Category Archives: Books

Author who reads, Books

I’m an author and a reader: Are you?

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When I hear writers tell me that they really not readers I am taken back. How you can be one without the other amazes me. I been an avid reader since gosh as long as I can remember. My husband and I have way too many books. Our move to our home now had a U-Haul that primarily had books in it.

So why are you writing in the first place and to who? And why should people read your book?And would you get offended if someone say to you that they don’t read?

I always have a book in my purse, car, by my bed, by my place in the living room and yes the bathroom but those are the funnies. Sadly life gets busy with family, health, the home and everything in between and being able to mark out time to read is not always there. That happened recently to me. It had been weeks since I had picked up a book. This past weekend I read two books, I made the time and plus the weather was crappy and I was not feeling well so was situated on the couch. But I did read and it felt so awesome. And not a digital book, which I get the reasons for that, but a real book in my hand. It was a glorious weekend to be reading. I have missed reading for pleasure hopefully it won’t be weeks before I do it again.

Author, Books, Let your editor go

Is it okay to fire your publisher?

11 Comments

anger_pain_terror_scream_58439Is it okay to fire your editor, illustrator or even your publisher? Let me break it down.

When it comes to your editor, absolutely. This one is a no brainer as far as I am concern. Editors are expensive. I have seen authors let this part of their book slide. After all a writing group or beta readers can do the trick, right? We know this is wrong. You can’t get away without an editor to help you get your book in the best shape it can be in. But you can fire your editor if they don’t do your book justice. There are so many editors out there, good quality ones, so don’t feel bad in giving your editor the shaft.

Illustrators fall into the same category for the same reason. There are many illustrators who, like editors, rang in price and also range in talent. If you feel your book cover is not properly representing the words behind it, why stay with this person? Granted, it is tough coming up with a cover that you are happy with but sticking to what they give you shouldn’t be an option.

Lastly, can you and should you fire your publisher? I can’t say yes any more clearly then yes. Writers get so giddy when a publisher wants one of their works. Something I truly get. It is exciting, amazing, wonderful and oh my gosh A PUBLISHER WANTS ONE OF MY WORKS! But it doesn’t mean you have to take their offer or stick with them to the very end. It is not a marriage that can or will live happily ever after. Yes there will be pitfalls, what relationship doesn’t? But also like a marriage when it is not good for you it is not good for you and a parting might be what you need.

Bottom line, this is your book You are the one who wrote it and spend gosh awful amount of time and effort creating it. Doesn’t it deserve the very best you can give it?

Books, Sharon C. Williams

Reviewing a children’s book

2 Comments

2013-10-19 11.06.56

As a reviewer for Booksneeze, we are required to write a 300 word review. Easy peasy, right? The book I received on Monday was so short it took me under 30 seconds to read it. The material is geared at the young children who are learning to read on their own so it had short sentences and a heck of a lot of pictures.

My first thought was, “How in the hell was I going to come up with a 300 word review?” It didn’t help that my reviewer brain went into full gear as I picked it apart from a level of a book meant for an age much older. I didn’t like the concept, parts didn’t make sense and overall I was left flat in feeling.

Being the first reviewer for this book I did not want to leave such a remark on a book. I sat back in my chair and thought on how to write this. Then it hit me. It didn’t have to work for me, it had to work for the child reading it. Once I made the realization the review was easy. I commented on the short sentences, the easy words, the colorful illustrations that a child that young would enjoy. The book worked for it worked for the child that it was meant for.

By the time I was done writing I had 344 words. Not bad, huh? I see so many bad reviews. I wonder if people forget who the book is aimed at when placing the post up online. As a writer, we have to write for the audience that is in our target audience, why should the review be any different?

 

You can find me here at my blog that is strictly for reviews: Www.mainemuse.wordpress.com