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Read Along And Q & A with David Staniforth - Imperfect Strangers - From September 1st
Sales would be a bonus, Sean. Right now, the opportunity to discuss my book with readers is priceless. I assume now I'm home from work, however, that everyone else is busy :~)I'll look in later.
Autumn wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Autumn wrote: "Just picked up my copy and cannot wait to read and join the discussion! I loved all the excellent reviews it has online and one person said they loved "the high creep fa..."Hmm…Sleaze or creep. I will have to read it to see what you mean:)
David wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Yay…it is know on my Kindle. Tomorrow I will be driving to Florida so I have to wait until Wednesday to start it:)"Can I join you in Florida, Lisa? It's cold and wet in Yorkshire at..."
Sure:) Why not…I set up a special room for guests and we are finishing up the remodel this fall.
We made it after driving and unpacking. It only took us 14 hours…ugh!! Now to clean up the mess in the house…then I can read:):)
I'm in, too. I have been reading. Looking forward to the discussion.
14 hours is a hell of a drive Lisa, could travel the length of England twice over in that time.Great, Cameron, looking forward to your input.
David wrote: "14 hours is a hell of a drive Lisa, could travel the length of England twice over in that time.Great, Cameron, looking forward to your input."
America is huge, lol.
I started the book last night and only got through one chapter. Not because it is bad but because I was exhausted, lol.
So far I can say I love the descriptions and I think I will feel bad for Keith. I am curious about his story and what makes him tick.
Cameron wrote: "I'm in, too. I have been reading. Looking forward to the discussion."Hi Cameron:)
I'll start today. Looking forward to it!
Curiosity is good, Lisa. Glad you like the descriptions.Hi, Ishita. Thanks for joining in.
Emotions are all over the place whilst reading this book. I definitely can't help but feel a strong empathy towards Keith, particularly as we're getting a lot of flashbacks from his childhood and the constant voice of his mother that he hears. Really enjoying the book so far.
Voracious wrote: "Emotions are all over the place whilst reading this book. I definitely can't help but feel a strong empathy towards Keith, particularly as we're getting a lot of flashbacks from his childhood and t..."Hi V! I'm right there with you on this one as well-really enjoying this
Hey Jan! It really is good isn't it? I feel that whilst we know something sinister is probably on the cards involving Keith, I can't help but feel bad for him. Which I suppose is a job well done by the author, evoking such varying emotions in us as we read!
Really pleased to hear your emotions are all over the place, as that was my aim. Is it just that way with Keith, or does Sally cause you to switch also?
For me the verdict is still out on Sally as I'm waiting to see how much of a push over she is. I am not a Sally, so it will be interesting to see if I empathize with her or get frustrated with her! And I should add that this already has me feeling something for her and that's a good thing! :)
I quite wanted to like Keith right from the beginning but at the end was shocked how bad the guy turned out. Excellent writing from David he weaved a very intriguing story between the two main characters.
Shoot-might have to stay out of here until I finish the book, don't want any more spoilers :/
David wrote: "Really pleased to hear your emotions are all over the place, as that was my aim. Is it just that way with Keith, or does Sally cause you to switch also?"Sally is definitely causing my emotions to switch. On the one hand, I feel she is quite a sympathetic and caring person, but as the book progresses, she gives an impression of being the exact opposite of that. I just can't seem to get to grips with the character of Sally at all. The more I read, the more I seem to be on Team Keith. It will be interesting to see how things progress... I'm gripped.
Jan wrote: "Shoot-might have to stay out of here until I finish the book, don't want any more spoilers :/"It's a fine line isn't it, discussing as you read without revealing too much?
James wrote: "I quite wanted to like Keith right from the beginning but at the end was shocked how bad the guy turned out. Excellent writing from David he weaved a very intriguing story between the two main ch..."Thank you, James; I like the term, weaved.
Be interesting to see where you are at the end, Voracious. Opinions have definitely been divided.
David wrote: "Be interesting to see where you are at the end, Voracious. Opinions have definitely been divided."I cannot stop reading! Things are starting to take a turn for the creepy but I still cannot escape the fact that I feel for Keith. He clearly had a devastatingly bad and violent childhood, and the fact that his mother - although passed on - is still very much at the forefront of his thoughts which influence his actions, signifies how much of an impact his childhood had on him.
It will definitely be interesting to see how things develop from this point on - I'm now 50% through the book - but my opinion so far is that this is an excellent read.
I had mixed feelings about Sally throughout the book. I loved the voice of Keith's mother that played in his head. Perhaps she really spoke like that, or perhaps that's merely the way Keith heard/interpreted her, but I thought it was tremendously creative. Even though she was dead, she was a real character in this book.
