As writers, we know that not every contest we enter will we come out as a winner. I agree winning is nice, but more importantly, we need to remember, like anything we attempt in life, it is not just about winning but having been given the opportunity to take the risk and be grateful for the occasional failures that help us improve in becoming a better person, a better writer.
So, it is with a grateful heart I share with you the judge’s comments from the 2023, 31st Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards for my debut novel, Till My Last Breath, Book One in the Desert Hills Trilogy.
REMEMBER: “Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow.” Mary Anne Radmacher
Plot, Story, or Topic Appeal: Reviewer 1: This book is exemplary in its choice of topic or theme of the story. It is unique but still has strong appeal for most readers in its intended genre.
Character Appeal and Development: Reviewer 1: This book is exemplary in character appeal (or interest) and development. All main characters (including antagonists) are unique and fully fleshed out with compelling, layered motivations and traits. Secondary characters are unique and have a meaningful purpose.
Additional Comments:
Reviewer 1 : If you like westerns and/or romances with a slight twist, this will satisfy your itch. The author gives you two great characters to root for and a narrative conceit that finds its own niche in the Western tradition. The settings and details are also obviously well-researched so the reader feels as if they too have slipped through time and ended up in the old west.
Reviewer 1: This book is exemplary in production quality and cover design. The physical materials, printing, and binding are of professional quality and traditional industry standards. The typesetting and page layout (including illustrations, images, or figures) are easy to follow, thoughtfully designed, and error free. The cover appears to be professionally designed and is compellingly related to the content/genre of the book.
Optional: Additional reader commentary related to Production Quality and Cover Design: Reviewer : The book’s design—inside and out—is really wonderful. The cover design is simple and intriguing, the interior pages are laid out well with understated chapter art.
“Judge, 31st Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards.”
