My Response to a Review

I was strolling through Barnes and Noble online as I was chatting back and forth with my friend Winona Rasheed who is in the process of putting her books on the site, and I searched on my name to see what popped up. I came across this review of my novel Desires and Deceptions, and I’m reposting here cause it just cracks me up, and I tell you why at the end of the review.

“Marisa is a poor girl who seeks more out of life and the story follows her as she grows from bratty teenager to cranky wife and hurried mother who tries to keep up with the affluent high-tech lifestyle of the San Francisco Bay Area. Marisa gets sucked into all the riches she sees before her and the quick way to make a buck disillusions her, but not as much as she begins to doubt her relationship with her husband. This did have a surprise ending, an enjoyable trait to Catherine Burr novels, and I would recommend Desires and Deceptions, as well as Burr’s other books.”

What cracks me up about this review is how right on the reviewer is about the story. This person got it. “Marisa is a poor girl who seeks more out of life.” Hello. Yes! That’s it in a nutshell. But wait, there’s more. “She grows from bratty teenager to cranky wife and hurried mother who tries to keep up with the affluent high-tech lifestyle of the San Francisco Bay Area.” Yup, and truth be told that was pretty much me. I based so much of this novel on my own life. The hustle and bustle, the greed, the disillusionment of money is exactly why I started writing my Silicon Valley based novels. And this is my favorite line from the review. “The surprise ending, an enjoyable trait to Catherine Burr’s novels.”

That line makes me want to write more novels.

Desires and Deceptions at Barnes & Noble

Barnes and Noble Enters POD World Offering Hardbacks

When I received the email announcing that Barnes and Noble has entered the POD (print on demand) world, I grumbled. When Amazon has been offering this for years… Who cares if there is now a POD Nook Press Print?

But,  I read further, Barnes and Noble’s Nook Press Print offers something that Amazon does not (yet) offer in POD publishing. Hard back books.

I have not yet looked into the details, but definitely will. If you are self or indie publishing, you’ll probably want to check out the new Nook Press Print, that offers a hard back option.

Tips before you self-publish

Technology is changing so quickly, that the tools are available like never before within online bookstores, like Amazon and Barnes and Noble, to help you create covers, design the interior, even check for spelling errors!

But, in your fantastic enthusiasm, one tiny piece of advice I’d give is to remember that publishing is a business, it’s not an after school assignment or a hobby. Publishing should be treated as a professional business, work with professionals, don’t skimp on your editing or covers. Don’t trust a “critique group” for your editing. Even though sites like Amazon allow you to make your own covers, which is fine, however, if you want your book cover to not look “cookie cutter,” I’d suggest a professional graphic designer, they know what they’re doing, hire them and allow them to create a one-of-a-kind book cover that will stand out. Use professional editors, don’t try to edit your book yourself, and don’t just have a friend or cousin do it, unless they are a professional, experienced editor.

You’ve jumped into the world of publishing, take it serious and be taken seriously by being professional. Let’s keep publishing with high standards and not put out sloppy work. Yes, it takes time. Don’t be too quick to put your book out there before it’s completely, and I mean, completely ready. You may be anxious to see your name on Amazon, but in the long run, taking the time to make sure all the i’s are dotted and t’s crossed, is to your benefit.

With all that said, it really makes me smile warmly to see so many people publishing themselves and jumping in with both feet and using the courage they’ve mustered up to do so; and believe me, it takes courage to put your work out there.

So, once you’ve hit the “publish” button, sit back and congratulate yourself for doing something so many dream of, but haven’t (yet) found the courage.

Catherine Burr is the author of 14 books and has published over 120 books via New Line Press.