Hi David! Yes, I really wavered in my feelings for Keith. There were times you made him do something "normal" and I felt there was something good and hopeful for him. Then I would feel he was creepy again.As for Sally, I suppose I wavered as well. At times I felt she was weak and wishy-washy and other times compassionate.
Thanks, Jean and Brenda.Keith's mother was interesting to write. Originally (first draft) those recollections were a straight forward telling in Keith's voice, but I felt inputting the mother's voice via the wordsnakes made the flashbacks more harrowing.
Voracious wrote: "Emotions are all over the place whilst reading this book. I definitely can't help but feel a strong empathy towards Keith, particularly as we're getting a lot of flashbacks from his childhood and t..."Oh yeah…I want to strangle mother's like that regardless of what she was going through. I'm sure she got hers but it still didn't fix Keith.
I have a few silly questions:
1. Does Forward-slash mean piss off? BTW, I love that "piss off". We never use that here in America.
2. Please explain "frank these postings"
Thank you.
I am really enjoying the book so far. I am reading slowly but making progress. I had lots of yard work and cleaning yesterday. I guess it is good when I am busy but I do miss my reading time, lol.
I like how Sally has compassion unlike her other friends. Although having compassion can sometimes get you into trouble which I'm sure I am about to find out. My husband calls me a weirdo magnet because I am too nice, lol. Hopefully I never come across any Keiths.Keith's childhood must have been horrendous for him to separate himself from young Keith.
I wonder why his aunt or even a neighbor never stepped in. Then again I know people in real life don't want to get involved.
OK…moving on. I am only up to Heather and the toy ring.
Not silly at all.Question 1, Lisa. Yes, spot on.
Q2 "frank these postings" is when a company pays up front for their postage and use a printed stamp rather than a conventional postage stamp. In the United States it is called the "Congressional frank". Just for business mail.
Don't work too hard :~)
David wrote: "Jan wrote: "Shoot-might have to stay out of here until I finish the book, don't want any more spoilers :/"It's a fine line isn't it, discussing as you read without revealing too much?"
Hmm…maybe when we do these types of discussions we should start off with where we are in the book and if it is not a general type response use the spoiler feature.
David wrote: "Question 1, Lisa. Yes, spot on.Q2 "frank these postings" is when a company pays up front for their postage and use a printed stamp rather than a conventional postage stamp. In the United States i..."
Thank you.
I thought I'd give you a link to my latest blog post - a chat with David! He talks about fantasy and thriller as genres and if you always wondered what he looks like, wonder no more.http://www.kathmiddletonbooks.com/blo...
Excellent chat, just read it and enjoyed it.As for Imperfect Strangers, I read this a while ago and was very impressed by the story but especially by the characters. There are a thousand ways this story could have turned out, but David gives you no clue until you're right in the thick of it.
Thanks, Kath, for the interview. I enjoyed answering your questions.
Thanks Andy, glad you enjoyed both the interview and Imperfect Strangers. Perhaps I should write alternative versions, with different outcomes ;~)
Kath wrote: "I thought I'd give you a link to my latest blog post - a chat with David! He talks about fantasy and thriller as genres and if you always wondered what he looks like, wonder no more.http://www.ka..."
Kath, thanks for sharing that. And David, very nice interview. Nice to have a face to go with the name!
It's been good reading this thread as it's enabled me to re-familiarise myself with the book. I could identify with Sally because I was a bit like that when I was younger. I've changed with age, though, and am now far less trusting.
Makes sense, Heather. It was seeing how readily young people allow strangers into their lives that partially inspired me to write this book.
Very interesting interview :) I liked how you described readers as fish, Well you certainly caught me with your books :)Back to "Imperfect Strangers", i really liked the fact that the story was told by both Keith and Sally, it was one of the reasons i greatly enjoyed the book!
To dive into Keith's mind was creepy and thrilling, just loved that!
I very pleased that the two points of view worked for you, Faouzia. It was difficult to write in that way, but worth it, I think. Your reaction confirms that to be so :~)
I am up to the real "creep" factor. I am just finishing up when Keith has (view spoiler) I still feel for Keith but I would have dropped him by now and I never would have given him a key. I can say that now since I am older and wiser, lol.David-How did you come up with the characters for Keith and Sally? I imagine we all know people like the girls in the book but how many Keiths have we run across?
I like how you go back and forth with little Keith and big Keith. I'm guessing a (view spoiler)
Do you all think Keith has any clue that what he does is not "normal"? I think he is oblivious to the world around him.
Good story and I'm glad it is minus the sleaze that was in You:):)
Like Faouzia I like the going back and forth from Sally's and Keith's POV.
