Who Was Your Reader Superhero?

Over at Trevs Literary Review, Trev posed the question of what writer inspired you to write. And really, it made me think of other readers and bloggers, and flipping the whole idea on its head.

Hence the question: What person influenced you to read?

Who has been the singular person who has stood by you and your library cravings? Who has held your hand and helped you along the way in navigating the fascinating world of books?

I know for me it was two main people: My mother and my father. My father had this crazy idea that he should force his children to go the library every summer, pick up a book, and write a book report on it. I don't know the exact moment where my father knew I loved reading and stopped requiring me to write a book report, but I remember lugging at least five books out of the library every summer and smiling every time we had to go. I just loved going to the library and my father is the one who introduced me to it. And I'll always love him for being a supporter of my (often crazy) reading habits.

My mother was an unknown supporter of my romance reading habits. I remember when I was around 12 years old, finishing up a book, and frustrated that I didn't get any more from the library. I was a huge lover of science fiction and fantasy back then. Anyway, I was looking around for a book and a noticed this huge box of books with half naked Native Americans on them. At first, I thought they were just Native American historical novels since I seriously had a dislike for romance novels (for no good reason) so I picked it up and read it. And then a miracle happened: I fell in love with historical romance novels. Couldn't get enough of them.

So now that I shared my story, now it's time to share yours.

Who was your reader superhero?

Author Interview: Annalise Grey

Please welcome to A Three Way Tie, the wonderful author, Annalise Grey!

Pennsylvania native, dreamer, explorer.

I write because I like talking to the voices in my head. They are (usually) good company. I love to travel (when I have the $ for it). My family is everything to me.


When and why did you begin writing?

I’ve been writing (mostly poetry) since I was a kid. My first “novel” was a crime drama called Silent Witness. The main character was a mute woman who witnessed a murder. I was 10 when I wrote it. But even when I wasn’t putting words to paper, I was running around the woods pretending to be an Indian Princess and creating storylines in my head.


What was the hardest part of writing your book? What was the easiest?

The hardest part has been the editing. Rereading your own work over and over gets a little tiring because you already know what happens. There isn’t a build-up —an emotional investment — like there is when you read a book for the first time. It’s hard to sit back and view your work as a new reader would.

    

Interestingly, the easiest part was writing the most tragic events. I found that it was a smoother, easier process writing about all the bad stuff that happens to Sophie and her family. Raw emotion just flowed into the pages as I wrote. These scenes affected me deeply but they were the ones that I felt happened without me having to force them. 

What music do you listen to while you write?

I have several Pandora Internet Radio stations that I listen to depending on the scene I’m writing. Each station is built around the following songs: “Dietro Casa” by Ludovico Einaud, “Meteor Shower” by Owl City, “Three Cheers For Five Years (Acoustic)” by Mayday Parade, and “Where I Stood” by Missy Higgins. When I’m rereading and/or editing, I always listen to classical music. I have to have some piano music playing in the background in order to write. Otherwise I can’t concentrate.


What inspires you?

My family, first and foremost! I have two older sisters, a step-sister, and a sister-in-law who counts as a fourth sister. I also have two younger brothers. Most of us live within a mile of each other (my one brother is my next-door neighbor). Our family is a tight-knit unit. My Pappy and Grandma are the quintessential Patriarch & Matriarch. They helped raise me and my siblings as their second set of kids. In fact, the Matthews pack from my book Howl is directly based on my own family and our relationships.


Do you have any hidden talents?

I can bend my pinky fingers all the way back – does that count? LOL! Actually, I’m an avid crocheter. I create my own patterns for hats, scarves, ponchos, etc.


What are your current projects?

 I finished a manuscript called Gettysburg After Dark which is about ghost experiences I have had during my seven years as a ghost tour guide in Gettysburg, Pa. I’m in discussion with a publisher so keep your fingers crossed for me!!


What book are you reading now?

