Hello and Happy Friday,

I just sent an e-mail to Ms. Karen Long; he book editor for my city’s main newspaper, The Plain Dealer. Ms. Long and I have written a few e-mails back and forth because I’m asking if she'd consider reviewing, You Don’t Know Me. I sent the book to her (along with my press kit) a few months ago but didn’t hear a thing. A couple of weeks ago I got up the nerve to send her an e-mail and she responded. Ms. Long let me know she receives three to four hundred books—published by traditional press mostly—weekly, can you believe it? So, if any self-published show up in the count they are out of luck for that reason and for another, she does not normally review self-published novels. Yet, Ms. Long let me know if I sent her the book again she would give it a second look; I wonder if she’d given it a first and didn't like what she saw?

Anyway, I sent the book last week and of course haven’t heard a word. I let Ms. Long know I would accept a good or bad review; the bad, because I believe Stephen King (I could be wrong) said, " A review is a review—someone’s paying attention--and you can learn from them all." Between you and me, I’m on the glass-is-half-empty side when it comes to the review; I don’t expect a good one for a number of reasons, some not based on fact, most on feelings. On the fact side, a number of people go to self-published work with the already established belief it will not be good, though I don’t know if Ms. Long falls into this category as a well-renowned book editor, I can’t imagine she does, though you never know. I don’t want to expect a good review because the chances I will get a good one are not very good—too many goods; but its how I’m feeling. And oh my God, if I get a bad review and every one sees it, terrible. Oh well, it’s what I asked for and I’ll have to get over it. Lastly, Ms. Long may not want to review it at all, making all my angst for not.

I did a cable tv interview for the book on Wednesday and wasn’t frozen nervous while doing it, I was able to talk about the book so folks could understand what I was saying and surprisingly for my first television interview, it was fun. I will be hosting a book signing next month at my local Barnes and Nobles and I’m looking forward to it and not trying to worry too much that only my family and friends will show, I’m going to try to make it the best signing I’ll ever have (I mentioned this last week) I mean it. About the review, if it’s done (a possible big if) I know for sure it’ll be good or bad so it's best I concentrate on what I can control, that those readers who see the interview or come to the book signing; know I’ve written the best book I could and that they should take a chance on it because it will be worth their time.

Keep at the writing.

If you have any comments or suggestions I have a new e-mail address at: mathewsla@hotmail.com

Until next time, God willing.