She wants to play it cool, but, beloveds, she was absolutely terrified of the first reviews. Because—weird, isn’t it?—it doesn’t matter how much the people who love us love our work? How often they say it? We always sorta think… yeah… but you’re married to me. You’re sleeping with me (you want to sleep with me 😉 ). You’re my best friend. You love me and there’s no way you would actually tell me the truth…
And then…
The first real reviews by REAL people.
I think this one is my favourite:
“Tell Me by M. Jane Colette is one of those rare gems of erotic writing that offers insight and honesty into the heart and soul of a wife, mother, lover on the verge of her own world coming slowly apart.”
Garcia Book Blog (Review also posted on Goodreads)
…because… well, duh.
But this one, on Amazon.ca, really nails it:
Tell me is at its core a novel about desire. What do we do when our desires, in particular our sexual desires, are so distanced from our day-to-day routines of family, friends, and work. Does Jane simply wall off who she is to be like everyone else? Is this even an option when everyone she knows is in crisis and all of the “acceptable” choices don’t feel like choices at all? Tell Me really pushes at the boundaries of erotica. The characters in the novel aren’t just labels and stereotypes we use to describe relationships and sex. They are alive. They live real lives. The sex is real. And for that reason, it is really hot.
…except can I say that a reviewer nailed it? After all, once a writer releases words to the reader, it’s all about the reader’s experience, not the writer’s intent.
Anyway.
You tell me I should not read the reviews at all, so they neither go to my head nor hurt me—and, most of all, that they don’t fuck up the voice and path of the piece I’m working on now. I listen, nod. And compulsively check to see if there’s another one. Because. A little vain, insecure, excited, anxious. Because. Did you know? I wrote a book. And I published it. And people are reading it. Maybe only eight people (total number of reviews I’ve tracked down). But that’s eight more than zero. 😉
Squee.
mjc
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READ REVIEWS HERE: On Amazon + On Goodreads
TELL ME TEASERS: Here
m jane colette 