When Kenny Brechner of DDG Booksellers in Farmington, Maine said the world’s nicest thing about Rick the Rock of Room 214, I contacted him to see if I could do a story time at his bookstore, and he suggested I do the annual Prime Time Reading event at the elementary school nearby, which was going to be held in person for the first time in a few years.
Thank you. I feel a bit like a braggart sharing it, but it was truly overwhelming and cool to have my book made gigantic in an elementary school gym. With a smoke machine.
Oh, I loved this! So glad you were able to do this event!
I try not to read reviews, but the weird thing about writing, is I tell stories because I WANT them to be read and enjoyed. So positive feedback can be inspiring and soul filling. I’ve found that the feedback that comes from in-person events with readers (school visits, bookstore signings, festivals/cons) is the truly magic feedback. It’s also the type that is the hardest to find because you have to book events, travel, etc. Long story short: it’s really wonderful to see/hear that a reader has connected with your book. 💗
I will admit I still do read reviews (not all of them, but sometimes). Once I had my first negative review and worked through that, it was all fine. The thing is, like Kevin Smith says, we want to be loved! We want our books to be read and loved. But I know that if I'm in a place where I know I did everything I could to make the book good, and also I love the book, then other people's opinions don't matter. (Hilariously, that first negative review was "Author is trying too hard to be funny" and it was like, was this written by someone who lives in my house? that's me every day.)
Love this story
Thank you. I feel a bit like a braggart sharing it, but it was truly overwhelming and cool to have my book made gigantic in an elementary school gym. With a smoke machine.
Oh, I loved this! So glad you were able to do this event!
I try not to read reviews, but the weird thing about writing, is I tell stories because I WANT them to be read and enjoyed. So positive feedback can be inspiring and soul filling. I’ve found that the feedback that comes from in-person events with readers (school visits, bookstore signings, festivals/cons) is the truly magic feedback. It’s also the type that is the hardest to find because you have to book events, travel, etc. Long story short: it’s really wonderful to see/hear that a reader has connected with your book. 💗
I will admit I still do read reviews (not all of them, but sometimes). Once I had my first negative review and worked through that, it was all fine. The thing is, like Kevin Smith says, we want to be loved! We want our books to be read and loved. But I know that if I'm in a place where I know I did everything I could to make the book good, and also I love the book, then other people's opinions don't matter. (Hilariously, that first negative review was "Author is trying too hard to be funny" and it was like, was this written by someone who lives in my house? that's me every day.)
Aw, thank you, Bruce!