Have you seen the Amazon Prime TV series “Good Omens?” I loved it. It is an irreverent and hilarious fantasy based on a novel by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. I love Terry Pratchett’s novels and the acting and special effects in the series are incredible. It’s about the cooperation between an angel and a fallen angel to stop Armageddon.

When we read a book or see a movie we enjoy, it’s natural to tell our friends. That’s how the word used to be—and still is—spread about good books. Nowadays, the Internet has increased the impact of those shared opinions, and the importance to the authors. But it’s still the same idea: tell others about something you read, why you liked it, and who else might enjoy it, or hate it. It’s still the same word of mouth sharing, but with a much bigger mouth.

The impact on an author’s sales is immense. Amazon may promote books that get lots of positive reviews, and paid promotion sites make the decision to accept or reject advertising based on the number of reviews—and the star rating—on Amazon and Goodreads.

To some, however, writing a review harkens back to those days of the dreaded book report. Reading—or skimming—a book the night before the report is due, sketching out “the report,” and then stretching it out to the mandatory length with big words and possibly pompous phrases.

Good news. This isn’t required for Goodreads or Amazon. Just tell potential readers why you liked a book, how it made you feel—amused, intrigued, angry, exhausted from a night up reading—and why they might (or might not) like it. One woman—whom I’ll love forever!—said of my first novel, “New Jersey has Janet Evanovich; Idaho has Kathy McIntosh.” She titled her review, “Proof Laughter is Good for You.”

You can include, if you wish, what you especially liked about the book and what you’d hoped to find but missed. I love to learn something new when I read fiction, so I enjoy learning about a character’s vocation or hobbies, and about the place the book is set.  

Another Tucson author, C.J. Shane, recently posted a thoughtful blog about book reviews that delves further into what constitutes a good book review and how your review can help an author improve her next work as well as increase sales.  

Should you get a yen to review or read any of my books, they’re available on Amazon and in Tucson at Antigone Books and Mostly Books. Like all authors, I’ll appreciate your review.

Do you write reviews? Have any hints? Or questions?