Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Waiting for the Reviews to Come In, by Devyn Quinn

As a writer, waiting for the reviews on a book to come in is excruciating. Once the book has gone through the publishing process, there is that tiny window after actual print publication and before the release date when the book is sent out to reviewers. It is at this time that I begin to intensely bite my knuckles, make small sacrifices and generally melt down as I wonder what the very first review of my forthcoming release will say. Will the book get decent reviews, or will it be stomped into the ground by the reader, who will then put their .02 cents into print–thus crushing my confidence (and a piece of my soul) or sending me off into a spasm of joy that can last for days?

Having been through this time and time again, you would think I would learn to roll with the punches, to take the good reviews with a smile and the bad reviews with a grain of salt (along with several malt coolers). The truth is, I worry each any every time a book comes up for release. Why? I think it is because I’m so attached to the characters I have created. Yes, I know. These people do not exist, except in the creator’s mind. Yet for months, sometimes years, a writer labors to commit what is in their head to the more tangible medium of print, thereby giving their characters a “life” that can be shared by readers. It’s a daunting task, making the unreal come to fruition in a way that (to me) is logical and meaningful. After all, if I don’t buy into the circumstances I am setting down on the page, how can the reader? So, yes, I tend to become emotionally attached to that piece of literature. After all, an inspiration that belonged to me alone has granted it an existence in this world, however impermanent. As long as the book is in print and survives, it is a part of what once brewed inside my skull.

My next book is Siren's Call which releases today! The first reviews have begun to come in. Here's a sampling of a few:

“The author fully pulled me into her world that she created in her mind and put down on paper. I wasn’t left confused or needing to backtrack some pages to figure out what she was talking about, everything flowed smoothly. This story quickly drew me in and was overall fun. It is the first book in a new series called Dark Tides. I am definitely interested in reading the next book in this series. 4.5 Stars. ” – Night Owl Romance

“Siren’s Call quickly serves up a main course of interesting characters with a side dish of archeological and historical intrigue. The novel does not delay the inevitable, nor does it retread the oft-trod predictable lines of many paranormal romances. Instead, as the story develops so do intriguing questions about privacy, relationships and what the world may have a right to know.” – Fresh Fiction

”Siren’s Call is a faced paced, thrilling story, that was laced with dark wit and plot twists that made for a great read.” – Closetreader blog

OMG. They're good! I was surprised, considering Siren's Call was the book I began with no plot, no characters and no clue where it would go. All I know is that it came. From where, I do not know to this day. And I am mightily relieved that the first reviews are terrific. I had feared I would get the first zero star review in history and read that the book was so awful the reviewer has to be put in the hospital with bouts of gagging and heaving (yeah, I really thought that). It gives me hope that the next ones coming in will be just as good.

My question to readers today: Do you let negative reviews affect your decision to read a book?

Between desire and love there are some things that can’t stay buried, even in the deep of the ocean.

As a woman with a secret, lighthouse keeper Tessa Lonike savors her solitude on the island of Little Mer, off the coast of Maine. During a violent storm, Tessa spots a man thrashing in the ice cold waters and dives in to save him, using her ability as a mermaid to easily pull him to shore.

When Kenneth Randall awakens on the beach he is alone, left with the haunting memory of his beautiful, flame-haired savior. But a year later, when Kenneth meets her again, he’s determined not to let Tessa slip away. Just as the desire between them begins to burn, Tessa’s archaeologist ex-lover comes back to town with a tantalizing clue to her murky heritage.

The trio travel to the Mediterranean in search of answers, and when Tessa inadvertently opens an underwater portal they find a lost mermaid city. But in the deep, not everything is as it seems, and Tessa must decide if she wants to take her place as the royal heir, or follow the call of her heart…

Remember Everyone! Devyn has very kindly offered a copy of "Siren's Call" to be won by one lucky commenter each day while she is here on the island. So that is potentially 3 chances to win if you visit each day, (yesterday, today and tomorrow) and answer Devyn’s question!

