Mesdames of Mayhem

Secrets of a Successful Book Tour ~ Barbara Fradkin, September 14

Posted on September 14, 2013 by mesdamesofmayhem

Last August my friend Vicki Delany and I decided to do a book tour in Northern Canada. She had three books in her comic Klondike Gold Rush series set in Dawson City, Yukon, and my upcoming Inspector Green novel, THE WHISPER OF LEGENDS, was set in Nahanni National Park in the Northwest Territories. Our goal was to work with libraries, museums, and bookstores across the territories and Alaska.

This past June, after sacrificing a good chunk of our sanity, our hair and our meagre income, we pulled it off. Eighteen glorious days, sixteen events, and thousands of kilometres of highway and open skies. Along the way, we learned a lot about the value of laughter, flexibility, and humility. Here are four tips on how to survive a book tour…

Vicki Delany and Barbara Fradkin, at the Prince of Wales Heritage Museum in Yellowknife
1. Tour with a friend who knows how to laugh. Not only is it cheaper to share hotel rooms and rental cars, but having someone to share the highs and lows, the anxieties and frustrations, makes the load lighter. There is nothing lonelier than an empty hotel room in a strange city at the end of a long day.

Fine dining, on tour in Yellowknife 2. Make it an adventure. Choose a place you want to visit, and people you want to meet. Enjoy the experience, play tourist, and don’t make it about fame and fortune. Unless you’re JK Rowlands or Margaret Atwood, you won’t get either. Work hard, but don’t obsess over book sales and audience size (well, try not to). Book tours don’t make money; they’re about spreading the word, making new friends among book people and readers, and trusting that the word will spread far beyond your visit.

3. Be helpful, receptive and appreciative of the efforts of the local booksellers and librarians. Most of the time they don’t know you and are nervous about how well the event will succeed. They work hard on your behalf, sometimes with limited resources, finances and staff. Trust me, they remember the divas who find nothing but fault!

4. Be prepared for the unexpected. At worst it will be a learning experience, at best a serendipitous delight, like the time Vicki and I drove several hundred kilometres to what we thought was an adult library reading and found ourselves doing a presentation to a group of First Nations school children. And if an event is truly a bust (there will be those, although the school children wasn’t one!), there’s always that glass of wine at the end of the day.

There are other concrete steps you can take to make a tour more successful, such as trying to get local media coverage, which is much easier anywhere but Ontario, working with the event organizer and your publisher on promotional material, and developing a really interesting presentation. ‘Author reads book’ will not have them queuing around the block. But enthusiastic attitudes and expectations will make all the difference between delight and misery for everyone. Most of all for you.

Barbara Fradkin is a retired psycholoigist and multiple award-winning mystery author whose work with children and families provides much of the insight and inspiration for her stories.

Her latest Inspector Michael Green novel, The Whisper of Legends (Dundern), has been released to superlative reviews, from The Globe and Mail, The Ottawa Citizen, and The National Post.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged advice for writers, authors, award winning writers, Barbara Fradkin, book tours, books, Canadian authors, Canadian Crime writers, crime fiction, crime writers, e-books, Inspector Michael Green, mesdames of mayhem, promoting your book, publishing, surviving book tours, suspense, The gobe And Mail reviews, The National Post Reviews, The Ottawa Citizen Reviews, the Whisper of Legends, thriller, Tips for Writers, Vicki Delany, Writing | 2 Comments

The Future of Publishing, Part II: Anthologies ~ Donna Carrick

Posted on September 10, 2013 by mesdamesofmayhem

Advice for writers: Why participate in an anthology?

I love novels.

There. I said it.

I love writing novels, and I love reading them.

For me, there is no delight quite as satisfying as immersing myself fully in the brilliant thought-process of one of my favorite authors.

Having made that bold statement, let me go on to say that I also love anthologies.

There is something stunning about a well-woven collection of works, whether it be comprised of poetry or stories, literary or genre. The individual tales actually sparkle, when you turn them in the light and study them closely.

