As any author will tell you, we have a peculiar relationship with reviews… First, you wait. And wait. Then wait some more. During this time, all kinds of things go through your head. They all hate your book and can’t think of a kind way to tell you… The blurb didn’t catch their attention and so no-one will ever read it… And so it goes…

At the same time, though, you wait with a kind of excited, fearful expectancy, scouring the review lists and holding your breath each time you check your mail. Then, when it finally does come, it gets dissected and analysed and reread a gazillion times, and every little nuance is turned over until it’s just about worn out. That’s what we do. Of course, as authors we want everyone to love our work. As humans, with all the frailties of “normal” people, we seem set to imagine the worst, to even look for it.

What I’ve come to see is that reviews are a lot like mirrors… and we all know what mirrors are like! Like the ones in the fitting rooms – have you ever noticed that all of them are sort of murky and seem to be especially designed to make you look as bad as possible? I usually promise myself to mention this to the management (doesn’t seem like very good sales policy to me??) but most times end up so frustrated and depressed that I forget.

And wouldn’t we all like a mirror that told us exactly what we wanted? The latest version of “mirror mirror on the wall”, except this time it couldn’t tell the truth, only what you needed to hear… Dream on, I guess. But it’s a nice thought, and definitely beats the typical fitting room mirror reality hands down.

Still, a lot of the time we see exactly what we expect to see, whether it be good or bad. Most times, in typical human fashion, it’s the bad. I’ve made a choice to look at the review mirror as a positive thing, irrespective of the outcome. Even criticism, if handled correctly, can be a useful learning tool – so long as I keep in mind that it’s impossible to please everyone all of the time. I find it immensely interesting looking at my work through the eyes of others, and I’m learning to evaluate and decide for myself what is relevant and how far to take it.

Okay, so I’ve been lucky. I haven’t yet had a really snarky review to deal with, and I sincerely hope I never do! But I write for the love of it, and because it’s something I simply have to do, like breathing. I don’t want that to change. Ever. I never want to write to please people, but rather to please people because I write. And I want to keep learning, and to hear what other people have to say, even if it sometimes isn’t exactly what I want to hear… And, most of all, I want to keep believing in what I do, and in myself.

If you’d like to peek into my review mirrors and see what they have to say, here are the links:

http://www.reviewyourbook.com/review.cfm?reviewid=1571

“Romance is in the air from the moment Josie met Cade. The sparks of anger and love fly between these two. The plot is endearing and the characters likable. Still Running by Judah Raine is sure to please the most astute fan of romance.” (5 Stars)

http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2009/04/still-running-by-judah-raine.html (4 Books)
“Still Running is a wonderful story that I found to be a very entertaining read. Josie’s journey as she learns to stop running is one that many should enjoy.”

http://www.classicromancerevival.com/blog/?p=243 (5 Wings)
The Look by Judah Raine is a sweet romance with lots of romantic tension and a glorious Happily Ever After. This reviewer read it on a rainy afternoon in one sitting and was transported to South Africa and the strong, protective arms of Blake Thornton.

Okay, I’m off to play “catch-up” – see you soon!
Jude