I've been reviewing for Readers' Favorite since 2017. In all I have reviewed and left comments on errors for 220 books. I only know that exact number because thankfully they keep track of that on their site. Below is 125 bits of feedback from the authors. Having more than half of the authors I've reviewed leave me with such encouraging words that at times is the gasoline I need to keep on going, is such a priceless gift.
As I'm trying to edit and review on my own as a side gig, I'm hopeful that these remarks will be the nudge to check out my skills.
Readers' Favorite prefers that I not use the names of the authors, so I have left them off.
1. Thank you SO much for picking this apart... As I said in the info section it was a draft. It's not out yet. I can now continue to work... Excellent work.
2. On behalf of all of the contributors, we thank this reviewer for their time and sincere feedback of this compilation. The reviewer gave prospective readers a good overview of what was expected in this anthology, and also shared that the stories can be relatable to any reader and not just women. On a side note, I wanted to explain the reason why the contributors name is in the beginning of some of the pieces. Those pieces are already published or going to be published in the contributors own compilations (book excerpts) or are a recorded song that is already in print (musicians). Along with the decision to highlight their published works in this compilation we decided to give the proper credit professionally after the title of the work. It was a professional courtesy. Thank you very much for the beautiful review. This book was created to support non profit and benevolent organizations, and your review will contribute to this venture.
3. Thank you, I realized the file I uploaded wasn't the final file. The copy editor sent me the final file after I had uploaded here. I believe all of the items you mentioned were fixed.
4. Erin's review made my heart swell up with tears. I am so grateful and lost for words. Thank you, thank you thank you. Here is an electronic hug. Please stay in touch.
5. Erin Nicole Cochran's review really encapsulates everything I want my readers to know about my book, in her well-worded, thought out review. I couldn't have wished for a better review. Thank you, Erin!
6. Everything a review should be: thorough, honest, mentioning every aspect readers wish to know, adding a personal touch of her own level of enjoyment, and highly quotable writing style!
7. Reading Erin's review made me feel like she read the book and understood its purpose. Two things stood out. One, she came up with a fun visual with her metaphorical finger on the pulse and hand firmly...beating heart. Two, the book is intentionally short but packed with solid info, and she praised that, something I hope readers notice.
8. Hi Erin, Thanks for your thoughtful review. You really picked up on what I was trying to do. I really appreciate the time you took to read and comment.
9. Thank you.
10. Enjoyed the review.
11. Thank you!
12. Thank you, Erin, for your kind words and polished, positive review. Referencing the perennial classic, "A Christmas Story," was truly a unique (and much appreciated) observation. "A whirlpool of words that the reader is able to step into and experience for themselves," is a beautiful, creative and commendable description that I applaud you for with humbled fervour (the "u" in fervour stays ... after all, I'm Canadian, eh!). Cheers and many happy writing, reading and reviewing days to you ahead in this one moment of now and forever always ....
13. I am very grateful for Erin Nicole Cochran's candid review of my book. Mentioning that she gleaned a lot from my selected scriptures was very encouraging as that means I was successful in my efforts to explain my spiritual journey. Realizing that my writing helped her a lot was especially important as I wrote the book with a strong desire to encourage and uplift others who might be faced with adversity.
14. Thank you so much for this lovely review! What you wrote really touched me, and I was especially happy that the topic was relatable to you in a personal way as well. I appreciate your comments and kind words. ;)
15. Thank you for a great review! I'm so glad you noted the poetic quality of some of the imagery. That's just what we were going for!
16. I'm so grateful that the reviewer went above and beyond providing a simple content review by pointing out some typos and wording suggestions that will make for a much better read. Even though the book didn't win the award, the submission fee for this type of feedback was worth every penny!
