Writer's Musings
It’s always great to hear from a happy reader. Here’s what one recently said about my fifth novel, “Island of Regrets”:
“Suspenseful, such that I had to complete it in one reading. Your best novel in my view and the Campbell Island references (and the Wellington ones) brought a reality and special interest to it. Well done. An enjoyable read.”
Then there are inevitably readers who point out possible flaws, like a reader of my latest novel, “Green Expectations”. He’s a retired scientist who questioned my naming of a fictitious mountain in the North Island of NZ, writing:
“Maungakaramea means Mountain of the wild spaniard (NZ Geographic Board Understanding Maori Placenames). The wild spaniard is a (horrible thorny) plant of grassland rather than forest communties, and native to the South Island [of New Zealand].”
The Board’s Gazeteer of place names has only one entry for “Maungakaramea” and it is located near the top of the North Island of New Zealand. If there was ever a wild spaniard at this place then it was a long way from home.
The reader has, however, complimented me for this same novel, writing:
“The Prologue is confident and catchy; the characters are believable and the interplay among them is orchestrated well. It's clear you are thoroughly acquainted with the subject of land and resource use conflict. Your treatment of hapless DOC officials and weak Crown Ministers is interesting. I liked the fact that the geographic setting was familiar.”
“Suspenseful, such that I had to complete it in one reading. Your best novel in my view and the Campbell Island references (and the Wellington ones) brought a reality and special interest to it. Well done. An enjoyable read.”
Then there are inevitably readers who point out possible flaws, like a reader of my latest novel, “Green Expectations”. He’s a retired scientist who questioned my naming of a fictitious mountain in the North Island of NZ, writing:
“Maungakaramea means Mountain of the wild spaniard (NZ Geographic Board Understanding Maori Placenames). The wild spaniard is a (horrible thorny) plant of grassland rather than forest communties, and native to the South Island [of New Zealand].”
The Board’s Gazeteer of place names has only one entry for “Maungakaramea” and it is located near the top of the North Island of New Zealand. If there was ever a wild spaniard at this place then it was a long way from home.
The reader has, however, complimented me for this same novel, writing:
“The Prologue is confident and catchy; the characters are believable and the interplay among them is orchestrated well. It's clear you are thoroughly acquainted with the subject of land and resource use conflict. Your treatment of hapless DOC officials and weak Crown Ministers is interesting. I liked the fact that the geographic setting was familiar.”
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