How to Respond to Criticism

I know it's Spring Cleaning time around here, but I have something I need to get off my mind. Hey, I guess it fits the theme, after all!

Listen authors, we gotta talk. Bad reviews and other forms of criticism can hurt. Whether you haven't even finished your first manuscript or you have published eight thousand books, you're going to receive criticism.

Like, a lot.


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Whether it's that guy in your MFA class, a member of your critique group, an agent offering precious feedback, an editor declining to publish your work, or a reviewer commenting on a published work, you're going to get a lot of it.

Some of it really is nonsensical and may have more to do with the reader's problems than the writing. Some of it is going to click right away. But most of it? You're going to think it's all shades of idiotic and undeserved, but sometime later (maybe years?) you're going to realize your critic had a point.

Though it may feel like it, criticism about your writing is not a personal attack. Someone saying they don't like (parts of) your book is not bullying. The info here does not pertain to actual personal attacks where the person has some kind of power over you. If you think you might want to contact the police or a lawyer, do that. Don't tweet about it, just do it. Personal attacks and actual bullying are a different issue. But in the heat of critique, it is very often difficult to realize the difference, and many authors have misconstrued the two.

It has become apparent that maybe some authors could use some tips on how to respond to criticism. From someone who has been a reader, reviewer, hopeful author, mentor, editor, published author, and publicist, I'll offer my (admittedly not perfect) advice.

1) Don't respond.

Not to argue, not to "correct." You're going to disagree with their opinions. Just do so inside your own head, okay? If it's someone you've asked to critique your work, you're permitted two words: "Thank you."

I know you want to defend yourself and your work. But you don't have to. You put your work out there and someone responded to it genuinely and honestly. That's it.

But if a reviewer got every single one of your main characters' names completely wrong, describes your light and fluffy romance as a creature horror, or grossly misrepresents your book in some other way?


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Don't respond.

That's it. I know you're angry and/or hurt. We're compelled to defend ourselves. Your emotions are real. But for everyone's sake (especially your own), you gotta back off.

So what can you do?


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Scream at the sky, drink a glass of wine, pet your puppy, go to yoga class, dance around your apartment to old-school Avril Lavigne, strap yourself to a chair until the rage passes, carry heavy stones up a hill then back down again, cry your eyes dry, call your BFF/sister/therapist/partner and rant about it - whatever you need to do to process your emotions privately. But then let it go.

I should be able to stop here, but recent events have shown that some of this needs to be spelled out more explicitly. So.

2) Don't write about it in any public or semi-public space.

If you wouldn't post it on facebook, twitter, and the front page of the New York Times, don't create a written record of it. Let me rephrase: If your publicist would so much as give you that little half-frown she does when you're being slightly ridiculous if you put this on twitter, don't email or message or post in a "private" facebook group. Emails can be forwarded, "private" facebook groups are the privacy equivalent of fish netting for clothing, and anything written can be screenshot.

This includes subtweets, posts where you don't name the critic and/or only summarize what they said instead of quoting them. One, you're just bringing more attention to the critique you don't want anyone to see. Two, in my nine years in the book community, I have literally never seen any response to criticism turn the tide of public opinion back in the author's favor.


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This isn't just so you "don't get caught" but it's because you're going to say things either you don't really mean or don't understand the full ramifications of. Writing it and making it public - that's permanent. You can't take it back, ever.

If you really can't control your compulsion to write about it, go the old-fashioned route with pen and paper. Then light that shit on fire and let your bitterness float away with the smoke.

3) Don't contact the critic.

As the kids on twitter say: don't @ me. No tweets, no emails, no goodreads comments, no facebook messages, no tumblr reblogs, no instagram comments, no sending $0.01 donations via PayPal, no writing billboards, no passing things through a friend.

"But what if...?"


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Nah, just don't.

And (Lady Godiva help me, I can't believe I have to say this) do not -- under any circumstances -- seek out & share personal information about them, contact their place of work, go anywhere near them in person, talk about their children in any way, tell everyone who will listen how much they hurt you, or any number of things I would never think I would have to warn you away from.


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4) Read your positive reviews/feedback

Negative feedback can leave you feeling defeated, in addition to angry. Chances are, you've received positive feedback. Go ahead and re-read that. Say to yourself, "See, THIS PERSON appreciates my genius." Then maybe make friends with them if you're not already. Bask in the glow.

Don't isolate yourself to the point where all you hear is praise, as that will stunt your growth as a writer, but revel in your fans when you need to.


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5) Don't read reviews

Some people offer this as blanket advice, but I don't. I think reviews can be a great source of both encouragement and education. And if the work is not yet published, you're going to HAVE TO listen to criticism of it. No one writes a perfect book on their own.

But some people just can't handle reading negative comments of their published work. And at that point, it's not like you can change the book anyway. Most of the time, you think you can handle it, but then you find them gnawing on your mental health and energy. If you find that happening to yourself, if your muscles are straining to respond or lash out, don't read any of your reviews.


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Ask your publicist to send you the good ones, but don't lay one digital finger on your Goodreads or Amazon listing.

Some critique may find you, but you don't have to seek it out.

6) Listen & Consider

It may seem like this is the opposite of the last point, but it doesn't have to be. Here's the thing: a lot of that criticism that stings or feels like a knife to your gut? It may be valid.


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Whether it's that you lean too heavily on the word "smirk" or your book could be harmful to a marginalized group, wait until you're calm and really consider the potential validity of the criticism. Maybe discuss it privately with someone whose opinion you value (but make sure it's also a person who is not afraid to tell you when you're wrong).

Take it in, process it, and use it to improve your writing.

If something in your writing has deemed to be hurtful, apologize. (Note: "I'm sorry you were offended" is not an apology.))

7) Revise or Start Something New

Now it's time to move on. If the work is not yet published, and you can use the criticism to improve your work, do that.

If the book is published. Write something else. Something better and (if applicable) something not harmful.

