Carmen DeSousa

As an author, I know I can't please everyone. I've given up on thinking that I can a long time ago. What I now concentrate on are the good things. Don't get me wrong, I love critical reviews, as long as the reviewer writes to inform and assist, not attack an author. I've taken to heart my critical reviews and make certain I don't make the same mistakes twice. I don’t use an editor, so sometimes things get overlooked. Heck, errors slip by in New York Times Bestsellers. Don’t believe me... Look at your copy of Twilight —I know you have a copy…LOL!—there’s a mistake in the first chapter. "The room was familiar; it had been belonged to me since I was born." This was an easy slip; she’d obviously been tossing between, “it had belonged to me” or “it had been mine”. BUT…it didn’t affect my review. I liked the story. Though juvenile in some respects, it was original and romantic. But, I also didn’t discount the book because I thought it was juveni...

I read a lot!  I know, I know, I’ve said that before…  I also read a lot of reviews, as I’m always curious what readers want, what they are looking for in a great book. But can I just say … the last review I read shocked me. The review was by an Indie author, reviewing another Indie author , none the less. She loved the book, said she couldn’t put it down, read the novel in one day, gave it four stars (which is great), but then went on to say how the book didn’t fall under the 'normal' structure, and if it had, she would have given it five stars. (Not that four stars isn't a great review ... it is! I'm just wondering why anyone would tell an author how to write their book.) I’ve been fighting this for years, stating that other than writing  well, why does there have to be a 'normal' structure?  Where is this rule written?  Should the same rule apply to building a house, writing a musical piece, creating a work of art? Of cours...