Looking for a silver lining...

My book has been out for five and a half years now, and it's only because of the Wide World of Amazon.com that it's still selling as well as it ever did. (Keep in mind here that it was published by me, by my own press, and any moderate success it achieved was through my own efforts). In keeping track of my sales, I'm on my Amazon page pretty regularly, and so I notice quickly if a new review gets posted. One was posted today, and not a particularly good one.

It's already a rainy day here, pushing into the tail end of two almost solidly rainy weeks, and so spirits are a little low anyway, but it's never nice to get a less-than-stellar review. If I didn't already have a solid number of good reviews notched on my belt, I'd really be feeling this one--particularly as the reader said she actually fell asleep while reading it--but mostly it's just sliding off me. It's important to remember--for all writers, published and yet-to-be published--that everyone's tastes are different. I've felt less than enthusiastic about whopping best-sellers, and books that I've love-love-loved were not very well received.

It helps a bit--just a bit--that I was reading Jenny Crusie's blog last night and noticed that after a glowing review from Publishers Weekly for her August release, she received one of those less-than-stellar reviews from Kirkus. In fact, in the words of Cher from Clueless, the Kirkus review was 'way harsh,' and I'm sure it hurt, just a little bit. Still, if Jenny Crusie is still getting the occasional bad review, that gives the rest of us hope, doesn't it?

What I need right now is a flash mob to show up in my front yard dancing to Right Back Where We Started From by Maxine Nightingale...but I think it's too rainy.