I think I may make this my motto. In fact, it should probably be the motto for all authors. As most authors probably do I have several people who I turn to when my manuscripts are in the early stages. I allow this select group to read my work in progress and give me feedback, however increasingly I'm finding that what one person loves another doesn't. While one reader might suggest that my sex scenes may be too graphic, another begs me to give her the original copy if I do in fact tone down the scene. While one reader thinks my stories need more action beyond the romance, another doesn't want to sift through the extra plot to get to the love story beneath. Bottom line; I can't please everyone. This is a fact I have finally come to terms with as I work on my third novel. With the first book I took every critique to heart, re-writing and revising every plot point that found contention. With the second novel I found myself a bit more defensive of my work, trying to defend the twists and turns that some may not have followed. And through this process realized that those parts that I left in, the ones who some suggested be changed, those are some readers favorite points. I've learned to trust my writing. There will always be critics. Some may find a lengthy description slow, while others revel in the picture it paints. Some may glaze over a sex scene finding the depth of the descriptions too graphic, while others will dog ear those pages to read repeatedly. With this third novel, I may not use a test audience. Perhaps the original is the best version, without the second guessing, without trying to please everyone. Perhaps this will be my best novel yet.