No, it’s true. It’s not mediocre or poorly written. The story and characters seem to be engaging and the narrative doesn’t play too fast and loose with historical accuracy. Every review has been a solid 5 stars. So thanks to my family and friends for that.
I know, I know – I need to get over my Imposter Syndrome. It’s a thing and I have it.
the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills
The Oxford Dictionary
![](https://www.carlpeterhough.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/TGE.jpg)
This leads neatly into the observation that nobody goes to Amazon or any other proprietary online book retailer with the thought ‘I really must find a new book to read’. If your self-published book is any good, it’s going to need a buzz that carries it beyond the narrow circle of your family, friends and associates. It’s going to need a bit of special sauce. Celebrity books can be all-sauce, no substance, and some of the greatest stories ever written by self-published authors will never be read. Somewhere along that continuum live the huge mass of self-published authors. Some of them should be discouraged (see this arbitrary list of 14 jaw-droppingly terrible self-published books). So how do ‘not terrible’ books get in front of people?
Fucked if I know. But if I find out, I’ll spread the word.