Writing is a very personal thing, like any art can be. By putting something out there, one is inviting praise or criticism whether one intends to or not. Negative criticism is tough to see or hear, but it’s part of the business. I have a saying: There are those who create and there are those who judge. I remind myself of this whenever I am the producer of the art or the audience/reader to the art.
When I published my first novel, I felt good because I received several positive reviews; 4–5-star ratings, good comments and recommendations. Then I got a couple of 1-star reviews, ripping the author (me) to shreds, containing comments like ‘This is the worst book I ever read’, and these rattled my self-confidence. This was in 2004 and social media had not really taken off, yet and my skin hadn’t thickened as it has now, but I’ll never forget those feelings. More importantly, I was surprised at how vicious some of the comments seemed to be. I think I was depressed for a week.
So from that experience, I learned a couple of things. First, why did I focus so much on the two negative reviews and not the ten good ones? Why did I take the comments so personally? Why did people have to be so mean? As the years went on, I realized that I had unconsciously put so much into my identity as an author, I took the criticism as a personal rebuke. But then why didn’t I feel the opposite for the positive reviews and walk on cloud nine? I realized that at my core, I wanted to please everyone, which is impossible.
There is no such thing as the universally praised piece of art and that criticism is only another perspective, not a judgement of the writer entirely. I still need to prepare myself for both positive and negative criticism and remind myself that I put my work out there because I choose to. Because of that, I must expect opinions as they are part of the game, positive or negative. It takes courage to hear criticism on your work, so put it in perspective and learn from it.
The Poseidon Project
by E. William Podojil
Genre: Suspense, Thriller, Mystery
The Poseidon Project is an international suspense thriller and the first book in The Herb Society Mysteries series.
Molly Halloran and her friends have a secret past. Their bucolic retirement is suddenly upended when Molly’s husband is abducted and held for a steep ransom. Now she, her friends, her tech executive son, Lukas, and his Air Force pilot boyfriend must race against the clock and travel halfway around the world to meet the kidnappers’ demands. But when they learn why her husband has been abducted, they realize how high the stakes truly are. Molly and her friends must now face their past in order to save the future. But not only their futures—the world’s.
Excerpt
The explosion was deafening. A huge fireball engulfed the Iveco box truck with a force that knocked Molly, Donna, Linda, and John off their feet. Having been already seated, Lukas instinctively shielded Taylor from the force of the blast that was over one hundred feet away. The explanation of the Hindenburg explosion his mom had referenced two days ago flashed through his mind. The hydrogen collection tank must have had a leak or breached from being overfilled. But unlike the Hindenburg, there was not a zeppelin-sized supply of hydrogen on the Demeter unit, or what was left of it. The explosion was sudden, strong, and brief. The flames quickly burned through the truck’s cargo area, then slowly burned the embers of what little was left. The truck was destroyed, as was Demeter. Zip-Tie’s blackened remains smoldered on the ground, about ten feet from the blast.
Betty and Patrick stood at the top of the terrace waving their arms and appeared to be yelling something. Lukas could not hear much other than the ringing in his ears, and he assumed the rest of the group was partially deaf as they struggled to get to their feet. Lukas had shielded Taylor’s body, and his hearing appeared to be unaffected. Taylor kissed Lukas on the cheek and mouthed Thank you. Or at least Lukas thought he said it silently.
Betty held the fourth Glock in her hand and ran toward the group to help them ascend the terrace. “We’ve gotta get out of here!” she yelled, hoping their damaged ears could hear her. She knew it was only a few minutes before the Dubai police came to investigate the source of the explosion in the city center.
“Where is Malik?” Betty asked as John, Donna, and Molly rubbed their ears, hoping to regain their hearing.
“He ran that way.” Taylor pointed in the direction of the Burj Khalifa. “I saw him for an instant right after the blast.”
Patrick raced toward the group. “Police are on their way. I hear the sirens. Let’s go, everybody!” Patrick and Taylor, both injured, were able to shepherd the group up to the Sprinter van, get in, and buckle up for what was going to be a quick getaway.
Betty slammed on the accelerator, and the van lurched forward. She could see the flashing police lights about a quarter of a mile to her right. She turned left, hoping to avoid them. “Patrick, I need you to navigate! I don’t know where I am!” Betty yelled with a tinge of panic in her voice. Patrick stood up and sat in the passenger seat to help navigate.
Taylor quickly dialed his daughter. She answered on the first ring tone. “Dad, where are you?”
“Get the Goose ready. We’ll be there in—” He looked at Patrick, who held up his hands with fingers extended. “—ten to fifteen minutes. Please clear a take-off slot for us in twenty-five minutes from now.”
“Got it, Dad. Drive safely.”
Tory hung up as Betty slalomed quickly through…
About the Author:
E. William Podojil has worked as a writer, advisor, and international business executive while living in the Netherlands and the United States. He studied screenwriting at UCLA. His first novel, The Tenth Man, was published in 2004 by Haworth Press. His latest novel, The Poseidon Project, will be published by Wild Rose Press in August 2024 as the first book in The Herb Society Mysteries series.
Podojil currently resides in Northeast Ohio with his husband and three sons. He travels extensively and writes about his experiences on his website www.ewpodojil.com.
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Thank you for hosting!
This sounds really good.
This looks like a very interesting read.
Captivating cover