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Readalong And Q&A with David Staniforth - Void
message 51:
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Karen B.
(new)
Mar 02, 2016 03:56PM
Well David, I am near the end ... needed to take a breather and all I can say is WOW! I am so glad I bought and read this today. Thank you.
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My first question to you David is how do you get the idea for Void? What drove you to write it?
I need to finish a current read and then I'll start Void.
Can't wait to join the conversation. David's going to be hard pressed to out-do Imperfect Strangers! After I finish my current Kindle Unlimited, I'll move on to VOID. (Is it supposed to be ALL CAPS? Hasn't anyone ever told you that's like yelling?)
Karen B. wrote: "Well David, I am near the end ... needed to take a breather and all I can say is WOW! I am so glad I bought and read this today. Thank you."Well with a reaction like that, Karen, I have to say that I'm glad you bought and read it today. Thank you, for giving me a boost at the beginning of my day and I hope it continues that way for you through to the end; when you have your breath back, of course :~)
Gopal (The Minion) wrote: "My first question to you David is how do you get the idea for Void? What drove you to write it?"Great question, Gopal, and one that is difficult to answer without spoilers, but I'll try my best. Perhaps nearer the end of the month, with a prompt, I could give a fuller answer.
Basically though, the tunnel/bridge that appears on the cover was the primary catalyst for the story, as it was something that featured in my childhood and is partially alluded to in the story. When thinking about this, and wanting to write a story that involved it, I started thinking about growing up and the memories I had and questioning to what extent our memories can be trusted. This then became the major theme of the novel and pushed me into researching how memory works, and fails. That was three years ago, because at the time I felt it was beyond me to write, and I didn't have a narrative vehicle that I felt was suitable to carry the plot.
Hope that answers your question for now. I can't wait to discuss the thoughts others have on memory, researching it was fascinating.
Pat wrote: "I need to finish a current read and then I'll start Void."Great, Pat. Hope you enjoy it.
Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "Can't wait to join the conversation. David's going to be hard pressed to out-do Imperfect Strangers! After I finish my current Kindle Unlimited, I'll move on to VOID. (Is it supposed to be ALL CAPS..."You'll have to let me know when you've read it, Kirsten.
All in caps was initially a graphics decision, when I was designing the cover. Upper and lower case just didn't look balanced. Nonetheless, I was going to change it, but the connotations of it signifying like a shout did occur to me, and for that reason I felt it suited the book well. Imagined yelling "VOID" into a void; all you would get is an echo that gives you back all that you had offered. For me it's redolent of the protagonist's mindset.
I have to say, it's great to see this initial involvement. I hope it continues and grows. I'm really looking forward to the possibility of discussing not only the book but also the underlying themes and what they mean to others.
Mod
Did not know we existed ? Good news now Karen you will find we have many great topics/threads, group Readalong every month, top Q & A, and also David !! ...LOl
Well promoted David, the fastest growing group on good reads !
Over 500 joined this year
I'm happy to recommend this great group and it's lovely members to anyone, Sean. Glad some of them have joined us.I'll await your response on the book, Sean :~)
Mod
My review 5 stars.
A void in one’s memory is filled with more than the fear of not knowing; it swirls with the dread of what those missing memories might contain.
When a young man wakens in a freezing car, his mind a complete blank, he embarks upon a journey that brings that very dread to the fore.
Who is he?
What has he done?
Where does he belong?
Why can he not remember?
VOID: a psychological journey of discovery that forces the question: To what extent can our memories be trusted?
A bloke wakes up in a car on a cold street. What is he doing there Who is he?
And so our story starts.
For 51 weeks in each of the last nine years, Tom has lived an ordinary life. For one week, he disappears and can't remember who he is, where he is, or what he's done, but this time things are going to be different, this time he has a lilac coloured journal from himself to read?
Worse, what happened to his first nineteen years of his life?
