Katherine Bone's Blog - Posts Tagged "reviews"
A Writer's Heart
Most mornings, you wake up and think about what the day has in store. What you need to cross off your to-do list and how you're going to find the time to do it all. Most mornings, time flies or lumbers by, but you keep on keeping on, putting forth the effort even though you're not sure you're on the right track. (Never stop.)
If you never quit doing what you love, there will be times when the clouds eventually part and the sun beams radiant upon you. Times like today when I checked my Goodreads page to find the best 4Star Review I've ever seen of my book!!! (Boom goes the undead monkey!)
My twenty year odyssey to publication has been long and ardous, oftentimes filled with extreme moments of joy and despair, coupled with becalmed waters. I've wondered if the hours spent writing were worth it, whether I should quit, whether scouring the deck with a good bit of soap would be a better use of my time. Whether or not my stories were worth the telling and counting the endless things I could be achieving were I not sitting at the computer writing. (Brisk winds will come.)
Today, however, I received the BEST boon to my spirits any writer can get. A delightful and stirring review of my book, Duke by Day, Rogue by Night. This review has touched my soul in a way that can never be repaid. Writing is a subjective world to all who read. I realize this and understand that some books aren't good for everyone. But today~ right now~ I'm near tears because a reader took time to tell me my book, my story, my ideas, resonated within them.
No greater gift has ever been made! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, dearest reader!!!
And to those of you who read, write reviews. Tell your favorite authors you enjoy their stories. I can now honestly say, there is no greater gift for a writer than to know he/she has stirred emotions within a reader's heart. And I now know that everything I've experienced to this point, every dream I had of gifting precious moments of time to a reader's life has come to pass.
Blessings to you all as you prepare for the holiday season. May you be warm and comforted. And may you find that great book that stirs your heart.
If you never quit doing what you love, there will be times when the clouds eventually part and the sun beams radiant upon you. Times like today when I checked my Goodreads page to find the best 4Star Review I've ever seen of my book!!! (Boom goes the undead monkey!)
My twenty year odyssey to publication has been long and ardous, oftentimes filled with extreme moments of joy and despair, coupled with becalmed waters. I've wondered if the hours spent writing were worth it, whether I should quit, whether scouring the deck with a good bit of soap would be a better use of my time. Whether or not my stories were worth the telling and counting the endless things I could be achieving were I not sitting at the computer writing. (Brisk winds will come.)
Today, however, I received the BEST boon to my spirits any writer can get. A delightful and stirring review of my book, Duke by Day, Rogue by Night. This review has touched my soul in a way that can never be repaid. Writing is a subjective world to all who read. I realize this and understand that some books aren't good for everyone. But today~ right now~ I'm near tears because a reader took time to tell me my book, my story, my ideas, resonated within them.
No greater gift has ever been made! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, dearest reader!!!
And to those of you who read, write reviews. Tell your favorite authors you enjoy their stories. I can now honestly say, there is no greater gift for a writer than to know he/she has stirred emotions within a reader's heart. And I now know that everything I've experienced to this point, every dream I had of gifting precious moments of time to a reader's life has come to pass.
Blessings to you all as you prepare for the holiday season. May you be warm and comforted. And may you find that great book that stirs your heart.
Big Girl Panties
Oh boy! Do I ever need BIG girl panties!
Life can be hectic and crazy, me hearties. One day can be gloriously epic, while another one can cast you into the abyss. The great thing about each day that comes... you never know which type of day you're going to get. Doesn't that make life interesting? I think so.
Days, months, years. Epic books aren't written in a day. Nor are they written in a few days. I've heard a very special author say she writes books in two weeks. ACK! Is that possible? Apparently so. (Pass me that mojo!) But the average shorter book gets written in six weeks.
I don't normally write shorter books. Though I can honestly say, Lost Treasure, Captive Princess, at 46,000 words was my first try. The book took more than 3 months to write because I had to adjust my technique to include modern language, when I'm instinctively drawn to historical styles. And then there was the constant revising, because again, I was venturing into a foreign land, so to speak. Duke by Day, Rogue by Night went through a few versions from the 75,000 word book HQN Mills & Boon had for two years, to the 90,000 word book that sold to Crimson Romance. Also, not written in weeks.
Stephen King says, and I summarize here, "If it takes longer than three months to write a book, the writer loses momentum and the passion for the work." He's right. I've found myself in this position many times, mateys. A good historical, given research and revisions, can take up to six months. That's half of an author's year!
