Reviews: Installment 1
Established professional author and author coach Emily Hill, of A.V.Harrison Publishing, noticed a few Twitter comments of mine a couple of weeks back (I was trying to tell the world that my novel ARCHANGEL existed, hoping to stumble upon some suspense and romantic suspense lovers). She contacted me twice to tell me how much she liked my self-designed cover art and "promotional style" (which means my marketing instincts were evidently passing muster in some ways, in her area of expertise). I was flattered, and happy to hear I hadn't accidentally stumbled off the trail that leads to the high glacier and onto the one that veers off to the swamp.
A.V.Harrison Publishing is a West Coast incarnation of a venerable East Coast publishing house. Emily has a world of experience in publishing, writing, and promoting. As I researched her, I learned that her own titles, and her market positioning skills, are the stuff of dreams.
Today, quite out of the blue, Emily sent me a link to a review she has just now published about my novel ARCHANGEL, to her literary world connections and readers (and as I understand it, they number in the plenties). I invite you to read that review:
http://www.avharrison-publishing.com/?p=...
And on the PRLog site:
http://goo.gl/ZbWmb
Well, it made my Wednesday afternoon, that I can tell you. There are many things we can learn from a masterful review (and this particular wonderful, magical credential comes literally on the heels of a comically pitiful exchange with some...well let's just say there are pale things out there quite antithetical to, worlds inferior to, Ms. Hill's perceptiveness, stature and wisdom). A masterful review can of course teach us surface specifics about the book, and by inference how it compares qualitatively to other books in the genre. We can learn something about the author, especially if we believe an artistic endeavor reflects the priorities of its creator.
And we can learn about grace. The compleat author-reviewer-publisher-coach, Emily Hill, can teach us that. I'll be delving further into this topic in later installments of this blog.
Any work with one's heart bound in it will meet and meld with the hearts of others, just as it will be untouchable by agendas that have none. Emily's brief message to me today, unveiling the surprise link, was followed by the simple, beautiful note, "Good luck with this title, Michael...you deserve it. Now, I think some of your fans are waiting for a sequel...."
So, dang it, just when I think I can celebrate, they pull me back in to finish another manuscript! No rest for the typed out. :)
Seriously, thank you Emily Hill, for seeing my heart in my work, and for putting your own into yours.
- Mike
A.V.Harrison Publishing is a West Coast incarnation of a venerable East Coast publishing house. Emily has a world of experience in publishing, writing, and promoting. As I researched her, I learned that her own titles, and her market positioning skills, are the stuff of dreams.
Today, quite out of the blue, Emily sent me a link to a review she has just now published about my novel ARCHANGEL, to her literary world connections and readers (and as I understand it, they number in the plenties). I invite you to read that review:
http://www.avharrison-publishing.com/?p=...
And on the PRLog site:
http://goo.gl/ZbWmb
Well, it made my Wednesday afternoon, that I can tell you. There are many things we can learn from a masterful review (and this particular wonderful, magical credential comes literally on the heels of a comically pitiful exchange with some...well let's just say there are pale things out there quite antithetical to, worlds inferior to, Ms. Hill's perceptiveness, stature and wisdom). A masterful review can of course teach us surface specifics about the book, and by inference how it compares qualitatively to other books in the genre. We can learn something about the author, especially if we believe an artistic endeavor reflects the priorities of its creator.
And we can learn about grace. The compleat author-reviewer-publisher-coach, Emily Hill, can teach us that. I'll be delving further into this topic in later installments of this blog.
Any work with one's heart bound in it will meet and meld with the hearts of others, just as it will be untouchable by agendas that have none. Emily's brief message to me today, unveiling the surprise link, was followed by the simple, beautiful note, "Good luck with this title, Michael...you deserve it. Now, I think some of your fans are waiting for a sequel...."
So, dang it, just when I think I can celebrate, they pull me back in to finish another manuscript! No rest for the typed out. :)
Seriously, thank you Emily Hill, for seeing my heart in my work, and for putting your own into yours.
- Mike
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Debra
(new)
Sep 29, 2011 12:19AM
That is the kind of review I expect to read on your book, Michael. The skills of the reviewer match yours. I am proud and happy to share the review with those in my Twitterverse and on Facebook.
reply
|
flag
Thanks Debra! You're eloquent and kind. And I've read some reviews of your debut novel "The Companion of Lady Holmshire" too. They were fantastic as I recall. Care to re-post some of those links in a comment here? For the readers' convenience of course.- Mike
In that case, how about a link to the book and they can see all the reviews? Thanks!
You got it! Everyone, do yourselves the biggest favor of the year and read Debra Brown's debut novel! Before she comes out with the second one and gives you a tough choice! (Then afterward, consider a Romantic Suspense Thriller...let's see, where could we find one that's more than half-baked....)