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A Surviver's Guide to 2016 Writers Contests

I love contests. One of my prayers for the last five years, after I seriously started pursuing this writing thing, had been to win ACFW's Genesis Contest. ACFW is the American Christian Fictions Writers organization and winning or even finaling in their Genesis Contest for unpublished authors in one of the biggest honors in the Inspirational writing world. I know it's silly to want to stay unpublished/uncontracted to win a writing contest—after all, publication is the REAL goal, right?—but that win was still my prayer. 

And last year, in 2015, I won the YA category. Which sparked my willingness to change focus in my career and look toward indie publishing.

Now the 2016 contest season is here. Among my favorites are Genesis and the Rosemary. So it's time to polish up those opening pages!

I always get excited about the submission part. I'm eager to get feedback. And then, three or four months later, the results are in. The scoresheets are returned. And as I drown my emotions in a pint of Ben & Jerry's Chubby Hubby, I ask myself, "Why do I subject myself to this again and again and again?!?!?"

My scores may come back respectable. 96. 88. 92. 84. But somewhere in there, I'll get a 55. A 62. One lousy score out of a half dozen great scores, and that one failing mark leaves me questioning everything I thought I knew about writing and, more importantly, about my ability and my future as an author.

Despite positive feedback from the majority of the judges, that one low score is the only I fixate on. For some reason, I believe that judge is the only one being honest. That judge is the only one able to see that I am a failure as a writer. That judge is the only one I should listen to.

A big. Fat. Lie.

I'm guessing I'm not the only contest-junkie who fixates on the negative instead of the positive, even if the positive outweighs the negative. And even though I still haven't conquered that voice claiming the negative is the real truth, I have developed a survival guide to help me yell back at that voice.

1: Judges are Human

Because judges are human, they are subjective in their critique. Sometimes even in areas like mechanics their scores can be subjective. They may decide that two difficult-to-diagnose comma errors in twenty pages is grounds for a low, definitely-not-ready-for-editor-eyes score; while another judge may mark off much less because they believe the comma errors to be extremely minor. 

And in the bigger areas? Personal preference can play a huge role. Maybe the judge prefers first person POV over third person and has difficulty connecting to characters in a third person POV. Or something in the story bugs them in a way that clouds their positive-vibes and prompts lower scores. Or maybe the judge is struggling with frustration and bitterness about all the rules and doors slamming in their own face on this publishing journey, so they feel a little harsher toward the world without realizing it. 

If one random judge out of three or five or eight claims the story lacks conflict, emotional depth, deep story-telling techniques, while every other judge praises you in those areas, don't rent head-space to that negative judge! Scan the low-scoring, negative judge's comments, and hide them in the deep dark, forgetful place in your mind. A place where, if other, less-harsh judges point out similar weaknesses, you'll know those judges' suggestions need consideration. But don't waste energy—or delicious Ben & Jerry's ice cream—obsessing over one judge's scores.

2: Lean On Your Critique Partners (Not Ben or Jerry)

This advice goes along with the previous. When you get that super, insanely negative scoresheet, share the comments with someone you trust—a critique partner or an editor you've worked with. Someone who you trust to be honest, yet gentle. Someone who isn't emotionally invested in the manuscript. Someone who knows the craft. This person can talk you off the ledge—or out of the Ben & Jerry's carton. They can weed through those comments that to you sound like, "Your writing sucks! You're a hack! No one will ever want to publish this horrible, sticking, mess!" and see the compliments, the positives, and the valid suggestions. 

More than once, my critique partners have helped me find the positives in what sounded like haters-gonna-hate feedback and provided suggestions on how to implement valid points. I can see now that the negative feedback has made my writing better, but I needed the assistance of people I trusted to point out where and how.

3: Remember to Thank Your Judges!

Most contests will allow you to email your judges, through your category coordinator, a thank you. Please, please, email your thanks. I'm not saying this because it's polite or good form—which it is—but also because judging is anonymous for both the judges AND the entrants. The judges don't get a name attached to an entry. But what happens when the judge reads a good one? An entry they love? An entry that leaves them yelling at their computer screen, "I NEED MORE!"? 

Sending a thank you email allows the judge to attach an author to that jaw-dropping, heart-stopping, eye-popping entry that they want to finish. Now the judge can stalk—er, I mean follow—the author on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and everywhere authors hang out. When that entry gets picked up by a publisher and the publisher changes the title, the judge will finally have an opportunity to finish the story. Closure, it's all about closure.

Even after winning Genesis the rejections and negative feedback crawls inside my brain and puts down roots. I don't think that will ever change. Even after I'm published I'll face negative reviews from readers who hate something about my books. But I've got a plan and a circle of supporters who will help me through the negatives. And with their help and contest feedback, my writing will get better and better.

Any other advice for contest survival?

Book Reviews - Consider Before You Review!

Today seems as good a day as any to talk about book reviews. There are heaps of articles and blogs online discussing them, not to mention fabulously painful conversations that go viral of authors challenging someone who's left a negative one. But now that my debut has been available for nearly six months, and the reviews are not so much pouring but trickling in, (because my goodness, getting reviews = blood from stone), I've experienced both sides of the divide: reader vs author; reviewer vs writer; giver vs receiver.

From an author's point of view they can provide the biggest buzz in the world, but they can also hurt. Like 'crumble and curl up in a ball, making guttural sobbing sounds' type pain. Ouch.

Most of my reviews have been positive. Phew. So far, anyway! And for those readers who've taken the time to leave one on Goodreads, Amazon, Netgalley or on their blogs, I'm eternally grateful. I wish I could hug you back (I'll find a way!). But there have been a couple of negative ones. Now, no author wants to hear anything negative about their story. Just as no parent wants to hear anything negative about their child. It hurts. Badly. So much so, I've known writers to give up writing for several months as a result. All that effort, that love, that passion – smashed to smithereens in a handful of sentences. Another ouch. This isn't me, but I've certainly been affected for a day or two afterwards. (At this point, please don't tell me I shouldn't read my reviews – ain't gonna happen. I obsess. Can't fight it, so I accept I might not always be happy with what I find!) But I have wanted to challenge the reviewer. I've wanted to explain the bits they've misunderstood. I've wanted to email them and say, 'My book is mid-grade NOT YA!' But I won't. Because no matter how I look at justifying the powerful internal force convincing me I should, I'm the author, and I need to maintain my distance and my professionalism.

