How Reviews Helped Strengthen My Future Novels

By Jennifer S. Alderson

“What are your novels about?” I imagine this is the question writers are asked most often. I write mysteries and thrillers so until recently my standard reply was a quick description of the puzzle that must be solved and the quest my series’ main character must undergo to save those she loves.

And yet…

While editing my latest novel, Marked for Revenge, I noticed several new reviews of the previous two mysteries in the series that made me stop and rethink my manuscript-in-progress. In these reviews, readers commented on the universal themes underpinning my novels, and specifically how much they enjoyed the emotional layers I had woven into the plots of my genre fiction. These themes and layers are what helped readers identify with a situation, relate to a character’s dilemma, and become involved with the story on an emotional level. Some, to the point they were moved to tears or even motivated to call their fathers and tell them how much they loved them.

This was a revelation for me, simply because I did not consciously attempt to tug on readers’ heartstrings in this way. It was just what felt right for the stories.

Reviews can be revelations

Until I read these reviews, I thought my novels were about amateur sleuths, puzzles, and adventures. And they are – at least, on the surface. Yet thanks to reviewers, I realized the first book in the series – The Lover’s Portrait, a WWII art mystery about Nazi-looted paintings – is really about friendship, loyalty, and survival. Power, corruption, and cultural identity are keywords in reviews of book two, Rituals of the Dead, an artifact mystery about the restitution of colonial-looted art and relics from western museums.

Without having read these reviews, I probably never would have been consciously aware of the universal themes inherent to my novels.

The timing of this discovery made me nervous. My then-work-in-progress – Marked for Revenge – is a thriller about art theft, the mafia, and drug dealers. As with my previous novels, I had not intentionally woven any universal themes or emotional layers into the novel. And an early draft was already in the hands of my first beta reader.

With baited breath, I waited for his initial comments. After he’d read ten chapters, his first remark was, “I really want to know what happens to the art dealer’s daughter.”

I was flabbergasted. I had been expecting an observation about the story’s set up, the gripping action, or suspenseful plot twists, but it was a then-fairly underdeveloped sub-plot that intrigued him most. A sub-plot I was actually considering cutting because I feared it was slowing the novel down.

Adding depth to genre fiction

When I reread this early draft, I realized my beta reader was right. This side story about an art dealer’s reaction to his daughter’s suspicious death provided exactly the kind of emotional connection that readers of my other books enjoyed most.

I immediately rewrote and strengthened that aspect of my latest novel, making this need for justice and vengeance an underlying theme – so much so that the art dealer’s story inspired the title. To find out who exactly is ‘marked for revenge’ and why, you’ll have to read the book!

To my delight, during rewrites I also found parallels between that subplot and another character’s journey, which makes this fast-paced thriller as much an emotional rollercoaster as a whirlwind adventure across Europe.

By listening to reviewers of my previous work, I was able to infuse my mafia thriller with a level of emotional depth that will enable readers to relate to the characters and place themselves inside the story – whether they normally read heist novels or not.

Read your reviews and grow as a writer

Reviews are such an insightful way to find out what aspects of your plot and characters readers are identifying with or relating to. They give us clues as to what our story’s – and writing’s – strengths are, and often reveal aspects of the plot or character development that the author may not even be aware of.

I know the prevailing advice is to ignore reviews of your novels. Yet reading them helped me grow as a writer and (hopefully) strengthen my future novels.

I used to think universal themes were reserved for literary fiction. Without the input of readers, I may never have become aware of the layers my novels already possessed, or the power of using themes in genre fiction to engage with the reader.

To all those who leave reviews, I am grateful to you!

Authors, have you discovered anything new about your books when reading reviews of them?

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Jennifer S. Alderson was born in San Francisco, raised in Seattle, and currently lives in Amsterdam. Before settling in the Netherlands, she traveled extensively around Asia, Oceania, Australia, and Central America. Her love of travel, art, and culture inspires her award-winning Zelda Richardson Mystery Series. When not writing, she can be found in a museum, biking around Amsterdam, or enjoying a coffee along the canal while planning her next research trip. Her latest release is Marked for Revenge: An Art Heist Thriller.

Social Media:

Website: http://www.jennifersalderson.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/JennifeSAlderson

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jenniferSAldersonauthor

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Instagram link: http://www.instagram.com/JSAauthor

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-S.-Alderson/e/B019H079RA/

 

Marked for Revenge: An Art Heist Thriller

An adrenaline-fueled adventure set in the Netherlands, Croatia, Italy, and Turkey about stolen art, the mafia, and a father’s vengeance.

When researcher Zelda Richardson begins working at a local museum, she doesn’t expect to get entangled with an art theft, knocked unconscious by a forger, threatened by the mob, or stalked by drug dealers.

To make matters worse, a Croatian gangster is convinced Zelda knows where a cache of recently pilfered paintings is. She must track down an international gang of art thieves and recover the stolen artwork in order to save those she loves most.

The trouble is, Zelda doesn’t know where to look. Teaming up with art detective Vincent de Graaf may be her only hope at salvation.

The trail of clues leads Zelda and Vincent on a pulse-pounding race across Europe to a dramatic showdown in Turkey that may cost them their lives.

Amazon universal link: getbook.at/MarkedForRevenge

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Category: Contemporary Women Writers, How To and Tips