I anxiously awaited the publication and posting of reviews for my new book following its release and was quite pleased that the initial seven or eight were highly complimentary. I was basking in glory! Three years of research and three years of writing were required to produce the 320-page novel and I was very proud of the end result.
Imagine my shock when a few negative reviews appeared on literary and book club websites. While you can't expect everyone to love your book, I was nevertheless surprised that several were downright mean and nasty, which contrasted so drastically with the first batch of reviews. After my anger and indignation subsided, I decided that my best course of action would be to analyze all reviews for whatever useful information might be gleaned from them.
Given my long experience as a business executive, I appreciate the value of market data and understand that its correct interpretation be can applied as an effective management tool. Successful publishers employ such tools in the decision-making process and astute authors can manage their book promotion activities by similar means. Perhaps you're wondering why the author's continuing involvement in book promotion is so important? The answer is simple. Regardless of the size or prominence of the publishing house, when the author stops promoting, the book stops selling.
Book promotion takes place in a fast-paced, highly competitive world and authors, as primary book promoters, must react quickly to significant new market data, including book reviews. This is particularly important for novels, as those of lesser-known novelists compete directly with those of well-known novelists, making it imperative that the promotional effort of the lesser-known novelist is targeted on the most receptive market niche.
What specifically did I learn from both favorable and unfavorable reviews?
The most common criticism was about the dialogue. To some, it was "dry and stilted." To others (the better educated, more sophisticated reviewers in my completely biased opinion), it "sustains an atmosphere that clearly places the story in a different era, giving the novel an unusual feeling of authenticity." Further, Craig A. Warren, Assistant Professor of English & Professional Writing, School of Humanities & Social Sciences, Penn State Erie wrote "The now-stilted language of the nineteenth century is reproduced in the novel with care; to his credit, Jones does not follow Michael Shaara in updating the verbiage of the war's participants." So I don't feel too bad about the dialogue complaints.
Several negative reviews cited the lack of "character development." Frankly, I refrained from indulging in frivolous character development because most of the characters were real people. I respect these historical personages and refuse to risk mischaracterization of them or expand their actions beyond what is actually known, or can be reasonably assumed. Fortunately, I knew much about them from extensive research, so I was able to weave into the storyline a number of interesting anecdotes and their own written recollections of what happened. My overall goal was to portray the characters and events strictly in accordance with existing evidence or, at the very least, insure that there was no evidence to the contrary.
I also learned that my novel is a "fact-laden" historical fiction that doesn't appeal to fans (mainly women) of bodice-ripping historical romances. Conversely, even though my novel is historically accurate, I found that hardcore history buffs (mainly men) only appreciate non-fiction. It's indisputable that these two market niches occupy opposite ends of the American Civil War reader spectrum.
I concluded that the largest potential market for my book exists somewhere in the middle, a wide niche comprised of men and women who, without preconceptions, might enjoy reading a carefully researched fictional story, written with authentic period details, and based on real people and events. Realignment of all promotional activities toward this mother lode of potential readers became my immediate priority, as time and effort expended on other niches would certainly provide a reduced return on investment.
What advice can I give to other authors?
Don't waste your time by getting angry or indignant over a few not-so-great book reviews. Learn from the reviews and focus all of your efforts on the market niche with the highest sales potential. You have a book to promote and only you can do it. Be proactive and keep on promoting.
David H. Jones, the author of "Two Brothers: One North, One South," has been a lifelong student of the American Civil War. To learn more about his historical research and interesting activities, please visit his website at http://www.davidhjones.net
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