A guy to read my book?

I asked three friends to read through my book as part of the editing process.  We wanted to get some feedback before it went final.   One friend has read through the whole thing so far.

She liked it.  It made her think.  But she was “shocked” by a couple of things that I wrote.

Hmm, I wondered.  Which things?

Two different epidodes with two different men.  She was surprised at how honest I was.

I passed her comments on to Maryann, the copy editor I have hired to help me get the book ready for publishing.

“Have you asked any men to read the book?” she asked me.

“No,” I answered.

“Why don’t you ask one to read through it?”

“I can’t think of who I would ask.”

“Do you have any male friends in any of your courses?”

I didn’t answer her.  And now I’m thinking this is a bad thing.  If I’m too embarrased to ask a man to read my book, how do I think I can publish the damn thing.

So now I’m thinking the whole idea is really stupid.  Maybe it is too incriminating and I’m an idiot.  Maybe I shouldn’t do it at all.  How much would I have to change so that no one recognizes anyone?……  I’m exhausted just thinking about it.

OR, (after I take a breath and calm down a little), maybe people will relate to it and I am being brave by going public.   Maybe it will help other women who are suffering from the same fate and I will empower them to live THEIR dreams, too.

I don’t know.  I guess I will sleep on it.  I am tired.   So I will stop for now.  And just breathe.  And deal with these thoughts tomorrow.

Thanks for listening.