I write, therefore I cannot please all.

However, I don't know many writers who can't take CONSTRUCTIVE negativism. Most writers want to hear a reader's opinion. It's the nature of the writing beast. If a reader says they didn't enjoy the book and then gives their reasons, but in an honest, open and explanative tone, that's life, and fair. Every writer has been rejected at some point, and we've all read bestsellers that we didn't connect with, so why should other titles be any different. It's one of the beautiful things about this industry: there are so many tastes to please, every style and genre has the potential to reach a readership, and give a smile. But when a review is vicious, pointless and cutting, takes a pop at the author, or knocks any previous positive reviews, well that sucks. It's low. And completely unnecessary. It really doesn't say much about the person leaving the review, either.

How would you like it if a complete stranger walked into your recently decorated house that you spent the last month breaking your back and bank balance over to look amazing, and told you it sucked, they hated it, worst paint job they'd ever seen, that you're probably the most untalented decorator they've ever met and will now tell everyone through every means they can what a terrible job you've done, but will definitely not give you a reason as to why they think this. Smidge unfair if you ask me. (Not the best likeness, I know! But it's the best I could come up with today.)

I've heard all too often people who've watched a Steven Seagel or Bruce Willis movie saying it was pointless, farfetched and unbelievable. 'The hero killed everyone with a revolver and ten bullets yet never even took a single bullet, even though fifty baddies were all shooting at him at once with machine guns.' Err, point. Of course, he didn't. He's a hero in a film that isn't meant to be real, it's pointless, farfetched, unbelievable entertainment. Grrrrr!
 

And books are exactly the same.

It's good for a reader to branch out and read different things if they feel the need. Why not? You might just find the book of your dreams. But if you're reading sci-fi for the first time when all you usually read is hardcore gory horror, then it's simply not fair to the author, or potential readers, to compare this book to  those in your backlist. Readers have to be as open-minded and fair in reaction as the author.

So, if you're planning to leave a review (which you absolutely should) of a recent book you've devoured, consider exactly what you're reading or agreeing to review first. Before you read, even before you buy, and definitely before you review. Have an idea of your expectations of the book beforehand. Who is the intended audience? What's the genre? Then review it with these considerations in mind. Don't compare a light-hearted, fun fantasy adventure with a heart-wrenching contemporary. They're not going to be the same. Obvs.  

Take the story for what it is and don't forget your manners.

 

www.katejfoster.com

www.katefosterauthor.com

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How to Support Authors You Love Without Spending Another Penny

First, let me say this: Authors love readers. You're the reason why they do what they do and they'll continue doing it as long as you'll let them.
I know you can only spend so much money on books - no matter how much you love them, so below is a list of FREE things you can do to support the authors you love.

1) Tell your friends. There is absolutely nothing better for a book's reputation than word of mouth. If you love a book, post it on your facebook, text your friends, tweet about it, pin the cover to your Pinterest, recommend it to that stranger browsing the bookshelves. Thousands of dollars in advertising can't hold a candle to a single devoted fan.

2) Post reviews & ratings. Everywhere. Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, Shelfari, anywhere that will let you. There are a lot of books out there. The more voices telling a potential reader "this one's worth it," the more likely they are to take a chance.

3) "Like" everything. Their Facebook page. Their Amazon Author page. "Become a fan" on Goodreads. Again, this is just another way for you to tell someone on the fence about trying out a new author, "Hey, this person doesn't suck. I like them; you will too."

4) Tell the author you enjoyed their book. Authors spend a lot of time in seclusion. They hear a lot of, "This isn't good enough." No, it won't help them sell copies, but your appreciation and encouragement may be just what they need to finish that scene they've been struggling with - which means that book you're waiting on is going to get done sooner.

5) If your library does not carry their book, suggest that they do. All libraries take reader's requests and most of them honor them. Check out the book, even if you've read it. Libraries keep statistics on how often a book is checked out - if it's enough, they may get extra copies.

6) If the author is having an event in your area, invite everyone who might be interested. Offer to distribute flyers and bookmarks before the event.

7) Read the book in public. On the bus, in the Dr's office, in line at the post office, in class (kidding... kinda). If anyone asks you about it or stares too long, tell them how good it is.

8) Like other readers' reviews. Goodreads, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble allow you to vote on reviews and these often determine the placement of the reviews on the page. The more up-votes a review has, the more likely it's going to be read.

9) Fan art. This isn't for everyone, obviously, but if you're artistically inclined, create a drawing of your favorite character or scene and share it on Tumblr & other social media sites. Fan art says, "I loved this book so much I spent extra time just to honor it." And it literally makes authors cry with joy.

10) Bookstore employees, close your eyes for this one: Face the book out in bookstores, if it's not already. A reader is A LOT more likely to take a closer look at a book if they see the cover versus just the spine. Don't tell the booksellers I told you to do this.

As you can see, there are a lot of things you can do to make sure an author you love is going to continue to write books you'll love to read. Any other ideas? Leave them in the comments!

Book Review: SCENT OF DARKNESS by Margot Berwin

THE SCENT OF DARKNESS focuses on 18 year-old Evangeline, the product of a lonely upbringing who is used to being a background player. Summers spent visiting her beloved grandmother Louisa, an aromata, in a tiny upstate New York town have given Eva an open mind towards, if not quite an acceptance of, magic (be it tarot cards, perfumed elixirs or prophesies).

