Ahhh, reviews. All business owners need them to give buyers/shoppers an idea of what to expect from your product or service. But for indie authors, reviews are like goldust! 

Sad as it is, and in spite of huge numbers of indie authors selling millions of books and some even having those books turned into movies, there can be level of mistrust towards those who self-publish.

Though there is a belief self-publishers only took that route because traditional publishers didn't want them, that couldn't be further from the truth! Self-publishing is an amazing option for so many reasons - mostly because you get to retain control over your own work. But that's another post! :p 

For indies, getting reviews, good or bad, gives credibility. And - although nobody WANTS a bad review - they can be as helpful as the positive to provide balance and offer different viewpoints to a story. Most authors want as much feedback as possible in order to improve their craft, so honesty is key when reviewing. 

It's very easy to forget to review a book once you've finished reading it, even if you loved it! And perhaps to huge bestselling authors, they might not need it. But for an up and coming self-published author, every single one counts. If it's a great review, it gives them a reason to push on. If it's a little less favourable, it means they can take something from it and work on it. 

It's win-win!

SO, next time you buy a book from an indie author, try to ensure you pop a little review at the place your bought it - even if it's just a line or two. It means the world!  

*Attached to this post is a screenshot for one of my books, Picture (Im)Perfect, which you can find here, available in paperback, ebook, and audio!