Author Support Group discussion

I won't go into all of the particulars, but I'm particularly vexed about being accused of "plugging" a book because (in the interest of full disclosure), I mentioned that the author and I had become friends. I guess that, if you know the author, your recommendation has no value?? Because one is automatically rendered so incapable of discernment that one will randomly refer to a book as "the best of X genre that I read this year" due to that relationship?

Ugh.

There are always those who feel the need to be hurtful, Sharon -- and most of them hang out online all day.

Ignore. Ignore. Ignore.

Focus on us cool folk.

I agree, Susan.

Sharon, it is quite hard reviewing a friend's work, because you don't want to hurt their feelings. I always stress to writer friends that they're going to get an honest review. If they don't like it, I won't publish it.

I always mention any relationship at the outset of the review. If anyone wants to find fault with the review after that, it just indicates that have a very petty mind.

Paul wrote: "I agree, Susan.

Sharon, it is quite hard reviewing a friend's work, because you don't want to hurt their feelings. I always stress to writer friends that they're going to get an honest review. If..."

I wholeheartedly concur. A friend of mine wrote a book that I dearly wanted to love; I couldn't even get through it. :-( The book I recommended, and for which I disclosed my relationship, was part of a series that was *so* good that it surprised me.

I do the same as you; I write honest reviews. I don't recommend something I don't believe in. You're right; it's petty of this person to have been angry with me because I disclosed the friendship. I guess if I had just listed the book (which in my mind is far sneakier), they wouldn't have cared?

LOL, Susan. Nice to be part of the "cool kids." :-)