Right now I am reading The Matchmaker’s Mark by Regan Black.


Quick: Vampires or Shapeshifter? Why?

Shapeshifters. Because I love the idea of changing your being without it being permanent. Once you’re a vamp, you’re always a vamp. No fun. J


Do you have any advice for other writers?

Just keep writing, no matter what. I write because I like getting to live other people’s lives along with them. Same reason I’m a reader. It’s escapism at its simplest form. And it’s mine. Let it be whatever it is for you just don’t stop.


Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I hope you enjoy reading my work as much as I have enjoyed writing it!

 

 

Cover Artists Anyone?!

Well, as you can probably tell by the title, I've been struggling with finding a cover artist. I did hire one cover artist (who shall not be named) who doubled the price on me at the last minute.

So I'm on the hunt for a cover artist for Angel Diaries. If you know a cover artist who will be reasonable in price, who loves to design paranormal romance books or dark fantasy young adult genre, then please feel free to leave a comment here.

I know most people are probably looking at my past few weeks and going, "Gee, you've had a rough couple of weeks."

Well, what is my favorite phrase: A writer's work is never done. Nor has anyone said it's easy.

Being a writer is all about flexibility and perseverance. You hit a lot of stumbling blocks as a writer and it's our job to keep going. 

A character won't talk to us? Time to interview with him/her.

A book fails? Time to snatch it off the shelf and play doctor.

A book isn't selling? Time to go to the Kindleboards and ask what others think.

So this is me being flexible. Or at least trying my best to be. 

Anyway, if you know any cover artists, then drop a comment! :D No really, drop a comment. 

Guess who has two thumbs and has a new review? This girl! Check it out here!

Author Interview: Michael Meyer

Please welcome to A Three Way Tie, Michael Meyer!

Mike Meyer recently retired from a 40-year career as a professor of writing, amassing numerous teaching awards along the way from both his students and his colleagues. He lives in the Southern California wine country with his wife, Kitty, and their two other cats.
This biography was provided by the author or their representative.


When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing at the age of ten, when I self-published my first book, a short synopsis of California history. My parents bought the only copy I printed, and I was delighted. My parents were both teachers, so books were an important part of my childhood. 

I have always been fascinated by language. Creating human beings and plots very much appeals to me. I love to read what others have created, and I thoroughly enjoy my own writing. I still get a kick out of reading my own published works.


What was the hardest part of writing your book? What is the easiest?

The hardest part to me is finishing it. First of all, there are so many ways to end a piece of writing, so coming up with the best is quite difficult. In addition, I am a reader as I write, not knowing for sure where things are heading. If you have ever felt sad when you have completed a book that completely thrilled you, then that’s how I feel when I finally finish a book. 

The easiest for me is…well, none of it really comes easy. Writing, very simply, is hard work.


 What music do you listen to while you write?

I listen to the verbal sounds of the words in my mind, trying to string my sentences together in the most creative fashion. The words that dance around my mind as I create are the only music I hear as I write.


What inspires you?

Everything inspires me. I am a great observer of life and of the people around me. A bird’s nest on a boulder in the midst of a rushing stream inspires me. The first growth sticking its head up after a terrible forest fire inspires me. I walk for exercise early each morning, and as I walk I am thinking. It is a rare day that I do not run upstairs and begin writing something that popped into my head while exercising.


Do you have any hidden talents?

I can eat the hottest food on earth. I love spicy food. In Thailand a few years back, people surrounded my table in a restaurant and marveled at how I could eat food as hot, if not hotter, than they. And, of course, my talent as a writer is not hidden, so that doesn’t count, does it?


What are your current projects?

I am two-thirds of the way through a murder mystery set on the island of St. Croix, where I was a professor at the University of the Virgin Islands. It is entitled THE DEADLY EYES OF ST. CROIX. I hope to have it published by Amazon Kindle by this summer.

    

What book are you reading now?