When Eva inherits her grandmother’s house and finally gives herself permission to explore the one room that has always been off-limits, she finds a tiny bottle of perfume attached to a warning note. With one drop of the contents, Eva transforms. The scent becomes a part of her and makes her instantly irresistible to all she encounters. 

Eva finally lands her crush, medical student Gabriel, but he’s not the only one she attracts. When the attention of others becomes too much, she accepts Gabriel’s offer to move to New Orleans with him, partly in the hopes that the dark city’s mysterious aromas will be strong enough to cloak her own. New Orleans has its own ideas and when she encounters off-kilter painter Michael, Eva has to decide whether to embrace or denounce her powers.  Meanwhile, she’s plagued by doubts about whether the two men she is torn between can even see the real her beneath the scent she exudes.

My favorite character in this novel was New Orleans; my second being the small town in upstate New York which holds the beginning of the story.  The settings Berwin has chosen for the story and the descriptions of both locations enveloped me in an atmosphere as distinctly as a scent would have. Earlier this year, I read April Henry’s GIRL, STOLEN and loved how Henry was able to offer a first-person narrative from the perspective of a blind girl.  Not being permitted any visual descriptions, I was fascinated at how Henry told a story using sounds, smells, and the sense of touch to paint a clear picture of the action.  I expected SCENT OF DARKNESS to use aroma in a similar manner, but Eva is not an aromatist like her grandmother, so she doesn’t “think in smells” the way the main character in Patrick Suskind’s PERFUME: THE STORY OF A MURDERED does. However, Eva as a narrator, is constantly making small, quirky observations that paint a picture of the character she’s describing (even as they make her sound MUCH older than eighteen.) 

For example, she describes her mother:

“From a certain distance, she reminded me of a slot machine with wrinkles that went straight up and down her cheeks deep enough to slip quarters into… She lived her life as if she were on a moving sidewalk in an airport.”

In another scene she describes her young teenage neighbor as “thinly elegant as only very young teenagers can be… The length and wildness of his hair made him look motherless.”

And the city of New Orleans gets the most loving descriptions of all.  In fact, Berwin paints the weird and wonderful gothic side of the voodoo city in a similar tone to the way Savannah is portrayed in MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL and I thought it was the strongest aspect of the book. I felt like I was getting sucked under the slow, lazy spell of the city as I read.

However, as much life as Berwin breathed into the non-living characters, I felt oddly disconnected from the flesh and blood (and scent) characters.  I never sympathized with Eva the way I’d hoped, although I felt that some of the disconnect might have been intentional on the part of the author. As the story is the journey of Eva’s self-discovery, it would make sense that she would be an unreliable narrator.  But I also felt the same emotional distance from the two main love interests, medical student Gabriel and painter Michael.  They were a bit one-dimensional- one was all good, the other more clearly evil, but even beyond that, I didn’t feel the connection in either’s relationship with Eva. This made it difficult to root for Eva to choose one versus the other. I was also frustrated that there were instances people were completely drawn to touch (and even kiss) Eva outside of their own control, but other characters- from a waitress to a truck driver- seemed very matter-of-fact about, or oblivious to, her scent. It came across as a great plot device when convenient to the story, but also disappeared when needed. As much as the main characters didn't come to life for me, the side characters, from a teenage tarot reader to an aroma to a medicine woman, were so quirky that they were instantly engaging.

Overall, the writing itself is lovely and paints a moody, atmospheric tale that dragged me straight out chilly Boston and plopped me into the steamy gothic bayou. I just wish the characters had come to life for me as much as the setting did.

Have you read any books lately that have sucked you into a particular setting?

*Full disclosure: I was provided an advance copy of this book from Random House for review purposes.

What's in a Rating?

Some of us read just to read. Some of us read and put our opinions up on websites, forums, blogs, etc. If you're one of the latter, this blog post is for you.

It strikes me that there is no uniform way of rating. Something that someone says they've really enjoyed, save a few niggly problems could earn a 3 star rating from them, but a 5 star rating from another. Others will mostly not enjoy a book but still give it 3 stars, where others will give it 1. And I know that choosing what stars you think a book deserves can be individual to opinion, but how opposed are we to a uniform way of rating.

For example, maybe we could make it a percentage way?

1 star = 0-15% enjoyment factor

2 stars = 16-30% enjoyment factor

3 stars = 31-55% enjoyment factor

4 stars = 55-75% enjoyment factor

5 stars = 76% and upwards enjoyment factor

Something like that? What decisions factor in to what star you rate something? Isn't the point of a book to keep you entertained (whether it's by screaming in horror, panting with lust, heart racing with thrill or eyes wet with sadness). 

I'll be honest, sometimes when I browse Goodreads or Amazons, I don't understand the ratings given to some books. People who claim to have really enjoyed something, but rated lowly, or vice versa couldn't finish a book but still rated a 3 or 4 star rating?

I'd love to hear what you guys think in the comments!

What I've Learned So Far

First of all, I apologize for posting this a day late. We had inventory at the store I work at and we've all been running around making sure it would go smoothly.

Anyway...

Negative reviews are something all authors, especially new authors, fret over. We've all read those obnoxiously scathing GoodReads reviews and I'm sure we've all felt terrified over possibly having one of those users write a review for our books. If not, then I commend you for having a thick skin.

The thing about negative reviews, though, is they're inevitable and, if they're well-written, they can be extremely useful. As a writer, I'm continuously growing and learning what works and what doesn't. In these past few months I've seen incredible growth, if I may say so, which makes me happier beyond belief. And part of this new and improved me is, surprisingly, due to some less flattering reviews of my work. So, here are a couple of things I've learned and what I'm doing to fix those issues:

-I gloss over bits of information or action scenes --> Instead of censoring my writing to avoid being too descriptive, I've been working on writing more than I have to so I have a more expansive scene to work with later. It's easier to improve something when there's more to work with, I think. Then again, I've been told my descriptions are spot-on and wonderful, so I suppose this point could be one of opinion.