This is certainly true of our own recently published anthology of crime stories, Thirteen, by the Mesdames of Mayhem, (Carrick Publishing) featuring — you guessed it — thirteen of today’s prominent Canadian crime writers.

One thing that strikes me about this book is the attention to detail afforded it by Mesdames of Mayhem founder Madeleine Harris-Callway. From the exceptional cover art (by Sara Carrick, as guided by Madeleine) to the order of stories, (laid out by Madeleine in conjunction with Joan O’Callaghan) the entire finished product is a work of “genre art” that is sure to be appreciated by crime fiction aficionados.

But it is the stories themselves that compel me to read Thirteen. Each one is unique, as unlike the one preceding it as can be. And yet, they are held together by a cohesive theme — crime and its consequences, both intended and unintentional.

What is it about a short story that captures us?

Do we see it as a ‘snippet’ of the writer’s inner self? Are we frustrated that we cannot immediately read more? Or are we intrigued and inspired to find out what we can about each author?

From the earliest fables, to the works of O Henry, we are constantly amazed at the intensity of emotion that can be packed into a few pages. Where a novel attempts to lead the reader on a mind-consuming journey, short stories, at least the best of them, offer the reader a dance…just one spin on the marble floor of imagination.

We hope, though, our readers will enjoy that twirl. We hope, in fact, they will come back to dance with us again.

And that, my friends, is the true beauty of the anthology.

For within each tale lies an invitation…

…Dance with me again.

Donna Carrick is the author of 3 crime novels: The First Excellence, Gold And Fishes and The Noon God.

She has published several anthologies by numerous authors, including her own two collections: Sept-Iles and other places and Knowing Penelope.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged advice for writers, Aesop's Fables, Anthologies, authors, award winning writers, books, Canadian authors, Canadian Crime writers, creative writing, crime, crime fiction, crime stories, crime writers, Donna Carrick, e-books, e-publishing, fiction, independent publishing, Kindle, M.H. Callway, mesdames of mayhem, mystery, O Henry, publishing, short stories, suspense, Thirteen, thrillers, Tips for Writers, Writing | 1 Comment

THIRTEEN RELEASED! ~ Mesdames of Mayhem

Posted on August 30, 2013 by mesdamesofmayhem

Greetings Readers!

Thirteen, the Mesdames of Mayhem’s first anthology is now available on Amazon! As you can see, the editors have been hard at work!

Thirteen of us – hence the title – have written a deadly collection of new crime stories to entice you, enthrall you and ultimately terrify you.

Never again will you feel safe in a hallowed cathedral or a charming country church. There is no solace in a seemingly normal high school or a family’s beloved cottage. Nor can you put your trust in police officers in July or in history-loving librarians in small Ontario towns. And no one will hear you scream in that tough bar in outer space.

You would be wise to remember the saying about old age and cunning. In these pages, oldsters hunt fortunes, horde cursed antiquities and engage in cross-border spying instead of shopping. And they will stop at nothing to protect their neighbour’s worms.

Youth is no protection either. What’s a newly-wed to do when her husband finds only dust, not gold? And there you are, planning the perfect wedding, when someone drops a body in your car– just because you happen to be the Goddaughter of a certain Italian family.

Nothing is as it seems. Senior civil servants stumble across lions…or do they? And black cats may or may not bring bad luck.

Our cyber launch party begins September 5th on Facebook. Check us out!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged anthology, Carrick Publishing, comedy, crime, fiction, funny, Kindle, mesdames of mayhem, murder, mystery, SciFi, short stories, suspense, Thirteen | Leave a comment

Suddenly Sexy—the Novella Today ~ Rosemary Aubert

Posted on August 27, 2013 by mesdamesofmayhem

What do Animal Farm, The Old Man and the Sea, A Christmas Carol, The Little Prince, Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Great Gatsby have in common? All of these famous books are novellas. But despite their success, the fact is that for a long time—most of my sixty-year writing career, the received wisdom was that no decent publisher would touch a novella with a ten-foot pole, to coin a phrase.

Well not anymore!

Today novellas are the hottest thing on the market—both as e-books and in print. So, naturally you ask the questions How? and Why?