17. Beautifully written! We appreciate your thoughtful review so very much!!
18. Outstanding reviewer! The review offers a well developed expose of the character of the work. The mentioning of a "driving force" and "evokes a certain type of mindset" captures the overarching concept of the material. The pointing out of "more presently aware of the life of the night" provides the reader of the review with an effective guidepost. I am greatly appreciative of your referring to the notion of a "journey" and a "voyage" which I feel encourages the reader of the review to positively consider acquiring the book. Thank you very much for your "completely recommend" comment. Aeternum Gratus
19. I needed you as my editor!
20. Sensitive and helpful to potential readers.
21. I'm so grateful that the reviewer responded on the emotional level to these stories. They are kind of dark, and my daughter-in-law's book group just trashed them, as I found out over Thanksgiving. I listened to her yammer on with a smirk on her face about how "they had to work hard to find anything to like" and about "how none of the stories were hopeful." I was ready to fall on my sword, actually, but this review is restoring my confidence that the things I write about will have meaning to people. I very much appreciate Erin Nicole Cochran taking the time to note typos. This is an ARC copy, so I still have time to correct these errors.
22. Thank you so much for your review of my first book. You have highlighted areas that I now know need attention and I appreciate your positive comments and wonderful rating. Kind Regards.
23. Erin read the book with an open mind and gave the review as it was understood. Since it was confusing to Erin on some parts, it took away from enjoying the storyline. I appreciate the input that was given and will apply it so, the storyline may not be confusing to general population.
24. Nicole fully grasped the intention of the book and did a great job communicating it to future readers.
25. I appreciate Nicole's understanding that children's books have to appeal to the adults that read them as well as the children.
26. Thank you so much for the amazing review Erin! I'm so happy you enjoyed the book and we're looking forward to making our next one.
27. Great synopsis of the book content, writing on the story as well as the illustrations. Personal reflection and feelings are also a great aid for would-be readers!
28. Thank you so much for your review and highlighting the suggested changes. I am truly grateful for your time and expertise. All the best.
29. Thank you for such a thoughtful and well-written review. Your writing style is clear, concise, and entertaining to read. Excellent reviewer.
30. Thank you for your review and insight!
31. Appreciate the deep dive on the spelling, story and grammar issues. That said, I'm working on correcting those now. thanks again.
32. Hi Erin, Thank you for the detailed review. It is most helpful! Just to clarify that reindeer are the only deer species in which the female also grows antlers. You can read more at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reindeer#Antlers https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/why-do-female-reindeer-grow-antlers/ https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/reindeer Also, the book is meant for beginner readers instead of very young children. Thank you once again! Warm regards.
33. I thought I sent back the review already, but it says I didn't ... so here we go. I appreciate the edits ... thank you! As for the critique, I'm sorry you didn't like the book. I could go into details about guy moods and the like, but I won't rehash ... take care!
34. Thank you Erin for writing such an honest review…based the story on her son's marriage breakup and the affect it had on her granddaughter. I am so glad you see the need for this kind of story.
35. Great work. Thank you : )
36. Erin, Thank you for taking the time to review. Anyone reading your review will desire to have the experience that you had while reading it. I particularly liked the part where you described yourself as "new" even though you were 9 years in. There are millions of people out there for whom that sentence will really resonate. Furthermore, thank you for the editing comments. Those will be corrected shortly.
37. This was a fair-minded and thoughtful review. I appreciate that the reviewer understood and, with her beautiful language, expressed the meaning of the book as I intended it. The biggest job of any reviewer is to understand the purpose of the author and judge the book in those terms. No single book can be everything to everyone and this review made it clear what the book is and who it is intended for. An excellent review by a capable writer.
38. Thank you so much for all the useful feedback! I have adjusted my blurb, and made the corrections, and I am keeping all this information in my notes because i know that I will end up going over the story again sooner or later. It has done pretty well sales wise, since it was published about a year ago, but I do like to go back to all my stories because I am never satisfied and know there is ALWAYS room for improvement. I appreciate the detailed notes and have copied and saved them to my files!!
39. I'm so glad you enjoyed the book - it is my aim to make people think about alternatives to the traditional idea of the American Dream and, obviously, from your comments this comes across in text. Thank you also for picking up the spacing issues - I'll address these.
40. Thrilled to receive this positive review from Erin Nicole Cochran. I'm grateful for the reviewer's attentive reading of my work and thoughtful and eloquent response. I'm grateful too for Erin catching a few copy editing blunders.
