Ling asked Carol Mason:

Dear Carol, I loved your novel. I can't tell you how it affected me! I wrote a great review for it but I always wonder how authors feel about people passing opinions about their work. When you see a bad review how do you feel?

Carol Mason Ooh! I was just answering a couple of other questions this morning and this popped up! It's actually a brilliant question, Ling. The truth is, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and in a group of 10 people, everyone will have a different opinion on your novel. Writing a novel is a tremendously difficult process - well, for me! You put so much of your heart and soul and your time into writing the best book you can so naturally you hope that, even if people didn't like the book, they will at least not be too unkind when they review it. I think some people forget that writers are people, with families and bills to pay and they're just trying to be good at what they do while recognizing that not everyone will enjoy their work. Some reviews feel unnecessarily harsh, almost feel like the book industry equivalent to road rage! These really hurt, I must admit. But then I have to remember all the wonderful ones I have received and that usually puts a smile on my face again!

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