How do you write a novella? Well, first of all, you keep it short. Standards vary but a length of between 20 000 and 40 000 is considered appropriate. Secondly, you concentrate in two senses of the word.

When I wrote Terminal Grill, I concentrated on the two main characters and their doomed affair. There were no subplots. There were a number of minor characters, but they appeared only to further the plot. There was only one major minor character who was absolutely essential as a “normal” foil against the strange, noir elements of the story. The setting, too, was very limited. Mostly a bar and a one-room basement apartment. And the weather was mentioned only insofar as it either mirrored or contrasted with the psychological state of the heroine. There was only one real plot element and its unfolding and eventual resolution was the single thing the reader was called upon to experience.

Why write a novella? Terminal Grill has received the most positive feedback I’ve ever gotten for a book. People say they’ve read it in one sitting. That’s because of the use of concentration in the second sense. Readers can afford to give themselves totally to the book because everything is distilled. No extra ideas. No extra descriptions. Not even extra reflections on the meaning of the story and of life by the narrator. No extra words.

When people tell me how much they “loved” Terminal Grill, I say, “That’s because it’s so short.” But that’s only half a joke. In these rushed times, a short, intense reading experience is just what people need.

Rosemary Aubert, author of the Ellis Portal mystery series, among many other novels, is a popular speaker and teacher and a member of the Crime Writers of Canada and the Mystery Writers of America.

Terminal Grill is available at Chapters/Indigo and Amazon.ca.

Visit rosemaryaubert.com.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged A Christmas Carol, advice for writers, Animal Farm, authors, award winning writers, books, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Canadian authors, Canadian Crime writers, creative writing, crime, crime fiction, crime writers, e-books, e-publishing, fiction, mesdames of mayhem, mystery, novella, publishing, Rosemary Aubert, short novels, suspense, Terminal Grill, The Great Gatsby, The Little Prince, The Old Man and the Sea, thriller, Tips for Writers, Writing, Writing courses, writing short novels | 2 Comments

Fire When Ready: A look at weapons in fiction ~ John Thompson

Posted on August 20, 2013 by mesdamesofmayhem

John Thompson, Author Hollywood has a lot to answer for, and widespread notions about guns are not the least of them.

It is hard to be consistently accurate with a gun without a lot of practice – hundreds of rounds are necessary for mere competence. In the heat of the moment, training and deliberation can be easily eclipsed by excitement. Also, the sights on a firearm are there for a reason; shooting from the hip or in the sideways “Gangsta” style is a waste of ammunition.

However, rifles are much more accurate than handguns and it is easier to aim them.

One should always aim for the centre of mass – the torso. Only highly skilled sharpshooters with very expensive specialized equipment can be expected to routinely hit something else, and even then only if they have the time to wait for a perfect shot.

Few people are instantly killed with one shot unless the brain, spinal cord, or the heart is hit. Usually, most people struck by a bullet can expect to be “incapacitated” within about 30 seconds. This leaves plenty of time for plot developments, loud hysterics, or for an assailant to continue to come after the shooter. Trained shooters may keep shooting even after the target is down.

Bigger, more energetic bullets, and bullets like hollow-points or Black Talon rounds tend to do more damage. A .22 calibre bullet from 50 metres away might not even penetrate the target’s clothing and skin, where a jacketed .303 rifle bullet might zip right through at the same range. Buckshot from a shotgun load, or larger bullets like the .45 ACP might transfer all their energy to the target and knock him or her down with kinetic energy before the other effects start to be felt.

Being shot feels like you have been hit with a sledge hammer, and you might not have immediately grasped that you were shot. Personally, I thought I got hit in the leg with a baseball bat, picked myself up and then noticed the blood on my knee and realized from the uproar around me that an accidental shooting had taken place. All I felt at the time was numbness in my leg, and by the time the pain got sharper I was already drifting into the arms of Morpheus.

There is a wealth of information on various firearms and types of ammunition available via Wikipedia and a few minutes of research can tell you whether you may wish to have your character resort to a Webley Mk IV .455 or a Sig Sauer 226 in 9mm, and may make some suggestions about the particular history of the weapon lurking in your plot.