41. It is obvious that the reviewer read the entire book and was vested in the experience of the story. It is quite an in-depth review, which lets me know that the book can accomplish what I wrote it to do, and that is to inspire others. Thanks for the honest and excellent review.
42. Thank you for your positive review. It gives me a better understanding and more reason to keep writing more children’s book. Thank you!
43. Thank you so much. Other than close friends and family, I have not had the opportunity for an objective review from someone who did not know me personally. Your review has given me confidence to put my book out there for others to read.
44. interesting analysis, different from the others but also very accurate as to the change of tone in the book. Never thought of it that way, I was honestly trying just to give the audience something different. Thank you once again for the great service.
45. Thank you!
46. Thank you, Erin Nicole Cochran for your review. I appreciate your insight!
47. I appreciate the kind words and the professional review. It seems that you really got what I was going for.
48. Thanks for the thoughtful and generous review. I really enjoyed reading this and getting this terrific feedback on my work. Thanks!!!!!!!
49. Well-written review. Thank you!
50. Thank you so much for providing such a positive review for a simple book! I appreciate that you looked at the book through the eyes of a young child, with the intentionality of it being easy for them to understand and believe that although they are young, they have the ability to be brave! Also the concerns and feedback are extremely helpful and I will look into making those changes! I appreciate you taking time to review my book!
51. Thank you, Erin, for taking the time to read and review this book. It was a fun one to put together and I hope it does help children be less afraid of some of the "scary" characters that are often associated with Halloween and add to the celebration of this holiday.
52. Thank you, Erin, for your kind words about this book. This message is near and dear to my heart as I love all animals and especially birds. It touches me that the book made you a bit emotional. I hope the message is spread far and wide to children everywhere.
53. Thank you so much for your truly in-depth analysis and commentary! I very much appreciate it!
54. Erin Nicole Cochran reviewed my book with such a personal eye, it made me tear up! :)
55. Thank you for the wonderful review, I am humbled, and so pleased you like the story! Also thank you for the notes, UK English and USA English have so many differences. I will definitely look at that in the future, but, I also want to stay true to my UK roots. I really appreciate the comments. Thanks again!
56. Hi Erin, Thank you for your review, you have managed to convey the books message in a thoughtful, concise manner and it is pleasing to hear that it resonated with you on a personal level, I am very happy with your work. Best regards.
57. I am humbly appreciative of this warm review. The reviewer has read and fully understands the messages and intentions of the story, including the importance of how we treat those near and dear to us. Thank you for your encouraging words. I also appreciate the recommendation to make narrative text boxes easier to read. I well work on this correction. Thank you!
58. Many thanks for your very helpful and encouraging review of my book. I particularly appreciated the additional comments you made on the manuscript in the second section. The book is live on Amazon but it is still possible for the author to make small editorial amendments after publication so I will look into this. Thank you for saying a bit about your own search. Blessings to you!
59. Thanks for your honest feedback. The table of contents is an excellent suggestion. I'll take these these suggestions into future projects.
60. Thanks for your help as I am not a writer and would like to compose and create the best book I can.
61. I can't thank you enough for the completely thorough way in which you have reviewed my book. I appreciate every comment and your feedback is invaluable. I am so appreciative.
62. Very nice review. Especially appreciate the constructive criticism.
63. Thank you very much for this fine review. I will share your private comments, as well!
64. Thank you for your review, Erin. This was my first book ever and your review meant a lot to me!
65. Good catch on the different font on page 19 that you added in a side note comment (Luckily I had removed it, but I appreciate the notation). I appreciate that you gave an inclusive opinion on the story for different ages and commented on the illustrations. Thank you!
66. Thank you for the kind review! I'm so glad you liked the book!
67. Thanks for reviewing and your advice.
68. Thank you very much for your review as well as your honest feedback comments.
69. Thank you for your help.
70. Thank you so much - am so glad you liked it! :0)
71. Thanks so much for your feedback. I LOVE the idea of including fingers to show the number ( I was always proud when I could show numbers too)…maybe we can incorporate that into the song and music video that we are working on for the book. Again, thanks so much for your lovely review!
