The Best Reviews: Misha Herwin
I have, pinned to my notice board, the following quote
“if fifty people buy and read your book you have a market. If only five of
those fifty readers read your novel form cover–to-cover and reviewed your book,
you have an accomplishment. If only one reader not only reads and enjoys your
novel, but understands the message, you are a successful author-artist.”
This is certainly one way of looking at the vexed
question of success as a writer. There are of course, others, like the numbers
of books you sell, how high up the Amazon rankings you are, how many five star
reviews you have, whether your books are for sale in supermarkets and are they
being optioned for/made into a Hollywood movie.
At the moment, being in the middle of promoting
“Bridge of Lies” the next book in the series of The Adventures of Letty Parker,
I veer somewhere between the two views. Of course I need reviews. How else will
I sell my books? Or more importantly how will my potential readers know what I
have written? So I have approached book bloggers, who have read and will review
in time for publication day on May 10th. I am also planning a book
signing event at the local library and am spreading the word in every way I
can.
This is all part of the business of writing.
But to go back to what is really meaningful, to the
reader “who not only reads and enjoys your novel, but understands the message,”
they are who I write for and if they take the time to write and say how much
they appreciate the book that is the most amazing feeling.
It’s those letters, messages, or emails that stay with
me. They validate what I’ve been trying to do as a writer. They make me feel
good on a day when the writing is going badly.
So thank you Frances for your letter about “Shadows on
the Grass.” It’s pinned up, safe in its envelope, on my notice board to remind
what this writing lark is all about.
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