Ever since watching his first cannon fired at three years of age, John Thompson has been fascinated with weapons; which partly explains his 13 years in the Canadian military and five years with the Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies. His interest in people who misuse them partly accounts for over 20 years with the Mackenzie Institute. He has fired a vast array of weapons from .177 calibre airguns to 203mm self-propelled artillery.

According to his parents, he was conceived in a tavern once frequented by the young William Shakespeare in Stratford on Avon; and has kissed the Blarney Stone. These may account for his affinity with the spoken and written word.

John is the author of Spirit Over Steel – A Chronology of the Second World War (Carrick Publishing), which weaves hundreds of individual threads into the tapestry of the whole conflict and yet never loses sight of the overall picture. Beautifully written and unerringly thorough, this resource guide is a “must-reference” for history buffs.

His second book, The Felicity File (Carrick Publishing), is a light-hearted and whimsical look at day-to-day life with a feline friend.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ammunition, award winning writers, books, Canadian authors, Canadian Crime writers, crime fiction, crime writers, e-books, e-publishing, fiction, firearms, independent publishing, John Thompson, mesdames of mayhem, mystery, research, Spirit Over Steel, suspense, thriller, thrillers, Tips for Writers, Weapons, weapons in fiction | 1 Comment

Announcing “Thirteen”, an anthology of Crime Stories, to be released Sept. 1!

Posted on August 19, 2013 by mesdamesofmayhem

And now, ladies and gentlemen, the Mesdames of Mayhem is proud to present our Anthology Cover for THIRTEEN:
Thirteen, an anthology of Crime Stories

This outstanding collection includes stories from 13 of our seasoned authors:
Catherine Astolfo
Rosemary Aubert
Jane Petersen Burfield
M.H. Callway
Melodie Campbell
Donna Carrick
Vicki Delany
Catherine Dunphy
Rosemary McCracken
D.J. McIntosh
Lynne Murphy
Joan O’Callaghan
Sylvia Warsh

Kindle Release date will be Sept 1 — Watch for it!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged anthology, books, comedy, cozies, crime, crime stories, e-books, e-publishing, Kindle, literary, mesdames of mayhem, mystery, publishing, short stories, stories, suspense, thrillers | 1 Comment

The Idea Shop ~ Joan O’Callaghan

Posted on August 13, 2013 by mesdamesofmayhem

If I were to take a poll of writers to find out what question they are asked most frequently, I’m betting it would be, “Where do you get your ideas?” Author Stephen King once joked that there’s a company in Cleveland or some such place, called The Idea Shop and every month it sends him a box of ideas.

Appealing as the notion of an idea shop is, it really isn’t necessary. Ideas are all around us all the time. Really!! Some writers find inspiration in careers they’ve had; education; family experiences and family histories. Other sources for ideas are in newspapers, magazines, the Internet. We’ve all seen medical thrillers written by doctors, legal thrillers written by lawyers, mysteries based on cooking, on knitting and on quilting.

Most of my own ideas have come from simply looking and listening. Inspiration is never very far away. The idea for my story George came to me one day in late October when I was driving along a country road and saw a gallows (a Hallowe’en decoration) with a dummy hanging from it. My mind immediately began to play with the possibilities – what if that’s not a dummy? What if a real person is hanging there, but because it’s Hallowe’en, people just assume it’s a dummy?

Driving along another country road with a friend, she pointed to a pretty frame cottage and remarked, rather casually, that the cottage was supposed to be haunted. From that casual remark came the ghost in For Elise. My story, Sugar and Spice to be published in Thirteen, had its origins in an incident described by a former student of mine, and Stooping to Conquer (EFD1: Starship Goodwords, Carrick Publishing) was inspired by the commentary of a tour guide in one of the great country houses in Ireland, which I visited many years ago.

Future plans include a fictionalized account of a bit of family lore involving a young boy who died under mysterious circumstances, and a story based on some intriguing material I happened upon while researching my novel which is currently undergoing revisions.

