20 Responses to “One Person’s Trash…”

1. Heather even though you weren’t fishing for compliments I have to come out of lurkdom and post on this. I absolutely love your series. LOVE it. And if they didn’t like your book they should have put it down, shut up and moved on. Have they written any books, good or bad? I can’t imagine trashing somebody’s baby no matter how ugly it might be to me. It’s somebody’s baby, they love it (as do others) and to them it is beautiful. I will repeat. I love love love this series Heather.

   by Glenda on November 30th, 2007 at 8:41 am
   
   

2. Obviously, they need to stick to gardening and leave the reading and reviews to people with slightly more taste.

   

   by laura on November 30th, 2007 at 9:20 am
   
   

3. Glenda, you’re too good to me. Thank you! And it’s nice seeing you here!

   Laura, to be fair, these reviewers are gardeners first and foremost and someone should have warned them that my books aren’t gardening books, even though the publisher marketed them that way. They’re very character- and plot-driven books in which Nina just happens to be a landscape designer. There is little gardening/landscaping content and though I did a ton of research there is bound to be a mistake or two since I am not a gardener by any stretch–which I make no secret of. If they were looking for a true gardening book it was no wonder they were disappointed. I would have hoped that Nina and her gang would have won them over no matter what, but apparently that wasn’t the case most of the time (there *were* some who did like it).

   Oh, and in case anyone is wondering…on the cover of HOE that’s infrared light in the center of the bunny topiary (not bunny guts like I first thought), through which you can see the mysterious footprints leaving the garden (again, marketing’s idea). The cover has grown on me over the years…and now I find it charming. 0:)

   by Heather on November 30th, 2007 at 9:58 am
   
   

4. I think what made me feel the worst about her review is that she’s a librarian. She must have some ideas about cozy mysteries (one would hope) and that there are certain conventions. She must know that writers seldom have any control over their covers (and I thought it was very cute).

   Tess Gerritsen recently posted something similar on her blog. She was trashed by PW and it hurt. She, too, had to remind herself (via many, many other excellent reviews) that she and the book were worthwhile.

   I’ve been lucky–so far–and haven’t been trashed. I know when it happens I’ll be crushed. As it is, I’ve received far too much rejection at booksignings. “I only read INTELLECTUAL books,” or the ever-popular “I don’t read” (and said smugly, like it’s something to be proud of).

   You wouldn’t have contracts for more books if you weren’t a good writer, and that fan’s letter just goes to prove it!

   by Lorraine Bartlett on November 30th, 2007 at 10:04 am
   
   

5. I love you warts and all.

   I have to cause you know too many secrets….:)

   But seriously, I loved your books. Not just because it’s YOU who wrote them, but because they were most enjoyable! I’m gonna miss Nina…sniff sniff.

   And I changed my mind about the curtains. I want wallpaper instead.

   by debbie on November 30th, 2007 at 10:05 am
   
   

6. Lorraine, I hope you never get a bad review!!! And rejections at book stores sting, don’t they? As if it’s not hard enough for us to be sitting there trying to get people to even stop by and say hi.

   I agree about how the review seemed to insult the whole cozy genre. You’re right–there are certain conventions we have to follow and a librarian should know that better than most.

   Thanks for the rah-rahs! I appreciate them more than you know.

   by Heather on November 30th, 2007 at 11:08 am
   
   

7. Deb, first of all–don’t do it!!!!!!!!!!! The wallpaper, I mean. I spent three days last weekend scraping wallpaper off my walls. Paint. Use textured paint, even. But don’t do the wallpaper! Go back to wanting curtains.

   And thanks–I’m gonna miss Nina, too. She was a lot of fun to write…

   by Heather on November 30th, 2007 at 11:09 am
   
   

8. Did I mention my hubby has his own business? A painting and wallpapering business, that is. So this chick doesn’t have to do much but keep the kids out of daddy’s hair. Not an easy task.

   He has other plans for projects so I think I’ll take your advice and go back to curtains.

   You know what they say about the cobbler’s kids going shoeless and all……

   by debbie on November 30th, 2007 at 11:39 am
   
   

9. “More hoes”–it was like the blogger was reading Theo’s mind. Creepy!