-My characters drink a lot of water --> In an effort to make mundane activities a little more apparent in stories (I mean, really, why don't more characters have to go to the bathroom??), I made the mistake of repeating certain actions. I didn't mean to, of course, but things like getting a glass of water were apparently too frequent. So, I've been making sure I include less of that and keeping tally of how many times it occurs so I can go back and remove some instances.

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Now, here are a few things I've learned from positive reviews:

-I have a sense of humor. --> I had no idea I could successfully write humor. I like to think I can be pretty funny in real life, but I've aways wondered if my humor came through in my stories. It's nice to know that it does and that I'm not the only one chuckling.

-My use of alternating POVs worked --> I had never written from two POVs before Hunted, so I was worried I wouldn't pull it off, but this is one thing people have consistently pointed out as a positive feature of the book. Yay, me! :-)

-My werewolves are believable --> One of the goals I had for Hunted was to make my werewolves not only believable, but very grounded in reality. I didn't want them to be a sort of mystical occurrence or a scientific mishap. I knew they had to be in between those things and I'm glad to know people are responding well to the realism I've tried to bring to my wolves.

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So, all in all, while I don't like reading negative reviews on my work, I like to view them as constructive criticism and take away as much as I can from them. It's important for writers to use people's opinions to help point out their weaknesses and show them how they can improve. Sometimes we need an outside viewer to open our eyes to our areas in need of improvement, even if that viewer can be a bit harsh.

Besides, you can always go read a glowing review to make you feel better afterwards, haha! :-D

On Needing One Another

You know what I'm thankful for? Every single one of you. (No, this isn't a late Thanksgiving post haha). But do you know why I'm thankful for you? Because I need you. Yeah, that's right. I need you.

I need my online friends to provide a reprieve away from the stresses of my offline world.

I need authors to write books that take me away from everything for a while. Make me so immersed in their world that I don't ever want to leave. Make me fall in love with fictional characters so badly that I want them to be real.

I need reviewers to write reviews so I can check out a book before I spend my hard earned (and not nearly enough!) money on it.

I need bloggers and blog readers to provide an interaction that I can either join in with or watch, but both give me a sense of belonging.

I need my agent - who talks me down off the ledge when I'm having a panic.

I need my editor who helps make my work better and wants to see it do well as much as I do.

And when I didn't have an agent/editor, I needed to want one because it made the quest to publishment that much realer.

Get where I'm going with this? We all need each other. Right? Reviewers love to read. You can't read without authors writing. Authors love to write. You can't write without an audience to write for. Editors love to aquire books and agents love to represent books, but you can't do this without authors querying/subbing to you.

What I need most of all, though, out of everything up there (well maybe not more than my agent - she rocks!) is for everyone to respect each other. Stop bickering. Stop writing personal things about one another on public networks. Stop writing unhelpful, scathing reviews and expecting authors to appreciate them. Can we all just hug now?

Review: Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

Because I loved this book so much and the fact that it inspired me to try writing in present tense, here's my review of Amy Garvey's upcoming YA debut, Cold Kiss. This is one book you do not want to let get lost in the shuffle. Not that it would, though--it's so good it stands out. :-)

When her boyfriend, Danny, is killed in a car accident, Wren can’t imagine living without him. Wild with grief, she uses the untamed powers she’s inherited to bring him back. But the Danny who returns is just a shell of the boy she once loved.
Wren has spent four months keeping Danny hidden, while her life slowly unravels around her. Then Gabriel DeMarnes transfers to her school and somehow, inexplicably, he can sense her secret. Wren finds herself drawn to Gabriel, who is so much more alive than the ghost of the boy she loved. But Wren can’t turn her back on Danny or the choice she made for him—and she realizes she must find a way to make things right, even if it means breaking her own heart. (GoodReads)
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I picked up Amy Garvey’s Cold Kiss not only because it sounded good, but also because the back says it’s “perfect for fans of Shiver and Beautiful Creatures”. Well, yeah. We all know how much I love Shiver. Actually, I think I’m more obsessed with it, but that’s beside the point. What is the point, however, is that Ms. Garvey’s YA debut is a beautiful book.

Ms. Garvey’s writing is stunning. She has given Wren a very poetic, funny, and honest voice. Raw, even. The descriptions leave nothing to be desired and have a sort of depth to them, if that makes sense. The dialogue is smooth and fluid, as well. Although Wren is withdrawn from her friends, they are still great members of the cast and help show just how strong friendship can be.

Prior to reading the book, I knew Danny had to be some sort of zombie given the fact that Wren brings him back to life. Zombies tend to freak me out because of the whole flesh-eating thing, but Danny is not freaky. He is a tragically broken person who seems trapped between death and life. I really like how Ms. Garvey has presented both zombies and witches in this. I wouldn’t necessarily consider Danny a zombie nor Wren a witch, though. And I mean that in a good way. They’re both just them, beautifully flawed characters.

Although the romance in the book held my attention, what I liked most while reading is the way Ms. Garvey has included the themes of loss and love, and what it means to deal with both. At times, Cold Kiss read as a contemporary novel in the vain of Gayle Forman’s If I Stay. The balance between the paranormal aspect and the realism is wonderfully crafted.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Cold Kiss. The ending felt a tad rushed, but it ended on a sweet note. Nonetheless, it’s a beautifully written and told story that I know many will love. Wren, Danny, and Gabriel—a boy I’m sure many will swoon over—all tugged at my heartstrings and I can’t wait for other readers to be swept away by their story.

COFA Winner and Your Favorite Websites

Two weeks ago, I hosted a giveaway here and we have a winner! All you had to do to win the prize was leave a comment telling me what your single favorite reading/writing/book-related website/blog/forum/twitter is and I wanted to share what y'all told me with everyone. I didn't allow anyone to say YAtopia was their favorite because I wanted to give all the other websites a chance! ;-)

We had 33 entries but two of y'all couldn't bear to pick between your two favorites and one didn't mention a favorite at all. (Don't worry, you were still entered into the giveaway because I'm a softy deep down but I'm just mentioning it because it makes statistics hard!) And for the two who chose two sites, I just picked the first one you wrote!