A favourite technique is one I came across from author Anne Bernays in her book What If (HarperCollins). Consider a perfectly ordinary situation, then add a “what if” question. For example, you are driving home from the supermarket and stop for a red light. What if a man opens the door on the passenger side, jumps in and points a gun at you and tells you to keep driving? There you have a complication and the beginning of what might be an exciting plot.

Award-winning author and teacher (and the most recent of the Mesdames) Rosemary Aubert, gave each of the students in her class at Loyalist in June a little notebook to keep track of ideas. In fact, I’ve been keeping an “Ideas” notebook for years. It’s crammed full of my jottings, musings, and clippings from newspapers and magazines that could morph into a short story or novel one day.

Carry a little notebook around and jot down ideas as they occur. Who knows? If you don’t use them in a story, perhaps you could open a Stephen King-type Idea Shop of your own and send a box of ideas to authors every month.

Joan O’Callaghan is a recipient of the Golden Apple Award from Queen’s University Faculty of Education for Excellence in Teaching; named Professor of the Year by OISE/UT Students Council, as well as Most Engaging English Instructor and Most Inspirational Instructor.

She is the author of three educational books as well as two e-shorts: George and For Elise. Her short story Stooping to Conquer appeared in the 2012 Anthology EFD1: Starship Goodwords (Carrick publishing)

Visit Joan at her FaceBook Page
or Tweet with @JoanOcallaghan

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged advice for writers, Anne Bernays, authors, award winning writers, books, Canadian authors, Canadian Crime writers, crime fiction, crime writers, fiction, Joan O'Callaghan, mesdames of mayhem, mystery, Novel Ideas, publishing, short stories, Stephen King, suspense, thriller, thrillers, Tips for Writers, What If, Writing | 1 Comment

The Future of Publishing – Part I: Why I love my Kindle… ~ Donna Carrick

Posted on August 6, 2013 by mesdamesofmayhem

We Carricks are a family of bibliophiles.

Martha Stewart would have a “clutter-buster” field day in our home. From one room to the next, our deco-theme is consistent: a rich display of Canadian yarns — both the literary and the woolen varieties.

In the past, there were times when I felt mildly threatened by the teetering stack of unread books that resided near my bed. I finally had to issue a general “disburse” order, for my own safety. Now the once mighty tower loiters in several smaller, sullen clusters, lurking with menace in the darker corners of our bedroom.

Divide and conquer, that was my strategy.

All those wonderful, powerful words. They’ve been part of my life forever. I can’t imagine travelling without my security bag full of books, and even though I don’t find as much reading time as I once did, I still would not be able to sleep without my friends.

For me, books are the literary equivalent of a favourite Teddy bear.

(I’ve been known to fall asleep hugging a book, just in case you think I’m exaggerating on the ‘Teddy bear’ reference.)

I’ve read books, written books, recommended books, reviewed books — heck, I’ve even published books.

Me and books, we’re close.

Because books comprise the essence of my world, this debate that rages throughout the literary world, (you know, the one about “Print” vs “e-Books”) used to cause me a measure of anxiety.

It was as if my closest friends were fighting amongst themselves.

Come on, words, I wanted to say. Can’t we all just get along?

Then I bought my Kindle.

Don’t get me wrong. I know there are other fine e-readers out there. I also own a Kobo, an iPad and an iPhone, all of which are perfectly acceptable e-readers in their own right.

However, I must in all honesty admit: it was Kindle that won me over.

With its ample library storage capability, its no-glare screen, perfect for reading in the sunshine, and its un-matched on-line boutique of low-cost (and sometimes free) e-books, Kindle quickly became my favourite Teddy bear.

It never ‘lurks’ beside my bed.

It never ‘towers’ over me in an intimidating manner.

When I want to read, it is simply there.

If I fall in love with a book or an author, I no longer have to wait till our next family bookstore outing. I can immediately order the next in the series, and be reading it in less than 60 seconds. (Conversely, if I’m disappointed in a book, I can simply delete it from my library, without those guilty feelings I used to suffer when removing a book from my home.)