   Anyway, that picture of Heather’s book in the trash can made Theo’s day–Theo giggled like a schoolgirl at the sight of it. It’s gonna be Theo’s Christmas card. Viva, Trash Can!

   by Theo Epstein on November 30th, 2007 at 11:45 am
   
   

10. I won! I won! And I never win anything.

    But on the topic of reviews…although I love Nina, I can’t imagine recommending her to some gardening women I know. (My gardening FRIENDS, yes, because, well, they’re gardeners, but they’re also the kind of women who I have as friends.) It takes all kinds to make the world go around, and some of them just aren’t cut out to read mysteries. Even if those aren’t bunny guts on the cover.

    by Laura Kramarsky on November 30th, 2007 at 11:49 am
    
    

11. Heather, I feel your pain. You can have ten good reviews and one bad one, and which will you remember? Which will make you want to hang up your writing pen?

    I guess that’s how our minds work. I will never forget one reviewer who trashed my first book in the flower shop mystery series, MUM’S THE WORD, because……. as a poor, struggling florist, my sleuth, Abby, shouldn’t have been able to afford a 1960 Corvette convertible. Had this reader actually READ the book, she would have learned exactly how Abby was able to buy it. Seriously, to base a review on a “fact” that wasn’t even factual?

    It still hurts.

    Kate Collins

    by Kate on November 30th, 2007 at 11:59 am
    
    

12. Hi Heather,

    I”m sending you a cyber hug for that neurotic writer attack.

    Keep smiling and keep writing.

    Diana

    by Diana Celesky on November 30th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
    
    

13. The two that said they didn’t like it, still read the whole book! It didn’t sound like they had to do that for the bookclub. I know that when I really don’t like a book, I can’t finish it even if I wanted to. Maybe they were just a bit curious to see how it ended?

    by Thea on November 30th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
    
    

14. Hi Heather,

    Oh, that review took some “digs” at Nina that made my fingers twitch to respond by posting something on her blog. But then I thought, “What good would that do Heather?” There are thousands of people out there that had loved your books and have faithfully bought the subsequent ones in the series. Sometimes their quiet actions (and purchases!) speak louder than Ms. Thorny Rose. I’m sending you a cyber hug too!

    by JB on November 30th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
    
    

15. Hi Heather,

    Bummer about the stinky reviews.

    Here’s a little quote I like on criticism:

    Before you criticize people, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away. And you have their shoes.
    ~JK Lambert

    (((Big Hugs)))

    by Lynn in TX on November 30th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
    
    

16. Debbie, I was thinking of you today while I was at Bed, Bath, and Beeeeeeeeyond buying curtains! I know, I know, the improvements around here never end. Hope Santa is good to you and brings you some, too. BB&B has some great ones!

    Theo, Merry Christmas.

    Laura, I know what you mean about the gardening friends. Unless they’re mystery fans, too, then they might like them! (And it does look like bunny guts, doesn’t it????)

    Kate, it’s always the way with us writers, isn’t it? I haven’t had many bad reviews, but I could probably quote from the ones I’ve gotten. Not so with the good ones. What’s wrong with us??? Hugs on your review–I think it’s perfectly fine to hold a grudge.

    by Heather on November 30th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
    
    

17. Thank you, Diana! I’ll take that cyber hug. And I think continuing writing is just what I need to do. Though let me say, THANK GOODNESS I finished Truly, Madly, Deadly earlier in the week and hadn’t seen this review beforehand. That might have sent me over the edge. As it is now, it’s out of my hands… Safely out of my editing hands.

    JB, LOL on the twitchy fingers! You’re a good friend! I’ll take your hug, too.

    LOL, Lynn. These hugs are adding up! Thank you, guys!

    by Heather on November 30th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
    
    

18. This is why I don’t usually tell a writer what I think of their book. My mom got me a book once. It was written by a local author and based on a local ghost story here. It was an autographed copy and she even said to write her and tell her what I thought of the book. I never did write to her because I couldn’t bring myself to tell her that it was one of the worst books I have ever read.

    by Traci on December 2nd, 2007 at 4:33 am
    
    

19. Oh, Heather—I’m so sorry you had to experience that. Bad reviews are part of this business. We know that. Not every reader is going to “love” your baby.

    But to post a photo of your book in a trash can. . .sheeeeesh! That was waaaaaaaay over the line. And I suspect it had more to do with what was going on inside HER head than anything inside your book.

    Hugs!

    by Maggie on December 3rd, 2007 at 11:52 am
    
    

20. It seemed like a needlessly unkind review. I have to wonder about people who go out of their way to vent at length (and not very wittily even) about other people’s creative efforts. Especially odd coming from a devoted gardener — you’d think she’d be a little more centered, a little more willing to live and let live. But perhaps she’s the Farmer MacGregor type and enjoys killing baby bunnies too.

    by Diana on December 6th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
    
    

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