On reviews and feedback...
One of the things I was most excited about, and simultaneously most terrified over, when publishing Jock Auction was the thought of reader feedback and reviews. On the one hand, I'm always desperate to know if people like/dislike/etc. what I've written - I can't imagine any author feeling differently.
However, on the other hand, once you've labored away at a story for weeks, or months, or longer, the thought of it being slated is tough to stomach. So, it's with bitten nails and squinting at the screen through my fingers that I've watched the first few reviews spring up over the past few days.
Most of them find something positive to say, which I'll be eternally happy about; I hate the idea of someone buying my book and then thinking "damn, this was a waste of money." Some of them have been more critical than others, about the amount of sex perhaps, or the plot and character development. All valid points, and all things I wanted to hear from readers about, even if it makes my stomach drop in nervous anticipation whenever I see a new review has been posted.
The general consensus - Goodreads even makes you read a warning and then click an "I understand this is a dumb thing to do" disclaimer - is that replying to reviews, even in a thankful way, is A Bad Idea. So, I've been staying at arm's length unless the reviewer reaches out personally ([email protected] or through my blog at www.alexpendragon.com). I've been "liking" reviews posted on Goodreads, just because I want to communicate in some small way my thanks to people who take the time, not only to read, but to give their thoughts and opinions in return.
So, that's why I'm not wading in and getting into conversations - not because I'm not incredibly curious about what people think, but because the last thing I'd want as a reader is to give feedback and then have an author lunge at them with three dozen questions about what exactly they thought, which parts they liked, why they hated what they hated, etc. etc.
If you want to talk, I'm always happy to chat m/m fiction. But I really just wanted to say thank you to those who have reviewed and/or rated. Whether it was positive or negative, I appreciate you taking the time.