What a Review Can Mean to an Author

Writing is subjective, and there will always be people who do not connect with what you’ve written.  But when someone does find a connection, it’s magical, and elating, and sustaining.  Here’s a reader review that left me overjoyed to the verge of tears:

I didn’t expect much with this. In fact, I almost didn’t order it because of concerns about how well a male author could depict the complexities of a female FBI agent with an eating disorder. I needn’t have worried - this book was phenomenally written, both in the plot line and the character development.

The story begins with the theft of a piece of gum and the crimes escalate over time, not catching the attention of the FBI until after the first few offenses. The antagonist’s planning and thought-process and intent are more complex than they seem initially, and by the end, I found myself sympathizing with the character while still repulsed by his crimes. Miller uses bits of foreshadowing and hint-dropping but not so much that I figured everything out before he revealed it. I found the twists to be logical and believable without being too predictable, while the basic elements I expect from an FBI procedural were maintained (for example, investigative steps, etc.). Dagny is certainly a flawed protagonist, but her flaws are believable and intersect with the case in intriguing ways that help to move the plot along. (In other words, she’s not a weak female written in a condescending way by a male author, as often is the case in suspenseful fiction, but instead a strong lead whose shortcomings are purposeful in the plot.)

This didn’t just exceed my expectations; it blew me away. I think this is the author’s first book, and I will be on the watch for future ones. This was clever, well-written, and so enjoyable that I was sad when it finished, even though it’s more than 400 pages long.

When I started writing The Bubble Gum Thief,  I wanted to create the kind of complex, dynamic female protagonist rarely seen in thriller novels, and I put a lot of time and effort into trying to make her real.  I suspected that there would be justifiable skepticism about whether a male writer could pull it off.  (My first agent, Elaine Koster, wanted me to use a gender ambiguous pen name for this reason).  The reader above overcame her skepticism and had exactly the experience I intended for readers when I wrote the book.  I wanted her to enjoy the twists, and sympathize with the villain, and feel sad to leave the world of the book when it was done. To be able to hear all of this worked for someone is incredible.  I’m sure she can’t imagine how much this review means to me.  It’s Christmas and Hanukkah and my birthday rolled into one.

A stand-up comedian can react to the response from the crowd.  A film director can watch a screening of his film in front of an audience to see what works.  But a writer sits alone in a room, typing words on a screen, praying that they connect with people he doesn’t know in places he’s never been.  When someone lets an author know that they like what they’ve written, it makes that room feel a lot less lonely.  It’s the best thing in the world.