Actually, I am rereading the most recent scenes of THE DEADLY EYES OF ST. CROIX, adding, deleting, and revising as I go along.


Quick: Vampires or Shapeshifter? Why?

Shapeshifter. This allows so much for the imagination. I can be catlike and prowl during the night. There are just so many possibilities. Besides, I really don’t care much for the taste of blood, though I must admit that I am partial to Bloody Marys.


Do you have any advice for other writers?

Write, write, and write. It’s hard, but that’s what needs to be done. It is very easy to think of other things that need your attention, but you must remember: a writer is a person who writes.


Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Please check out my Amazon author’s website. You might just see a book there you like. If you do, I would love to hear what you think about it. As an Indie writer, I depend upon word-of-mouth advertising, and honest reviews are absolutely wonderful.

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005E7M8CW

How to Deal with a Crazy Ex: A Guest Post by Sabrina Jackson

Please welcome to A Three Way Tie, the brilliant author, Sabrina Jackson!

How to Deal with a Crazy Ex 

Exes. We all have them. And if yours just happens to be fit for a strait jacket and a few steps away from spending a medicated life in a padded-cell, then you might be on the verge of going crazy yourself. So when your phone is ringing nonstop at 3:00 a.m., he’s showing up at your door begging for you to take him back, getting your name tattooed across his chest or even threatening to sabotage your new relationship, then keep yourself from joining him in the loony-bin by checking out the following ways to deal with a crazy ex:

Decide if you can be friends. 

Salvaging a friendship after a break-up can be difficult because often times feelings that are more than friendly can still remain between the former couple. But if your break-up was on good terms, you’ve taken some time to heal and you still want the guy in your life, then think about the possibility of being friends. If you both agree that you can handle a mature, healthy friendship then go for it! However, if the adjective of “crazy” fits far too perfectly in front of your ex’s name and it goes farther than just him being distraught after breaking-up, then you might want to consider changing your name and moving to a remote location in Montana. Kidding, but if he’s truly nuts, then a friendship or any kind of contact at all might not be in the cards. 

Explain to him the meaning of the word “break-up.” 

It’s called a break-up because it’s broken. So if it can’t be fixed and you are ready to move on but your crazy ex is hampering you from doing so, a face-to-face conversation to further discuss feelings might be in order. If you have zero desire to interact with your ex anymore and a casual friendship isn’t an option for you, do your best to explain that the way for both of you to recover from the break-up is to actually follow through with the break-up and give each other the space needed to heal.

Cut all communication. 

 If the attention you are receiving from your ex post-breakup is unwanted and going to extreme levels, make sure that you aren’t feeding into it by responding to his efforts. If you just recently broke up, it’s not too out of the ordinary for exes to make contact when they are feeling down and missing you (who wouldn’t miss you, right?)—but if you are receiving excessive texts, emails, Facebook messages, calls and maybe even smoke signals, ask him nicely to cut it out. If he doesn’t heed to your polite request, then consider blocking him from your phone and inboxes.


Be the bigger person. 

When your ex is being immature or pitifully trying to get back at you for ending the relationship, resisting the urge to curse his name, bash him to the world and divulge to every single one of your mutual friends his deepest, darkest secrets can be very difficult—but resist you must. No matter how the relationship can to an end or no matter just how psycho your ex may be, remember that he is still a human being and retaliating or engaging in child-like behavior can do nothing but start a full-out war that you might not be ready to fight. You may think you’re hurting him, but the truth is that you will only be hurting yourself. Don’t waste your precious time or energy stooping to his level—instead, take the high road, hold your head up with class and move on, sister!



Sabrina Jackson is guest post author who enjoys writing about dating and relationships. In addition, Sabrina also owns Best Free Dating Sites where she provides information to online singles about safely dating on the web.

New Review for Everblossom!

Check it out here!

Author interview: Suzanne van Rooyen

Please welcome to A Three Way Tie, Suzanne van Rooyen!

