Now What?

When I find an author that's new to me, if I like the book I read, I'll go in search of everything else she wrote so I can read that as well. This can be a little discouraging when it turns out the book I just read is the author's latest or first release in a series and the next one isn't out yet.

Even though I'm a writer, I will freely admit that I am guilty of being impatient. I look at the book sitting in the new release section for a month or so, and I start doing a mental toe tapping and thinking it's time for the next book. Of course, as a writer, I know better than anyone it's not possible to release books in rapid succession. Well,  not unless you've already got several of the books written and ready to go, which most writers don't.

That being said, it occurred to me that I need to give you an update on what's next for me. It's been two weeks since Going Even Wilder was released. Going Even Wilder is a kindle world novella, the second I've done in the last year. So, now what?

My next book will actually be out in November. It's a romantic suspense novella entitled Missing Out that's part of the Chandler County series. It's currently in the editing stage and then will be sent for formatting. It will be available in preorder in September.

While Missing Out is being edited, I've already gotten started on my next book. The Truth Inside will be the first book in my New Beginnings new adult series, and I've got good news. There are currently six books planned for my New Beginnings series, but it's more likely to stretch to ten or more, provided you enjoy the first few.

Next year, I am also going to join the Romance Writers Association. You want to know this because it means I might be able to start doing author appearances. I don't do them now because I don't know about these conventions and events until it's too late. Being part of the RWA will change that, and I am excited about the possibilty of meeting my readers. It's always so humbling to hear that people like my books.

There you have it. New books and a new series are on the horizon, and I can't wait to share it all with all of you.

Not My Bad, Review That Is

Even if you don't follow any of my other social media, as a regular reader of this blog, you know how much book reviews mean to me. You have often heard me asking for them, begging even, and assuring you that a review doesn't have to be dissertation length. A simple one liner means as much as an essay. The point  isn't how long the review is. It's that you cared enough about the book to write it.

You're probably wondering if I write as many reviews for other authors as I beg to be written for my books. The truth is that I don't, but I have a good reason.

As an author, I know the blood, sweat and tears, the time and effort, that goes in to writing a book. I know how much an author's book means to her and how nerve wracking it is to find the courage to share that book with the world. I not only know how soul crushing a bad review can be, I can't in good conscience put down a peer by writing a bad review. If I read a book that doesn't appeal to me, I simply don't write the review.

From a reader's standpoint, I probably should. Some readers make a point to read reviews before deciding whether or not to buy a book. I don't want to warn anyone off. Doing that can cause the loss of a sale which affects an author's livelihood. One man's trash and all that.

There are some authors who read every one of their reviews and some who don't read any. Some of us lose sleep over one bad review, ignoring all of the good ones surrounding it while others just lift the proverbial finger in its direction. Many of us do one or more of these things, but some of us do one other important thing.

We read our reviews and use them as a means to improve our craft. Those honest reviews, though sometimes brutal, can be as valuable as the glowing five star reviews that proclaim we can write no wrong.

I know this, but I just can't do it. I can't write a review telling a fellow author how they got it wrong. If I was just a regular reader, I'm sure I could, but I feel a responsibility to support other authors. The good news is that I feel just as strongly about writing good reviews for my peers because they deserve to know their hard work is appreciated.

There you have it. The not so ugly truth. As long as I'm a writer, I won't write reviews that trash the books of other writers.