Just a brief vent and maybe an update...
Here's my vent. First, I appreciate all the people who take the time to review Leslie Moore books. I read each one and try to learn. But sometimes, I get confused. Here's an example
Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars
"It's more about Jesica herself and not her adventures"
June 27, 2019
Format: Kindle Edition
Overall it was a good read but I have some minor criticisms.
It kinda felt like the story was building up to a climatic guns blazing showdown that never happened. In the end the story was more about Jessica Jade's inter personal conflict and her growth as a character than her fight against evil. Which is fine, but considering how little that conflict played in story the author spent way to much time focusing on the crime organization and their plotting. It was an aspect of the story that didn't lead anywhere and thus the majority of it should have been cut from the story.
So, I just don't get it. When a book is called Jessica Jade - Metamorphosis.
Here's the summary printed right on the book page:
James Jade knew he was born in the wrong body. But, it’s definitely not something you share with your father, a Marine Master Sergeant. Instead, James learned how to quietly endure.
James Jade suppressed those feelings regardless of the crazy circumstances happening around him. As time passed and he grew up, James fought to keep those emotions and needs under control and hidden away deep inside.
Finally, in desperation, James wondered if enlisting in the Army and becoming the best soldier possible would silence those voices once and for all. Throwing himself into the task, Jade worked hard, qualifying and serving proudly as an Army Ranger.
After five years of service, James Jade found his team ambushed and trapped in the line of enemy fire. Ignoring his personal safety, he risked his life to save his eight-man-team of Ranger snipers.
Convalescing in the hospital, James decided to hide no more. Jessica began her life with a new mission dedicated to helping others. This is her story, her metamorphosis.
The reviewer didn't like the book because I spent too much time on Jessica's journey and didn't have a guns blazing ending. Sadly, I thought I provided plenty of action but my story was about Jessica. Jeez, what do you say to someone who didn't get their story from me? Does that make my story wrong?
Here's what's happening with Leslie Moore's New Books I just wanted to fill you in about what's happening from the basement at Leslie Moore's hovel.
The monkeys in the basement are busily working on several projects.
They've finished up a new novel called Collected, a sci-fi body-switching story where time travelers from the twenty-fifth century are harvesting twentieth-century bodies for rich people to wear as replacements for their worn-out bodies. If it sounds familiar, it's an idea I wrote about ten years ago and just couldn't let it go.
The monkeys are working on another novel just for Doppler to publish. This untitled work is just in it's beginning stages, but as it develops, you'll see it here on BigCloset. All the proceeds from this one go to help out the folks here.
Wildcat News: If you've read any of the Wildcat stories, here's what is happening with 'da cats'. I'm done writing Wildcats 5 and halfway through Wildcats 6. Six is the end of the tale (for now). So the monkeys and I were talking and they want to rewrite the whole story, changing little bits, streamlining it, and making it better. The monkeys suggested that we publish one big volume that would include Wildcats 5 and Wildcats 6 and sell it for less than the two volumes together. (a Wildcats book is $2.99, two Wildcats books would be $5.98).
I agreed with the monkeys. So look for The Big Book Of Wildcats in early 2020. It will contain the whole story from Terry and the Wildcats to Wildcats 6 and will sell for $4.99.
I'm also working with two very talented artists who are just starting to draw each cat separately and then the whole group together. When they are done, the monkeys and I will post the portraits on our wildcats web site and let the readers choose the best portraits to be included in TBBOW!
Comments
You didn't write Jessica Jade to reader's desire?
Many, many years back a reader ranted in the same way about The Professor's tales. In his-her mind the stories weren't going the way this person desired. Obnoxiously rabid to the point I hoped the reader was transported to the vet for shots before it was too late.