Suzanne van Rooyen is a freelance writer and SF author. Her debut cyberpunk novel 'Dragon's Teeth' published by Divertir Publishing, LLC is currently available from Amazon and other major retailers.

Her short stories have appeared in Golden Visions Magazine amongst others, and her non-fiction articles are scattered throughout the Internet.

Although she has a Master's degree in music, she prefers writing strange tales of the mythpunk persuasion and playing in the snow. She can be found at suzannevanrooyen.com



When and why did you begin writing?

When, as soon as I could hold a pencil. I'd draw the pictures and narrate the story to my mom. Before I could write, my mom would transcribe the stories for me then as I got older I started writing them for myself. Why? I'm not sure, it just seemed like the most natural thing to do. Stories in my head just needed to be told. After ditching stories in favour of angst filled poetry in my teenage years, I think I returned to stories again because I have this head full of characters that need a means of expression and the written word is it for me.


What was the hardest part of writing your book? What is the easiest?

The hardest part was definitely the research, getting all the details correct for the military portion of the book. I had to read the US Marines patrol handbook just to write 2 sentences, but it all goes towards creating authenticity in the writing which is so important especially in writing SF. The easiest part for me was shaping the characters. I had a very definite idea about who they were, particularly my MC and how he would change, what would cause the changes and where he'd end up. He was a very real person in my mind so I just kind of tagged along for the ride as he lived out the scenarios in the book.


What music do you listen to while you write?

While writing first time round, I need music the puts me into the mood or vibe of the scene. Since I write SF, I tend to listen to a lot of soundtracks like the soundtracks of Gattaca, Sunshine, Inception, X-Men, The Fountain etc. Anything without lyrics is good. When I'm editing then I'll listen to just about anything since lyrics don't interefere as much with my creative process. When I'm stuck in a scene or with a character, I lie on the couch and listen to music I feel is appropriate to the character or storyline. Other favourite writing-bands include God is an Astronaut and Tides from Nebula.


What inspires you?

Moments in real life. I'll see a person in the street and think, 'I need to cast him as a character and write his story' or I'll experience something like say surviving a blizzard while travelling in a bus from Finland to Russia (Real event, happened November 2006) and translate that into an SF scenario. Music inspires me a lot. I often hear a song and a character forms in my mind embodying that song. Movies, TV series and books also have an impact, often inspiring me to ask 'what if?' Artworks too. I regularly troll through DeviantArt waiting for a piece to jump out at me and demand a story be written. Same thing tends to happen with music videos.


Do you have any hidden talents?

Hidden talents? I'm not sure. I've played piano for two decades now and flute for almost 15 years. But since I studied music to a Master's level those 'talents' aren't really hidden. I think if I do have any hidden talents, they're hidden even from me.


What are your current projects?

Finished a YA novel (my first foray into YA). It's a cyberpunk/mythpunk story set in a post WWIII America. I'm also working on a follow-up novel to my debut Dragon's Teeth which is set in the same world but a couple of decades later. I write short stories too when I get the chance, when I'm not working on the non-fiction articles that I actually get paid to write.


What book are you reading now?

I'm reading Hounded by Kevin Hearne. It's a Celtic urban fantasy story and lots of fun. Good writing, smartass MC and all the nasty creatures out of Celtic lore – absolutely love it. I've always been a bit of a Celtic mythology nut myself.


Quick: Vampires or Shapeshifter? Why?

Vampires. I like the romance of the vampire, the allegory of these beings, of these beautiful but deadly creatures preying on our fears and dark desires. They're an exaggeration of the human psyche, the darkest recesses of that human psyche that normal society labels taboo. Vampires have a licence to do as they please uninhibited, free of social mores. I love that freedom in them, that self-indulgence, the hedonism and aesthetic snobbery inherent in the vampire (of the non-sparkling, I'm-redoing-high-school-a-gazillion-times-over variety).


