"Lost" gets a thumbs up...and the ride gets a lot more fun
Saturday, August 20, 2005 at 03:38PM A writer has to believe in what he writes. Otherwise he would never have the courage to put it out there for others to read.
But there's always that flicker of doubt. You wonder if you're just fooling yourself and, in turn, making a fool of yourself.
Just last week I wrote of the wonderful customer reviews that had been coming in on Amazon.com's sales site for my fiction debut, Lost in the Ivy. As I noted in that piece, it is incredibly flattering that there are people out there who are not only taking the time to read my book, but also to write their own words about it. The thing is, you're still left to wonder: Are those reviewers just being kind? They're your friends, or friends of friends, or friends of family. They aren't truly objective reviewers.
But when a review comes from an objective source, like a newspaper, your belief is put to its ultimate test. You just hope that those flickers of doubt aren't turned on permanently.
So it was a welcome relief when I learned that my first newspaper review was a good one. The review, in Thursday's edition of The Star newspapers, came under a headline that alone was enough to make this rookie novelist dance a jig. "Former Homewood resident not lost as a fiction writer," it read.
As for what came under the headline, I'll let reviewer Joanne Zerkel's words speak for themselves. Here then is an excerpt of the first newspaper review of Lost in the Ivy:
Randy Richardson tells a great story in his book "Lost in the Ivy," especially for Chicago readers. Not only is the story itself complex and filled with interesting characters, the fictional story is set in Wrigleyville.
Baseball fans, as well as lovers of a good mystery, will find themselves lost in the story of one man's search for self.
Charley Hubbs wanders into Chicago because of the Cubs and stays. He meets new people, gets an apartment and finds a job as a reporter for the Northside Beat.
Charley does have a few problems early on in the story, mostly caused by drinking too much and/or blackouts caused by an accident in his former life.
He also stumbles into situations he simply cannot control, including one with a woman bartender who goes to bat for him several times.
Die-hard Cub fans will note the Wrigleyville Charley calls home is the neighborhood of yesteryear, but that does not change the storyline, filled with dead bodies and plot twists.
The flickers are still there. Probably they'll always be there. You know that bad reviews could be just around the corner. But that's the nature of the beast. Everyone has an opinion about art. And everyone's is a little bit different.
But I now know that the roller-coaster ride I took to get a fledgling manuscript published was worth taking. So pardon me if I raise my arms and let out a scream of pure joy for just a little while. This ride just got a lot more fun.
Reader Comments (2)
You stated you are on a roller coaster ride. I disagree, The roller coaster has ups and downs--that may have been the writing process and the publishing process. However, your book is now published and has received nothing but great reviews. You are far from the roller coaster---you are flying high above!! You may have a "flicker" or a bad review in the future, but that will not be enough to take the air out of your sail. Keep flying high, keep your arms in the air, and enjoy the view from above.
Dave