The contest will close Satuday at midnight and the lucky winner will be posted here at DIK Sunday morning.

The winners will be chosen randomly by numbered entry.

Only one entry per day please!

Contest open internationally!

Good Luck to all who enter!


Devyn is back for her final day on the island tomorrow to talk about her favorite DIK books she has brought along! (She picked some interesting ones.. *g*)

27 comments:

Sullivan McPig said...

It depends on what the negative thing of the review is.
If it tells me the writing is bad I will not read a book, but if it is negative about story, characters, plot, things like that it really depends on what the reviewer thinks is negative about it.

I mean: the reviewer hated the book because of the POV for example. Not everyone dislikes the same things, so I might love the POV.

The same for storylines and characters: my best friend and me like the same kind of books mostly, but there are things that I hate when they happen and she doesn't mind and vice versa, so a lot of those things are personal and won't stop me from trying a book myself.

Hmmm, well, hope that makes sense.

Jessica said...

Most of the time, no. It depends on what is said and how it is said. There are time reviews just don't like an author. I try to let the book speak for itself regardless of the reviews. Yes, I do judge a books by it's cover and the blurb on the back.

Ina said...

no, negative reviews don't affect my decision to read a book - most of the time I read the reviews after reading the book for myself... if I like the blurb and the cover I buy and read the book, it happened once or twice that a review destroyed all anticipation and I try to avoid that ;)
greetings, Ina

Unknown said...

Hi Devyn, congrats on your new release! Siren's Call looks great! Would love to read it :-)

Well negative reviews can certainly influence me, depending on who wrote them. I consider and give more weight to those negative reviews which were written by reviewers or fellow book bloggers, whose reading taste is similar to mine and whose opinions I trust.
But otherwise (and even then) I always check out several reviews and I have given the chance to books which received negative reviews if I was intrigued enough by the blurb/premise/cover/author's previous works.

Good luck with Siren's Call reviews, and congrats! :-)

stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com

Anonymous said...

Hi again Devyn.

I don't usually read reviews too much.

If I'm buying at amazon, I may scroll down and read what other people are saying.

Usually, I'm using my hard earned cash to buy authors I know and who I know will give me value for money.

If I'm considering a 'new to me author', then I'd look at the reviews and it depends on what the reviewer said if its a negative review. If the reviewer said there was too much sex, or they didn't like the BDSM elements or something like that...then that I would ignore.

Yes, some readers don't like the first person POV, I don't mind it at all.

I guess it's all a matter of personal opinion.

I read a book once by a well known and usually good author and hated it. It was the hero, he was awful, I couldn't even like him! I looked up some reviews for this book and some folks felt the same way as I did.

Guess you gotta just remember that everyone has different opinions and to take things with a grain of salt.

And all that coming from a reviewer...hehe!!!

Valerie
valb0302@yahoo.com
in Germany

Blodeuedd said...

I actually need negative reviews. If a book gets all 5s and they can't stop talking how much they loved it I get suspicious. Cos in the end we all have different tastes, and I doubt there is one book in the world that everyone loves.

So I need the good, the bad, and the ugly to make my mind up

throuthehaze said...

Congrats on your release!! The cover of your book is gorgeous :)

Devyn Quinn said...

As a writers I just hate getting negative reviews, LOL. But as a reader, I always go and check them out before I get a book.

s7anna said...

Here's a funny thing for you - even though I write reviews - I don't read reviews. I don't want anything to influence my reaction to a book - I'll read the blurb in the review (the summary) BUT that's as far as I'll go. I'm weird...I know *sigh*

I select books based on my personal reaction to the blurb - a really bad review won't change my decision if I really want to read the book.

*hugs*
Anna

Mary G said...

Good question. I never decide by bad reviews. I only read them like a shopping catalogue - what's new, what's it about. Same with Romatic Times magazine. If I like the author & the premise, I'll buy it.
If I went my reviews, I would have missed out on some good stuff. Besides some reviews will pan a book for "one little thing".

jeanette8042 said...