So, of the 32 favorites, 15 of y'all said ...

If you ask me, that's pretty awesome. Because that means so many of you are reading a lot and I truly believe that the most important thing a writer can do is read. Also? That means I'll have that many more Goodreads friends, right? Add me!

We had four people mention an author's site as their favorite. With four different sites. They are:

• C. Hope Clark
• Kiersten White
• Maggie Stiefvater
• Lorelei Bell (Vampire Wire)

I was surprised to see only two agent blogs on the list, but I do agree with both choices whole-heartedly:

• Nathan Bransford
• Pub Rants (Kristin Nelson)

Four people mentioned a total of three websites with the aim of helping writers in one way or another:

•  Absolute Write Water Cooler
• AgentQuery Connect
• Query Tracker x 2

Two group author blogs made the list:

• YA Highway
• The Escapism Project

The YA book fansite Mundie Moms received a mention, as did the Harry Potter Secrets Twitter account. Also, my favorite chain bookstore's website was mentioned by a girl who loves to shop: Barnes and Noble. Another commenter mentioned EARphoria, a site that reviews audio books and last, but certainly not least, we have A Round of Words in 80 Days, which seems to be a less insane version of NaNoWriMo.

Of all the sites mentioned, I hadn't heard of seven of them so I've certainly found some new sites to check out and I hope you all have too!

Now, what everyone has been waiting for... the winner of the signed City of Fallen Angels Giveaway!! I used Random.org to pick the winner who just so happens to be....


Georgia Summers!

I will email the winner but I also want to publicly apologize because there may be a slight delay in her receiving the book because I had a major misadventure this past weekend and, in the mad rush, I forgot to pick up the book from my storage unit so I'll have to get a friend to go get it and send it!


Also, Chanelle has extended the pitch contest on her blog with agent Victoria Marini until Friday, so go check it out!

This book is AWESOME! This book SUCKS!

Ahh yes.  I’m at that time in my writing career where I’m sitting back biting my nails and waiting for the first trickle of reviews to come in on debut novel.  There isn’t much that could compare to the terror, other than perhaps going to collect your High School / Secondary School final exams results.  Results that ultimate set you on your path to your future, or swipe it all away from you before you take your first unsure step.

I’ve never really put much thought into reviews before.  I was always a pleasure reader, either I liked a book or I didn’t.  But now that people’s thoughts of my book can make or break my fledgling career, reviews suddenly have a whole new meaning.

The problem with reviews is that every reader is so different.  One person delight is another person’s poison.  The more I read into reviews, and the people that do them, the more I realize that there are very few bad books out there.  There are only books that we think are bad, but in actual fact, thousands of others will love. 

Goodreads is a perfect place to go to see this love/hate dynamic in action.  If you look at the lists for the BEST book ever written, there holding number one spot is Twilight, by Stephanie Meyer.  Now look at the next list, The WORST book ever written, and do my eyes deceive me? What is number one on the list? You’ve guessed it… Twilight, by Stephanie Meyer.

I find this both funny and stomach settling.  The way I see it a bad review isn’t exactly a reflection on my book, it’s a reflection of that reviewer’s taste and just a simple case of my book falling into the wrong hands… actually, not so much wrong, but more like, not the perfect hands.  I think as authors the best we can hope for is that the people destined to love our book get their mitts on it so that the good review can tip the balance in the right direction. 

The other thing to remember is that a good review isn’t always the best thing and a bad review isn’t always the worst thing.  There are some book reviewers out there who’s taste in books I wouldn't be too hot on.  They’ve read, reviewed, and loved books that I’ve read and really disliked, so when they LOVE a book it can in fact turn me off it.  It’s a funny old world this book reviewing business.

People have told me over and over again, DO NOT READ YOUR BAD REVIEWS.  I of course ignore this bit of advice.  As soul crushing as negative words can be about your beloved book, there are pearls of advice in each and every review, something to be learned, even if it’s just to ensure your next book doesn’t get into the reviewer’s claws. *WINK*

Have a good day my friends.

Leigh

Romance & mini review for WITH OR WITHOUT YOU

Romance is pretty much a staple in YA books these days.

Oh, sure, you can find books where the main character doesn't have a love interest, or even where romance isn't a main aspect of the story. But if you compared the number of books with romantic plots versus non-romantic, I think the scale would be tipping toward the former.

I'm not saying this is a bad thing. These are teen books, and a majority of teens are dealing and thinking about this kind of stuff a lot.

They have boyfriends/girlfriends they love, hate, that they date because 'why not? it's the thing to do'. Some date for social status, some date because they think their boyfriend/girlfriend will be easy (or because they're not). Some think they can't live without their significant others, some are more logical (like I was) and realize this is unlikely to be a forever thing, but why not enjoy it while it lasts?

Sometimes kids don't date at all, either for religious (or parental) reasons or simply because they aren't interested. (And that does happen. I had two close friends who never dated anyone all through high school, and it wasn't because no one wanted to date them.)

Some kids date the same person on and off, over and over again, until their friends roll their eyes and say, "Why bother breaking up? You're just going to get back together again." (I had friends like this, too.)

Couples stay together for days, weeks, months, years. Some are committed to the same person through all of high school, others go through significant others every other day of the week.

My point being, there is such a huge variety of relationships out there amongst teens. Drama-filled and not, true love and not. My disappointment with a lot of YA romance is that so much of it is of the one true love variety. While this is fine and good once in awhile, I do wish there were more. Some aspect to leave me wondering will they or won't they? Because so many of the books I pick up are predictable. Maybe they're filled with fascinating and unique plot twists and concepts, sure, but the romantic element, from the time the love interest steps into the picture, is always clear. In the TWILIGHT saga, I never had any doubt who Bella would end up with.

