My Dilemma
Okay you three people who might be reading this, I have an essay up on www.breakthroughpromotions.com about "How I Write" which sort of makes this blog obsolete, doesn't it? With that said, Dead Giveaway is on the shelves now and I need feedback from readers. There were no advance copies on this book, as I think I have mentioned before, and thus no pre-release reviews. So PLEASE tell me what you think. I read reviews looking for information on how to be a better writer, how to develop my characters in a way that will continue to draw readers. See, I'm not in this for the money. I don't want to do James Patterson-esque TV commercials. Lots of writers would disagree about the money thing, but writing is the biggest challenge in my life. My brain would wither without the process. And it is a process. Not so much a learning curve as a series of learning curves. But despite my protestation that I do no write to get rich, I DO need readers to buy my books because you allow me to keep doing what I love, what gives me life. This is a dilemma I choose most days not to think about. But when a book is released, I am forced to do so. Maybe I think too much, but the some of the wisest words ever spoken, IMHO, are "I think, therefore I am." So I better kepp thinking, huh?
Okay you three people who might be reading this, I have an essay up on www.breakthroughpromotions.com about "How I Write" which sort of makes this blog obsolete, doesn't it? With that said, Dead Giveaway is on the shelves now and I need feedback from readers. There were no advance copies on this book, as I think I have mentioned before, and thus no pre-release reviews. So PLEASE tell me what you think. I read reviews looking for information on how to be a better writer, how to develop my characters in a way that will continue to draw readers. See, I'm not in this for the money. I don't want to do James Patterson-esque TV commercials. Lots of writers would disagree about the money thing, but writing is the biggest challenge in my life. My brain would wither without the process. And it is a process. Not so much a learning curve as a series of learning curves. But despite my protestation that I do no write to get rich, I DO need readers to buy my books because you allow me to keep doing what I love, what gives me life. This is a dilemma I choose most days not to think about. But when a book is released, I am forced to do so. Maybe I think too much, but the some of the wisest words ever spoken, IMHO, are "I think, therefore I am." So I better kepp thinking, huh?
posted by leann at 5:39 AM
8 Comments:
Sorry about the typos!
Dear Ms. Sweeney, I have read all three of your books and find them enjoyable. Here's a couple of comments on them. 1. Pick Your Poison - there is too much driving back and forth from Galveston to Houston. This gets tiresome especially for those of us who don't like to travel. 2. A Wedding to Die For - to the best of my recollection, there was no mention at all of the groom having any family of his own. Seems like they should've been mentioned as at least having attended the wedding or be referred to as being deceased or something. But as I recall, they aren't even alluded to. 3. Dead Giveaway - too neat and tidy for my taste. Adopted Mom and Dad are just too nice and too understanding and too perfect and too accepting of everything. There should've been a little bit more about the basketball kid's personal struggle with being bi-racial. Plus, Abby Rose mentions things like running and working out with Jeff, doing this or that with Jeff, but everytime they actually spend time alone together in this book, all they do is have sex and eat take-out. Also, I think there could've been a little more about the strained relationship between Kate and Terry instead of having it briefly mentioned and easily resolved.
Just a few nit-pickey things. Otherwise I love 'em.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
I love your books! I just can't wait to read more in this series. I would like to see more interaction with Kate and Terry as well as with Jeff and Abby. I do like when Jeff and Abby work through a mystery to solve whatever it is. They each have their own way of doing things, but find that one might do it a little better than the other one. They play off that, and even though they don't always agree, they end up admiring what the other ones talent is.
Keep up the GREAT work!!!
I forgot one other thing - WHEN will you be in San Antonio to do a book signing??? I can't wait to meet you!
Thanks for leaving these good comments. Sorry I have been away writing and not posting. I appreciate the criticism as well as the praise. It all helps so much!!
Just finished #3 last night and am telling myself that Jan 07 is not that far away. As someone who lived in Houston and the area for years and is quite familiar, I love the inside stuff, restaurants, roads, etc that I come across. The comment about the driving can be tedious but the area is HUGE and it does take hours to get anywhere and LOTS of time to think. Frankly, I think Abby gets places to easily! ;) And I have to wonder if the church you described is the one that my mom attends in Friendswod. If you say yes, it's that one in Friendswood, I'll know. Yes, there could have been more exposure about the conflict of growing up biracial...
I would hope that in the next one you'll discuss a bit more the parents' possible motivation for giving up the one child separately from the others...
I do like Kate and would love to learn more about her...and I find her knowledge of homeopathy terrific. I'm going to guess she took arnica for her own spill and gave it to Abby also...the teas taste terrible, but the pills are okay. And I love the British shop in the Village. I used to work in the area and nice to know it is still there. I can recommend an insurance agent name if you need one for any of the stories. He'd get a big kick out of it.
Susan, there is a new church on the I-45 feeder road that I used for descriptive purposes only!! I am sure they are wonderful church filled with wonderful people. I write fiction--really I do. :-)Thanks for your suggestions and it's just so nice to hear from readers. You are right about Houston--huge place with so many diverse locations. A great place to set a series.
Take care,
Leann
I've read the first 3 and expect # 4 in the mail any day. I really enjoy your books.
Post a Comment
<< Home