I don't let negative reviews affect me because they're just one person's opinion and people have different tastes. And if it's a book I'm really interested in, negative reviews don't even make it on my radar.

Chelsea B. said...

I honestly try not to! But if they point out things that happen that I don't like reading about, that wasn't mentioned in the book's summery, I will listen then!
Yea on all the great reviews! I know it must be a good feeling to read such fantastic things about a book you worked hard on!

Lea said...

Hey Devyn!

Thanks for spending another day on the Island with us. I don't take too much stock in reviews I'm afraid. I enjoy reading them and what others have to say but it really comes down to what rocks one persons boat sinks another.

I just try to share my thoughts about a novel and if it helps someone who might read the review/post to make up their mind about a book then that is nice. I'm the same way with movies. If I want to see a particular movie, I go and make up my own mind. :-)

Great topic Devyn!

elaing8 said...

Congrats on the release Devyn.
I go to blogs where we have similar taste in books. So I know if they don't like it I may not either.Does that negative review stop me from reading it?....sometimes but it may also make me want to read it more to see for myself.So I guess it all depends on if the story(reading the synopsis) is appealing to me to begin with.

Pamk said...

reviews are the last thing that makes up my mind. I don't even read them. There are a few poeple who's rec's that I take but other than that I usually make up my own mind.

Linda Henderson said...

I don't buy books off reviews. If it's a good review, okay, if it's a bad review I tend to decide for myself. Not everyone has the same tastes in literature, so what someone might not like, I might love.

seriousreader at live dot com

chey said...

I don't let the reviews affect whether or not I get the book. Reviews are such a subjective thing. Someone could hate what I love about a book. I've read great reviews about a book I was very disappointed in.

chey127 at hotmail dot com

Alcott said...

It depends on where the negative review comes from. I follow enough blogs to find a few reviewers that are usually right in line with my reading habits/opinions. I am more apt to follow recommendations from them over someone I don't 'trust' quite as well.

Great article today! I am looking forward to reading this one.

Unknown said...

If all I am reading are negative reviews it can certainly effect my decision. I have found that very rare with authors though. I like to weigh both the positive and negative. I know I have loved books which others have not liked. For the most part if I like the author I will read the books regardless of reviews.

robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com

Bookwyrm369 said...

No, usually I don't pay attention to negative reviews unless that seems to be the consensus across the board.

Sarah

tetewa said...

I'm usually not affected by reviews as we all have our own opinions! tWarner419@aol.com

CrystalGB said...

No, reviews don't affect my buying decision. I prefer to decide myself if a book is good.

Cybercliper said...

Negative reviews don't bother me because they sometimes cement my decision to buy the book. Some people do not like the same books or genres that I do and what they disliked about a book is exactly why I like it.

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

Do you let negative reviews affect your decision to read a book? I try not to read too many reviews until after I've read the book if I'm planing on reviewing it myself.
They may affect how quickly I read it or whether I purchase it to read as opposed to borrowing it from the library. As I'm as likely to thoroughly adore a book that got mediocre reviews as wonder why everyone was gaga about a book that just made me gag, until I pick it up and read it myself, I don't know which side I'm likely to come down on. Every book has to stand on it's own. If it's one that I expected to love (say because I've loved every other book by this author)but this one fell flat then I may put it back to reread later to see if it was just my mood at the time or if I've finally gotten burned out on the author. Sometimes just taking a break from the author for awhile reawakens the love I had.

Karen W. said...

It depends on who the negative review is coming from (Is this someone with similar taste to mine - someone I usually agree with?) and it depends on what caused them to give the negative review. I might like an element that turned the reviewer off.

I usually like to make up my own mind, so I don't let negative reviews stop me from reading a book I think I'll enjoy.

Chris said...

like Blodeuedd I need to read different reviews to make a decision, a negative one wouldn't influence me, it only mentions what aspects I potentially would like :)
Chris

chris1608 at gmx dot at

Lea said...

Contest is now closed, look for announcement of the winners soon!

Thanks Everyone!

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