This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by A. L. Peevey for Readers' Favorite
The first part of Make Your Mess Your Memoir by Anna David is the story of the author’s life from her childhood to her middle years. Anna’s parents do not take her seriously, nor do they express their love, typically tending to make fun of her. High school is a struggle for social relevancy and genuine friendships. To cope, Anna begins drinking, and when she leaves home to attend college across the country, drug use becomes a constant in her life as does a continuous stream of boyfriends. Faced with what to do after college, Anna begins a writing career in which she becomes a published author and a television personality. Neither is what she thought it would be. The second part of the book is a very detailed how-to manual on writing a memoir of your own, the process of publishing it, marketing it, and establishing a base of fans and readers for future books.
In Make Your Mess Your Memoir, Anna David shares very personal, often painful experiences. This matter-of-fact recounting of formative events in her life is touching, mordant, and truthful, particularly in the details of her addiction, her recovery, and her love life. Her experiences in traditional book publishing are revealing to would-be writers. Through a series of thorough steps, the author goes on to cover everything that writers need to know when it comes to the intricacies of creating and selling a memoir, both traditionally and independently. This combination of an authentic memoir and expert how-to for writing your own memoir and successfully publishing it and selling it is not only useful but also a worthwhile read. It comes highly recommended.