My compulsion has taken me down a whole new avenue — one that is healthier, cleaner and less cluttered.

Don’t get me wrong. I still love my books. Those beautifully bound ‘word-temples’ will always hold a place of pride in my home, as well as in my heart.

Recently, we went on our family vacation. I meant to bring along my author-signed copy of The Book of Stolen Tales by Dorothy McIntosh, Penguin Canada 2013. The second in McIntosh’s Mesopotamian ‘antiquities thriller” series, I was itching to read Stolen Tales and was truly disappointed to discover it was missing from my luggage!

In the world of Kindle, however, such a tragedy need not go un-remedied.

A few keystrokes later, there is was — perched at the top of my reading list.

We’re all so busy these days. For those of us who harbour a passion for books, it isn’t always easy to be at the right place, at the right time.

Earlier this summer, I received an invitation to attend the launch of Sweet Karoline by Cathy Astolfo, Imajin Books 2013. Unfortunately, I simply couldn’t be there.

Once again, I was saved by the power of Kindle. Within seconds, I found myself on my deck, enjoying this taut psychological thriller by a master crime writer.

True, my arguments are purely subjective, and more than a little “tongue-in-cheek”. Not to mention, they read like an ad for Amazon. (For those of you who love your Nook, Sony, Kobo or tablet, I apologize for my admitted prejudice in favour of Kindle.)

Apology duly delivered, I am often asked by e-reader Newbies for my opinion on the best available e-readers. I admit, I am prone to make a blatant case for the Kindle.

Here’s why:

1- In my humble opinion, Amazon Distribution can’t be beat. It offers Prime Membership and a fast-growing lending e-library. Readers can sample new authors for Free, through the KDP Select Promotional service. The selection of titles is mountainous — nearly as imposing as my former “Tower of Books”!

2- In a word: Kindle Apps. Well, that’s two words, and one of them isn’t even a word, really. However, Kindle Apps are the bomb. For anyone who isn’t familiar with this phenomenon, let me fill you in:

I have a free Kindle App on my iPad, another on my iPhone and one on my PC. They all sync, using Amazon’s ‘cloud’ service.

What this means is that, if I leave off reading at page one of chapter 3 of the latest title on my reading list, then all of my devices ‘know’ where I left off.

If I find myself, as I sometimes do, waiting in line at the supermarket or lounging in a medical office, I can simply pull out my phone or my tablet and resume reading — exactly where I left off.

Thanks to this marvellous technology, I no longer have to carry my “book” with me.

3- Ease of Kindle Publication. While some might argue that today’s e-publishing world has flooded the literary market with oh-so-much schlock, (and I won’t pretend there isn’t at least a measure of truth in that statement) it has also undoubtedly allowed many fine, previously-unheard-of authors to gain a footing in our industry.

On the flip-side, it has given readers the opportunity to experience a far broader range of literary art than any of us would have imagined possible a mere ten years ago.

This, my friends, is the very definition of a literary renaissance!

Donna Carrick is the author of three literary thrillers: The First Excellence, Gold And Fishes and The Noon God. These, along with her crime story anthologies (Sept-Iles and other places, Knowing Penelope) are all available at Amazon.

Donna’s e-Books have consistently climbed the Amazon Kindle rankings in the category of Canadian Literature, often holding the #1 spot.

At nearly 100,000 e-title downloads through Kindle alone, Donna’s e-book sales have far out-stripped ‘print’.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged advice for writers, award winning writers, books, Canadian Crime writers, creative writing, crime writers, Donna Carrick, e-books, e-publishing, e-Readers, fiction, independent publishing, Kindle, mesdames of mayhem, publishing, thriller, Writing | 5 Comments

The Mesdames of Mayhem is proud to welcome our newest member: award-winning author Rosemary Aubert

Posted on July 29, 2013 by mesdamesofmayhem

Rosemary Aubert is the author of sixteen books, among them the acclaimed Ellis Portal mystery series and her latest romantic thriller Terminal Grill. Rosemary is a two-time winner of the Arthur Ellis Award for crime fiction, winning in both the novel and short-story categories.

