Hi there, guys and dolls! Yours truly (or rather my alter egos Andrea and Heather) read many, many books, usually they each have a few on the go at the same time. They read cozies, thrillers, classics, literary fiction, from major and indie presses alike. The love of the word can keep both of them enthralled for hours at a time.

There are so many wonderful works out there, but then there are others, some real doozies. Now I’m not one to name names or publicly criticize anyone, but I have to admit, there are some works out there that make my head spin. Recently, there have been some books that I have come across that seem so wooden, so rushed, they have no heart.

There seems to be a big rush to produce mass quantities of books, working on the theory that more is better. Reading them can be a sad and empty experience. They come across as hurried, incomplete, full of errors and many times emotionless, in a way that feels like the author is just phoning it in to get it to market and get us readers to buy it. Really?

Now don’t get me wrong. Sometimes as a writer, you can be on a tear – a story takes you and sweeps you up, flows well and deserves a fast pace, and gets completed quickly. But at other times, certain works require development and process, depth to complete its rounded picture and to envelop a reader into their worlds.

Sometimes I get impetuous and wish my writer girls could complete their stories faster, but they have a little more maturity than I do. They too do get impatient with their process and progress, with so many more Poppy Cove Mysteries and other stories to tell. They know they are not perfect and what they are inspired to write may not be everyone’s cup of tea or meet the approval of all, but they do try. They have a deeper world they want to explore, share and express, all the while maintaining a life full of everyday events, demands and even pleasures to round out their creativity.

What I guess I’m really saying is fellow authors, please remember to value your work. Tell tales worth reading in a manner worthy of your readers. Love your process and if you don’t, find a way to or really consider what you are doing. This is meant in all kindness and sincerity. Be the scribe you know you are worthy of being.

Toodles,

Barbara Jean