A unique, clever, very different thriller that makes you think, yes really think, how do YOU trust your own memories, not only gripping, tense and well written it is also thought provoking.
Kept at a great pace, strong, powerful characters with a story that comes together with a few suprises and shocks.
Not only have I read a book in four days, but I have learnt, yes a story that really makes you think !!
David my thanks also for making this book available to members of my group " A Good Thriller" but also agreeing to do a Read a long and Q & A's.
A great second thriller from you, and NO I still do not like fantasy...!
I too have learned and questioned how much do I really want to know the truth of those things that are blurry for me. I think we all tend to rewrite our own histories. In one sense Tom's subconscious is smart because he has chosen to forget rather than to remember a glossed up version of his life. If I were Tom I would have been questioning from the start, not only what it is that I don't remember but why? Why can't I remember why I am here? Why can't I remember who I am? Am I a bad person, is that why I can't remember it?
Thanks Sean, for both reading the book and writing a great complimentary review. I'm pleased you feel you learned something from reading it, too, to educate or provoke deeper thought as well as entertain makes it so much more worthwhile.As for being here, reducing the cost of the book and taking part in this Q&A, it's a pleasure, so thank you for allowing it.
Fantasy: I'm gonna get Christine to force you to try Alloria ;~)
Karen B. wrote: "I too have learned and questioned how much do I really want to know the truth of those things that are blurry for me. I think we all tend to rewrite our own histories. In one sense Tom's subconscio..."Thanks, Karen. As I said to Sean, it gives me great pleasure that the Novel has caused you to think on a deeper level. I find such a read satisfying myself, and so aim for it in my own writing. I think it is the fear of what was to be discovered that held Tom back for so long, but as you know from reading the story he came to a time in his life where the gamble became worthwhile.
I just spent last week with two of my brothers. I was surprised and amazed how our memories varied while we reminisced about our childhoods.David, a story for you. I heard Aerosmith's Angel while I was riding with my brother and I immediately associated that song with you and VOID. I bought the song on iTunes yesterday.
Brenda wrote: "I just spent last week with two of my brothers. I was surprised and amazed how our memories varied while we reminisced about our childhoods.David, a story for you. I heard Aerosmith's Angel while..."
That's great, Brenda. I find the same with my brothers and sister. Was your conversation a result of reading Void, or is it just that you took more notice of the disparities?
Should I tap Aerosmith for some commission? :~) So, I have a theme tune, I guess. Brilliant.
I took more notice, I think. I'm the oldest and remembered some things better than my brothers, but they also had other experiences that I remembered differently. For example, we had an English Setter pup that my Dad trained to hunt pheasants. My second younger brother said that dog was a terrible hunter, but I always thought he was great!
I started Void this morning! David, love your writing- you always create smart, full, beautiful images!
Love this one (no spoiler): "Again, empty claws grasp at a meaningless word. As if it's been engineered that way, no prize is forthcoming from this arcade-crane. The name means nothing to me."
Completely sucked in already!!
Brenda wrote: "I took more notice, I think. I'm the oldest and remembered some things better than my brothers, but they also had other experiences that I remembered differently. For example, we had an English Set..."I guess that moves us into slightly different territory. Is it just altered memory, or was it a different perspective based on age and personality? Good stuff, and the kind of thinking that often inspires an entire story.
Linda wrote: "I started Void this morning! David, love your writing- you always create smart, full, beautiful images!
Love this one (no spoiler): "Again, empty claws grasp at a meaningless word. As if it's been..."
Thanks, Linda (A fan of the fantasy novels, Sean). Thank you for the compliment, it means a lot to me that you enjoy the imagery. I was particularly pleased with that one.
David, did you have an inspiration for Pauline? She is one of my favorite characters.
