But we’re all writers, so we have a few things in our favor. Chances are pretty good that you write for a website. Chances are even better that you have your own blog. You probably even have a small following of people who listen to your opinions and take them to heart.
I’m willing to make a deal with you. Send me your book (in PDF form), and I’ll review it on my blog. I’ll post the shit out of that review on my own website and on Twitter, which links to my Facebook. I’ll even post a review on Amazon. In return, I ask that you do the same thing for me. I’ll send you a PDF of my crime novel, STRIP, and you review it on the site you write for. Or your blog. Or Twitter. Drop a little magic on Amazon. Etc.
There’s one drawback: I’m not offering free praise. I’m offering an honest review, and if your book sucks, I’ll mention it. If it’s awesome, I’ll mention that. If there’s room for improvement, I’ll point out where. This isn’t a critique, though; it’s a review. I wouldn’t ask you to suck my dick, so I won’t suck yours. An honest review is all I give and all I ask. One way or the other, word gets out about both of our books. There is no such thing as bad publicity, as they say, or as Oscar Wilde once said, “The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.”
If you’re interested, let me know in the comments below, or email me at editor@talesofquestionabletaste.com. First come, first serve. If you’re turned off by the possibility of a negative review, don’t be. I promise to be gentle. Besides, how can we grow as writers if we don’t realize there are blind spots in our work? And who am I to be talking like King Shit of Turd Mountain? You can check me out here and decide for yourself: www.talesoquestionabletaste.com.