Anyone can publish a book. Digital publishing has made it easy for writers to fulfill their dreams of becoming a published author and reach an audience.
However…anyone can publish a book. Which means among the gems of self-published e-books out there, there are really, really poor examples of writing.
I’ll be honest, I’ve read my fair share of quality books and junk books. I give new authors a try because I know what it’s like to want to take that first step and publish on your own. I can even overlook a few typos (if it’s excessive, I may throw my e-reader across the room).
Many successful authors started by selling their books online. Some published a few chapters at a time; some gave their book away for free to gain interest. Whatever the method, it can be argued that self-publishing is a viable method. Their success, however, is directly related to the reader and how far the writer’s platform can reach.
Along with the newish freedom of publishing, the voice of the reader has gotten louder. Anyone can review your work. Readers all have likes and dislikes and the reviews are more accessible than they were in the past.
It’s great if you receive a stellar review, but many over-readers are very hard to please. Their reviews are frequently negative. It takes a lot to impress an avid reader.
When I purchase a new book on my e-reader, I look at as many reviews as possible. Readers matter. Their opinions are powerful. Their reach is beyond the old word-of-mouth method of recommendation. Readers make an author just as much as writing the book does.
So, although anyonecan publish a book, everyone can easily review it. It’s a responsibility to reach more readers and help new authors.

Read on…