April 2020 Group Read with Guest Author #2, Tom Deady

[Kenneth]

This is the thread for our April 2020 Group Read with Guest Author #2, Tom Deady. This month we’ll be reading Tom’s Gothic horror tale, COLERIDGE. If you’d like to participate, you can grab a copy of COLERIDGE here:

https://www.amazon.com/Coleridge-Tom-...

Please help me welcome to Horror Aficionados.... Tom Deady!

[Kimberly]

Welcome Tom!!!

[Feli]

Hi Tom!

I wasn't going to participate in any group reads for a while, but I couldn't resist this one.
I grabbed an ebook since there's no way to get a printed copy now, but I looking forward to reading this one with you.

[Latasha]

Hi Tom. Welcome and thank you! i'm going to read this one too!

[Char]

Hello Tom! Welcome to HA and thanks for participating with us. :)

[Tom]

Hey Everybody!

I'm excited to be back here to answer any questions you might have on Coleridge (or anything else).
This novella was a little out of my comfort zone as a writer, so I'm more than a little nervous to hear your feedback, but bring it on!

[Tom]

Feli wrote: "Hi Tom!

I wasn't going to participate in any group reads for a while, but I couldn't resist this one.
I grabbed an ebook since there's no way to get a printed copy now, but I looking forward to re..."

Thanks Feli!

[Stephanie]

Hi Tom, picked up a kindle copy a mere few minutes ago. Looking forward to reading it.

[Tom]

Stephanie wrote: "Hi Tom, picked up a kindle copy a mere few minutes ago. Looking forward to reading it."

Can't wait to hear your thoughts!

[Tom]

Happy April everybody! I'm thrilled to be here for a second time to answer any questions about Coleridge, or any of my stories. Hello? Is this thing on?

[Latasha]

Yay Tom!

[Kimberly]

Tom wrote: "Happy April everybody! I'm thrilled to be here for a second time to answer any questions about Coleridge, or any of my stories. Hello? Is this thing on?"

I already read and reviewed COLERIDGE, and would love to know if you plan on revisiting this concept in the future. (Whether writing a full novel, prequel, or "side story").

[Kasia]

Saw this thread pop up in my notifications so I decided to join, I'm about 20% in and very intrigued, nice to have you here Tom!

[Tom]

Kimberly wrote: "Tom wrote: "Happy April everybody! I'm thrilled to be here for a second time to answer any questions about Coleridge, or any of my stories. Hello? Is this thing on?"

I already read and reviewed CO..."

Kimberly wrote: "Tom wrote: "Happy April everybody! I'm thrilled to be here for a second time to answer any questions about Coleridge, or any of my stories. Hello? Is this thing on?"

I already read and reviewed CO..."

Hi Kimberly!
Originally, I had planned for this to be a standalone (it was supposed to be a short story, but the characters insisted it needed to be longer). But, a lot of people have echoed your sentiment that they want more, so...
There will definitely be something to tell more of the story, not sure what yet.

[Tom]

Kasia wrote: "Saw this thread pop up in my notifications so I decided to join, I'm about 20% in and very intrigued, nice to have you here Tom!"

Hi Kasia,
I hope you enjoy it! I'm more of a small town/coming-of-age horror writer so this was very different for me.

[Kimberly]

Tom wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Tom wrote: "Happy April everybody! I'm thrilled to be here for a second time to answer any questions about Coleridge, or any of my stories. Hello? Is this thing on?"

I already rea..."

Looking forward to it!!!! :D

[Justin]

What a great read, Tom! Smart and unsettling. Really enjoyed it.

[Tom]

Justin wrote: "What a great read, Tom! Smart and unsettling. Really enjoyed it."

Thanks Justin! I'm always nervous about how my work will be received, but this was very different for me and the anxiety was worse than usual. Thanks for the kind words!

[Char]

I very much enjoyed this book, Tom! You can add my voice to the others that wanted more. I would read anything else you wrote with these characters and Coleridge.

[Kenneth]

Coleridge felt like such a unique house. Was this based on a house that you’ve been in?

[Kimberly]

I think we officially have enough "MORE COLERIDGE" votes--LOL!! This was a very popular opinion. :D

[Tom]

Char wrote: "I very much enjoyed this book, Tom! You can add my voice to the others that wanted more. I would read anything else you wrote with these characters and Coleridge."

That seems to be the popular opinion! Prequel, sequel, or something else?

[Tom]

Kenneth wrote: "Coleridge felt like such a unique house. Was this based on a house that you’ve been in?"

Not at all. The only really unique house I've been to is the Winchester House, but Coleridge was already written.

[Kimberly]

Tom wrote: "Char wrote: "I very much enjoyed this book, Tom! You can add my voice to the others that wanted more. I would read anything else you wrote with these characters and Coleridge."

That seems to be th..."

I'd love a Prequel to this one....

[Latasha]

i started this one today.

[Feli]

I just started the book and am liking it very much. I didn't need any time to get into it, the story and the characters were great and captivating from the very beginning.
That's a good sign I guess :D
Can't wait to go on reading.

[Tom]

Feli wrote: "I just started the book and am liking it very much. I didn't need any time to get into it, the story and the characters were great and captivating from the very beginning.
That's a good sign I gues..."

Keep me posted!

[Tom]

Latasha wrote: "i started this one today."

Let me know your thoughts!

[Latasha]

I agree on it being captivating right from the start.

[Kimberly]

Latasha wrote: "I agree on it being captivating right from the start."

Can't wait to hear what you think!!

[Latasha]

Ok i finished it. I’m still letting it sink in. The story is very engaging, I read it in one day and the majority in one sitting. I was wondering if (view spoiler)[ Dalia is unreliable? Was Slade really there? Did he send her the clipping? Don’t tell me! I like the mystery of it. I really expected him to be buried under the patio. (hide spoiler)]

[Tom]

Latasha wrote: "Ok i finished it. I’m still letting it sink in. The story is very engaging, I read it in one day and the majority in one sitting. I was wondering if [spoilers removed]"

Have you read Turn of the Screw?

[Latasha]

I tried but I didn’t finish it.

[Tom]

Latasha wrote: "I tried but I didn’t finish it."

That book was a huge inspiration for Coleridge. I'm glad you could finish mine!

[Latasha]

Tom wrote: "Latasha wrote: "I tried but I didn’t finish it."

That book was a huge inspiration for Coleridge. I'm glad you could finish mine!"

if i'm remembering correctly, it was too slow for me and i think maybe the language was too much. i may be confusing it with the woman in white, though. i know the basic premise of turn of the screw. i know i downloaded both from Librivox. Maybe i should give it another try.

[Kimberly]

Latasha wrote: "Tom wrote: "Latasha wrote: "I tried but I didn’t finish it."

That book was a huge inspiration for Coleridge. I'm glad you could finish mine!"

if i'm remembering correctly, it was too slow for me ..."
That was one I had to read a couple of times to let things "sink in" for me. Very glad I did, though, and I have re-read it several times since.

[Tom]

Hey everyone! If you were planning on getting the paperback version of Coleridge, sign up for my newsletter before Sunday. I'll be sending out a newsletter Monday with details on a contest I'm running ONLY for subscribers. Five lucky winners get a signed/personalized paperback edition of Coleridge!
www.tomdeady.com

[Latasha]

thanks for letting us know! that's exciting!

[Kimberly]

Signed up!

[Feli]

I finished Coleridge a few days ago. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to read it in one setting (which would have been great). But I loved the story and characters.
I was a fan of Haven and you are right, this one is different. But in a very positive way. I really would love to read more about Coleridge and Dalia.
The ending was good and interesting. Still not exactly sure what happened. But I agree with Latasha, the mystery of not knowing is something I like.
I'm glad I picked the book up.
I also downloaded Turn of the Screw and will give this one a try soon.

[Tom]

Feli wrote: "I finished Coleridge a few days ago. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to read it in one setting (which would have been great). But I loved the story and characters.
I was a fan of Haven and you ar..."

Thanks! I'm happy to answer any questions you have.

[BozCitac]

I may be a bit behind the rest of you, but it's still April, so I am proudly state that I read this April Read in April! I read the whole book during just one night, which I rarely do, but this one was meant to be consumed like that. I understand the deliberate ambiguity – though I've never read the Turn of the Screw (mostly because one episode of CSI spoiled the Turn's ending for me), I have read other books that have the same concept. I just have one question for the author – why did you repeat those fragments from the journal, when the rest of the book is so brisk and prudent with words? Doesn't the protagonist herself say how they're not what she's looking for, so why go through them again?
Anyway, hope to read more from you!

[Tom]

The journal fragments that weren't what Dalia was looking for were there just to illustrate the depth of their relationship. All of my other novels and novellas have endings that don't leave much to imagination and mostly everything is "wrapped up." This was my first attempt (maybe my last?) in an ambiguous ending. I hope you go on to read some of my other work and appreciate your comment!