She’s a popular teacher and speaker. Rosemary is a member of the Crime Writers of Canada and the Mystery Writers of America. She conducts a much-in-demand writer’s retreat at Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario each summer, as well as mentoring writing students who are studying at the School of Continuing Studies at the University of Toronto.

As a hobby, Rosemary studies math and science and has recently completed her second stint attending lectures at the International Summer School at Cambridge University in England. She intends to use some of this math knowledge in future works. Rosemary is an active member of the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto where she promotes Canadian writing and encourages other writers like herself.

Rosemary Aubert’s latest book, Terminal Grill, is available at:
Quattro Books
Amazon.ca
and at Chapters-Indigo

Visit Rosemary at her Website for more information.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Write A Review Part 2: Star Wars ~ Catherine Astolfo

Posted on July 23, 2013 by mesdamesofmayhem

As a retired teacher, I suppose I am biased in my view of “ratings”. I came from the old school—literally. I never believed in scoring something unless there was a set of criteria laid out from the beginning. When I gave an assignment, I also gave the evaluation scheme with it. If the student wanted an A, I would describe what they had to do.

The most objective appraisals, of course, involve right or wrong answers such as 2 + 2 = 4. No debate. As for all other evaluations, some subjectivity is involved. However, when the assessor has knowledge of and experience with the task or skill being evaluated, the subjectivity is dependable.

That brings me to book reviews. On most sites, I am asked, as a reader/reviewer, to give the book I’ve just read a star rating. This score is extremely important to the author of the novel. Amazon, for instance, uses the ratings to promote the books. Readers most often only look at novels with a 4 or 5 star rating. But what are the criteria? What does the rating mean?

Well, to put it bluntly, there are no criteria. Unless you are a professional reviewer and have studied the various genres, the rules a writer is supposed to follow, the techniques or skills to be admired, and so on, you will be completely subjective in your evaluation. You’ll have no template to go by.

In fact, Amazon assumes that this is the case. Clearly the scoring guideline wants you to be totally subjective. Five stars means “I love it”. How much more biased can you be?? 4 stars = “I like it”. 3 stars = “It’s okay”. 2 stars = “I don’t like it”. 1 star = “I hate it”. You HATE a book? Oh my.

When I peruse the ratings on my books, I often cringe. The Bridgeman has a 4 star rating. I would expect that its score would be somewhat lower because the subject matter is dark. Despite the hopeful ending filled with love and community, it nevertheless describes the underbelly of society.

Victim, on the other hand, is a pretty tame read. There’s lots of native philosophy, hope and love. It has a four and a half star rating. My current author rank is 140,000 out of several million. Could be better, but still an achievement.

However , all of this ranking, promoting, highlighting and selling is largely the result of the number of stars a novel has. And the number of stars is so subjective that I don’t see how my books can possibly be compared to anyone else’s. What my readers love or hate may be polar opposite to what you love or hate.

In fact, I often look at a favorite author’s one-star rating and wonder what planet that reader must be on in order to despise that particular work, which I loved.

So—what to do? One of my colleagues refuses to give stars at all. That might be a good strategy, except for the fact that Amazon bases its promotions and highlights on stars. My policy is that I never post a review that’s only 1 or 2-star worthy. In other words, I didn’t like the book at all. Maybe that skews the ratings for my reviews, but so what? Nobody is going to look around for those lower rated novels. They’re going to go for the 4 & 5 star books. If there are one or two stars among the other 5-star scores, the lower ones are going to be dismissed anyway.

I will write a 3-star review if the reasons I didn’t like it are technical. Such as, the editing could be improved, but the plot and character descriptions, etc., are essentially good.

The only way to really get the low-down on the book is to read the review. Ignore or take the star rating lightly. (And I did have that previous rant on “how to write a review”, so go read that, too.) To me, it goes hand-in-hand with not bothering to post a 1 or 2 star reaction.

Unless Amazon creates objective criteria for loving or hating a book, perhaps based on an expert reviewer’s point system, I am keeping with my policy.