My
book Bullets for a Ballot was
published as an e-book in March 2012 and, surprisingly to me, is still picking
up review comments. This is thanks to David Cranmer, I suspect, offering the book
at a bargain price. David created the two main characters, Cash Laramie and
Gideon Miles in the short story ‘Cash Laramie and the Masked Devil’ featured in
the anthology A Fistful of Legends I
edited in 2009. At the end of 2011 he commissioned me to write a novel about
these characters; other writers were also being given this opportunity. I was
flattered and honoured and started to plot-plan a storyline. I had to be aware
of what had already been written as well as salient facts in the Cash Laramie ‘bible’
– i.e. dates of birth, first kill etc.
This
might be a good time to address a couple of issues that were raised in a few
reviews. There are two instances of adolescent sex – neither gratuitous and the
plot to a certain extent hangs on both. Neither is depicted graphically or for
titillation. Yet they brought comment. I wasn’t surprised; yet a western, if it’s
going to be truthful to its period, must depict what happened at that time.
While we rightly deplore it, children as young as twelve were sold into
marriage, or into bordellos, and young boys became men able to shoot and kill
and do what men do at an early age. It isn’t salacious, it’s a fact – it’s
history. Furthermore, having decided on my plot, I was constrained by two dates
– Cash’s date of birth and the successful woman’s suffrage in Wyoming, Cash’s
home state. To balance the criticism,
others were comfortable with it – ‘Loved Cash’s backstory’, for example.
I
was aiming at a western tragedy tale and happily this was picked up on by a
number of readers. As one put it, ‘I've been trying not to give anything
away but this is a very exciting tale - with a bitter-sweet ending.’ While
another reasoned, ‘…Bullets for a Ballot
follows Aristotle's idea of a Greek Tragedy…’ Not that it was all serious –
there are some puns to be groaned over, and allusions to a famous 1953 novel - and one reviewer almost spotted this.
When
your book is published, in many ways it ceases to be your property. (As a
writer for hire in this case, that is doubly true, as the rights belong to
David). It has to go its own way – and stand or fall by the comments and
opinions of the readership. Few writers do it for fame or big money, they do it
to be read – and that’s where feedback is invaluable.
Reviews
are wonderful. Any review is good, if it shows that the reader has actually
read the book. Naturally, a particular storyline or set of characters may not
appeal to all readers – that would be most odd. We all bring our prejudices,
whether good or bad, along with expectations when we begin a book. Everyone is
entitled to an opinion, they say, though I’d prefer to think that the opinion
would be informed.
On
Amazon.com the book has (to date) 17 five-star reviews, 3 four-stars, 4 three-stars,
and 3 two-stars.
On
Amazon.co.uk it has 6 five-star reviews and 1 four-star (six of these are the
same as seen in Amazon.com).
On
Goodreads the reviews break down to 5 five-star, 4 four-star, and 2 three-star;
1 one-star! (Again, some of these reviewers are repeats)
With
regard to movies, when I read some critics’ reviews, I often wonder if we
watched the same film! So it is with book reviews. A 3-star review says it was ‘a
quick read – maybe I read it too quickly’ while a 2-star comment states ‘the
book drags – didn’t even get halfway…’ You clearly can’t please all the people
all of the time.
Another
says, ‘A simple and basic plot although rather predictable, it's an interesting
enough story…’ while another states, ‘The characters in the book were
interesting. The story kept moving with unexpected twists and turns…’ You pay
your money and make your choice.
A 3-star reviewer says, ‘Could definitely tell the author was a male.’
Another 5-star reviewer stated, ‘Morton should be commended for giving us an
action-packed tale which also contains an undercurrent of feminism. I'm sure
you'll agree that it's a western that's hard to put down.’ And a 4-star
reviewer: ‘It was great to see a genuine female character in a setting where it
easy to ignore them.’ I hasten to add that the reviewer who realised I was male
stated she would read my work again - her 3-star review says, ‘…Would read this
author again, think he has great storytelling ability.’
It’s always pleasing when a book receives a lengthy review, and this
book has garnered several; one particular entry concludes, ‘Morton's pages
share with L’Amour’s the authentic feel of western adventure and the
relentless, irresistible narrative drive. I don’'t know another author with
Morton’s range of time and geography. (Try his A Sudden Vengeance Waits for an exciting crime story set in contemporary
England). But wherever he goes, he carries a torch for justice and a talent for
pulling the reader into a compelling story.’ [A Sudden Vengeance Waits is now out of print, alas!]
And another long review says, among other things, ‘It is the characters
and the settings that make a Western, ultimately they are set in a time, that
no person currently living has a reference point for, other than what they have
read in other books or seen in movies. Therefore to bring to life something without
tangible direct history is an art, and Nik Morton is a master artist in this
instance. From the taste and smell of the old west to the feel of the era
violence, this is another five-star adventure for Cash Laramie and Gideon Miles…
The tale unfolds, as page by page, Cash Laramie is relentless in his pursuit of
justice. We learn more about the Marshall, as this story reveals more of the
man's character, who he is and why he is driven to do the work of a lawman. The
story also exposes just how the west was run, where principles are all very
well, but where money also speaks, as do more baser urges.’
I’m not inserting excerpts from these reviews to bolster my ego, but to
illustrate that here we have fine examples of informed and considered opinion
in reviews. In my own reviews I strive to do that for fellow authors; because
authors are readers too.
In the final analysis, like all writers, I hope to
entertain readers and possibly supply occasional insights into the human
condition along the way, and the readers must be the judges and their verdict
is what ultimately matters. So be it.
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