Do you have any advice for other writers?

Stop listening to all the advice people will happily give you at every opportunity and go with your gut. Read, learn and be aware of the writing 'rules' so you know how to break them.


Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Just a huge thank you to all those who are reading and enjoying my works. Without the readers, there'd be no writers, so thank you and I hope to be providing you with more sometime soon...

Book Giveaway and Author Interview: Susan Helene Gottfried

As part of my love for you lovely followers, I'm pleased to present to you a fabulous author: Susan Helene Gottfried!

Check out her ALL of her books here and her website here to learn more!

Interview

When and why did you begin writing?

I have always been writing, from the time I started talking, until now. Obviously, when I started talking, I didn’t know how to hold a pencil and make legible marks on a page. I started out following that oldest of traditions: oral storytelling.

What is the hardest part of writing your book? What is the easiest?

The hardest part is always turning off the social media and the promotion machine and giving myself into the act of writing. Which is the easiest part, because I get so lost and so caught up in my own fictional world, I lose track of everything. It’s actually a scary head-space to be in at times, it’s so all-encompassing.

What music do you listen to while you write?

I almost always have Sirius-XM’s station Octane on. Hard rock. I can’t get enough of most of it (the rest, I rush to turn off!).


What inspires you?

Everything around me. Seriously. The other day, I passed a hot dog shop that’s been here since before I moved in. It’s on the main drag; you can’t miss it. It inspired a flash fiction piece that I posted at the #amwriting blog. Hot dogs!


Do you have any hidden talents?

Yep, but if I talk about them, they won’t be hidden anymore, and then I’ll need to cultivate new ones.

What are your current projects?

See? There’s a hidden talent. Seriously, the current projects are many. The sequel to Trevor’s Song, King Trevor, will come out April 12. After that, I’ll release the fourth in the popular Demo Tapes series in October. And I’m drafting a new book, with new characters, for what I hope will be an April 2013 release. I’m a little nervous about that release date, though.

What book are you reading now?

I am reading Mistress of the Art of Death, by Ariana Franklin, for my book club. So far, I’m not in love and I’d give up, but since I’m the book club leader, I’ve got to keep reading. Sometimes, when I push myself like this, I wind up liking the book more than I expected to, so here’s hoping all those raves were right.


Quick: Vampires or Shapeshifter? Why?

Probably shapeshifters, although I am a little tired of people who see my band is named ShapeShifter and think I’m writing about some sort of species, not a rock band. Take a second and look around, people! The band got its name because Trevor’s last name is Wolff (we won’t discuss his self-selected middle name in polite company) and when he was a kid, he wished he could turn into a wolf and rip out his father’s throat.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Oh, I have lots of advice, but it all boils down to the same thing: learn the business. Pick what path works for you. And never, ever, never publish anything that’s not your best effort, no matter how eager you are to watch those sales reports start trickling in.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Thank you. Oh, my goodness, thank you. My readers – and I’d be honored if all of you reading this would become one – inspire me daily. My readers are the force behind the Demo Tapes books, to be honest. They wanted them. I was going to hold out for Trevor’s Song to be my first book, but my readers rebelled. I’m glad I listened. A lot of people have found entre into Trevor’s stories through The Demo Tapes.


Thanks, Larissa! This was fun!

No problem S, now onto the giveaway!

Giveaway

Fame and Fortune have destroyed many a rock star, but Trevor Wolff has a bigger problem when his best friend Mitchell Voss commits an act of monogamy with sexy artist Kerri Broadhurst.

ShapeShifter band dynamics will never be the same with this new woman on the scene, and the distractions of two girlfriends and a world tour aren’t enough to keep Trevor from feeling like his carefully constructed world is crumbling around him. The pesky little illness he’s been hiding from his band mates isn’t help, either.