72. Thank you so much for this review. I appreciate this careful reading of my work. And the list of proposed corrections are very welcome and will be implemented in the next revision. It astounds me that I could read the book through 60-70 times and still miss some errors in spelling and wording. The number of bits of information (to overlook) is mind boggling. Thank you again so much. Happy New Year ! I’m touched again by this review. The liking of my book like this, after 18 years of working on 15 editions of it, is such a pure joy. And I found your corrections to be brilliant discoveries. Another edition.
73. Great review. I am also grateful for the feedback I will send to my editor.
74. As anyone who's listened to five different people describe the same event knows, reality's form is always partly invention. The only part that's not pure invention are the psychological and emotional responses life-threatening situations evoke. Erin Nicole was pulled into vicariously sharing the feelings of its inhabitants. I couldn't ask for more than that.
75. Thank you!
76. Thank you Erin for your detailed feedback which I highly appreciate. I have rectified these errrors now and working with my publisher to get it in the book. I really appreciate your kind feedback and now I feel more confidence when the book will be launched on 4th Nov. many Thanks
77. This review was eloquent and very well written. The reviewer writes like a writer. Thank you for the wonderful review.
78. Thank you for the honest appraisal. I fully understand your suggestion of a small description of the scenes depicted. It was a deliberate choice to not include those descriptions in favor of being able to use full-page photos. It was a trade-off and I also consulted others on the subject. We based it on our thought that the limited number of books published would be best suited for the demographics of town residents, current and former, who most likely would not have needed descriptions. Nonetheless, I will certainly remember this suggestion for a future publication. In regards to the suggestion of an easier to read font, I used my own dubious eyesight as the standard. The aim here was not to have text so large that it detracted or distracted from the actual photographs. But as you pointed out, maybe I was too conservative with my choice. Again, for the next publication, if in this format, I will incorporate your suggestion. Both of your points are valid and worthy of consideration. Thank you again for bringing them to my attention, and for your much-appreciated review. 4 out of 5? Not a grand-slam but certainly a home run for this first-time author, who can accept it with pride! :)
79. A useful, thoughtful review. Appreciated the time the reviewer took to point out formatting issues.
80. The review in general has afforded me insight into the structure and flow of the poetry. I appreciate your comments.
81. I was rating the second reviewer with a top rating. that would be Erin Nicole Cochran
82. Thanks Erin, for the good review. This is exactly what the book is made for - giving kids a good story and something to color. I am happy to hear that it reminds you of one of your favorite books in your childhood. Hope that all kids can afford at least a good book with many options. Thanks!
83. Thank you for the review, and especially for the edit notes! I'm glad you enjoyed it! My editor did a crap job, and I plan on reediting and republishing in the near future.
84. Wow Erin! I was blown away by your review and all the effort you gave in not only reviewing it but also in the details you gave, the way in which it effected you and the corrections you sent! Blown away! Thanks so much. I think by reading my book you can see it's important for me to have an impact, a positive impact. I just want all I went through to be of help to others in whatever way it touches them personally. Unfortunately, this book was a one-man-show from front to back. This is reflected in the formatting and in the correction of mistakes within the book. I did have some people proof it but most simply emjoyed the free reading. Let me know if you're interested - I need a good proof reader for the next volume, which promises to be even better than this one! Serously, I would pay you. This book is my chance in many ways. It's been very difficult since being out trying to get a foothold. My time in there made me very aware. observant and outspoken. Not every boss likes an employee who constantly has suggestions for improvements. So this is my big chance. I am sending it all over the place free of charge in order to promote it. In my humble opinion it's worthy of promotion. Again Erin, thanks so much for the lovely review and for pointing out the mistakes (so many!) I still had in the book. I will correct these and then upload it again. Take care and may God bless you and all of your loved ones! ;)
85. Thank you Erin Nicole Cochran for a job well done. I'm thrilled to know that I "hit the spot" for you personally and that my small but powerful book provides tremendous value. I am grateful.
86. Erin's reviews were the first and last received from Readers' Favorite, bringing this round of reviews full circle. The dynamic and vivid impression she effectively projected about the contents and style is greatly appreciated. Her summary, according to the Staff does the book justice, and beyond...thank you Erin
87. Erin's review captures the essence. Her images of discovery are extremely well articulated and reflect the intrigue that seems to come alive within its pages.
