Clare’s Comments (group member since Jan 31, 2012)

Clare’s comments from the Connecting Readers and Writers group.

Really enjoying reading things by this group - I've been reading genres that I wouldn't normally pick and I'm finding it very refreshing.

I'm posting reviews to amazon.com and .co.uk at the moment. Reviews from .com do show up (if there aren't any .co.uk ones I think) but they don't count towards the stars on the UK as you see them in the listings.

Are there any other Amazon sites people would like reviews posted to?

Stephen wrote: "group bookshelf? Tell me more!

I like your writing btw - it is well-realised. I would be happy to review it if you like. I could even give a critique, if you are open to that."

That would be great thanks! I was looking to reviewing Zed as part of the evil plan, although I'm afraid my reviews are the "I really like this book" kind rather than anything more insightful or erudite.

BTW the bookshelf is available from the home page of this group - it's in a list on the right at the top. People are picking books of it as part of the evil plan (see thread in general section). There's an option to add your book top left when you get to the bookshelf.

I suppose third person past tense is always the safest, but doesn't suit every story. I wonder if present tense is becoming more popular?

My novel is first person past tense which I realise is not to everyone's taste but I really liked it for that particular story - a mystery / suspense where I wanted the story to unfold as the situation unfolded for the main character.

Been having a peek at your novel - looks very amusing! Couldn't see it on the group bookshelf. Are you taking part in the evil plan?

Stephen wrote: "Each to their own. It irks me, at least, because it's apparently written from your perspective but you're writing as if it is in the past? That doesn't make sense to me, at least.


Strange, I hadn't thought of it like that before. Hope it doesn't start to irk me now I've read that!

I'm one of those who doesn't like present tense narratives - it won't stop me reading a book I really fancy, but it takes me longer to settle into a book. I find it tiring to read in general! I've seen it used very effectively for short sequences though or for a change in point of view e.g. Sarah Water's Fingersmith.

I've bought a couple of books for the evil plan - hoping to get at least one of them in by the end of February. As well as posting reviews on Amazon etc., is there somewhere we should post in the group as well? It would be nice to see how the evil plan is unravelling. Should we add a short note to this thread - read x, see my review, etc.?

Think the evil plan is a great one. Been meaning to start reviewing more indie books and this looks like a great place to start.

Clare

Hi,

I've recently added my mystery novel Pennance to Kindle. Here's the blurb:

Lucy is haunted by the death of her partner, Jake, and lives in paranoid fear and reclusion. She lives in a small, introverted village in Cornwall, and is surrounded by Jake's family and memories of him. She feels intensely guilty about his death and thinks someone is out to get her in retribution. Relief appears to come when a new neighbour, Karen, enters her life, but is that when the real threat begins?

Here are the links to the US and UK sites:

http://tinyurl.com/PennanceAmazonUS

http://tinyurl.com/PennanceAmazonUK

Clare

(Sorry - I originally put the details up on the READ FIRST thread by mistake.)

Hi,

I've just added my novel Pennance to Kindle and would categorise it as contemporary women's fiction / suspense. Here's the description:

Lucy is reclusive and paranoid after the death of her partner, Jake, in a car accident. She lives in a small, introverted village in Cornwall (UK) called Pennance, and is surrounded by Jake's family and memories of him. She feels intensely guilty about his death and thinks someone is out to get her in retribution. Relief appears to come with the arrival of a neighbour, Karen - an older woman with two children. They bond through Lucy's admission of her part in Jake's death and Karen's need of support through a divorce. But their relationship stirs old jealousies and soon Lucy's life is in danger after all.

I've added a sample chapter to the book's goodreads page:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13...

and here's the link to Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pennance-eboo...