I’m looking forward to attending a talk in Chippenham Library on Monday titled “Writing, Publishing, and the Secret of Success”. I’ve done a little research myself by comparing my book reviews in Kirkus with those of a Booker Prize winning novelist, Hilary Mantel.
Kirkus are the number one independent book review magazine in the USA. As they say themselves “WE’VE REVIEWED THE NATION’S TOP PUBLISHERS’ BOOKS SINCE 1933 – Our coverage includes the big 5 houses, small presses, genre publishers & more”
Here’s a sample of what Kirkus have to say about The Spy who Sank the Armada.
“West does a masterful job of introducing Standen’s character while also showing 16th-century Europe through his eyes. The novel also delivers a remarkably nuanced depiction of diverse cultures and kingdoms along the way. The author establishes early on that his protagonist seeks “fame and fortune,” and keeps Standen’s characterization consistent and intriguing as he pursues these motivations. West carefully documents the consequences of Standen’s desire to prove himself and gain material wealth, creating a complex portrait. Spy techniques, fight scenes, and an array of attractive supporting characters give the novel a James Bond–esque atmosphere while staying rooted in historical context.”
By comparison here is a sample of what Kirkus have to say about Wolf Hall.
“Although Mantel’s language is original, evocative and at times wittily anachronistic, this minute exegesis of a relatively brief, albeit momentous, period in English history occasionally grows tedious. The characters, including Cromwell, remain unknowable, their emotions closely guarded; this works well for court intrigues, less so for fiction.
Masterfully written and researched but likely to appeal mainly to devotees of all things Tudor.”
Now here is what Kirkus say about my latest novel, Called to Account.
“The early part of this installment, which for the first time uses the second generation of Standens exclusively as lead protagonists, progresses slowly, focusing on the budding romance between Maria and Manuel rather than on adventure. But with the discovery of the Bamberger murders, the narrative accelerates and moves into the realms of meticulous investigation, espionage, and high action that are the hallmarks of the Standen Adventures. West, as always, sprinkles informative historical tidbits within the story and seamlessly integrates early-17th-century conventions, styles, and such miraculous innovations as Manuel’s gadget the Janssenscope, a prototype microscope.
Tender love and chilling mob violence alternate in this engaging, disturbing period drama.”
Here is the Kirkus summing up of Mantel’s Bring Up The Bodies.
“The inventiveness of Mantel’s language is the chief draw here; the plot, as such, will engage only the most determined of Tudor enthusiasts.”
I’ll see what is said about the secret of success on Monday, but I’m going to work on my language in the next book. How can I be more inventive linguistically?