LEAST Favorite on THURSDAY--bad hobby blogger review

Tomorrow is Friday, and I was planning to write my Favorites on Friday post as I fly over the southeastern United States about how much I love my winter sojourn to the warm, to my old stomping grounds in the Caribbean where my sister and friends and sunshine and glorious ocean wait for me. I was going to talk about how my kids have been debating for the past week what they will do very first: Run to the Climbing Tree--a wild and gnarled sea grape up the beach, or catch lizards or hermit crabs, or maybe mole crabs, or maybe just run into the ocean? They consider the merits of going right to Aunt Linden's house to feed the iguanas in her yard, or knocking on doors to see if any of their Christmastime friends are home, if anyone wants to do any of the above with them.

And I realized I don't want to be fussing with internet connection when I get there, don't want to worry about getting my Favorites on Friday post up. It's bad enough to actually have to unzip our suitcases to get out the bathing suits. So I thought I would get a jump on my Friday post a day early, and talk about one of my least favorite things: waking up to a crap review from a blogger. 

Prior to my book going out, I didn't know how this worked, but here's what I understand: these bloggers get your books for free from the publisher, in hopes that they will spread the word, taking a risk that instead they might be spewing a little venom. And a couple of mornings a week, I get a Google alert, open the link and hope for the best. More often than not, it's a lovely way to start the day. And then there was today. I get that not every book is for everyone, and that it is all part of the game--this new world of amateur internet reviewers.  But it still feels lousy to hear that my book had the 'worst ending of any book they read all year'. 

I would love for all hobby review bloggers to read this post by Jenna Blum. There are real people on the other end of these books. I really did ignore my children in the years it took to write this story. I have given up cozy nights with my husband and early mornings in bed and all television in favor of editing. I love my characters, flaws and all. I wrote this novel because I believe in it, and I sent it out to be published hoping for connection. I really do get up each morning with a cup of tea or in today's case, lie in bed with my laptop and a snoring toddler, and read the google alerts of my paper baby. 

So... to this morning's naysayer: I'm sorry it didn't work out for you. Thanks for taking a chance on it.

Today I'm packing my bikini and flip flops and some books. I'll be reading Leah Stewart's The Myth of You and Me, Kristin Kimball's The Dirty Life, Kelly Simmons' Standing Still and I will be editing two manuscripts for friends. 

Tomorrow, I am doing one of my most favorite things on Friday: I'm off to the Climbing Tree with my kids.

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