88. Reviewer did an excellent job. Coming from a family of horse folks, she was well qualified to be a reviewer, and provided a balanced picture discussing thoroughbred lineage, American history, writing style etc.
89. epic.. I loved it.. every , minute if it.. didn't know my work was "haunting" though. must remember that. you did well. ty.
90. Thank you for your thoughtful review and edits.
91. None
92. Thank you so much Erin
93. It was a lovely and thoughtful review.
94. You obviously have a poet’s heart and sensibilities! Thank you for such a well considered, deeply thoughtful review! Because all my books are collaborations, I was thrilled that you also mentioned the illustrator, and designer. We are over the moon! Re age suitability - in posting to RF, I originally described the book as for ‘older readers and upwards.’ However, given the book was aimed at a predominantly older audience (not for little children), I changed the target audience to be ‘for all ages.’ I will alert the designer to your concerns re the font. Thank you for your feedback. :)
95. Erin - thanks much. I still cry at the ending! What you wrote brought me to tears again. It’s full of meaning and it makes my delighted that you enjoyed it. It means a lot to me that you took the time to read it and understand.
96. Thank you very much for your review and your comments. I will review them more in depth later. I know there might have been some awkward parts of some of my poems, but that was because of when they were written. I started writing poetry when I was six years old. For example, I Need You was the first poem I wrote. Some of these poems span from childhood to adolescence, so they might come out more awkward wording wise, because they come from a time of innocence. Most of the emotions gained from those were from empathy at seeing others relationships and applying them to what I desired in the future. I didn’t alter those poems; because I wanted to keep them in their genuine form, so I would not disrupt their essence. I did read some of your comments on the first chapter. The concerns you had were actually the same as my own when I first published. That chapter was a tentative sneak peek. I’ve already made the changes you mentioned. I’m just glad you took the time to point these things out to me. I appreciate both your comments and review. I hope you will review ****** when it’s published later this year.
97. An excellent insightful review. Well and kindly written. We really appreciate the feedback and the advice of Erin Nicole Cochran. Thank you very much, dear Erin!
98. Thank you very much for the honest, helpful feedback. I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed it.
99. Excellent and helpful feedback!
100. A great review of which any reader would not fail to understand the content of the book and how much it can help. The reviewer has shared solid information, as well as given me constructive criticism that I will attend to as soon as possible. Fantastic. Thank you
101. A brilliant well written, clear and concise review with some very helpful suggestions. The reviewer knows how to encourage an author, while at the same time carefully points out areas that could be strengthened. Thank you for such a good review.
102. Thank you very much for such a kind review, I'm glad you enjoyed it as this was a draft version (hence a few mistakes here and there), there's actually a better version which you'll see in due course :) And you're correct, the target age has now been altered towards slightly older children now. I'm happy to see that even without illustrations there were enough visuals in the writing for the story to come to life for the reader. I just wanted to send a draft version out to test the waters, without a lot of ideas getting robbed. And I'm happy as a spin-off book this went down well. Thank you for your time. Many thanks and loads of love.
103. Thank you for your kind review! I really appreciate your time and effort. The double word "have" was a great catch on your part. We thought we had updated that page to one "have." Thanks again.
104. Thank you very much for your excellent, insightful review. Your suggestion is also a good one. Much appreciated!
105. I must admit that after receiving my first two 5 Star reviews (I paid for 3 reviewers) I assumed that you were just taking your time (you were the last to submit) and that I would get another 5 star. I read your review but was a little surprised by how long there was to it as I read down. After a few paragraphs, I glanced up at the top banner and saw 3 stars and wondered why the drop from 5 to 3. I then read all the typos and observations you found and was quite surprised by how many there were. I had thought there might have been one or two when I published the book but never that many, especially since no one else had mentioned any of the things that you had found and I have sold quite a few books. As I read on I quickly realized what a great gift you had given me and want to give you a BIG thank you for being so thorough. I am about to put in another order to Create Space so will have an opportunity to update the book with your feedback and of course any updates to the Kindle version is easy and almost instantaneous. I have almost finished writing a book proposal for ********* (I’d much rather walk over broken glass as it is taking me so long and I am always trying to second guess myself how to up-sell the book) so your feedback will give me the chance to ‘plug the holes’ in the manuscript. Thanks again for taking your time and for giving me such helpful feedback.
