The great science fiction writer Isaac Asimov once said:

From my close observation of writers… they fall into two groups: 1) those who bleed copiously and visibly at any bad review, and 2) those who bleed copiously and secretly at any bad review.

After a year and a half of plotting, developing, drafting, crafting, agonizing, re-writing, editing, and re-editing, I’m pleased to say IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP has now hit the virtual book stores. It is now on the virtual shelves!

The hard work has been done, the sparkling wine has been sipped, the hangover has been endured, and the manuscript, painstakingly crafted, has now been sent into the big wide world to be read, judged, loved, hated, and ultimately - reviewed.

Like most writers, I’d like to think that everyone is going to love my baby as much as I do. Logic, of course, tells me that this unreasonable. And there are those who continue to remind me that if I can’t stand the heat, I should not have ventured into the kitchen.

Well, like all good rebels, I not only went into the kitchen but I played with fire.
When I began writing IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP, I honestly gave no thought whatsoever to the idea that it might be reviewed. I had no real idea that it would be held up to scrutiny, that it would be criticized and critiqued, assessed and appraised. I just wanted to write a book that I would like to read.

However, now that it's out there, I'm now fully aware that at some point I am going to have to deal with criticism - good, bad, or ugly. In 2012, urban fantasy writer Stacia Kane said:

NO reader has ANY obligation to an author, whether it be to leave a review or to write a “constructive” one. I put out a product. You are consumers of that product. Since when does that mean you have to kiss my ass? Hey, I like Pop-Tarts and eat them a few times a year; since when does that mean I’m obligated to support Kellogg’s in any way except legally purchasing the Pop-Tarts before I eat them? I wasn’t aware that purchasing and consuming a product meant that I was under some sort of fucking thrall in which I’m only allowed to either praise the Pop-Tart (which to be honest isn’t hard, especially the S’mores flavour) or, if I am going to criticize a flavour, offer a specific and detailed analysis as to why, phrased in as inoffensive and gentle manner as possible so as not to upset the gentle people at Kellogg’s. 

That’s one great attitude towards the inevitable. I think I’ll adopt it, if Stacia doesn’t mind, of course.

Love my book or hate it. Either way, you owe me nothing.
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But I do owe you. And to those of you who have already purchased it, to those who have downloaded it and read it, I hope it was worth it.