Trevor is determined to drive Kerri away so life can run properly. He’ll do whatever it takes, or die trying, and not just because if he doesn’t get well soon, time might be up for old Trevor. The last person he expects help or sympathy from is Kerri herself, but he may have to make common cause with his enemy if he’s to survive the fallout from the secrets he’s been hiding.

Giveaway Details:

1. To be eligible for this giveaway, you must be a follower of my blog.
2. To double your chances of winning, you must like my facebook page or follow my Twitter (which is on the sidebar on your right).
3. Leave a comment with your name and email address.
4. This giveaway ends Feb. 14 at 11:59pm.

Please make sure to thank this awesome author, Susan Helene Gottfried!


*cheers from the peanut gallery*

Author Interview: Loukia Borrell

Please welcome to A Three Way Tie, Loukia Borrell!

Please tell us a little about yourself. 

My name is Loukia Borrell and "Raping Aphrodite" is my first book. I am a native of Toledo, Ohio, but was raised in Virginia Beach.  I graduated from Elon University and was a journalist for about 20 years. I am married and have three children.

When and why did you begin writing? 

People enjoy doing some things more than others. In school, I liked English, writing papers and reading books. When I got to Elon, I joined the student newspaper staff, eventually becoming editor my senior year. I went on to be a newspaper reporter from there, so things got started about 30 years ago.

What was the hardest part of writing your book? What is the easiest? 

I don't know if there were any hard parts in "Raping Aphrodite."  There were parts that were easier to writer than others. For example, I considered making Tash's father a bad guy, someone implicated in war crimes, but decided not to do that. Instead, I wrote him as an aging father who is worried his daughter will be hurt. I also spent time researching the 1974 invasion and division of Cyprus and it was hard to hear the stories people told of running for their lives, having family killed and basically trying to endure in refugee camps. The easiest part was getting started. It was a story I needed to tell.

What music do you listen to while you write? 

I watch movies while I write and some of them, like "Cold Mountain," "Days of Heaven," "American Gigolo" and "Vicky Christina Barcelona" have great soundtracks that gave me the emotional feeling I needed to get through certain parts of the book.

What inspires you? 

Life and its briefness. We have a short amount of time to make a difference. Everything can change tomorrow, whether we are ready for it or not.

Do you have any hidden talents? 

Absolutely none, but I am probably not the best person to ask about that. My husband's number is.......

What are your current projects? 

I am editing the proof for "Raping Aphrodite" and hoping to get that out in paperback this spring. I also am promoting the book.

What made you decide on self-publishing?/How did you land a traditional publishing deal?

I self-published. I tried, for about six months, to get an agent but couldn't. After that, I was so frustrated with the process and all those rejection emails that I threw in the towel and jumped. I wasn't going to let strangers tell me I couldn't tell this story.

Did you have a professional editor?

Not formally, but I had a former news editor and reporter - my husband -  spend some time with the manuscript, and of course, I did, too. You would think that, as familiar as we are with the story, editing it would have been a snap, but it wasn't. There were typos and errors in the Word file neither of us saw until after "Raping Aphrodite" was epublished, so I have had to go back and fix the file numerous times. That is the beauty of self-publishing. You can make changes whenever you need.

Do you edit as you write or wait until your book is finished?

I waited until the book was finished. I didn't want to be in the process of editing and writing at the same time. For me, when you are done writing, you are through. Editing this book has been evolving over a longer period.

What book are you reading now?

I am not reading one at the moment, because I am working on the paperback version of "Raping Aphrodite," and talking to folks like you. I hope to pick through my stack of books-to-read later this winter and make a selection. It will probably be "Queen," by Alex Haley or "Ripley Under Ground" by Patricia Highsmith.

Quick: Vampires or Shapeshifter? Why?

