Reader Review

5.0 out of 5 stars Look in the Mirror keeps your interest in reading

Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2021

Format: Kindle

Finally a book that has kept my attention!! ''Look In The Mirror" is a 100% must read book. A very riveting book and Wow what a perfect ending to the story line!!

The author did a superb job in the ease and flow of the book; along with making the reader understand the background of its very interesting characters, and their jobs and positions in their respective work place environments.
A variety of life's lessons are are in this book; which we can identify with and /or learn from.
One of the many parts I so enjoyed and found interesting was the counseling session that took place in a Bar between two women!! Excellent advice. I can't wait until the authors next book! Congratulations on a job well done!

Editing and Revising

In an effort to move my second book along faster (but not compromise on quality) I sent a copy of the manuscript to a teacher friend of mine for that second set of eyes to proofread and offer edits. I am still of the mindset that I want to write the perfect first draft with no need of editing…but that is the wrong way to be. I’m looking forward to the edits, and I can keep moving closer to sending it to the publisher.

Writing My Second Book

My first book: Look in the Mirror, available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and many other outlets took me close to five years to write it and have it published. My second book: Vendome, is on schedule to be published in the Fall of 2026.

One technique I changed from writing the draft of the first book is that I am writing the first draft of Vendome faster. I constantly remind myself to just get the ideas on paper—so to speak—and then go back and take my time on the revising, edits, and details. It’s not a new concept, all writers know that, but I have a tendency to want the first draft to be perfect…and it never is. Enjoy the process, take your time. Don’t let the reader be a spectator. Let them feel, taste, and smell the story.

What's in Your Control

Whatever your passion is in life, focus on being the best you can at whatever that passion is. Put in the work. Do it because you love it. If you get recognized for it, that will be the extra.

“I say luck is when an opportunity comes along and you’re prepared for it.” Denzel Washington

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Seneca

Book Fairs

Book marketing, or self-promoting my own book. I give myself a D- grade for that chore. For the past two years I have focused on life issues. Family issues…who needs what and how can I help you? Than we moved from one town where I lived my whole life (60+ years) to another, about 30 minutes away. Now that we are settled in the new house, I started thinking about the book that took me five years to write. I brought the book up on Amazon and reread the reviews: I think I have a good story here, I thought to myself. So this Fall I signed up for 4 Book Fairs in the county I live in - 2 down, 2 to go. What do I think of Book Fairs so far? You have to do them to gain the experience of meeting potential readers (maybe they didn’t buy that day, but give them a flyer with a QR Code to go right to your sale site. I also met the news editor for our local newspaper and he put his reporter in contact with me for an interview about my book. So, you just have to get out there, network, meet-and-greet and see where it leads you. More on my marketing efforts to come.

You've Been Summoned

What is your first thought when you get that notice in the mail? How can I get out of this? Maybe I won’t get picked? In any event, you most likely will have to report to the court at least one day to go through the selection procedure. Now, the purpose of this blog is to not debate what is our civic duty. No, I am thinking of this from a writer’s point of view.

As a writer you should be thinking…there is a story here, somewhere in this experience.

When I arrived in the jury assembly room on a recent summons, I made it a point to look around the room and observe the people gathering to answer their “civic” duty. Most, that is to say, almost all of them were staring at their phones. What was their life stories, I thought.

Upstairs in the courtroom I watched each person as they were called up to the judges’ bench to be interviewed by her as to their ability to render an unbiased verdict based on the facts of the case. I studied the hand gestures and facial expressions of each person, including the judge, and wondered what their story was. As each person turned from the bench they either walked to the jury box, or the coveted freedom walk back to the assembly room. I wondered why one was chosen, but not the other.

There were probably the makings of a thousand stories to be written from that experience. As a writer, always be looking for a tale to tell.