The Importance of Readers’ Reviews

When I started writing novels (after almost a hundred short stories), I decided I wanted to examine the cultural position of gays from both a historical and a contemporary viewpoint. My Cut Hand series (Cut Hand, River Otter, Echoes of the Flute, the upcoming Medicine Hair, and the in-progress Wastelacapi … Beloved) take the historical approach. My two contemporary novels, The Victor and the Vanquished and Charlie Blackbear, address the other side of the equation. I also have another contemporary novel, Johnny Two-Guns, in the offing.

One of the things that keeps me writing (besides needing to make life interesting enough to live) is the reaction of my readers. You guys have been great at keeping the creational blood pumping. Your comments are generally supportive and make a real difference in my life.

So when I went to Amazon’s Author Central the other day to check on my new book, Charlie Blackbear, I got my come-uppance. There were two reviews, one a Four-Star, and the other a One-Star. The handle of the One-Star reviewer was familiar to me, causing me to search all of the customer comments posted by Author Central.

The reader, qbs, had written three other reviews on my books, all Five-Star and very positive. He began one review with: “If Wilder writes, I read …” Now he begrudgingly awards Blackbear the lowest rating possible, saying he was so disappointed he didn’t even finish the book.

This caused me to stop and think. What was there about Charlie Blackbear that so turned off this valued reader? It couldn’t have been the “contemporary” approach, because qbs awarded V&V five stars. So what was it?

Charlie Blackbear is a different cat from my other protagonists. He’s a high-school dropout living on a small Indian reservation who loves chasing … and catching … women. His attitude is totally different. He spits in the face of society and does what he does best: drink booze and chase females. His awakening to the other facets of life (both his sexuality and what life can really offer a young man) takes place slowly. He is genuinely shocked when he falls half in love with Boots, a saucy, damaged divorcee and head-over-heels in love with his childhood friend, Daniel Warhorse. From a state of total confusion, he fights his way back to reality and accepts his bi-sexuality. Under Daniel’s influence, he begins to order his life in such a way that it becomes meaningful. We even meet Wilam Greyhorse and Joseph Sixkiller from V&V briefly.

After my own review, I sincerely believe that Blackbear is as good a story as V&V. I wish qbs would pick up the book he’s already purchased and finish the novel. Then I would be genuinely interested in his opinion.

What say, qbs?

Thanks, guys. Keep on reading.

Mark

New posts are published at the first of every month at 6:00 a.m.

A Look at Wilam in The Victor and The Vanquished

I have had many more readers comment (both to my blog and on Amazon’s Mark Wildyr’s Author’s Page) on my two historical books (Cut Hand and River Otter [STARbooks Press]) than on V&V (also STARbooks), but I like the ones I have received. A former English/ American Lit instructor recently posted a critical review of the book (Five Stars, by the way) on Amazon, taking me to task over how rapidly William (Wilam) Grayhorse achieved great fame and fortune. I acknowledge this fact. I wanted success to come early and tried to give it some legitimacy by the actions of three honorable men in a trade not necessarily known for that trait. This is likely the real weakness in the book.

Ben Ames, a man who makes his living by selling carvings at an Albuquerque flea market on the State Fairgrounds, recognizes the teen-aged Wilam’s carvings have progressed far beyond his usual goods. Despite the fact he will likely lose his best-selling craftsman, he sends Wilam down the street to an Indian goods trader named Horace Gresham.

Mr. Gresham (and he’s always Mr. Gresham to Wilam) takes the talented young whittler under his wing. He’s shrewd enough to see the future potential, ambition, and determination in the youngster. Our hero has already cut ten years off his career path by having a mentor to sell his product and push him into trying new mediums and aspire to greater things.

The Indian trader also recognizes when the young sculptor has progressed beyond Gresham’s usual merchandize and arranges for him to meet Ellis Greenby, an old acquaintance who is a renowned New York art dealer. Due to Gresham’s strong recommendation, Ellis takes on the artist, cutting another ten years from his career path.

The second criticism the reviewer had was to question whether Wilam would have has such a grand affair with New York Socialite Diane Leighton. If he was truly gay, would this have actually happened?

I based this upon two individuals I have known in my life, neither of which ever met the other. The man claimed to be bisexual, and indeed, had intimate relationships with both sexes. As I got to know him better, he confessed that while he got something from intimacy with women, he had to work at it harder. Gay relationships came more naturally to him.

 

This insight helped me write Diane into the novel to accomplish two things. Her widely publicized affair with the young artist brought people into Greenby’s gallery who might not have been interested in Wiliam otherwise. She also paid record prices for some of his work in a deliberate and successful attempt to put her young lover “on the map.” The torrid and public nature of the affair also caused Joseph to question where his relationship (strictly business at this point) was heading. It put some suspense in the book. Based upon the woman I knew and modeled Diane after, the end of their affair was no surprise and caused no regret over helping him. He was the spice her life needed at the time.

In addition to this, Wiliam is an intriguing mix of the naïve and the world-wise. His horrible childhood caused him to grow up fast. In in a sense, he had no childhood. As a youngster, he regularly assumed responsibility for his two younger sisters. He fought, out-maneuvered, and outsmarted his drunken, brutal father. In all but physical development, he was a man by the age of twelve or thirteen.

Anyway, that’s my story…and I’m sticking to it. A shout-out to the professor, who said kind things about the book, to others who’ve posted comments on Amazon, and to everyone who’s read The Victor and the Vanquished.

My undying thanks to all of you.

 

Note: New posts are published around the first of every month.

 

Comments are welcome, not only on this post, but also about any relevant subject the reader wishes to discuss.