January 2016 Value Book Read - Imperfect Strangers by David M. Staniforth

[David]

I'd just like to say a big thank you to David Gooch for nominating my book, and all the members who voted for it as your value group read.

The book has had some mixed response over the past year and a half, but generally it has been good. Everyone looks for something different in a read, and I appreciate and respect the point of view given by each reader. I hope you find it an interesting read, hopefully enjoyable, and I look forward to answering any questions and taking part in your group discussion.

Amazon link: http://smarturl.it/imperfect-strangers

[David]

Good question, David.

I always have a working title in mind, based on the theme of the book that I'm writing. Often that working title will change over the course of writing: something in the text will speak out to me. In this case, Imperfect Strangers was the working title. I stuck with it because nothing better came to mind, and I felt it summed up the book.

I don't know how obvious it is, as nobody has ever mentioned it, but I intended it partially as a play on words, in connection with a message in the story. I wanted to illustrate that nobody is perfect, but someone we don't know is termed as a "perfect stranger". It is the reason I designed the text on the cover as I did, slightly splitting the word "ImPerfect" so that it reads as both simultaneously.

[David]

Cheers. I don't do facebook, so I will look for them on here :~)

[David]

David wrote: "I am not too far in at the moment and just getting used to it been a bit that is written from Keith's view then the next bit is by Sally and so on."

Writing alternate chapters from two different POVs was hard work. I hope you think it adds something, David. I know most people believe it worked well.

Just want to let members know, too, that I'm looking in from time to time, if you want to post any questions, either about the book or my writing process.

[David]

Keith is an amalgamation of a number of people I have encountered over the years. The inspiration for the story, though, is from two separate incidents that involved two of those people.

[David]

David wrote: "Finished this last weekend and I guess you knew to a degree what was coming at the end but with a psychological thriller they can be easier to figure.

I noticed near the end the spelling of Keith ..."

Thank you for pointing out that I misspelled Keith in one place; it is so hard to spot all typos. It is now corrected.

All of the comments you make here would certainly be the logical course of action, and I respect your take on it. However, I firmly believe that what seems wrong to one person would not to another, based on their personal life experience. Much of this narrative, plot and character development came from people and situations I have come across either first or second hand. It is perhaps the issue of personal experience that has generated such divided polarity of opinion on my book. I’d also say that logic often goes out of the window in both fiction and in reality. Take for example books and films where the victim follows the bad guy into a building rather than rush to a safe public place to telephone the police, or real life where a woman takes a short cut down a dark alleyway and gets raped when she could easily have walked the longer well-lit route. Many things look foolish in hindsight, and hindsight is all a reader is left with at the completion of a novel.

If we went totally the logical route, we would be stuck with some very un-thrilling books and films.

Regarding Sally’s choices. It is often easier to run from a situation than face up to it; yes, Sally should have kicked Kerry out, but she did the irrational thing. I have a personal friend that did the exact same in a similar situation, so for me this is not a stretch despite it being irrational.

Should Sally have turned to her work colleagues rather than Keith? They were just that – work colleagues, with lives of their own – I don’t believe they were painted as anything more, the narrative also doesn’t indicate if those colleagues live within walking distance of Sally’s house. Therein, irrational or not, Keith was the most fitting option, in my opinion.

Also why wouldn’t Sally trust Keith above others? To her mind he has proven to be the most trustworthy, loyal and unselfish of her close acquaintances. She even argues this point to Kerry in chapter 33, to which Kerry argues that Sally is not thinking straight because of being drunk. There is also the issue that Sally does not know even a fraction of what the reader does. As the narrative unfolds, only Keith (and the reader) knows what a risky prospect Keith is proving to be. The book is told in two very distinct 1st person points of view for that very reason.

As I say, I respect your stance and opinion, and I’m merely pointing out my perspective on the points you raise. Perhaps I simply know and have known many more people that have made silly irrational choices in life, and no doubt will continue to do so. As the theme of the book suggests: nobody is perfect.

[David]

I have no issue at all with the three star rating, David. I appreciate you reading and rating the book, and we all look for something different in a read. There are many books I haven't even finished that some have rated 5*, and I'm sure many haven't finished books that I've rated highly

I'm not surprised in the least that you didn't get the "I wasn't expecting that" moment, in fact I'd be more surprised if you had. My intention, rightly or wrongly, was for the reader to see exactly where it was going, kind of like watching an impending train wreck: you can see both trains heading for each other on the same track, but they can't see each other until the point where it's too late: you can see what's likely going to happen, but you can't do a thing about it. I also meant it to be more suspensful psychological character study than mystery; I assume that readers who thought it worthy of five stars were looking for that kind of read.

It would be good to know what other members thought, having read the book, or think generally if they haven't.

[Sylvia]

I enjoyed the build up of suspense and the gradual insights into Keith's character and background. I felt a good deal of sympathy with the character and found myself hoping he would ' come good' in the end, especially after the shopping with Sally's niece episode.
I kind of hoped Steve might turn out to be the one to beware of after all. I'd be interested to know if this was deliberate or just my interpretation.

The last few chapters I found particularly gripping and chilling.

I enjoyed the touch of humour regarding the cat, a nice break from the suspense,

[Christine]

Sylvia, I too wondered about Steve. I also felt the same way as you in that the fun for me was the slow but steady incremental suspense as the story progressed. Like David said above, two trains heading down the same track from different directions. I actually cared a lot about Keith even though I knew there was a chance his relationship with Sally might turn out really really bad. I am a real sucker for a good psychological character study, and in this book I found two--Keith and Sally. If you liked Imperfect Strangers, Sylvia, read David's new book Void--a five star read for me!

[Christine]

David, I have now read both of your psychological studies and 3 of your fantasy books. I have to say your prose is beautiful. So melodic. Something I just haven't seen in other psychological suspense books. Do you make a conscious effort to write in that wonderful style, or is it 2nd nature to you?

Which genre do you enjoy writing the best?

Do you see another psychological suspense novel in you?

[David]

Thank you Sylvia, I'm pleased you found "imperfect strangers" and enjoyable and worthwhile read.

It's pleasing to know you found sympathy for Keith, the intention was for you to have mixed emotions from chapter to chapter. I had intended this for all characters, even Steve, and purposefully fed most of the information you received about him 3rd hand for that reason. All you really know about him has been derived from the opinion of the other characters, all of whom had their own particular agendas.

The shopping with Poppy and the humour regarding the cat were particularly fun to write, so I'm pleased you found them enjoyable to read. I believe that even the darkest of stories need an element of humour.

[David]

Thank you, Christine, for recommending VOID. It's early days yet (only just over a week) but it has been well received by all that have so far posted a review.

Thank you too, for complimenting my prose; I'm glad you like it. The writing style I employ does come natural to me to a certain extent, but I do also polish it during the second draft. I love to play with words as much as telling the actual story. I believe in finding the perfect word to suit the tone of the sentence and in finding the correct order of words to allow one sentence to easily flow into the next. I find it irritating when reading if a sentence trips me up, if I have to pause and work at understanding what is actually being said: this pulls me out of the story world and reminds me that there is an author behind the narrative. I work hard at trying to avoid doing this myself.

I enjoy writing thrillers and fantasy equally but for different reasons, and to that end have endevoured to alternate between the two genres. The next book will therefore be a fantasy novel. but there are a few psychological suspense novels simmering away in the back of my mind.