GRAMMAR POLICE AND BOOK REVIEWS

Every author goes through the same thing. You have a pile of fingernails that you've bitten off in a nice neat pile on your desk. You try to get inside the head of your reader, hoping that they pay attention to the parts in your story that you believe you placed so much emphasis on.

You hope that they cheer when you want them to and feel what you wanted them to feel at the appropriate time. But it is nearly impossible.

As a writer, once you realize that everyone is reading your book for different reasons, you will see that not everyone will get the same thing out of your book.

I wrote a light comedic novella named Serial Me, where my character is the opposite of what most heroines look like in a book. She is overweight with low self esteem. She is trying to find Mr. Right while holding onto a job that she doesn't feel worthy of.

I hope that women with weight and self esteem issues will see that they too are beautiful. I hope that they stop worrying about self image and learn that once they accept themselves, others shall too. I should know. I'm in a wheelchair and suffer from many chronic illnesses. You think carrying a few extra pounds around is a possible deterrent. Try having 24 inch rims stuck on the side of your ass.

What will others get from the book? A great light and funny read on a Sunday afternoon. Perhaps someone interested in a high concept novel. Maybe someone looking for a few laughs. Or someone that just wants to size you up as a writer. Competition perhaps? Maybe.

I've noticed where a lot of reviewers will immediately make comment about grammar usage and misspellings. While there are so many horrible books out there that don't even grasp the basic concepts of the English language, there are some great books out there with just a few mistakes.

But there are those comments where the reviewer will berate the author over these errors. But what do you do when your book doesn't have errors?

I read one review where this woman was taking the author to task over grammar. But other reviewers chimed in and said that they could find no mistakes. Surely not as many as the first reviewer mentioned. Then it hit me....

What IF the reviewer didn't know what she was talking about? Novel idea, right? Of course! It makes sense. Most people that claim they know perfect grammar DON'T. What are their qualifications? Do they have a degree in English? Are they professional editors? What made this woman so sure that the book wasn't grammatically correct?

I saw two commercials and ten websites that  displayed the word WALLAH! When it's actually written Voila! But you couldn't tell the original authors of these websites that they were wrong. How many people do you think they go on "correcting"?

Don't take it too personal when someone takes you to task over a few mistakes here and there. I've found an error in World War Z but the story was so good, I didn't care. I still don't. The ones that lament the most about how the English language is going straight to hell are the ones that's sending it there with gasoline drawers on.

Unless you're one of those writers that really need to take an English class or two. IF so then stop reading and get there....FAST!

Serial Me- New and Upcoming Book from Best-Selling Author Sonya Dickerson

New book from best-selling author, Sonya Dickerson

What would you do if there was a woman going around killing all the eligible and gorgeous men in your town? What would you do if you and that woman happened to look like twins?
Vanessa Johnson has it all as a Health and Fitness editor for a popular magazine; except a boyfriend and a body to die for.
Meanwhile a serial killer is on the loose in the city of Chicago causing mayhem and destruction everywhere she turns.
It isn't long before all fingers begin pointing at her. Vanessa must make a decision; watch her life go down the drain or help the police nab the killer before it's too late and she finds herself behind bars.

What made you decide to write this story?

it was just a silly idea i had. something that i had been pondering for quite some time. when i came up with the concept the story began to write itself.

Did you run into any issues that you'd like to share with your readers?

well it was a very difficult book to do. mixing comedy in with death isn't always easy. death and murder are sensitive subjects with people and i wanted to do it tasteful. my first screenplay was a dark comedy about suicide so i was treading on familiar ground. 

i wanted to make it funny because i enjoy writing comedies. 'stick with what you know' can be helpful advice for some writers but terrible advice for others. a really great writer should be able to write many different different genres without losing authenticity. once you get ahold to a character's voice, you can make them hilariously funny or tragically sad. shakespeare is a great example of his. he wrote many genres and did them in such an authentic voice that people still enjoy him to this day and will continue to do so.

What is your favorite Shakespeare play?

anyone that knows me knows that it's Macbeth.

Are you worried that you didn't portray your character Vanessa correctly? Meaning that because she is overweight, are you worried that people will think her character was too stereotypical? Or not authentic enough? I realize you like that word.

it really depends. and yes i like authenticity. i hope some people can relate to her and empathize. without that, then you really don't care WHAT happens to the character. if that happens then you haven't done your job. time to start over at that point. 

What would you like your readers to know about this book?

i had a lot of fun writing it and i hope you have just as much fun reading it. 

New Book: Serial Me from Sonya Dickerson

Coming September 2013!

What would you do if there was a woman going around killing all the eligible and gorgeous men in your town? What would you do if you and that woman happened to look like twins?

Vanessa Johnson has it all as a Health and Fitness editor for a popular magazine; except a boyfriend and a body to die for.

Meanwhile a serial killer is on the loose in the city of Chicago causing mayhem and destruction everywhere she turns.

It isn't long before all fingers begin pointing at her. Vanessa must make a decision; watch her life go down the drain or help the police nab the killer before it's too late and she finds herself behind bars.

WHAT'S NEW EVERYONE?

Working on a Supernatural Thriller titled, "Father Time". Just started a first draft yesterday and it's going really well.

Also the dark comedy, Serial Me, is coming along very well. I'm still in first draft stage and I hope to finish and have everything  published by late January 2013.

Also you Diary of A Sick Chick Fans, the sequel is coming soon February 2013. Diary of A Sick Chick: Year Two of Chronic Illness.