When you’re an author, you put yourself out there as much as any public figure – maybe more. When the reviews – both professional and from readers – are good, you’re over the moon. The occasional bad review hurts. Your initial instinct is likely to want to lash out, to ask the reviewer when the last time s/he wrote a book was, or to point out any inaccuracies the review may contain.

Professional advice is to do none of the above. It’s hard to do nothing if you’re seething, but it is your best course of action. Console yourself with a chocolate binge, and wait for the next great review to come along.

I’ve been fortunate that both my books have averaged four stars. I love to read a review from a reader who really “got” one of my books and was touched by its message. All my books have a message, perhaps because I’m a frustrated psychologist.

Recently, my book marketing manager told me she was sending “The Passion Thief” to The San Francisco Book Review. Given the number of inquiries they receive, there was no guarantee that they would review the book. But, sure enough, we got word that a review would appear in a March issue.

I was terrified. What if the reviewer was one of the few who didn’t like the book? What if s/he trashed it for all the world to see? All I could do was wait and see.

When the review came out, my hand shook as it hovered over the link to the review (http://sanfranciscobookreview.com/2015/03/the-passion-thief/). I was terrified as I scrolled down to see the rating. My heart leapt to my throat when I saw the rating: 5/5.

No matter what you do, do your best work. Not everyone will always like it. But when the ones who matter most like it the most, all your effort was worthwhile.