I've never run across an actual Keith, but I have run across quite a few people each having one or more of the traits he has. Most particular for me are those that can't take a hint, or so readily misinterpret another's meaning or intention. I have known a few that readily switch from meek and mild to monster at the slightest provocation too. Then there are those that walk around talking to themselves, even with an ongoing argument.That's working in libraries for you. Anyone else encountered a Keith?
In my mind, as I wrote, he is oblivious (for the most part). Until it's pointed out to him. Be good to know what others think, too. I purposefully left much of "Imperfect Strangers" ambiguous so that the reader could implant their own live observations onto the characters and story.
I agree with you on the people not taking a hint David. I think a lot of people are "all about me" and don't listen very well….or they only want to hear someone agree with them. My husband calls it "blowing sunshine" (up their arse, lol). Why do people ask for an opinion when they really only want validation on their own opinion? Grr…drives me crazy as I tell it like it is and I would want someone to do the same for me.I do know a couple of people that are very up and down and I know to catch them on a good day, lol. I think for the most part people live very stressful lives.
I have heard some people arguing with themselves. If you have never heard them it is hard to imagine people hearing actual voices rather than just their thoughts inside their heads.
Great topic of mental health. It is as serious issue with a lot of views about it. It is a fascination of mine and I'm sure I got it from reading so many psychological thrillers over the years.
I loved your book and even in the end felt very sorry for Keith. He was a product of his upbringing and it was a horrible one. There are too many people in our world who need help and just fall through the cracks.
I like that his neighbor (view spoiler)
Thank you for the opportunity to chat with you and reading a new author:)
Thank you, Lisa. I take it you've finished. Hope you stick around as others do. I assume at some point, that people will discuss things about the book, and ask questions regardless of spoilers.
David wrote: "I've never run across an actual Keith, but I have run across quite a few people each having one or more of the traits he has. Most particular for me are those that can't take a hint, or so readily ..."Haven't run across a real Keith, thank goodness, but many less disturbed folk who are clueless about giving and receiving social cues-some were aware and troubled by it, some not as much. I think they were more on the Asperger's scale. Or are they all grouped on an autism scale now? What really troubled me was the bullying especially by adults. I wondered how many instances someone could have intervened if they had been paying attention
It's been quite a while since I read Imperfect, but I really felt for Keith throughout the entire book. I also liked Sally, but Keith was my guy. It's mindblowing how badly uncaring and abusive parents can affect the child. I wanted to murder that mother. David, you really know how to ingrain your readers with such strong feelings for your characters.
Jan wrote: "Voracious wrote: "Emotions are all over the place whilst reading this book. I definitely can't help but feel a strong empathy towards Keith, particularly as we're getting a lot of flashbacks from h..."Hey V and Jan (and David):
Cam, here. I am really right there with you guys, too. I feel really bad for Kieth at this point in the book. I also feel really bad for people with similar characteristics in real life to Kieth. David, one thing that this book has brought to the forefront for me anyway is being bullied. This is nothing that I ever personally experienced but I always felt badly for people that experienced this. In fact, growing up, I put myself in unfamiliar territory a couple of times standing up for people and being so small. I do not know if that was something that went through your mind that whilst writing this novel (bullying), but I am curious. I just always found bullying disgusting and very immature. Well, enough of that, I suppose.
Thanks Perri, Chris, Cameron. Bullying was an intentional theme of this book, both the outright violent and aggressive bullying of Keith, and the more subtle bullying of Sally. A strange aspect of writing, is that to create realistic characters, you have to put yourself firmly in the shoes of that character. Therein, you become both the bully and the recipient of that very act. This caused me to be really analytical of the issue and look around me at all aspects of it in the real world.It amazes me how even the most subtle forms of bullying can alter an individuals personality, or cause them to make decisions they wouldn't normally make. It was from this point of view that I wrote Sally. There are people that are very close to me, that for want of a better word are people pleasers. Rather than do what they want, they are pressured into doing want the oppressor wants them to do. The person close to me eventually went in completely the opposite direction and put themselves in a potentially dangerous situation as a result.
So, it's something, even in a small way that everyone is guilty of, or has encountered. In that, I believe, is the reason that readers are passionate about the characters.
That was something that struck me, David. I wondered how I would react to Keith - would I try to be kind and helpful or would I be with the crowd who scoffed at him. You like to think you'd reach out to him - then you see the fate of the one who did. There's a middle ground, though. Helping, or finding help for him, without throwing scorn at him or trying to be his best mate. The story is so successful because it leaves the reader feeling uncomfortable. It challenges us.
A Good Thriller
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great to see this going so well, happy you are pleased with the job we are doing, I think this layout works great, and I busy.
Thank for the special price helps members, and I a sure book will be at the top soon with sales.
Reading all comments, not saying much, as you know I have read the book !