This past week I’ve been collecting information on a topic that I never even knew was controversial. Quite by mistake, I learned that for some people it is considered a violation of etiquette to thank a reader who posts a review on Amazon or Goodreads. I was moving along fat and happy thinking that I was following proper etiquette by thanking people who take the time to post a review. Gasp…I never knew it actually creeps some people out.

Soooo…I love to do research and posted the question in my favorite Facebook group. Here is what the data suggests based on the responses at the time I wrote this blog: Most were either comfortable with a thank you or the gratitude provided actually boosted their positive view of the author. There were a few who were uncomfortable and honestly that gave me pause, because I don’t ever wish to make people uncomfortable. I’ve taken note of those individuals and will try very hard to not cause discomfort with my thanks as long as my soggy brain remembers.

I did some research on this topic through Google and guess what? Yup, opinions vary widely. I believe that since I write in a niche market where authors and readers tend to communicate with one another much more than famous authors, I believe the rule might be different for us. Perhaps it is more acceptable to thank our readers since the lesbian market is considerably smaller.

In a meeting I was in this morning our Development and Communications Department shared how they respond to every single review posted on our Hospital’s Facebook page. That got me to thinking, what is the difference between Facebook reviews for organizations versus Amazon reviews. It is an interesting dichotomy. Somehow it is acceptable for organizations to respond, but not authors. I wonder why? I don’t think those reviews on Facebook are intended for the hospital any more than how some reviewers state their reviews are not intended for the author, but rather the reader. And yet it is different. Interesting…..

That led me to my final tangent, when is someone going to write a damn handbook for the new lesbian fiction author? But then, we would all have to agree and apparently, that’s not happening. So I guess I’ll continue to step in shit with one foot and a field of flowers in another. Besides, I’m the type of person that won’t read the handbook from cover to cover anyway and will probably miss all the salient points. I suppose I could give it to my wife to read and have her provide me with the cliff notes. She reads every single word of an instruction manual.

Maybe there are some hard and fast rules to go by, but I sure haven’t found them yet. We can’t even agree on whether a happily ever after is a must or what kind of lesbian sex scene, if any, is preferred. I suppose I’ll just have to do what I’ve always done…write what I want and thank my lucky stars I get any reviews at all, and thankfully they are mostly positive.

Want to read my books and leave a review where I may or may not thank you depending upon your preference…you know the drill, just click one of the links below!

Affinity Author Page         Amazon Author Page