Importance of Leaving Reviews

I hope this post doesn't come across as bragging because that's not my intention. My aim here is two-fold.

First, to say thank you to everyone who has bought Adventures of Cash Laramie and Gideon Miles , and especially those who took the time to leave a review on Amazon. I woke this morning to the good news it's the sixth most recommended western on their charts. There's Lonesome Dove just a few rungs above me! I'm humbled and deeply honored. Many thanks for the five star reviews that placed Adventures there.

Second, to talk about those reviews. I never completely understood the significance of these appraisals on Amazon. That may seem naive but, quite honestly, most of the time I don't follow reviews when I purchase a book or attend a movie—but I'm obviously in the minority in that department. Once my book reached the top twenty, sales picked up significantly. Obviously, the higher chart status brought it to the attention of readers not familiar with me, Edward Grainger, or BEAT to a PULP.

Hilary Davidson mentioned over a year ago that she would begin leaving reviews for books she likes and asked others to join. Well, Hilary I'm a little late but I get it now. I've already dropped comments for Wayne Dundee and Gerald So and plan to do a few more this week to catch up. And from here on, when I finish a book I'll leave a short review. It doesn't take much time and it does make a difference.