Thanks, Karen, Pauline was great fun to write. I would have loved to have given her a bigger role, but didn't want to unbalance the story. Maybe there's a Pauline story to be written sometime in the future. Like most of my characters, Pauline is a mix of many people: a turn of phrase here from one person, and expression or mannerism there. I work in various libraries in the borough where I live, and as you can imagine I come into contact will lots of wonderful, interesting people. It's gold to a writer.
Can I ask if there was anything in particular that made Pauline a favourite for you?
David wrote: "Thanks, Karen, Pauline was great fun to write. I would have loved to have given her a bigger role, but didn't want to unbalance the story. Maybe there's a Pauline story to be written sometime in th..."She has a lot of wisdom and I loved the analogies you had her using in her conversation with Penny.
Reading your response has got me thinking, Karen, that Pauline plays a similar role to one of the characters in one of my fantasy novels, a much loved character named Bainberry in Alloria. People tell me it is those very traits that they like about him. I love a good analogy, much to my two daughters eye-rolling irritation :~)
Mod
Thanks, Sean.The book is selling well in the US at the moment, but not so well in the UK, which is a first for me.
Hi David, well done with your US sales. It's a couple of weeks since I read 'Void', but I think from memory that you mentioned an area of natural beauty in the book. I meant to ask you about it because I may visit it one day. (I'm only on the other side of the hills).
Is the place you mentioned in the Pennines? Here's a link about the Pennines (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennines), in case readers may want to check it out.
Thanks, Heather.It is in the Pennines: a village called Castleton (Peak National Park). About 15 minutes drive from Glossop, which I imagine you would know.
Thanks for posting the link. I know a couple of readers took great enjoyment from googling the various places in the story and following Tom's journey.
David wrote: "Thanks, Heather.It is in the Pennines: a village called Castleton (Peak National Park). About 15 minutes drive from Glossop, which I imagine you would know.
Thanks for posting the link. I know a..."
Yes, I should have remembered Castleton. My daughter has been there on school trips, and my grandma used to live in Glossop. It isn't that far from where we live.
I read Void about a month ago and i still think of the story and the characters. Once again you caught me completely, David, with your stories :)For me, the songs were one of the particularities that made the book unique. I listened to each one while reading and it was simply amazing!!!!!
And the first thing i did after finishing was to google the bridge, and i really like how you changed it for the cover :)
Nice to know I can keep you on your toes, Faouzia.Pleasing too that you found pleasure from listening to the songs, and that you felt it enhanced the reading experience.
I've always listened to songs before writing to help set the tone of the section I'm about to write in my own mind. Often it goes unmentioned, for example when writing Alloria I listened to the best of Cat Steven's album, as something about the music seemed to suit the tone of the book as well as the characters and their journey. In VOID though, the music became such an integral element of the narrative that I wanted to share that experience with the reader. I know it can be enjoyed and understood without the music, as some readers have told me, but all those that have listened to the tracks have found it added an extra layer of meaning to the narrative.
I find it great that you Googled the bridge, but then I know you have a big interest in architecture.
I agree w/ Faouzia, David, and I think that your inclusion of appropriate songs into the narrative was a unique touch! I can't remember other books that handled music in quite this way.Aerosmith's "Angel" really added much to the story and to Penny/Tom's feelings about each other; that will stick w/ me for awhile!
Fleetwood Mac's "Big Love" is also a great choice with the significance of the words !
David, Maybe I should know this but.... are YOU a musician? too ?
In response to Karen B's post.... Even thought I haven't finished the book yet, I have read about Pauline, a wonderful secondary character. The trait that I admire most about Pauline is that she is NON-JUDGMENTAL, a trait sorely lacking in today's world, IMO.Pauline knows that "Tom" is certainly down-on-his-luck , but she finds him non-threatening, has been observing his comings/goings and with kindness, helps him when he really needs it! What nice touches: the hot soup and a clean, white douvet then offering him a job, Tom the Gardener.
We need more Paulines !