106. The review was clear and precise. The reviewer was well acquainted with the different types of poetry. Well done.
107.
Thank you for taking your time
108. Thank you for your input, greatly appreciated. I will make the corrections.
109. Thank you so much for your review! And thank you for drawing my attention to that awkward sentence I wrote. I have fixed it now thanks to you. Have a great day, and thanks again for your review, much appreciated.
110. Erin Nicole Cochran, Thank you so much for taking the time to read ****************! I am beyond appreciative of your feedback and ability to connect with what I believe to be the most honest book I've ever written since becoming an author. It feels so amazing to hear how my journey impacted you so much! I am humbled and moved by your review as my intention to make my readers feel lighter, happier, and more at peace seems reciprocated in this review by you beautifully. Again, thank you Erin. Namaste.
111. Erin Nicole Cochran pointed out from the book that “the progression of successes that people, particularly women of African origin, have attained” was a main point in our book. The detail that she has provided confirms that despite the differences in the twelve women covered the book unifies them. Given that some women were fully recognizable to the public, others are being recognized in the book for their contribution. Our goal to have a defined boundary of the subject was noticeable and indeed was not intended to limit our readers. We are extremely pleased that Cochran read the book and liked it.
112. This was quite enlightening. I really appreciate this review. I will definitely make the changes noted. this will help me to proceed with publishing. Thank you!
113. Thank you for the insightful review and additional comments. We appreciate your ability to read "into" the text and provide a substantial review. - from the publisher. This is from the author, "her last line is amazing ... she really does have a stellar intellect, not just because she likes what I'm doing with my deeper writing, but because she understands it ... I must thank her personally for her ability to penetrate to the core"
114. This is a heart touching review. Both accurate and purposeful, Erin's believes in the heart felt possibilities of trusting others to achieve great heights and I'm delighted to hear she felt inspired from our story.
115. Thank you it is constructive and honest. Also I have to say correct, my editing is poor, something I shall improve upon. The 'e' would though be a colloquialism, which I would understand may be difficult unless you know of the region. Sorry another edition! I have just realised that although in honesty a couple of the mistakes are still in the finished version (which I shall now correct) the file I sent in for review was the pen-ultimate file and was in fact edited after. My incompetence for sending in the wrong file!
116. :) Thank you
117. I appreciated Erin's review as objective, fair and open-minded and her giving it 4-stars in spite of some typos that I missed and have corrected.
118. Thank you for taking the time to dig into the book and letting me know what I need to work on and how the book can be altered so it can be received better. I totally appreciate that. I will work on correcting the errors you pointed out. This being my first attempt, I am grateful to have people like you that give me the constructive criticism I need to become a better writer.
119. An excellent review with particular attention to social issues frequently ignored in some poetry circles along with a tremendous awareness of poetic expression.
120. Thank you for a wonderfully fulsome review, even to quoting favourite phrases! ******** will love your comments on her artwork! For a review of a poetry collection, I could not have possibly wished for better! AND many thanks for that pick up!!!!! ******** and I will rectify that when we put the sticker on the cover!:)
121. A fantastic review by Erin. Thanks for the comments. You are right, both 'feed' and 'the' are typos that somehow survived the many, many edits and rereads. Loved the length of your review, your descriptions and also the personal touch of mentioning Rosencrantz - it gave the review more strength as it showed you really had read the book and connected with it. I couldn't be happier with the review. Wish I had picked up on the typos though, may have gotten 5 stars haha. Kindest Regards.
122. Thank you for your amazing review. I appreciate your work and value your insights. You are a careful reader, and your detailed critique will be most helpful to me. I'm thrilled that you understood my approach so well . I am encouraged and inspired by your kind words. Thanks again. Well done!
123. Thank you for a fair and in-depth review.
124. Erin has nailed what I intended for, "**********". A very impressive review with some highly accurate criticism. Love it. Thanks Erin.
125. Very thorough and lovely review.
