As an author, and an AWARD WINNING one I’ll add… sorry, but I had to; I am often asked to review other authors’ books. It’s a courtesy many of us do for each other, especially if we respect each other’s work or want to help a new author with the launch of their debut book. It can become difficult sometimes as, like everything else in life, you cannot say yes to everything, and when there is a mountain of requests, it is tough to choose and even harder to decline. I recall asking authors I admired to read my debut novel, The Silence in the Sound; when someone declined, I felt gutted, but now I understand. Roland Merullo, author of Breakfast with Buddha, among many other great books, is extremely talented and from my home city, Revere, Massachusetts, and is someone whose work I greatly admire. He declined my request, when I asked him for a review, which, of course, was devastating. Still, he was sincere and gracious, stating that he had so many authors requesting him to review their work that if he had said yes to them all, he would have no time to write. He went on to wish me the best, and now, a few years later, I understand.
While I struggle with saying no in general, as a people pleaser in recovery, there are some books from authors that, no matter what is on my plate, I wouldn’t decline to provide a review for a million bucks. I am going to read certain books anyway, especially anything by the author, Maggie Smith. I just finished her second book, Blind Spot, a thriller that I could not put down and is launching on May 21st. Maggie is a force in the writing community. She is the multi-award-winning author of Truth and Other Lies. She is also an editor and speaker. She has a podcast that is a must-listen for writers, Hear Us Roar, where she interviews debut novelists from The Women’s Fiction Writers Association. I cannot recommend her work enough and think you should give any and everything she writes a read. As for writers… this is someone with a wealth of knowledge you should follow. Congrats on all your success Maggie, Blind Spot kept my pulse racing and on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Pre-order this book today.