Vampires. Bring me Gary Oldman, in character, when he played Dracula in the movie. I'd like to see a one-on-one meeting between him and Edward Cullen.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Don't give up. Don't let other people tell you what you can and can't do.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I don't think I really have a following yet, as I am quite new to everything. People reading this, please pass it on and spread the word about "Raping Aphrodite." Thank you for having me as a guest. You can follow me on Twitter @LoukiaBorrell, on Goodreads and Book Blogs.    

New Review for Everblossom!

Got a new fabulous review! Check it out here! 

Sales Report for Everblossom

Sorry for the lateness of this sales report, but between student teaching and my personal life, it's been hectic.

Anyway, if you didn't catch the prior sales report it's here and here. 

Now here are the sales for Everblossom so far:

October: 1
November: 4
December: 3
January: 3

Here's the breakdown:

Amazon US: 2
Amazon UK, ES, IT, FR: 0
Smashwords: 0
Barnes and Noble: 0
Print Sales (Createspace): 1

My first print sale! I'm so excited I could cry! I wasn't even expecting a print sale yet, since I just put it up. I also got a print sale for Iwishacana! :)

And no returns either! Yippee! 

To Read a Review or Not: That is the Question!

I know corny question but hey, I'm an English teacher now! :D 

Or at least for this semester until I become an official licensed English teacher.

Anyway . . .

There was a debate about if a writer should read or not read a review. At first I thought: Duh! Of course we should read the review because it makes us better writers.

It made such a strong difference in my writing life.

But then I thought about all the times where when I faced my other WIP (works in progress) and how those reviews knocked me off my game.

Not to mention my pride was injured. I work really, really hard on my books to make them the best I can be. Then I get knocked off my tower once and a while from a book blogger who let's me know, "Hey, your book: Yeah, needs a LOT of work! Let me tell you why . . ."

And not just negative reviews. 

The one star and two star thing use to bother me. I fully admit it. I would be like, "Hey, you know what? I worked hard on my book! I should deserve, at least, three stars since I hired an editor, care about my work, and did my research to find your blog."

But everyone is entitled to their opinion. 

And sometimes those opinions help me out in the long run. Especially with Everblossom: A Short Story and Poetry Anthology.

Some people might think a short story is 15-20 pages long. Well, in technicality, it doesn't have to be that long. And so when a reviewer writes that they thought a paragraph or five pages is too short for them, then a potential buyer might read it and think, "Hmm, her short stories are only 5 pages? Thanks, but I don't want to read a short story that is only 5 pages."

Which is fine by me! I would rather a customer know what they are buying into before giving me a low score and giving me low ratings because I stick to the definition of short story.

And as a reader, let's not fool ourselves: We read the lowest rating on books.

Why?

Well, we all know that answer: We want a review with meaning.

Reading: I LOOOOOVVVVEEE this book and this author! Isn't very helpful. At all. Therefore, we read what the other customers have to say about the book like the ending was too fast, for example, and determine if we want to risk our money and time with a book like that.

So on both ends reading a review is informational and helpful.

But lately, I'm starting to think I shouldn't read my reviews. I just think that it messes up with my writing.

When I'm fully into my writing mode, thinking about past reviews and thinking, "Man, who's REALLY going to read this? They hated my past book, what makes THIS so different?!" Is not the right style to go into a writing frenzy.

Sure, the great reviews perk me up and gives me the zeal to want to finish the book I'm currently writing Angel Diaries 2.

But the rough reviews just make me want to stop and wonder if I'm doing the right thing. And deep down, I know I am. But second guessing myself isn't going to help my readers. Second guessing myself isn't going to help me get anywhere.

In order for me to write a decent book (or even a likeable first draft) I need to get into the zone. And I have to say it's hard so with all of these negative influences.

I wish sometimes I could just disconnect from the internet just for like a full month. To just let everything blow over and not even care but the fact is I do care.

So I'm stuck: Either I should develop tough skin that alligators use (here alligator alligator, come to mama!) or I should just ignore reviews all together and write another kickass addition to my trilogy Angel Diaries. 

What do you guys think?