My response was kinda like as follows,
"Sir, Ms. you are reading a story that took a lot of time to compose. This story was told in the way and direction The Professor wanted her stories to go. If you want a story written exactly the way you want, I am positive The Professor should be willing to do that for you for a nominal fee of ten thousand dollars a story. This price is way below the normal fee for ghost writing a book for other individuals. Or if you would like, I will write the story for you at the same price. You can call this story your story after you paid for it and I will send to you an ISBN number so you can have your book listed as a real book. Please send me a synopsis of the story you want told and a certified check. I will begin ghost writing your story. You are allowed two revisions if the first draft does not meet your impeccable credentials as a Book Critic."
Sincerely Yours
Barbie Lee
Funny but I never received a response? I looked and this person had never posted anything on FictionMania. Go figure? Didn't look for the name on the NYT Best Seller List. Maybe I should have. Miss Moore, I have informed authors they need the hide of a Rhino and the emotions of a turtle. But thank God they don't listen or we wouldn't have the imaginative and emotional stories you authors write.
Come on, let's go get a Dr Pepper float. It always helped me. If Bru and Daphne behave we might even invite them along.
Hugs Hon, you're one heck of an author. Don't believe anyone who tells you any different.
always
Barb
Oklahoma born and raised cowgirl
I promise...
... that I won't behave. I'd love to go along anyway.
-- Daphne Xu
thank you
This made me laugh which was a good thing.
You didn't do the impossible...
Of writing a book that completely satisfies every single person on how the plot should have gone and so on? Tsk, tsk. It's not worth worrying about. (By the way, I disagree with the reviewer.) One thing that is worth noting is that the reviewer DID think your book was worth their time writing a three paragraph review on, so they obviously got invested into reading the book.
On other things... Wildcats! Yay! Now that is a series that I happily reread on a regular basis. And if you add a few new volumes I will be even happier. Thank you for sharing your stories.
thank you
Wow! I'm impressed you read my lengthy update. That's awesome. I can't begin to tell you how much fun I'm having rewriting the Wildcats again!
Hopefully You've Got a Lot of Monkees
They've got a high standard to meet. Thanks for the update.
Monkeys
I purchased these monkeys from the lab at Harvard University where they did the research to prove that 25,000 monkeys typing eight hours a day will eventually write all the sonnets of Shakespeare.
They only work a few hours each morning, but they are happily writing my next novel for me!
Proposed response idea :
Proposed response idea :
- -
""Yes, you are correct "It's more about Jesica herself and not her adventures", that was the idea.
I am glad that the story did exactly what I intended. I am however sorry this is not your type of story, but you probably should have paid more attention to the summary before choosing this book. Not every book is for every reader, other readers would likely find fault in a story written the way you suggest.
Good luck on finding books more to your taste. Thank you for your review.""
- -
Hopefully this sort of response will turn what seems to be a negative review into one that will encourage reader who would like the story.
Feel free to use this suggested response in anyway you see fit, as a concept, edited or verbatim.
Loved the story my self (I guess it was my kind of story),
~Hypatia >i<
PS. Remember, everything will be like by some and disliked by other, that is people.
And some will think, their opinion is the only one that right.
You can please some of the
You can please some of the people some of the time but not everyone all of the time!
What can I say, I loved Wildcats and can't for the next books. Loved Jessica Jade metamorphosis also.
I often re read these books and they help to wind down after a busy shift in the ER.
Thank You Leslie, can't wait for more of your work
Sorry
I actually wrote this review and yea looking back it I could have been way more clear and concise about my criticisms, sorry it came of as confusing and negative. But I'd like to re-iterate I did really enjoy the book. I gave it 4 out 5 which I consider a really high rating. My criticisms came from a place love and i was critzising what I considered to be a minor issue. To clarify I thought it would have better if less time was spent on the criminals perspective and more time on Jessica Jades perspective. That message clearly didn't get across in my review and I'm sorry. I feel kinda of bad about it too.
On another note I love your wildcat series. I have zero constructive criticisms on that series as I have zero issues about. I read a ton of transgender/intersex fiction and Wildcats is my favorite in that genre. And I'm super excited for volumes 5 and 6
P.S. I updated my original review to make sound less negative and hopefully clarify what i was trying to say.