We were told this, a few nights back – me and a few other self-produced authors.

The person informing us he will no longer invest his savings in our work did so as a reaction for being told that his opinion was not correct, or founded on facts.

It was surreal.

Now, here’s something I learned.
It is a good practice never to respond to negative reviews with anything but a public thank you.
And no author needs to justify his or her choices or his writing with the readers.

“On page 17, you should have written so and so, and then you have to explain to me why in the seventh chapter Jack can’t just tell Jell so and so…”

Yes, sure, thank you.
You get stuff like that – and you should not justify your choices.
These are readers, not editors.
You can tell them funny anecdotes and underdog stories, but you should never excuse yourself or explain and justify your choices.
The book stands on its own legs or it falls – you have the next one to think about.

Most readers understand.
They come for the stories, not to edit your work.
They like the color, the extras.
They think Jack and Jill did just fine.

A few will react like the gentleman I was telling about at the start of this post.
And if it is true that every reader counts nd is important (because without the readers, my ebooks are meaningless), I don’t know if anyone getting out of a tight spot in a discussion with the “I won’t buy your books anymore!” is really a reader I’ll miss.