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My book

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(@john-giles)
Posts: 744
Topic starter
 

Some time ago, maybe a year or two ago, I had sent some of you guys a copy of the draft of a fantasy book I wrote. Timothy Tauler, If you remember that name then I sent you the book.

I can't recall who I sent it to.

I have heard back from two people so far and I thank them greatly for taking time to read my book and for giving me input on the book.

I was wondering if anybody else has read it and what they thought of it. I'm not trying to pressure anybody into reading it or do I expect you to have to like it. I am looking for honest opinions on it whether good or bad or just okay or even something in between, as it is my first book and I am thinking about trying to get it published. It's been setting, electronically, in my computer collecting dust for a while now.

 
Posted : December 26, 2011 1:59 pm
(@deleted-user)
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Do you have a download link in pdf?

Have a great week!

 
Posted : December 26, 2011 2:29 pm
(@surveysc)
Posts: 192
 

I don't remember receiving it, but would be glad to read it. Send me a link or pdf.

 
Posted : December 26, 2011 2:31 pm
(@john-giles)
Posts: 744
Topic starter
 

I can email a pdf to you. Just email me at jmgiles5730@msn.com and I'll attach it to the reply.

 
Posted : December 26, 2011 3:34 pm
(@don-blameuser)
Posts: 1867
 

I sent a request to your profile email, hope it doesn't get junked. I'd love to read it.

Thanks,

Don

 
Posted : December 26, 2011 5:52 pm
(@bill93)
Posts: 9834
 

I sent my request to his profile email and it worked.

I got the file in reply, and have submitted some suggestions based on reading the first chapter or so.

I'm not sure of the age range for the target audience, and that might affect the way it should be critiqued. The general style seems to suggest younger readers, the length older ones.

This isn't the genre I usually read, so I probably won't read through all of it and be able to comment on the plot, but I did offer some suggestions, based on what I've learned in a local writers group, that I think most editors would agree with.

John's writing is quite understandable and grammatical. My comments dealt as much with formatting as anything more substantial. One person's dialog per paragraph, more show instead of tell, etc. Overall this is somewhere in the middle for our group, not as captivating as some who really amaze me with their imagination and plots, but much better than some I've critiqued who don't have a story to tell, or have some good ideas but can't communicate. I think he has a story to tell and can communicate it. I'll leave it to others who favor the genre as to whether it will captivate them.

 
Posted : December 26, 2011 6:11 pm
(@deral-of-lawton)
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You can send it to me again John if you substantially changed any of the plot. I remember offering up some suggestions at the initial read and I thought the book was very well done. But then, that is not my normal genre of reading material.

I think you did make a lot of changes as the chapters emerged to tune it to your young target audience. It was interesting to me, even at my age, because it's style was much like your John's Drivel you used to post. They book, like your life, featured many heart felt and personal moments.

I had wondered if you had ever gotten it published.

 
Posted : December 27, 2011 2:23 am
(@adamsurveyor)
Posts: 1487
 

>
> I'm not sure of the age range for the target audience, and that might affect the way it should be critiqued. The general style seems to suggest younger readers, the length older ones.
>

I read it. It is for a younger age range in my opinion, but how many youngsters read Harry Potter? Some of those were relatively large books. I read the hobbit trilogy many years ago as did a lot of young people. I think there might be more young people than you might think that would absorb a large book.

I thought it was good, but I imagine I am not as good of a critic as you or Deral. I did give John my thoughts on it. He could maybe make break it into two books as well. If it turned out to be popular, later books could be larger. (get 'em hooked first).

For those who don't know, it is kind of a sci. fi/fantasy book. I can't imagine having the imagination to write anything like that. John set it up so there could be follow-up books.

Anyway, good luck John, I think it would go if you can get the eye of the right publisher.

(I found a place link where I could convert it to an ereader format and read it on my tablet. It made it much easier to carry around and read any time.)

(by the way, why did they make "read" (present tense "reed") and "read" (past tense "red") spelled the same way?)

Tom

 
Posted : December 27, 2011 11:30 am
(@john-giles)
Posts: 744
Topic starter
 

I don't think I changed it much since I sent it to you. I saved all of your emails on it though and have gone through them a couple times.

Thanks again for taking time to read it.

I can split the book in two if need be and it would be two books of about 200 pages each. I wrote it with a split in mind just in case it needed to be split, as I have never written a book before and have no clue other than some things I looked up on the internet.

To write the book I just watched the movie unfold in my head and I wrote it down. I have very few notes on it at all. May not be the smartest writing style but that's how I did it.

 
Posted : December 27, 2011 12:31 pm
(@deleted-user)
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“I can split the book in two if need be and it would be two books of about 200 pages each.”

That may be an excellent marketing consideration provided it’s published. Look what happened to J.K. Rowling!

Thanks for the .pdf, it’s already on my “nook”.

Have a great week.

 
Posted : December 27, 2011 2:06 pm
(@john-giles)
Posts: 744
Topic starter
 

I think I sent a copy to everyone that asked.

If you did ask, did not get it, and still want it let me know.

Thanks to those willing to read part, if not all, of my book.

 
Posted : December 29, 2011 10:09 am
(@merlin-iii)
Posts: 170
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I am reading "Blue Highways, a journey into America", by William Heat Moon. I believe he said that he re-wrote the book 10 times before he got it right and someone would publish it. Keep plugging, when it is right, you will know it.

 
Posted : December 30, 2011 1:59 pm
(@john-giles)
Posts: 744
Topic starter
 

I sent several people a copy of my book back in December. I am interested in your opinions about it, be them good, bad, or ugly.

I know I should have kept track of who I sent it to but I didn't.....again.

So if you read the book or chose not to read the entire book please let me know what you thought of it.

thanks

 
Posted : February 1, 2012 6:08 pm