08/17/2007: "Dear Author Review"

Hi All,

Well, this is an interesting one---interesting in that it's an honest review (not to say that I expected otherwise, or have been subjected to a whole lot of dishonest ones) but mainly interesting, odd, in its placement.

A few weeks ago I got an email from Jane at www.DearAuthor.com She'd seen the fight bruhaha as was covered at the time, read some of the blog here, and got in touch regarding an interview, which I happily provided. She also made sure to read the book---which, every time a woman tells me she's either doing so or plans to do so, a very retrograde and fairly stupid kneejerk reaction on my part wants to warn her not to, seeing as it would strike me there are several less tortuous ways for her to pass a few hours.

Especially so because Dear Author is a website that deals with the romance genre. You go ahead and poke around the site; you'll see. That is to say, 180 degrees removed from any book I've ever written. Not to say I've got any problem with romance novels, but I'm not sure I've ever read one; I did read, I think it was, a Jackie Collins novel while I was living in Japan, about an ingenue reporter who goes to live on a far-off desert island owned by a rakish Greek tycoon, and I do recall many sexy romps and erotic horseplay and various other carryings on. And I read EAST OF MIDNIGHT, by Sidney Sheldon, which I'd sort of put into the broad romantic category---but anyway, I've never written a romance myself. In fact, most of the "love" scenes in my books are so chillingly UNromantic I'm certain many who read them consider a stint of celibacy directly following.

In any case, Jane insisted on reading the book, so along with the interview---which is not yet up, but I imagine will be in time---she reviewed the book as well.

It's interesting to get a female take, because in general the reviewers and readers who contact me are all men. Which is no less than I expected, really, and no less than the book(s) seem to merit. But I am always gleeful to see a woman's reaction, if only to use it to address some of the faults with my writing and make the next books a little more all-encompassing. Which is something I actually tried to do with this latest book. Except for the main character, the next three characters of importance are women---and none of them is a whore, either! Craig, you magnificent bastard, you've done it!

Anyway. The review follows. My thanks to Jane.

http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2007/08/13/the-fighter-by-craig-davidson/

All best, Craig.