I’ve been wrestling with a problem as of late, as our blog is growing and my presence on goodreads is getting larger: Is it better to put a bad review up or just no rating at all? Let me put this question in context. Authors need ratings, and recommendations, hey it’s how the world goes round in the book business, so in order to get that you have to get your books into people hands. The trend, and it’s not just indie authors since I’m also a member of netgalley, is to give away free books to people that will give you a review or blog about your book. Press is important. But as the old adage bad press is better than no press applicable here? I always tell authors, please be prepared I will be honest in my reviews, and that’s true I don’t hand out five stars just because I got a free book. But what if I hated it? What if I felt it was a one star flop? Still review? Tell all? Or just stay quiet? Let me know what you think in the poll I’ve attached, and this is not just for authors to vote on please do if you review books, or even if you just read tell me which would you prefer?
Tag: confessions
Are You a Series Sucker?
I noticed today that a book that I absolutely despised released a second book in the series and found myself going to my library to order it so I could read the next book. Why? Cause I think I’m a series sucker. What’s that? It’s someone who continues to read a series to see what happens even if you didn’t like the story or the writing style. Once you’ve got me I feel compelled to at least read 2-3 books (the only exception to this was 50 Shade, I just couldn’t do it) regardless of how much I liked or disliked the actual book. It’s not as if I don’t have enough to read, I have a waiting list of 10 books right now that I have to finish by the end of the month, or a true interest in the characters, in fact most of the time I end up frustrated and angry. So why do I do it? Yeah….I got nothing, but that book, I’m gonna read it. And I’ll drag Les down with me 🙂
So what about you, can you stop a series if you don’t like the way it’s going, or are you like me forced into finishing reading just a little more?
Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined by Stephenie Meyers
As I am sure you have heard about this new book, Life and Death, that Stephenie Meyers is putting out for the 10th anniversary of Twilight. Now, I am a twilight fan, don’t hold it against me. I am however just pretty shocked and kind of angry that this is what she is choosing to give us, her devoted readers that made Twilight what it is today.
Her readers have begged for years since the talk began of doing the Twilight series from Edwards point of view. She allows someone to read one of the drafts and they betray her trust and release it, and now all of the fans have to suffer. Even though this wasn’t the only version in existence.
So the part that makes me angry is that here she is trying to sell us this mockery of a book instead of giving us the greatest gift that would have brought Twilight back to the fore front, which is Midnight Sun.
So, when do we finally get to have the book we are dreaming about? When is our loyalty to the books, movies, and entire franchise going to be rewarded? Or, is it that we just don’t matter as much as we thought, or would like to believe we do.
As a big Twilight fan, I refuse to be quieted by this scrap she is throwing us. I feel like she will always be waving the Midnight Sun bone in front of us like snapping dogs forever.
I am vowing right here and now that I will not purchase this book, I will not let it overshadow what she at one time said she would give us, her loyal fans, Midnight Sun.
Look, I know authors can’t give every reader what they want, but I believe that if you say you are going to deliver something, then you should hold up your end of the bargain, and we will hold up ours.
Peace
Les
The Unspoken Agreement
I have always felt there was an unspoken agreement between an author and us readers when we purchase a book and frankly lately I think the rules have been out the window. So I’m curious, is it just me that feels this way, having these expectations of my writers? Do I need to adjust to a new way of writing? Or are some books just not playing by the rules? Allow me to explain.
When I buy a book it’s like the author and I have made a contract. A simple one, I will give money to your seller and you will deliver a story. I don’t have to like it but it must follow the guidelines of all stories. Sound simple? Apparently not. This is how I view a story: A beginning, if it’s the first time we are meeting everyone with character and world building when appropriate. Then a middle, this is where your plot comes to life, the climax of the story as it is, whether it’s bad guys seemingly defeating good guys, or a big fight, big reveals, this is when we get the meat of the story. The all important end, the big finish, where you frankly actually finish the book. No cliffhangers (I will discuss this), no unrelated twists, just bring it home. Make it complete.
What I feel like has been a trend in some writing lately…
The Cliffhanger. Why do authors do this? Especially with book one? I have yet to meet a reader that loves this, so why do it? Is it because you just couldn’t think of an ending? Is it because you want me to be forced to buy your next book (doesn’t work with me, you cliff hang I abandon)? Or is it because you knew from the beginning that you would write three books so it doesn’t matter to you? Well that sucks. Let me tell you there are many extremely successful series out there that have 8,10,20 books and you know what, no cliffhangers! Every book is a complete story by itself. We feel satisfied when we read it, like an episode on tv.
The Plot. Ever read the back of a book, then read the book and the blurb has nothing to do with the story? I bought the book because this is what you told me the story is about. Can’t always blame the publisher, indies are also committing this crime, it’s kind of like false advertising. See this whale??? Sorry we are sending you home with a guppy. I might have been interested in your original story, I like guppies, but it’s just not going to sit right with me the whole time cause all I can think about is that whale. Blurbs should match the story and the plot should follow that. Having a plot is good too, some now don’t even have a plot.
The beginning. World and character building are paramount. In fact too often characters are left with no personality, shallow as it were, and books can fall very flat. But some authors swing too far the other way making whole books out of world and character building. That’s great if I already have book 2 and 3 but if this is all I have, then I don’t have a story, just a really long resume. And 200 pages of that gets boring. I know a lot of authors say they are setting up the next book, but I’m not buying, you got to sell this book to me, not the next one.
So the big question is, are my expectations to great?
Geek Sneak Peek 