How do I deal with this mix? Well like most human being I have feelings (although the wife disputes that). I feel elated when I get a good review and I can also feel very dispirited with a bad one. Having seen many reviews for books other than mine, I realised that even very well known authors get the occasional poor review, which shows that you cannot please everyone.
Fortunately, the number and quality of my good reviews outweigh the bad ones so I am clearly pleasing more people than not. I would never ignore negative reviews and do try to learn from them, so any future writing may incorporate these comments. However, an author then runs the risk of alienating existing fans so this is a constant struggle.
My proudest reviews are:
http://www.fantasybookreview.co.uk
http://www.risingshadow.net/
http://dragonsheroesandwizards.blogspot.co.uk/
https://sfbook.com/
But my favourite by far was by Neo on Kindleboards.com:
"I'm halfway through Shadow of the Demon (book 3) and couldn't agree more: this is a fantastic trilogy, one of the most enjoyable reads I have had in a while, really! Now it's getting bitter sweet though: can't wait to read what happens next (and how it finishes) and I NEED to read on, but I also don't want it to end and so find myself slowing down, aaaargh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for writing it and bringing your readers such a good time through it David"
This was so heartfelt that it made all the struggles of writing and publishing worthwhile.
Many thanks and keep the reviews coming - good or bad :)
