Few things are more gratifying to a writer than to have someone say they like your story. Readers who share their comments about what they like, what they found lacking and what they are recommending to the world is the lifeblood of an author’s career.  We learn from the criticism and we are encouraged by the praise. 

This may seem like a small thing, but it remains remarkable because there are thousands of books sold before a review is posted.  I’m talking about your neighbor, your sister, your co-worker here, not the big time reviewers in newspapers and bloggers who get books in advance of publication.  It’s the reader who buys the book or who is given a copy by a friend, or borrows it from the library who matters.  A choice is made. A book enters your life to occupy your time for days. If you hate it you will drop it in four minutes.  But if you like it, you become invested in the world of the characters.  You come to know the people in the story and you develop opinions about them. Sometime you fall in love and it is sad when the book ends and you feel that the story should have gone on, just a little bit longer, or that there should be another book, or an entire series.

Once in a rare while, a reader feels compelled to share their thoughts.  That is gold for a writer.  For me, this has made all the difference and has created the desire to write the sequel to Ravenscraig. (This next one will be all about art forgery in 1914  being sold to millionaires in New York.)

Next time your book club gets together, ask your members how many books they read in a year, and ask how many reviews they have written in their lifetime.  It’s true that those who take the time to post those reviews are very special indeed to the authors.  Even the big names are likely to read your words when you post those reviews. 

So it is that I send out a big thank you today to the readers that have found Ravenscraig and have been moved to write a review.  Writers live off the kind words of people who love our stories. We know that not everyone will get what we are saying, but for those who do, there is no greater joy than a fab review on Amazon.  It drives us to keep going, despite it all.

So to Mazza who posted this review in the UK, I can only say thank you so much for your enthusiasm and for sharing your thoughts.

Thank you Mazza!

Happy weekend everyone.

And by the way, if you want to send me a note, I will certainly write back to you.  You can write to me at sandikaltner@aol.com. Or connect with me on Twitter @SandiAltner.

Also please see the reviews on Amazon.com