Thanks for posting your perspective on JANEOLOGY. Believe it or not, I did enjoy reading your thoughts! No, really I did. As an author, it's always interesting and beneficial to get a variety of reactions about a story, particularly what different readers bring to the page. That exchange is what I love about all books!

I'll definitely be back for more of your reviews now that I've discovered your site!

All the best,

Karen

Hi Karen! Thanks so much for commenting.

Janeology was actually really hard for me to "grade." I wanted to give it a high rating because I thought it was interesting and well-written, I just could not get over the fact that the clairvoyant parts felt as if they belonged in a different book. The idea of telling a story through heirlooms intrigued me, I just would expect to see it in a different kind of mystery (like, a woman moves into a new home that seems haunted, so she wants info on the family that built it, or someone moves back into a family home and learns the truths about their ancestors through items in the house, etc.). I guess because of the way the book is set up, I expected a straightforward legal thriller, so the psychic stuff just didn't jibe for me.

I'm also curious why you didn't let Jane "speak" in the novel - that was probably my biggest issue with the story.

Anyway, thanks for your good-natured response to my review. I really think your writing is excellent, and I look forward to reading more of your work (you are working on a second novel, right??).

Hi Susan,

I completely understand your point of view on JANEOLOGY. What's interesting is that many folks are divided on the psychic element of the book; it's a real love/hate part of it. That's okay. I've learned a lot from people's reaction to this concept and - like most writers - have parts of the book I'd love to go back and write! Lessons for the next book, which is in the works and nearly finished. Thanks for inquiring!

When I wrote the book, the most important theme was the way in which a husband isn't in tune with his own wife. The signs he refuses to see because he can only "see" her the way he did when he first met her. That's one of the reasons Jane is in the background. But the most important reason is the Hitchcock Effect: that is, the idea that the monster or ghost in the story is the scariest because they lurk at the edges of the story and you never know exactly when or how they will appear. Jane appeared 3 times in the novel and I liked how it played out. Maybe that idea worked for some. Maybe it didn't, but it sure was fun writing.

Keep up your good, honest work. You have a lot in common with the writers you review as you are also putting yourself out there for critique. But that's the dance we do!

I agree with Karen about the need for honest criticism - as long as it is done in a way that is beneficial to the author and those who would read it and not just a slam-fest on the book and/or author. I think you did a good job in presenting the book as you saw it, pointing out the high points and the things that presented question marks for you. And you did it in a way that was not demeaning to the author. As a reader, I appreciate that.

Karen, still can't wait to read this book - it is at the top of my tbr list.

I'm working on this book right now. When I finish it, I'll come back to read your review and see what you thought of it.