Trials of Writing -Bad Book Reviews and Rejection Letters

Hey, romance addicts. Let’s welcome back author Devoré’s to the blog. Daryl will share dealing with rejections and bad book reviews and a book excerpt.

Guest Post by Daryl Devoré

These two things are basically the same thing. No, wait. Hear me out. Yes, a “bad” book review is about your book. The reader didn’t like it because… insert reason here.

Well, a rejection from an agent/publisher is pretty much the same thing. The agent/publisher didn’t like it because… we don’t usually get to know.

What comes in the email is a long winded “No.” They try to couch it in nice terms saying – we aren’t rejecting you or your story – we’re just not a good match. Which is their polite way of saying – nope, don’t want your book.

So, how do I deal with bad reviews or rejection letters? It doesn’t matter, I am not you. Or, depending on how you want to look at it, you are not me.

I might blow off the rejection and you might be crushed by it. Or, equally, vice versa.

When I was a newer writer, the standard patter was – A writer needs to grow a thick skin. I repeatedly asked, “How?” No one ever replied. You are just supposed to suck up the pain and keep a smile on your face. Like Rambo. Get shot by an arrow, pull it out, and keep going.

Well, that didn’t work for me. Rejection of any kind hurts.

Well, that didn’t work for me. Rejection of any kind hurts.
Rejected by an agent/publisher.
Rejected by a reader (bad review).
Rejected by a lover.
Rejected by a cat. (They are very judgmental.).

I decided to look into me and discover what works for me. And that’s what I am suggesting to you. I won’t tell you how to cope with the rejection – too many landmines there. I could say – eat a ton of chocolate and you could be diabetic!

The solution to this lies inside you. You must begin to understand yourself and why the rejection/bad review pain hurts so much.

I have the advantage of practising yoga at the most amazing studio. Without it even being obvious, she has helped us accept life’s curves balls with much less pain and aggravation. Notice – I did not say – no pain or aggravation, but “much less”.

Am I saying go join a yoga studio? Okay, if you want me to. On the less serene hand, you could always to go a boxing studio and pound out your anger and frustration on a hapless punching bag.

You have to figure out what is right for you. People like to reach out to others in the hopes that the “other” will have a miracle solution for their problems.

When the person we should be reaching out to is ourselves. The answer is there, you just have to find it.

Thanks, Daryl! Okay, romance addicts, check out the excerpt from the book Two Truths and a Lie and more information about the Love a Billionaire Collection.

All I had to do was steal a rare, red diamond. How hard could that be?

I followed the others into the Whittle Bus, took a seat and turned to look out the window. I didn’t want a seat buddy. I didn’t want a BFF—someone to giggle and bond with. I had a job to do. I had to keep my focus.

Especially if I wanted to live.

I stared blankly out the window, not seeing the city shift to country. Music blared from the bus’s sound system. The driver turned the radio on an All 80s channel. Trying to block the music, I reviewed my evening. First, act like a meek female, not too competent or intelligent who doesn’t speak English fluently. Second, pretend to be an acceptable server and deliver drinks to thirsty, rich people. Third, steal the red diamond.

Simple enough.

I didn’t want the gem. Hmph, who was I kidding? I’d love to own it. But, a job’s a job. I’d been commissioned to steal and deliver it to a secure box. And that’s exactly what I intended to do. I’d planned this job for several weeks, if not months. Finally, the right opportunity presented itself and here I was sitting on a bus listening to You Spin Me Round, dressed like a French maid. So unbelievably annoying. The skirt barely covered the bend in my butt. Every time I tugged at the skirt, my boobs started to pop out of the top. Not that there was a lot of boob to pop out. I seemed to be missing the greatly endowed gene. I stifled the fantasy of putting my fingers around the neck of the old pervert that demanded we wear these ridiculous outfits. And gloves. We all had to wear white gloves. Who does that?

I’m guessing the host of the party didn’t want us mere peasants touching anything, leaving our filthy germs which he might pick up and then die of some horrible flesh-eating disease. Hey, a person can dream.

But on the bright side, the gloves played right into my hand―so to speak. I didn’t have to figure out how to conceal a pair of latex gloves. I’d wear these white monstrosities, steal the red diamond and not leave a fingerprint in the whole house.

The bus slowed, passed through the open gates then drove around to the back of a large manor house. I’ll admit the house wasn’t as big as the one in Downton Abbey, but it was still impressive. A reddish-brown brick house with several floors, lots of windows and partially covered in ivy which screamed rich person lives here. The land around it extended for acres in every direction. I’d already done my research on the place. I knew every inch of the outside and inside. I had escape routes planned. Although, I had no intention of needing them. I was confident I was leaving the same way as I’d arrived—on this bus.

If you love hot, billionaire romances, then Daryl Devoré’s collection is a must read. Three of her hottest billionaire romances bundled into one smoldering collection.

Desires – When secrets conflict with dreams, love explodes.

After a mistake by a surgeon’s scalpel shattered Fuchsia Quinn’s dance career, she picked up the pieces of her life and moved forward.

Peyton Lang, having run from an impoverished neighbourhood, lives the lifestyle of a successful billionaire.

Frustrated that his current multi-million-dollar project is stalled, Peyton drops in to LEATHER-ICIOUS for a quick drink and late night entertainment. What he saw was a beautiful redhead. What he found was he wanted her.

Two O’clock with the Billionaire – Sometimes, a woman has to do what a woman has to do.

Where Derek Davenport is concerned, women only had one thing in mind: trap him into a marriage.

Unemployed and nearing financial desperation, Arianne is forced to step out of her comfort zone. With minimal hours and excellent pay, she accepts the position of courtesan to a handsome billionaire.

Their sexual antics cause emotions neither is willing to admit. Will Arianne and Derek drive each other crazy…or will they fall in love first?

Two Truths and Lie – The legend of Robin Hood and Maid Marian with a twenty-first-century twist.

As if multiple planes crashes, a car accident, and a concussion isn’t enough, carefree Byn and straight-laced billionaire, Mark clash over Byn’s need for independence and Mark’s struggle with guilt pushing him in the opposite direction of love. When an art forger, an art thief and a ninety-year-old woman get involved the chance for true love for Byn and Mark fades.

All is lost until a children’s game is their only hope.

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MZ5H5QH

Print – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NF32CC4

Daryl Devoré

Two writers in one. Daryl Devoré writes hot romances with sexy heroes and strong heroines and sweet romances with little to no heat. She has several published books available on Amazon in ebook or print book and available at other book retailers via Books2Read.

Daryl (@daryldevore) lives in an old farmhouse in Ontario, Canada, with her husband and 2 cats. Daryl loves to take long walks on her quiet country road or snowshoe across the back acres, and in the summer, kayak along the St. Lawrence River. She has touched a moon rock, a mammoth, and a meteorite. She’s been deep in the ocean in a submarine, flown high over Niagara Falls in a helicopter, and used the ladies room in a royal palace. Life’s an adventure and Daryl’s having fun living it.

Blog

Twitter

Bi-monthly Newsletter

GoodReads Author Page

Book Bub