I've been published for just under 4 years. That's not long and believe me...I have a tough skin when it comes to my writing since I've been seeking opinions on it for close to 2 decades or longer. My closest friends hear me whine about reviews, but I never say things in public. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I know that not every story is going to resonate with every reader. But this time . . .
Dear Annonymous Reviewer who said NAVY SEAL SURRENNDER was a "pretty good read." THANKS ! I appreciate the fact that you took the time to read my book and that you want to read the sequel. I also appreciate your opinion and your ranking.
(you guys knew that was coming, right?)
Sometimes fiction does reflect reality better than you know.
As I stated above, everyone has their opinion and interpretation of our work. I don't think yours is wrong. Honestly, it amazes me that twin brothers not speaking for twelve years made such an impression. I guess I must have done my job... For good or bad, you were moved by my story.
But on a personal level, I had an uncle who I never met. He left the family before I was born and only kept in contact with my grandmother for many years. I heard about him only when he was in trouble. It wasn't until after his death that I ever met my cousins. I think if my father could have changed those circumstances he would have. Family was everything to him. But I also know that the situation could not have been resolved by a discussion.
Why talk about this when I'm supposed to be celebrating the release of my book?
Perhaps it's because... oh never mind. I could philosophize and in the end ... IT'S JUST MY OPINION.
Actually, someone recently read another book of mine and used the word "stupid" to describe it. Not once, but several times. Sometimes, I think our society cloaks itelf in anonymity and forgets that people are real, flawed, and mostly deserve respect. My ultimate point?
Dear Anonymous Reader who thought NAVY SEAL SURRENDER was a "pretty good read"... THANKS. Seriously. THANKS.
AND to that other anonymous reader who thought my heroine "stupid." Who thought my hero "stupid." Who thought herself too intelligent enough to accept a work of fiction and just had to let me know my writing was "stupid" ... well ...
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ANGI MORGAN writes “Intrigues where honor and danger collide with love.” She combines actual Texas settings with characters who are in realistic and dangerous situations. Angi's work has been a finalist in the Bookseller’s Best Award, Romantic Times Best First Series, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the Daphne du Maurier.
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Hi Angi,
ReplyDeleteI did buy this book. Now I am going to read it so I can leave you a great review. I already know I am going to love it
yenastone at aol dot com
You are awesome, Tammy! Honest Reviews --are always appreciated. They make me strive to be a better writer and keep me writig because people like my work. Communicating with readers is one of my favorite things about being published.
DeleteI guess the "stupid" comments just got to me this time. The wording was just ... well... mean.
THANKS AGAIN !!
The book sounds like a good read.
ReplyDeleteKit3247(at)aol(dot)com
Thank you, Rita !!
DeleteHa, it's so easy to have an opinion isn't it? I mean I have plenty of them, I just choose not to voice my negative ones unless it's really, really important to be negative. And over a book? Nah, not important enough, so I try not o diss books merely because I don't "get it." I've been published as long as you have, and I have had lots of people who thought I suck. They pretty much say that and warn others not to buy my book. In my last one, many thought my heroine was immature. Uh, yeah. I wrote her that way because that's her human experience as the youngest girl in a wealthy family who has never had anything ever, ever in life slip from her fingers. She gets what she wants and when she doesn't get it, she acts a little spoiled and immature. You know, like a REAL person. I wanted to say that to reviewers. But I didn't because there's that whole "authors should keep their mouths shut" thing, but sometimes I would really love to debate a reviewer - a little give and take sort of thing.
ReplyDeleteNice post, Angi :)
Thanks my friend. I'd love to be a part of that debate...as long as it were honest and noone could write about it later. LOL
DeleteYou're a terrific writer, Liz !!!
I think you have a right to express your opinion on other people's opinions, Angi. This is a good and correct place to do that, rather than trying to challenge them where they wrote the review.. And anyone who uses the word "stupid" more than once in a review is not worth worrying about anyway.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Janie.
DeleteI'm not certain ... but I think this particular anonymous person was just being hateful. I can disregard it, but it got under my skin. Thanks for the kind words.
I'm clueless as to why anyone would leave a nasty review. There have been plenty of books that I bought and didn't like or couldn't finish. I didn't have an overwhelming desire to seek out the author's review page and share my utter disappointment. Instead, I didn't buy another book from that author.
ReplyDeleteRemember the character Thumper from Bambi? "If you can't say anything nice, don't say nothin' at all!"
Many years ago a very wise woman told me to keep sending my story out there along with positive energy. That one day the positive energy would come back to lift me up. I believe that and feel sorry for those who run on the negative.
Delete"Stupid" is the S-word in our family. It's rude, demeaning and downright mean and my kids do not get to call each other that.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention, I'm kinda thinkin your many readers and awards would have something to say about that too.
People, man... shaking my head.
Thanks Clover. It was "a four letter word" in our house, too. Pretty much the worst thing you can say to someone. Perhaps that's why it got under my skin. (shaking my head too)
DeleteAngie,
ReplyDeleteI think anonymous reviews on Amazon are the problem. Goodreads has whole tribes of one star reviewers that gang up on writers and say really nasty things about the the writers and books they hate. Yes hate. They use that word and a lot worse. I understand that Amazon is finally cracking down on some of it.
This is the world we live in. If you look at your negative reviewer's history on Amazon, you will generally find many nasty other one star reviews. Some people just love to spread the pain. It's just who they are.
Congrats on the new release. There is sure to be an abundance of four and five star reviews!
THANK YOU JILL !!
DeleteYes, just the world we live in...I sort of miss the older version where most people were like THUMPER (see Jan's comment).
Congrats on the book! Prefer to read reviews with examples of why they liked/didn't like a book
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
Exactly, BN. I value an opinion. There's just no reason to be mean.
DeleteI've never understood the need to post a review if you don't like a book on the very sites that determine an author's pay. I've written one negative review in my life, on a blog, not where it would have any effect on the author's sales. And the only reason I wrote it was because I had a strong moral reaction to the sexual abuse in the story. The author was an excellent writer, her character's were fascinating, but she crossed a line with a teenage boy when she justified his abuse. So when my blog group reviewed the book, I gave my honest opinion with all the good and the bad. The review stayed on the blog, it didn't go to amazon, or goodreads. Just the blog. I wish people would recognize they are entitled to their opinion, but there is a time and a place for everything. If every person with a job was subjected to blatant criticism of their work performance that had a direct correlation to their pay, a lot of people would suffer from unfair pay cuts.
ReplyDeleteWell stated, Kym !!
DeleteVery well stated.