A fresh reader can notice things an author may overlook after spending so much time with their story. A beta reader can help identify plot gaps, pacing issues, unclear scenes, inconsistent characters, weak dialogue, and moments where the story may lose the reader’s interest. Honest feedback can show you how your manuscript feels to someone experiencing it for the first time. Before you publish, get another perspective and make sure your story is ready. CONTACT ME TO GET STARTED TODAY.

Last April 20, I watched the screening of the film-documentary "Return to Sölöz" by Serge Avedikian, an Armenian-born French producer, director, and actor. It explores the themes of identity, memory, heritage, historical truth, and reconciliation during his four visits spanning more than 30 years (1987–2019) in a Turkish village of Sölöz, the home of his Armenian grandparents. "Return to Sölöz" combines personal reflection, village life, archival footage, and conversations with local residents of Armenian, Greek, and Bosnian ancestry who have forgotten their roots, or who prefer not to remember them. It begins in Paris and moves on to Istanbul, revisiting the 2007 assassination of the Turkish-Armenian intellectual and journalist Hrant Dink, who’s critical of those who deny the Armenian Genocide. Then, the scenes follow one sentimental event after another, e.g. a large number of Armenian graves found in the village and the museum project initiated by a local resident, which was blocked by local authorities, who denied the existence of cultural minorities since the days of the Ottoman Empire. Reconciliation helps individuals and societies move from endless pain, i.e. toward some form of peace, even if that peace includes remembering, grieving, and setting firm boundaries. Reconciliation, even for everyday conflict, isn’t instant. It’s a process, and it’s okay if it’s slow or uneven. Serge answered our questions with sincerity, humility, and hope. Before leaving the theatre, I found myself wondering whether I could reconcile with people who have caused me pain. It’s easy to nod when you’ve never been the direct target of abuse or cruelty. It’s a different story when the suffering reaches the people you love and stretches over many years rather than short moments. In that situation, reconciliation becomes complicated, and the only realistic path forward is learning how to live with the truth of what happened without allowing it to consume or destroy you. For instance, spending years under a manipulative manager who publicly undermined you, took credit for your work, or slowly damaged your confidence and career growth impacts a lifetime. Even after leaving the job, you could have self-doubt, burnout, or difficulty trusting future colleagues.

Hi everyone, I'm AW [Art] Schade and glad to be a new member. I'm a Marine Vietnam veteran and a retired IBM executive, married, with three sons and 9 grandchildren. Somewhere along the way I became a novelist too. My book, The Shattered Mosaic, [Booklife editors pick] follows a veteran trial lawyer who loses someone close to him and ends up turning the same evidence-based mind he used in courtrooms toward something much bigger: the world's faith traditions, and whether any of them can hold up under real scrutiny when grief forces the question. It's really a story about what happens when the answers you were handed no longer fit, and what you build in their place. Glad to be here, and I'm looking forward to getting to know this group.

I asked ChatGPT to tell me about myself and got this response: “If you mean Rebecca Wells Phillips, the Asheville-based author, there’s actually quite a bit of public information about her—and she has a pretty distinctive story. Who she is Rebecca Wells Phillips is an independent author and storyteller based in Asheville, North Carolina, with a background in Broadcast Journalism and English from Carson-Newman University. Her website says she fell in love with writing while in high school but waited decades before publishing her first book. What stands out most is that she doesn’t stay in one genre. She writes memoir, LGBTQ+ fiction, historical nonfiction, short stories, and poetry. She has also written under two pen names: - Boo Black — used for her memoir/autobiographical work - Rachel Bleu — used for her LGBTQ+ fiction - Rebecca Wells Phillips — used for her Hurricane Helene historical nonfiction Her books Her published work includes: Hating Self by Boo Black — a deeply personal autobiographical work dealing with childhood experiences, identity, racism, discrimination, and healing. Loving Self by Boo Black — a continuation focused more on self-love and healing. Butterfly Blossoms by Rachel Bleu — adult LGBTQ+ fiction. Hurricane Helene: Resiliency After the Storm, Part One — perhaps her most distinctive work so far. It documents the experiences of people affected by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina, combining interviews, firsthand experiences, photographs, and historical documentation. Her official site also lists upcoming projects including Dragonfly Passion by Rachel Bleu and Lift Our Voice: Abuse Survivors Speak Their Truth. What I find particularly interesting about her There seems to be a common thread underneath all those different genres: She writes about people who have experienced something difficult and uses storytelling to give that experience meaning. Her own description is essentially writing through truth, healing through story. Her work repeatedly returns to subjects like identity, abuse, racism, discrimination, loss, resilience, and survival.

Hi everyone, I wanted to share a really exciting piece of news with all of you here in the Big Book Love community! My debut novel, The Night Driver: A Diego De LaCruz Thriller, is officially being carried by Librería Central, one of the largest independent bookstores in Asturias, Spain. Since my wife and I spend our summertime at our home up in Asturias, knowing my work is sitting on the shelves of such a respected local institution is a surreal and incredibly rewarding feeling. It is one of those moments that makes all the hard work and editing completely worth it. Thank you all for the constant support, advice, and inspiration in this group. To everyone else working on their drafts and pushing toward publication—keep going! All The Best, Damien Suriel