I recall a friend once saying that, for an author, the customer reviews on Amazon.com are both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because what author doesn’t enjoy hearing how their work touched someone else, or made them laugh, or helped them realize they’re not alone in whatever they’re going through, and a curse because most, and I do mean most, of the customer reviews are written by those who absolutely hated the author’s book.

I’ve heard from dozens of people who despised my books and, much as it hurt, I read and considered each and every comment. And then I cried. And I tried to decide which manner of suicide would make the smallest mess. And then I thought, the hell with them. Most of them don’t even know what the word counterfeit means.

But I’ve also gotten a fair share of wonderful reviews for both books and every now and again, when I’m having a tough writing day and need to remind myself that I can do this, that I can make people laugh and heal and feel less alone, I go out to Amazon and read the nice notes readers have left me. (As you can imagine, I do this reeeeaaaallly carefully. I cover one eye, squint with the other, and practically stick my face to my computer screen. This narrows my field of vision quite nicely and helps me miss things like “I hate that I can’t give less than 1 star!” Or maybe it doesn’t.) In any case, I re-read the lovely notes because they are my absolute favorite source of inspiration and, if you’ve left me one, thank you, thank you, thank you!

If you would like to leave me one, simply click here.  This will take you to a page with both my books. Once you’re there, click on the link for Confessions of a Counterfeit Farm Girl and/or 500 Acres and No Place to Hide. At the top of the page it will say “92 customer reviews” (or “30 customer reviews” if you’re on the 500 Acres page). Click on that statement and it will take you to an area where you can “Write a customer review.”

It takes a few minutes, so thank you, thank you, thank you! for reading my books, leaving me a review, and being my favorite source of inspiration.

Love,

Susan