Thanks, Betsy. I'm really pleased that the songs are working for people. When writing, I imagined it like the soundtrack to a film. I also felt it suited the triggering of memories well. I don't know if other people find this to be so, but when I'm listening to a music album that I know well, I know exactly what the next track will be and even the opening words to the song as the current song draws to a close. Ask me to do that without playing the album though, and I wouldn't have a clue what the order is. Therein, the closing chords of one song works like a link in the chain of memory. To my mind, the songs and the journal work in this way in the story.I'm not a musician, no, but I wish I were. I draw and paint (designing and creating my own book covers) and of course I also write. I have to be happy with that and appreciate the artistry of people who aren't tone deaf.
More Paulines in the world, yes, I have to agree that would be a good thing :~)
To Kirsten re. the use of CAPS . Yes, I've been told that using CAPS on-line may suggest "yelling, but it could also signify emphasis which we, as posters, have no other way of showing.Book titles, newspapers and magazines, are supposed to be underlined and for me, as a poster, there is not a way to do that. What we are told to do instead is to use all CAPS when we mention a book on-line. However, the grammar police are not as vigilant as they once were and we all seem to use different methods and that seems to be OK.
Betsy, about book titles posted on Goodreads ... I am lazy and tend to ignore the proper way to do it but you can the same way you do spoilers. I had read somewhere that using italics is the preferred way to show titles ; that underlined text is acceptable; and also bold print can be used . I use caps for VOID because David used caps when writing it.
Karen, I must not be as smart as you b/c I have no clue how to use italics and when I try to underline a title, the underlining makes the title disappear. And, I see no bold print icon at the top of the GReads page as I do on my e-mail page so.... that is why I use CAPS. ??? Oh, bother....
Betsy, if you click on the (some html is ok) at the top of the posting box, it give instructions for italicising, bolding etc., though bold, underligning or caps, its all good for me :-)
Mod
Glad members are enjoy the book. :)
Betsy wrote: "Karen, I must not be as smart as you b/c I have no clue how to use italics and when I try to underline a title, the underlining makes the title disappear. And, I see no bold print icon at the top o..."Betsy, when you go to write a post there is (some html is ok) at the top right of the box. Scroll down and you do it just like you do for spoilers. For underlining < then the letter u, another > at the end of the the part you want underlined use < then / then u then > just like you do spoilers. The same for italics with letter i and bold with letter b
Thanks everyone for your help with my "problem" ; I am a tech dinosaur , for sure. David I like how you used the word "void" in many references throughout and not just when you were writing about memory loss:
...."my eyes fell into the gaping black void...."
...."being swallowed by the void...."
These constant reminders were very effective !
I'm heading into the back stretch of the book; maybe I'll finish it tonight. Then I have to think about it for a day or so , but it is one helluva book. Thanks, Karen, for the recommendation!
Thanks, Betsy, pleasing that you find it effective. Some words are so rich in their connotations, don't you think? It'd be a shame not to mine their wealth.So pleased you've enjoyed the journey, and I'll look forward to your final thoughts. Take a thanks for the recommendation from me too Karen.
Some people that intend to join in have not managed to begin the book as yet, so be sure to join in as they jump on board Betsy. I'll be joining in with this throughout March, and I'm sure we will find much to discuss, especially towards the end of the month when we enter a spoiler free for all :~)
To my helping buddies, Look what I can do:Void Imperfect Strangers
Who says that you can't teach "old" dogs new tricks? Many thanks! Will try italics and bold later :)
See Betsy, I knew you could do it if you could do spoilers (my toughest challenge)
Book discussions and computer lessons. Well done, Betsy :~)
I have just started Void today, David. I must say it's off to a very good start indeed, and I look forward to joining in with the discussion once I'm a bit further along :)
That is good to know, Andy. I look forward to your joining in. A good number reading at the moment so there should be more of us soon.
Mod
Ps
Fleetwood Mac, one of my favourite groups
Tusk, Seven Wonders, Little Lies, Mystify
A Good Thriller
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