Of Reviewers, “Where the Dog Star Never Glows,” and Lifting Spirits…

In a recent blog post, author, and editor, Tara Masih, gave homage to the importance of book reviewers.

Book reviewers provide an invaluable service to fiction writers in both the areas of helping us get the word about our work–promotion and marketing.

Their words of praise also grant us emotional support when the sale numbers do not always reflect the investment of time, heart, soul, and money in offering our personal best when crafting our novels, novellas, and short stories.

In her blog post Tara speaks of author and reviewer, Angela Lam Turpin. In addition to writing reviews, Angela is also the author to Legs and Blood Moon Rising.

Not only has Angela reviewed Tara’s book, Where the Dog Star Never Glows, she also provided a succinct and gracious review of my novel that is scheduled to debut this month, The House.

Many thanks to Angela and other reviewers who keeping us writers going, and our spirits up.

The time and effort Angela and other reader/reviewers/writers such as her donate in reading our books and writing reviews during these tough economic times is truly a labor of love.

Recent changes in the economy and digital technology make what people like Tara and Angela do important.

Giving–both in service and in expressing gratitude to those whose service assists us and each other, in achieving our dreams.

No longer are readers/consumers buying on a whim. They are inspecting products AND checking out the people who create, and promote the products.

Books, novels, stories are intimate beasts. Not only do they cost money, they also require an investment of time to be read.

Sampling the opening pages of a book, and then learning something about the writer who has penned the words is tantamount for befriending readers of the 21st century to purchase books, particularly works of fiction.

Reviewers serve as a 3rd party source that provides information desired by potential readers. That reviewers like Angela are unpaid grants a level of integrity to what she and others like her write, what Publishers Weekly and other traditional sources lack.

Writers would do well to get to know author/bloggers like Tara and author/reviewers like Angela.

Thank you, Angela for the time you give in writings such heartwarming and impressive reviews.

And “Kudos,” to Tara for blogging about this timely and important subject that so many in the world of publishing ignore.

The subject is the grace of helping others in an effort to manifest those dreams dearest to our hearts.

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Tara Masih also edited The Field Guide to Writing Flash Fiction–Tips From Editors, Teachers and Writers in the Field,  published by  Rose Metal Press.