Monthly Group Reads: SEPTEMBER 2013 (Group Read 1): Strategos by Gordon Doherty

[Darcy]

Jane wrote: "It's harder on my eyes. Somehow those little squiggles make text easier to read."

Sans serif bothers me a lot too. I always change text to one with serifs, otherwise I simply don't read it.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Ahoy Jane!
I read in another thread that you had just received your copy of Strategos: Rise of the Golden Heart in the mail.

Is the cover as beautiful in the flesh as it is in pictures?

[Jane]

Yes, it certainly is!! I think Gordon's done a bang-up job w/ his book[s], especially for being indie, and whoever is doing the covers is really talented. I'm glad A Proper Education for Girls is going fast because Golden Heart is next on my list.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

It certainly is a surprise for people to find out that Gordon is an Indie author and those books are Indie books. The covers look very professional. I have never seen any Indie or self pub books with such professional covers before.

[Dawn]

I especially like the second books cover.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Jane. That link is your review in editing, but strangely it links to MY review in editing.

can you leave that link there please. I want to show Goodreads staff.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

No. You didn't. I suspect your the page you linked to is the window where you were writing your review?? It is hard to explain.
It isn't you that has done something wrong. It is a GR bug and Goodreads staff may want to see it.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Yes. That's what has happened. The link you posted opens to my review. Only it is my review in the editing phase. If that makes sense.

The strangest thing. :) Gremlins.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I posted about it in the GR feedback and GR members there, are having the same thing occur. Only they haven't read the book so the edit box has no text in it.

Jane, can you provide a link to your review? Not in the edit window? :)

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

That works. :)

[Jane]

Thank Goodness! :) That was my error; I apologize. I hope Golden Heart will have no or at least much fewer of the modernisms and Apion has human feelings, not turning into some kind of soulless person.

[Gordon]

Hi all,

I'm still here. My email notifications started then stopped again but after a few days of silence I worked this out. Have I missed any questions (I have scanned the thread and I think I've caught most of them)?

Cheers,
Gordon

[Jane]

Glad you're back, Gordon. I've bought your Strategos: Rise of the Golden Heart and will read as soon as I finish the one I'm reading.
I did read your Note in the back and I'm glad you explained the Latin vs Greek question there, among other things. I've no more questions.

[Gordon]

Jane wrote: "Glad you're back, Gordon. I've bought your Strategos: Rise of the Golden Heart and will read as soon as I finish the one I'm reading.
I did read your Note in the back and I'm glad you explained ..."

I hope you enjoy Rise of the Golden Heart. Most of all I'm delighted that you care about Apion. He's in a pretty dark place at the end of book 1, but one of the key themes of book 2 is hope...

[Jane]

There are only several [maybe 6 or 7] fictional characters that I feel close to, and Apion has become the most recent. That says something about your skill in character portrayal.

[Gordon]

Jane wrote: "There are only several [maybe 6 or 7] fictional characters that I feel close to, and Apion has become the most recent. That says something about your skill in character portrayal."

Great to hear that, Jane. I think I learned a lot about characterisation in the writing of Born in the Borderlands, and I'm glad this has come through in the read for you.

[Matt]

I am just starting this now, better late than never.

[Eileen]

Matthew wrote: "I am just starting this now, better late than never."

Don't feel bad. I finished The Hangman's Daughtera month after the group read finished. I still got responses to my comments.

[Gordon]

And I'm still checking this thread every day or two if you have any questions. Hope you enjoy the read!

[Dawn]

Matthew wrote: "I am just starting this now, better late than never."

Don't worry about being late. These threads remain open forever and we're always happy to reopen a conversation.

[Jane]

Gordon, I did wonder about your expression 'eggshell-blue sky' but I think I finally did answer it for myself: robin's egg blue.

[Gordon]

Ha - yes, I was thinking duck egg, but you're right, I didn't explain that as I saw it!

[Jane]

Explanation would have ruined it; a friend and I had a good discussion about it when I was visiting her, then I looked it up later.

[Matt]

I finished this book last night, and thought it was one of the better books I have read this year. I had this one sitting in in my kindle for a while, but didn't get around to reading it because I was skeptical. I liked Apion and was really pulling for him, something I haven't found myself doing a lot lately. Anyhow, I've got book two ready to go and I'll be eagerly anticipating other releases from this author.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

That's good news, Matthew.
The response to this book has been really positive. Gordon must be happy with this group read. Lots of fab feedback. :)

[Gordon]

Excellent news, Matthew - really pleased to hear that! Quite a few readers seem to have connected with Apion likewise and that is one of the biggest positives I could have hoped for.

Hope you enjoy 'Rise of the Golden Heart' :)

[Jane]

Gordon, Strategos: Rise of the Golden Heart was better; the Good Lord willing, the next chapter in Apion's story will surpass that!!!

[Gordon]

Thanks, Jane - loved your review. I'm hoping to start planning and researching for part 3 within the next few months. Can't wait to get back to the ranks of the thema :)

[Jane]

I'll be eager to read it, but don't rush it through--take your time and you'll make sure it'll be even better!
Thank you for your kind words.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Gordon wrote: "Thanks, Jane - loved your review. I'm hoping to start planning and researching for part 3 within the next few months. Can't wait to get back to the ranks of the thema :)"

You going back to 'Anatolia' before starting the next one, Gordon? Or was your trip there this year research for book three?

[Gordon]

I'd love to, but we're lined up for a trip to India next year - bit of research for me and my wife wants to stay in a Yoga Ashram. Perhaps we could stop over in Trebizond though...

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

Sounds wonderful!

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I see Gordon has set up a Ask Gordon Doherty for the release of his new Legionary novel.

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Gordon]

Terri wrote: "I see Gordon has set up a Ask Gordon Doherty for the release of his new Legionary novel.

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/..."

Thanks, Terri :)
All, please feel free to come along and ask me any questions you might have.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

You're welcome. Authors who have gone through the rigmarole of a group read poll and then a group read, get a little special shout out on things like this. :)

[Gordon]

Hi All,

Just to say I've recently moved Strategos: Born in the Borderlands over to CreateSpace publishing, and in doing so, I've taken the opportunity to rectify the line/paragraph spacing issues. Thanks for the feedback (or I'd probably have left this as it was)

Cheers,
Gordon

[Darcy]

Thanks for letting us know. As in all things, it's not often (in life generally) that we hear back if feedback was considered and even less if action was taken.
So, thank you for letting us know :)

[Jane]

Well, I'll say from now on my copy is a 'collector's item', since I bought mine before these changes, back for the group read. :)

Thank you very much, Gordon, for being humble enough to take into consideration constructive criticism.

[Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I agree with Jane and Darcy, it is lovely that you have touched base to let us know our feedback was taken seriously. Nice one, Gordon.

[Gordon]

Hi all,

I realise it's been ages since I've dropped in here, but I thought that those of you who enjoyed the first two books of the Strategos series might like to know that the final part of the trilogy, 'Strategos: Island in the Storm' is out now!



I've posted the prologue on my blog as a taster:
http://www.gordondoherty.co.uk/strate...

Anyway, hope you are all well and enjoying your reads :)

Gordon

[happy]

THnx Gordon

[Jane]

I can't wait to read it!