Writers are emotional creatures. Some of us have hot tempers, fragile egos, narcissism, and a host of other issues. These often come with unhealthy coping mechanisms such as drug and alcohol addiction. I’m lucky in that I don’t have the temper, the narcissism (I think) or the addictions. But, yeah, sometimes my ego takes a bruising.

When I released my most recent literary novel Sycamore Souls last year, I was excited. I felt it was the best work I’d ever done. I thought it had broad appeal, p...