Reviews... to read or not to read?

Your shiny new book is launched, people buy it... people read it... and then some of them review it. What do you do? Do you not look at the reviews all? Do you look at the overview/breakdown of how many reviews are 5*, 4*, etc? Do you read every single review, good, bad and indifferent?

I suppose it depends on who you consider the reviews are for. Other readers, certainly. Other readers will look at the title and cover, and then may read the blurb. Most readers I know also look at the reviews (or at least the distribution of stars in the reviews) before buying, if they're buying online (and may well have done this kind of research before going to purchase the book from a bricks and mortar bookstore. I know I do).

Are reviews there for the author?

Back to writing!

It feels like forever since I was last actually writing something, rather than editing, but I'm finally back to it! The edits of The Wrong Kind of Clouds have been finished and it's heading towards re-publication by Joffe Books. It's going to get a title change and a cover change - I'll keep you posted as to what they'll be.

But, that means I can get back to writing the book that follows on from The Wrong Kind of Clouds. At last!

Author interview: Helen Durrant

Helen Durrant

It's my great pleasure to interview fellow Joffe Books author, Helen Durrant. Helen is the author of seven books in the 'Calladine & Bayliss' series - Dead Wrong, Dead Silent, Dead List, Dead Lost, Dead & Buried, Dead Nasty - and the latest - Dead Jealous. Also available are three books in the new 'DI Greco' series - Dark Murder, Dark Houses and the latest - Dark Trade.
Her latest novel, 'His Third Victim' has just been released and is the first in a new series.
Helen, thank you for letting me interview you!

When did you first start writing? And what made you start?
I have always ‘dabbled’, even as a child. But I didn’t start seriously until I retired from my full-time ‘real’ job.

What was the first full-length novel you ever wrote? (I realise this may not be the same as the first book you have had published!)
My first novel was ‘Dead Wrong’ – by the time Joffe Books published it I had written three books in the Calladine & Bayliss series. My title for the first one was ‘Handy Man', but this was changed. The book was thoroughly edited, given a brand new cover, and re-launched. It was far more successful than I imagined it would be – a big surprise to me.

Calanais... and up-coming events

Sunset at Calanais

After the excitement of "Lies That Poison" being released, I grabbed a short break on the Isle of Lewis, to recharge my batteries, ready for the last bit of re-editing of "The Wrong Kind of Clouds" ahead of it being re-released by Joffe Books. The weather was a bit mixed on Lewis (the tail-end of the hurricanes that caused so much damage in September had arrived at the Hebrides at about the same time as we did!), but we managed to walk each day and take in the sights. Admittedly, we did also get drenched at least once each day, but we went prepared, with waterproofs and lots of warm clothes.

I'm delighted with how sales have been going for "Lies That Poison" but I'm back to work now. As well as finishing off the editing, I have to finish writing the next one! I also have a series of author events coming up. This Saturday, I will be at Arbroath Library, as part of National Library week (free entry; book a place here), alongside Frank Muir and Sandra Ireland, for "Book and a Blether". Then in November, I have a couple of "Murder and Mayhem" events, with fellow writers Jackie McLean, Lesley Kelly, Tana Collins, Ian Skewis, Chris Longmuir and Wendy H Jones. More details on those soon!

Next Up:

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"Lies That Poison"

Well, it came out just over a week ago and I'm delighted with how things are going. A huge thank you to my publishers, Joffe Books who have been going the extra mile, promoting the book and being incredibly supportive of me.

So far, the reviews have been very positive and sales are going well. At one point, I was ranked higher than Ian Rankin in "Crime" in the Kindle charts. 😀

If you've already bought a copy... thank you so much!

If you've already reviewed the book... again, thank you!

If you're still not sure... that's fine. Let me share the blurb with you: