Life Drawings

by Philip Newey

Tom and Diane are two young misfits who embark upon a timid relationship. Supported by friends and family, harassed by an increasingly disturbed Anglican priest, they begin an exploratory journey, discovering themselves and each other. But a dark secret from Diane's past is slowly closing in on them. Do Tom and Diane have a future together? Who will live, and who will die?

196 pages, Paperback

First published August 23, 2013

About the author

My Writer's page: http://philipnewey.com/

My business page: All-read-E (manuscript assessment, copy editing and proofreading) http://philipnewey.com/All-read-E.htm

Everyone wants to write at least one novel, right? Well, from a very early age, somewhere in my mid teens, when I began to read in earnest, I know that I have. It probably had something to do with that terrible-beautiful teenage angst that many of us pass through. From that time onwards I began to write: novels, short stories - and completed none of them. I would start with an enormous surge of energy and inspiration - which would fizzle out after a few pages or chapters, or after a few days. I had a host of ideas and themes, but nothing that, in the end, held up as a story.

It was only at the beginning of 2012, in my 55th year, that I actually succeeded in completing a novel. At the time I was passing through another of those periods of angst - is that the midlife crisis thing happening? No fast cars for me, or pretty young woman. Novels and stories: that's what it was/is about for me. Perhaps more importantly, however, I finally felt that I had lived enough to be able to talk meaningfully about life, the universe and all that.

I like to write the kind of books that I like to read. That is, stories about real people in real situations; so people who want high adventure, mystery, science fiction, fantasy etc. can look elsewhere. (I do read those too, by the way.) It seems to me that what makes people "tick", what goes into being a human being, forming relationships, making decisions, making mistakes - these things are as mysterious, exciting, frightening as any mystery or fantasy we might devise. So, to a large extent, I write for myself. But I am immodest enough to think that others might also like to read what I write. In these days of short attention spans and quick fixes, my novels may not have a huge market - at least that is what the conventional publishing world probably believes. Nevertheless, some of you, I hope, will really enjoy the stories I have to tell and the people I introduce to you. I am also immodest enough to believe that my life experience has given me some insights into the way this bizarre human world operates.

So take the time to look at my novels. And, if you happen to like them, tell your friends.

Reviews

[Richard Bunning]

This is a study of a mix of characters in life's emotional pressure-cooker, the boiling mass of hormones, memories, fears and pains that make us all. We come to know the two main characters very well and to build convincing pictures of many of those around them. We see that we often become far more than we might expect, through the quagmire of interactions we experience with others. Even the meek may learn to kill. Sometimes, we eventually break away from the bonds of our past, to be relatively free agents, and sometimes the past eventually destroys us.
This is a well written look into the emotional turmoil of a group of intimately and sometimes unavoidably knotted together lives. We actually get some way to actually feeling what it is like to be someone else, to be submerged into the books characters. One can ask little more from such a book. We have all experienced some of this and others have lived lives far closer to this particular emotional mix than we may allow ourselves to admit. Most of you may guess the books direction accurately, but that makes it no less intriguing because this knowledge probably means that to some degree you have actually walked some of the steps.
I recommend this book for those that enjoy a book where what happens is seen with all its drivers, rather than with just those dictated by the narrow entertainment of vivid plot. These are drawings in which we see so many crossing character lines rather than an easily analysed photograph. I enjoyed this book very much.

[J.D. Tew]

There is a time when one is regretful for venturing outside of the genre they hold dear. This is not one of those times. "Life Drawings" is an intermingling of interactions and a steady but engaging plot from which a wonderful design of characters is shown. After reading this novel by Philip Newey, I feel as if I am losing touch with the defining character of each object around me.

This novel reacquaints me with the beauty of imagination, as the author presents Tom and Diane's emotionally satisfying story in a way that hooks me and pulls me toward its objective, which is to entertain and morph me into a fly on the wall.

This is one novel that I wish to continue with no end, but sadly that isn't possible. It is a surprise to see that there was only one review for such a wonderful study of people, places, and things around us. I congratulate this author for doing such a wonderful job and will seek out his other works, without even a moment of consideration.

I recommend this novel for anyone who really wants to be engulfed and engrossed in a story, escaping their life to take part in Diane and Tom's. Excellent.

[Brenda Cheers]

Socially inept lovers, Tom and Diane, are the fascinating subjects in this engaging novel where the reader witnesses this couple’s meeting, and then follows their relationship through its various ups and downs.
Diane has a problem enjoying intimacy with Tom and the reasons for this are slowly unveiled as the story progresses. I guessed the cause (correctly) very early on, but this was probably due to my having drafted a very similar story once.
This novel is well written and Mr Newey has a good command of language. His characters are well-drawn. I found his descriptions overlong sometimes, but this is due to personal preference. My only real criticism relates to the use of such dialogue attributes as “…Tom expounded.”, or “…quipped Jessica.” Stephen King gives advice about this in the wonderful “On Writing”, stating that: “The best form of dialogue attribution is said…”
This is a quick and satisfying read. I recommend it for those who enjoy thought-provoking literature.