My epic tragicomic novel MIRRORED SWORD is now 'out there', slowly gathering reviews. The average star ratings as at 10 May 2022 are as follows:

Part One at amazon.uk 4, amazon.com 3.5, goodreads 3.8

Part Two at amazon.uk 5, amazon.com 4.5, goodreads 4.5

Parts One & Two at netgalley 4, goodreads 2.8.

Early days yet! I'm still feeling out ways to promote the book. I've tried Facebook ads but that costs a lot. Amazon ads are cheaper but harvest fewer sales. I'm disappointed with the reception so far, even if it's early days. I have spent all my life studying literature, and I know that the book has all the hallmarks of a classic. A five stars average would be appropriate. The trouble is, I wrote it as hard copy, and people don't buy expensive hardcopy from unknown authors. Meanwhile, it doesn't translate very well to digital formats like kindle or epub.

Why doesn't it translate well to digital formats? Because it is a big story, almost 800 pages in paperback, and the dimensionless nature of digital books like kindle simply doesn't prepare people for a long read. I tried sidestepping that issue by dividing the story into two parts, but that just shifts the problem, because Part One ends in the middle of the story, and that annoys some people.

There are some other reasons for the less than stellar reception. Firstly, Part One represents the viewpoints of 8 different characters. It reduces to just 2 characters in Part Two, but the reading public isn't used to a multi-viewpoint structure, even if it is right for these postmodernist times. Secondly, the header (which helps the reader identify whose viewpoint is represented on any page) is unavailable in kindle and epub. Thirdly, my copy-editing skills suck and I had to unplug the book from the market several times to fix errors. Losing momentum is not good for selling books. Fourthly, I suck at marketing.

Meanwhile I'm getting on with my next novel, set in ancient Greece, which I hope to finish late next year. I'll avoid the problems I created for myself with my first novel, and I'm sure MIRRORED SWORD will get discovered more easily if I make a great job with the next book. However, I don't see any point in writing novels that don't push boundaries. Books that don't aim to be original are like fast food: not very nutritious, even if they sell like hot cakes. So, I'll be taking risks with my next book too.