Writing Reviews "Right"

 Last week, I got an email from a reader who had just finished CALL ME DADDY which said:

I just wanted to let you know, I loved this book! I love how you can make something serious so funny and make the characters seem like real people. I know I should post a review for it, but I'm not very good at writing them and don't know what to say, so I thought I'd email you instead...

What this reader doesn't realize is that she just wrote an awesome review, one that any writer would be proud to receive, and yet sent it to me instead of posting it where other readers could see it.

I get it. When you go on Amazon and look at reviews, many are two paragraph, complex analyses of the book and most readers, while they appreciate the in-depth review, feel they can't write something like that, and therefore, shouldn't. But reviews are very important for authors, and the truth is, while those long reviews are very helpful and great to see, the shorter ones, the ones that are from the heart and written in everyday language, are just as important.

I'll be honest. Rarely do I write long reviews for books unless I see that an author has only a few listed (because, again, I DO realize how important reviews are for authors). Does that make mine less valuable to someone who might be considering the book? I don't think so, and just for fun, I thought I'd give you the "short and dirty" on a few of the books I've recently read.

BETTER IN THE MORNING by Fern Ronay: I loved this sweet, romantic comedy. It made me miss my grandparents, and I'll never look at a penny on the ground the same way again.

Cheryl Douglas' PERFECT STORM: This is the first book in a series of standalone hot novels.  I love how this author has such memorable characters in every book. And unlike others series I have read,  the sex scenes are never the same and never boring!

DESPERATELY SEEKING SIXTY-NINE by J.D. Frettier and R.E. Hargrave: This is a short, sexy book that also made me laugh. The best thing, however, about this book is the interesting way the author depicts life-after-death. I'd like to think we all have our own heaven, and I've been thinking about it ever since I read the book.

Justin Bog's WAKE ME UP: This book made me cry. It was disturbing to me because it was so real, and hit too close to home. It's a true artist who can use their words to evoke that kind of emotion.

What do you think? I didn't really tell you anything about the books in any of the examples above, but I told you what struck me, personally, about each one. But I did say enough to hopefully spark an interest and make others want to read more.

Back to my original example. Would I be proud to have a review for Call Me Daddy that said:  I loved this book! I love how you can make something serious so funny and make the characters seem like real people.

ABSOLUTELY!

So please, as an author, I'm asking you to review every book you read. Honest reviews. From the heart. They don't have to be long, or detailed, or even written using proper grammar. Because all reviews are important, and they keep us all writing.

And check out the four books I mentioned above. Click on the book title to go straight to their Amazon page, where you can read all about them!

YA Review: Sons of the Sphinx

I don't normally read YA fiction. However, Cheryl Carpinello's new release, Sons of the Sphinx, interested me for two reasons: First, Rosa, the young protagonist, can talk to the dead, and isn't too happy it. This is always a subject of interest to me, in fact, Rosa shares her gift (or curse, depending on how you look at it) with the protagonist Cass Adams in my own novel, They Call Me Crazy. Additionally, the setting for the book is Ancient Egypt, a world I find fascinating in its own right.

In Sons of the Sphinx, Rosa travels back in time to help a young King Tut fulfill a prophecy that will insure that his family is looked upon with honor in the future. Also, in the course of their journey, Tut must release the soul of his queen, Ankhesenamun, so they may be joined for all eternity.  It isn't the simplest of tasks, since they don't know exactly where Ankhesenamun is buried and they have General Horremheb trying to keep them from succeeding.

Rosa and Tut are very sleuthlike, in that they must discover and interpret clues as to the final resting place of Ay, who will tell them where Ankhesenamun is buried. It's an interesting pair, one teenager from the past and one from the future, using what knowledge they have of the time to move from one clue to another.

The historical detail was fascinating and well woven throughout the narrative. The various landmarks and the terrain in general leapt from the pages, placing the reader in an ancient, and somewhat exotic time. It has an engaging and well developed plot, dynamic characters and was a fun read.

I'm sure young adults will enjoy the attention to detail and the journey back in time.

You can buy Sons of the Sphinx at the following places online:

Amazon 

Smashwords 

Nook 

iBookstore

 Cheryl Carpinello is a retired English teacher who hopes to inspire young readers to read more through her Quest Books. Follow her at:

Beyond Today Educator

The Quest Books

Facebook

GoodReads

Twitter

Amazon Author Page

Check out her blog at:

Carpinellos Writing Pages

   

 

"The Dog Year" by Ann Wertz Garvin

Ann Garvin is a wonderful person, a great writer and a very funny lady. Her new novel, "The Dog Year", is being released on June 3, 2014. I was lucky enough to get a pre-release review from the ever-awesome Joelynn Drennan. So, check out Joelynn's review and then pre-order "The Dog Year."

 

In her second novel "The Dog Year" author Ann Wertz Garvin addresses the subjects of loss and recovery with light and humor. Set in small-town Wisconsin, the story revolves around the gradual unraveling of Lucy Peterman, an accomplished surgeon and emergent criminal, as she undergoes a personal crisis brought on by the tragic deaths of her husband and unborn child. Suspended from her position at the hospital for stealing medical supplies, Lucy is remanded to the company of a dysfunctional cast of characters among whom she finds acceptance, support, and an inimitable brand of serenity. 

As someone who seeks any opportunity for humor when addressed with the darker aspects of life, I welcomed the dichotomy of emotions Garvin so effortlessly weaved throughout "The Dog Year". The dialogue is funny and incredibly realistic. I found myself reaching for my own husband when Lucy tries to recapture the last words with hers, and I laughed out loud when she says, “If I know Richard, it was probably, “’Fuck!”’ 

The character relationships are well developed and multifaceted. From Lucy’s gay brother Charles, to Sara a troubled young addict, to the ever-lovable Little Dog, each supporting character helps to reveal certain aspects of Lucy’s personality—some of which come as a shock to Lucy herself. In less capable hands, Lucy and friends could have been typecast for a Lifetime Original movie, but Garvin’s talent for creating engaging and dimensional characters keeps them right on track with her sprinting narrative and twisting plot line. 

What I love about "The Dog Year" is its simplicity. There is no pretension in Garvin’s storytelling or in her writing style--it is clear, concise, poignant and always witty. "The Dog Year" will be officially released on June 3, 2014. It is definitely worth the read, I encourage you to pick up!

Joelyn Drennan holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. She is a diehard Yankee living in Memphis, Tennessee where she teaches writing at Southwest Tennessee Community College.

The Dog Year is being released June 3, 2014 and you can preorder it at Amazon by clicking here: "The Dog Year"

Check out Ann Wertz Garvin's website for more information on "The Dog Year"

And follow Ann on Twitter at @AnnGarvin_ , because she is one funny lady! You'll be glad you did.