.  And I try to send reviewers signed book marks for their time.  Because they spend a truckload of time on reviews.  And while I do NOT believe it is ethical to pay for a review, I feel offering my book is the gift I give them for the gift of their review.
4. Reviewers want you to know that it KILLS them to not review your book favorably.  If they are reviewing for themselves, most will contact you and explain why they are not posting a review.  You should be grateful for that.  
5. If they are writing for a site, they have to post a review. If it is not the glowing 5-star you expect, DO NOT RESPOND NEGATIVELY TO THE REVIEW.  Swallow your pride and your disgust and use it as learning tool.  
6. Most reviewers tend to be stingy with the 5-stars.  Expect that.  I, personally, am happy with a 3-star and thrilled with a 4-star.  My head is not too big to realize there is a thing or two I have yet to learn, and each new book helps me learn it.  Think of one hit song wonders, like "My Sharona".  That was their 5-star review.  And where was their follow-up?  Non-existent.  My point exactly.
7. Reviewers don't want you to be afraid to ask for a review.  Most are elated that their opinion is important to you.  Most also would like to know where you want reviews posted.  Some authors are no longer requesting reviews be posted to Amazon, afraid of any measure of retribution.  But, contrary to popular opinion, they are NOT the only game in town.  Authors can have reviews posted on Barnes and Noble, Good reads, Pinterest, publisher's sites, as well as the reviewer and author's own pages.
8. Lastly, if you read and review as well, offer to return the favor.  Many reviewers are authors too, and your opinion of their work may be just as important to them as theirs to yours.  Give them the opportunity.  I am NOT a reviewer, so instead, I offer to host them on my personal bloggy, this actual bloggy, in fact. I've never been turned down.  :-)

My First Review

Hi everyone.  I'm excited and pleased to tell you my first review is in for Spellbound......AND IT GOT 4 OUT OF 5 STARS!  How about that?  I was super lucky that the reviewer really seemed to tap into the inner struggle of Serena and Logan and understand the coming-of-age aspect of their journey.  While it is great to get a high mark in my review, I think my greater joy was my dawning recognition that I have written something that someone "GETS", do you know what I mean?  That, for me, was the greater astonishment, even greater, truly, than the great marks.  Even though it was stellar to get those, don't get me wrong.  So here, for your reading pleasure, is my first blogger review.  Thanks to Sherry Gloag, author in her own right, of Duty Calls, available now at all the usual suspects.  Thank you Sherry, for an insightful and thoughtfully written review!

Sherry Gloag's Reviews > Spellbound

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Spellbound
bySamantha Combs, Elaina Lee (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator)

Sherry Gloag's review

Jul 13, 11

Read in July, 2011

Review:
Writing in the 1st person can be restricting, but Ms Combs overcomes both this, and head-hopping, in Spellbound with her masterly use of giving various characters their own sections in the story. Not only does the reader see the events from multiple viewpoints, but each one segues neatly into the next without slowing the pace of the story.
There is a large cast of characters, but the author’s technique ensures the reader never loses track of her main players. I did find keeping track of what the different coven members specialised in a bit hard, but once again Ms Combs kept prompting me as the story progressed.
Logan and Serena’s meeting is the catalyst for change in their lives. For Logan, it is about discovering a whole new aspect of life and coming to terms with it when he discovers the girl he is falling in love with is a twitch – teenage witch – then his widowed mother reveals secrets which tilt his new and topsy-turvy life upside down. That he adjusts copes so well with each revelation and its consequences might have the author turning him into some sort of super-human, but no, under Ms Combs influence Logan grows and matures with a compassion and understanding that never becomes mawkish or unrealistic.
While Serena seems to have her future mapped out for her and her elder and younger sisters around for support, encouragement and sharing, it soon becomes clear that that any reader pre-conceptions soon go up in a puff of demonic smoke. Her new boyfriend is not the only one who finds his life tilting on its axis as revelations aplenty are thrown at her. Serena’s strength of character matches that of her boyfriend, Logan and together with the support of some fun and entertaining characters face their biggest challenge knowing the cost of losing would be death for at least one of them.
The secondary characters all play their parts in moving the story forward and come from different arenas and yet all come together at the end of this fluently written and fast-paced story in such a manner this reader was sad to part company with them at the end of their tale.
For those who enjoy YA, paranormal and romance all wrapped up together, then Ms Combs is an author to watch out for.

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