There are so few exceptions. BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE is one that comes to mind. Not only was the ending surprising as far as the romance goes, it was completely natural and had me going, "oh! I hadn't expected that, but it makes perfect sense!" another one was FEED, which was shocking and heartbreaking all at once.

In my own writing, I do try to strive for some sense of realism. My books aren't heavy on the romance, but there always is a romantic element. But it's more plot pushing the romance along rather than the other way around.

I like gritty, I like real. I like couples arguing and breaking up, I like growth. The two who split up because, despite loving each other, things just aren't working. And if, later down the line, the two of them have grown up, matured, and worked past these issues? Then getting back together seems all the more romantic to me. Overcoming obstacles! Defeating co-dependency! Go team!

Sometimes? Having the pair who you just know is meant to be together no matter what happens? That's okay. But when it becomes the norm in YA, the effect of it weakens. Choose your one-true-love-at-all-costs carefully.

What say all of you? Do you prefer your stories with Happily Ever Afters, or do you like to mix it up? Any books you'd recommend because the relationship(s) were just that unique and fun/exciting/heartbreaking to read?

Recommend some heartbreaking books to me! I love them!


***

Also, starting my mini-reviews... This week is:

WITH OR WITHOUT YOU by Brian Farrey

Eighteen year-old Evan and his best friend Davis get beaten up for being loners. For being gay. For just being themselves. But as rough as things often seem, at least Evan can take comfort in his sweet, sexy boyfriend Erik–whom he’s kept secret from everyone for almost a year.

Then Evan and Davis are recruited to join the Chasers, a fringe crowd that promises them protection and status. Davis is swept up in the excitement, but Evan is caught between his loyalty to Davis and his love for Erik. Evan’s lied to keep his two worlds separate. Now his lies are about to implode…and destroy the very relationships he’s been trying to protect.

Great romance. Bittersweet ending (heartbreaking and amazing all at once) and fantastic characters. Gritty, real, beautifully written. No real problems with this book aside from wishing they'd included more about the Chasers. More defining moments to ramp up tension. But I never found myself bored. Definitely one of my favorite reads of the year.

Kelley Vitollo also did a (much more thorough) review on this book.

Big news and reviews!

This year is flying by. Seriously? It's already June? That means YAtopia has been up and kicking for six months now.

Today I have three things to share, including a mini-review:

1. Our own DJ DeSmyter has his first ARCs of his book, HUNTED, out and about! I was fortunate enough to land one and able to post a review on my personal blog. To summarize:

Blurb:
Seventeen-year-old Lily Atwater has always kept to herself, living a lonely life with her workaholic dad. Not the most thrilling life, but it's quiet and ordinary, two things she's come to expect from living in Victor Hills, Michigan.

When kind and mysterious Alex takes refuge in her home, she is suddenly thrown into his world of were-wolves, a world he wants to keep her safe from. But while the two of them grow closer, a relentless hunter continues his search, stalking the woods with hopes of catching the wolf that got away...

The strength in HUNTED really lies in the characters and their interactions and relationships. Lily was a refreshing female MC. Down to Earth and sweet, but not without her flaws. Alex was the same. It was great to have a good, sweet boy as opposed to the typical bad-boy that has grown pretty common in YA these days. I was rooting for them the whole way, and that's not always something I can do!

For the full review, click here!



2. Speaking of my personal blog, I've relocated from Blogspot over to Livejournal. Anyone using GoogleReader or something similar can simply subscribe to it for continued updates. I hope some of you will drop by and say hello over at my blog's new location. I'll be having a giveaway sometime in the next two weeks, so keep your eyes peeled.



3. I'm exceptionally excited and pleased to announce that my book, HUSHED, has been picked up by Entangled Publishing and will be on shelves this coming winter!





There are no words for how ecstatic (and terrified) I am! Everyone at Entangled has been welcoming and kind, and I look forward to working with them in the coming months.


And, lastly, this week's mini-review!

WARM BODIES by Isaac Marion
R is a young man with an existential crisis--he is a zombie. He shuffles through an America destroyed by war, social collapse, and the mindless hunger of his undead comrades, but he craves something more than blood and brains. He can speak just a few grunted syllables, but his inner life is deep, full of wonder and longing. He has no memories, noidentity, and no pulse, but he has dreams.

After experiencing a teenage boy's memories while consuming his brain, R makes an unexpected choice that begins a tense, awkward, and stragely sweet relationship with the victim's human girlfriend. Julie is a blast of color in the otherwise dreary and gray landscape that surrounds R. His decision to protect her will transform not only R, but his fellow Dead, and perhaps their whole lifeless world.

Scary, funny, and surprisingly poignant, Warm Bodies is about being alive, being dead, and the blurry line in between.

I've always loved any books dealing with zombies (hello, THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH?), but WARM BODIES wasn't exactly your typical horror zombie novel. It puts a zombie as not only the main character, but a sympathetic protagonist and the 1st-person narrator. Not to mention, romance? I was really uncertain about this one, but it was the first e-book I purchased on my new Nook and I wasn't about to let it go to waste.

This book? Absolutely. Amazing. Gorgeous writing and not at all the type of book I thought it would be. Yes, some moments were uncomfortable and squicky, but "R" made the most charming narrator. Marion's writing style is fluid and, at times, poetic without being overwhelming and burying the plot. I can honestly think of no complaints with this book in any way and it is not only one of my all-time faves now, but one I'm already wanting to go back and re-read.


Have a great beginning-of-June, everyone!

Trilogy review: THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH

I've decided to start something new on each of my (bi)weekly updates: mini-reviews. I think I'm keeping up with reading enough that I should have a new review to tack onto whatever else I choose to update with. These reviews will be short and sweet: a brief description about the book, and my thoughts/opinions. I don't see the point in wasting energy reviewing books I didn’t like, so expect to see nothing but good (or raving) reviews. ;)

But today, I thought I'd kick things off with a longer review of one of my favorite trilogies and favorite authors, Carrie Ryan.

THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH

In Mary's world, there are simple truths.

The Sisterhood always knows best.

The Guardians will protect and serve.

The Unconsecrated will never relent.

And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village. The fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

But slowly, Mary's truths are failing her. She's learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power. And, when the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness.

Now she must choose between her village and her future, between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded by so much death?

Zombies? Post-apocalyptic world? Hell yes.

I caught sight of this book somewhere online and thought the title was interesting and the cover was pretty. Which proves a point that a snappy cover+title can attract potential buyers. Otherwise, I would've skimmed right over it and possibly never known how amazing this series was. But, thankfully, I looked up the blurb and was intrigued enough to head out that same night to look for it at my local B&N.

Carrie Ryan is not only a masterful storyteller in terms of description, flow and pacing, but she paints a vivid and eerie world I just can't get enough of. I would gladly continue reading if she decided to carry on this series.

Her characters are real. Always flawed, always acting within the constraints of the world around them. Meaning, Mary (and all the others) were raised in a very specific environment that was extremely influential into who all of them became. The world within this tiny village and even into the forest beyond gives me chills, and is written with such flavor and realism it's hard not to be sucked in.


THE DEAD-TOSSED WAVES

Gabry lives a quiet life, secure in her town next to the sea and behind the Barrier. She's content to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. Home is all she's ever known, and all she needs for happiness.

But life after the Return is never safe, and there are threats even the Barrier can't hold back.

Gabry's mother thought she left her secrets behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, but like the dead in their world, secrets don't stay buried. And now, Gabry's world is crumbling.

One night beyond the Barrier...

One boy Gabry's known forever and one veiled in mystery...

One reckless moment, and half of Gabry's generation is dead, the other half imprisoned.

Gabry knows only one thing: if she is to have any hope of a future, she must face the forest of her mother's past.

Second in the series, this book actually takes place a number of years after the first, and it succeeds in expanding on everything we saw in book one. We see Mary, and get a view of what she's been doing all this time, the drastic turns her life took, and how she's dealt with the consequences of her actions. Too, we see what really is beyond the forest and get an idea for just how dire the situation is for humankind.

Gabry was an easier narrator in terms of voice. She had an easy upbringing (for the most part), and wasn't restricted and formed by the same harsh rules as Mary was. So when she's tossed into the chaos, it's interesting to see how she handles herself.



THE DARK AND HOLLOW PLACES

There are many things that Annah would like to forget: the look on her sister's face when she and Elias left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the horde as they found their way to the Dark City, the sear of the barbed wire that would scar her for life. But most of all, Annah would like to forget the morning Elias left her for the Recruiters.

Annah's world stopped that day and she's been waiting for him to come home ever since. Without him, her life doesn't feel much different from that of the dead that roam the wasted city around her. Then she meets Catcher and everything feels alive again.

Except, Catcher has his own secrets—dark, terrifying truths that link him to a past Annah's longed to forget, and to a future too deadly to consider. And now it's up to Annah—can she continue to live in a world drenched in the blood of the living? Or is death the only escape from the Return's destruction?

Annah is probably my favorite narrator of the three in this series. From beginning to end, she's a very real girl, and very proactive. Her actions push the story forward and it isn't always things happening to her. (Not to say Mary and Gabry weren't proactive, but I feel there were a lot of times they were simply going with the flow rather than taking initiative.)

Also what I loved about the third book, was the way it expanded further still on the world it's set in. Because no matter how it ends, you're left with a feeling of hopelessness and wonder. What's left now? What is there after this? How will humans rebuild, if they ever will?



OVERALL: I love these books. Love the narrators, the writing style, and - yes, most of all, the world. In fact, the world is its own character, so influential and a monster in of itself, interacting with the characters.

Which book was my favorite? Really hard to say because I loved different things about all of them. I loved the first book because the setting was entirely in the forest. I enjoyed the others for their narrators, character interactions, and the expanded view of the world.

Though for what it's worth, the second book is the one I went through the quickest. I devoured it in 48 hours. Which, when you consider I'm only awake at home for about four hours a day on work-days, is pretty amazing for me.


All in all, if you like creepy books with fast-moving plot and awesome post-apocalyptic world-building, I strongly suggest picking these up. You can learn more at Carrie Ryan's webpage, including pick up a few links to short side-stories taking place in the same world.

Anyone else read these books and enjoyed them? Any other good zombie-esque books you want to recommend?

Pardon My Rant

(Pitch Contest with Natalie Fischer is below - Go Enter!)

This has been one of those weeks, so please excuse me while I diverge from the usual path for a moment of literary ranting.

I love the internet. Truly I do. There’s an endless store of information and countless opportunities to be found. But lately I’m having issues with book reviews and rating systems at online sites such as amazon and goodreads.

Have you ever loved a book, only to see it bashed in reviews? I’m not talking about well-balanced blog reviews with fair treatment of the positives and negatives. I’m talking about anonymous reviewers who spout off about how it’s the worst writing ever and the main character is a complete Mary Sue, and anyone who likes the book is just tasteless. Unfounded reviews that don’t support their opinions, or they attempt to present their opinion as fact. Or the worst kind, where the reviewer tears down a book and gets information wrong!

I recently read one by a man who had a historical time-travel romance put in his hands as “light summer reading” by the used book store clerk. Let’s just say it was not his preferred genre, but he was under the impression it was a history novel. He proceeded to shred the author most unkindly about the romance scenes and unbelievability of the time travel, all elements paramount to the genre which I thought were well done (plus he got facts wrong, grr!).

Any Joe Schmoe can login and type. But I think we need to remember these books are the livelihood of their authors. People are affected by the things we say about their work, so I feel it’s our responsibility to be fair and thoughtful. I appreciate honest, balanced reviews. The beauty of literature is that there’s something out there for everybody. Just because something’s not your cup of tea does not mean those who enjoy it should be deemed sub-literary.

Let’s be mature about this, shall we? Don’t make me stick my tongue out at you.