Review Blues

I received a one star review on the first novel of my urban fantasy series, Witch Got Your Tongue, because the reviewer thought it had a cliff hanger ending.  The person even admitted it was a pretty good story but still gave it only one star.  This is a series, and some things were resolved, but I did leave it open for many more books in the future.  Is that no longer allowed in series?  The only real thing left unresolved was something that will be an ongoing battle for the main character.  I let the reviews about it not being a novel but a novella roll off my shoulders.  Well, other than griping to James.  It is 45,000 words.  That is not a novella.  It's a short novel, and I was very clear about that in the description by posting the number of pages in the trade paperback.  Now I get complaints that it's a half novel that doesn't end.  I really want to know if this is something that actually bothers readers, or if it just makes you want to read the next book.

Also, any readers willing to review the book, either on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or on a blog, send me your email address  with the type of file you would need, and I'll send you a Kindle file, Word file, or PDF. livia@flash.net .

Nice Review of Witch Got Your Tongue

Anna Dougherty wrote a very nice review of Witch Got Your Tongue at Vamp Chix Bite Club. I have to disagree with one point of Anna's.  She say's the book is under 100 pages, when in fact it  is more than 100 pages.  The trade paperback has 151 pages.  Very small point, really.   I truly appreciate readers that take the time to write reviews.  Here's a small taste of Anna's review.

. . . this is an excellent end of summer beach type read, something to relax with, a brief repast from everyday stresses.

First Review of WITCH GOT YOUR TONGUE

Bill Crider is the first one to post a review of WITCH GOT YOUR TONGUE, and he has some very nice things to say about it. You can read his comments here. Thanks, Bill!

Witch Got Your Tongue Book Trailer

About the book:

Aren McAllister is a beautiful but shy and withdrawn young woman who has battled a stuttering problem her entire life. But then, seemingly by accident, she discovers that she wields an incredible power: she is actually a witch and can cast potent spells . . . but only by singing them.

This discovery throws Aren into a dangerous power struggle between different factions in the society of witches who live among humans unknown by them. And for the first time she encounters a romance that may change her life as much or more than the powers she never knew she had.

WITCH GOT YOUR TONGUE is the first novel in the Tongue Tied Witch series, a brand-new urban fantasy thrill ride from award-winning, best-selling novelist Livia J. Washburn, author of the best selling Fresh Baked Mystery series and the Literary Tour Mysteries.

Link to Amazon Link to Barnes & Noble

Vacation Novel - Witch Got Your Tongue

My husband, James and I went away for 2 1/2 weeks in June to write. We drove 372 miles to stay in a one room rustic cabin a few blocks from the bay. The whole purpose of the trip was to get away from our home lives to write.

I would get up between 3-5 a.m. to get started because the broadband internet down there would only work early in the morning, so any research that needed done on the internet had to be done then. When 7 a.m. would roll around I’d get in the van and go to the Sonic for 2 Route 44 unsweetened teas with extra ice. The ladies there got to know me very well. It was a strange mix. I’d get our jolts of caffeine while gazing at the sun reflecting on the bay.

By the time I got back to the cabin with our teas, James would be up and at the computer. With our tea and cereal, we’d hit the computers hard until lunch. Lunch was always our main meal, and there were three restaurants we went to the most. One was a Chinese buffet, the second was a Mexican restaurant, and the third was a sea food place with windows looking out at the wharf. All three places had grilled fish, my favorite. After lunch we might go out and walk along the beach or look through some of the bookstores in the area. Then it was back to the cabin, working until a late supper. Supper was usually whatever could be eaten at the computer since we were rarely done by supper time.

We’d work until late evening, pop in a DVD and watch something for an hour or two. After the TV was turned off, we’d see if the internet was working enough to answer emails. Then it was time for bed. That was our vacation. We were only planning to go for 2 weeks, but our daughters told us to stay longer and they could take care of my parents a little longer. It is only because of them that I was able to write my latest novel, Witch Got Your Tongue. This book is now on sale on Kindle and the Nook. The trade paperback is coming soon.

My friend Alyssa White designed and illustrated most of the cover. My daughter Joanna made the book trailer with help from her friends. Bethany McLemore and Cheryl Lemmons created and played the music, and Kim Mckelvey drew the wicked witch. My thanks go to all of them.