This brings me to my point. Readers, that's you, me hearties, read a book in a day or more. What brings you the greatest joy took an author months to perfect. So much agony, time, talent and passion goes into each and every book sold today. Each word thoroughly researched in historicals. Each word infinitely important to the characters and plot. Each word born of an author's soul.
When a book reaches you, dearest readers, big girl panties come in handy for the author. And, at times, Depends. Muahahaha! We never know how well our books will be received. We never know if our books will disappoint or offer a much needed escape. When the reviews come in, good or bad, they offer feedback that negates or equates time well spent. That's an author's barometer. Well, that and a compass which points to what we want most. ;)
Thus, the need for big girl panties!
Has there been a time when you needed to put on your big girl panties?
Life can be hectic and crazy, me hearties. One day can be gloriously epic, while another one can cast you into the abyss. The great thing about each day that comes... you never know which type of day you're going to get. Doesn't that make life interesting? I think so.
Days, months, years. Epic books aren't written in a day. Nor are they written in a few days. I've heard a very special author say she writes books in two weeks. ACK! Is that possible? Apparently so. (Pass me that mojo!) But the average shorter book gets written in six weeks.
I don't normally write shorter books. Though I can honestly say, Lost Treasure, Captive Princess, at 46,000 words was my first try. The book took more than 3 months to write because I had to adjust my technique to include modern language, when I'm instinctively drawn to historical styles. And then there was the constant revising, because again, I was venturing into a foreign land, so to speak. Duke by Day, Rogue by Night went through a few versions from the 75,000 word book HQN Mills & Boon had for two years, to the 90,000 word book that sold to Crimson Romance. Also, not written in weeks.
Stephen King says, and I summarize here, "If it takes longer than three months to write a book, the writer loses momentum and the passion for the work." He's right. I've found myself in this position many times, mateys. A good historical, given research and revisions, can take up to six months. That's half of an author's year!
This brings me to my point. Readers, that's you, me hearties, read a book in a day or more. What brings you the greatest joy took an author months to perfect. So much agony, time, talent and passion goes into each and every book sold today. Each word thoroughly researched in historicals. Each word infinitely important to the characters and plot. Each word born of an author's soul.
When a book reaches you, dearest readers, big girl panties come in handy for the author. And, at times, Depends. Muahahaha! We never know how well our books will be received. We never know if our books will disappoint or offer a much needed escape. When the reviews come in, good or bad, they offer feedback that negates or equates time well spent. That's an author's barometer. Well, that and a compass which points to what we want most. ;)
Thus, the need for big girl panties!
Has there been a time when you needed to put on your big girl panties?
Special Thanks to Reviewers!!!
There's nothing better than peeking at your Goodreads page and seeing another review has been uploaded for one of your books, me hearties! I wanted to take the opportunity today to thank each and every reader who's posted a review for either of my books so far. Your feedback and kindness has touched my heart in a very personal and gratifying way.
There are so many reasons to thank readers. First and foremost, thank you for buying my books. For years I dreamed of having one of my books published. Imagine my heartfelt joy to be able to share 3 of those books with you this past year. Readers make this writing business totally worth the job of sitting in front of a computer every day and churning out stories.
Writing is a solitary business. Though it's done mostly in a separate room, in a quiet space, or filled with soundtrack music from movies I love that help with setting, I'm never really alone. The characters from my books keep me company. And they're the BEST companions a writer can ask for. Why? Because all they ask for is to have their stories told so that they can share their adventures with you!
Adventure, romance, espionage, thrilling actions sequences, love triangles, rogues, rebels and rakes... who could ask for more these days, eh?
Thank you again for reaching out to me and for sharing your opinions. I cherish you all!!!
Blessings,
Katherine
There are so many reasons to thank readers. First and foremost, thank you for buying my books. For years I dreamed of having one of my books published. Imagine my heartfelt joy to be able to share 3 of those books with you this past year. Readers make this writing business totally worth the job of sitting in front of a computer every day and churning out stories.
Writing is a solitary business. Though it's done mostly in a separate room, in a quiet space, or filled with soundtrack music from movies I love that help with setting, I'm never really alone. The characters from my books keep me company. And they're the BEST companions a writer can ask for. Why? Because all they ask for is to have their stories told so that they can share their adventures with you!
Adventure, romance, espionage, thrilling actions sequences, love triangles, rogues, rebels and rakes... who could ask for more these days, eh?
Thank you again for reaching out to me and for sharing your opinions. I cherish you all!!!
Blessings,
Katherine
