I find myself in a nebulous world. Past Sins was published nearly a month ago and it’s not yet received any reviews. Is one supposed to talk about these things? I’m a newish author — at least in the published sense. I don’t know the protocol.
It seems this is much like that moment after you give your mother her Christmas present. She tears off the wrapping (or carefully removes it, if she’s a saver) and peels back the tissue paper. You wait for the reaction. Does she like it?
You, dear readers, are the recipients of my present and I anxiously await your thoughts. Your interpretation. Your observations. My mind, my creation — filtered through your sensibilities and experience.
My book stands on its own. For better or worse, I acknowledge this thing that I’ve made. I don’t ask for validation. I will write regardless. Lost in the minds of my characters, reveling in their worries and hatreds and confusion and passion.
But without reviews I am ever frozen in time. The tissue paper crinkles. Your face rises to mine. What does your expression say?
Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash.
** S P O I L E R S **
Hey C.F. (aka: Cheryl),
I just finished your novel and must tell you that I quite enjoyed it. Your writing style is much to my liking, reminding me of the terse, clipped style of Voltaire and Vonnegut (two of my most favorite authors). Short sentences, short chapters make for a fast pace in reading and to that I say, as Mick once sang: “I like it, like it, yes I do!” Loved the metaphor: ” She had bravado on tap.”
The story and characters held my interest, though I must confess that having the druggie sister and abused mother of William seemed rather cliche, but it was cool how you had Wanda blow creepy Carl away. I was kept guessing as to what the cryptic intro was about, thinking that it surely involved the protagonist, Kirstie, for much of the story. All in all, I applaud you for a terrific first novel (much better than many who have cranked out a multitude). I think this effort is far superior to anything I’ve read by Dale Brown, an author I particularly abhor for truly hackneyed characters and plots. However, I must make note of one particular word use that I feel truly detracts from the narrative and that is the use of the non-word “anyways” unless it is in dialogue. I can see Wanda saying it, but never Kirstie, who would be too intelligent to use such an ungrammatical term unless purposely wanting to sound like a yokel.
My hat’s off to you and I trust you are already into your next effort. You go, girlfriend!!!!