“Don’t be afraid to claim your place.”

So said my book publicist, Caitlin Hamilton, on Thursday when our six months of planning for the launch of IN THE AFTERMATH came to a close. She got to know me really well in the months that we worked together to get the word out, and her parting pep talk was aimed at my reluctance to promote myself, my work. “You’ve written a beautiful book and you owe it to yourself to continue promoting it.”

There are two things I want to say about this reluctance. First, most writers shy away from self-promotion, but it is often harder for women writers to speak up and claim their place. We typically make sure others–our children, our spouses, our colleagues–have their needs met before we sit down to write or collect our own accolades. We are fierce advocates…but not always for ourselves.

The second is that self-deprecation can seem like the polite course of action, but it is no course of action at all. It’s dressed up self-sabotage that doesn’t get us anywhere. The “Aw shucks, I don’t really like to talk about myself. Let’s talk about you” type of deflection may feel less braggish, but it will consign your book to sitting on a shelf, or worse–being tossed in the remainders pile and shipped back to your publisher. I’ve written a book, I want people to read it. I think it’s a story folks will relate to and maybe learn from.

So here’s what I’m working on:

Potential Reader: “I hear you’ve written a book. Congratulations.”

Me: “Thank you. It’s getting very good reviews and I know you will like it when you read it.”

This week, IN THE AFTERMATH set out on an 18-day book blog tour hosted by TLC Book Tours. I’ve collected the first week’s reviews and am posting the highlights here, along with links so you might read them in their entirety.

Because I’ve written a book. Because I want people to read it. Because I think it’s a story folks will relate to and maybe learn from.

(End note: This is a special request. If you have read this book and its words and message linger, please leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, or both. My future books depend on how much engagement I get with this one, and one way publishers determine reader engagement is by watching review numbers. I thank you very much for taking a few minutes to leave your thoughts and impressions. -JW)

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@tlcbooktours, week 1:  Reviews for In the Aftermath

“…a thoughtful, character-driven novel. It’s a novel about learning to forgive oneself, learning to move on after grief, and truly seeing those around us. I hope I haven’t made it sound like a depressing novel because it isn’t, although it’s dealing with hard things….Highly recommended.” —Five Minutes for Books

“I couldn't put it down!  Jane Ward is a phenomenal writer, and she does an excellent job painting her characters.  The comparison made between her writing and Anne Tyler's is well-deserved.      —The Bookish Dilettante

“Wow! What a brilliant story! I LOVED In The Aftermath by Jane Ward. It was simply put, an excellent read…a compelling story that is character-driven, slow-paced, and unputdownable.” —A Bookish Way of Life

“…a compelling and mysterious read. I recommend it!” —@meghans_library

“… a beautiful novel about tragedy, regret, healing, and hope. From the first pages, I was drawn in. Ward's writing is beautiful in a subtle way…realistic and powerful. —@g.reads

“Guilt, anger, depression, healing, and forgiveness all share a stage in the stories of those left behind… about life and the way our lives are connected.” —Stacy’s Books

“…as the best stories always do, this book will stay with me long after I’ve read it.  If you’re looking for a deeply moving and insightful read, I highly recommend In the Aftermath.” —Tabi Thoughts

“…showed how it is possible to overcome and rebuild life after such a tragic loss. This was a beautiful novel that is worth taking your time to read…It really left a lasting impression that left my heart full.” —What Is That Book About

“…a deeply involving story about the impacts of this one action on so many different people…strong narrative, well developed characters and story that keeps you turning the pages until the very end.” —Books, Cooks, and Looks