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Gulf
Group Reads: Guest Author Invite
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May 2021 Group Read with Guest Author, Shelly Campbell
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Hey everyone! So stoked to be here. Thanks so much for considering Gulf for your TBR piles. Looking forward to getting more involved here at Horror Aficionados. What a fantastic community.
I like the sound of this; I'll join!
Very anxious to read this book. I love the possibilities that await
New group member here, excited for my first group read!
Hi, I'm new to this group -and group reads- are there rules, or we just read and post a review? I got this book already!
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When discussing out author guest reads you can feel free to ask questions of the authors as well.
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This sounds really interedting and the cover is gorgeous, might join in if I find the time
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I dove into this book early and am more than half-way through. Excellent work Shelly - the writing is great. The cover and the book's premise drew me in - and also, the opportunity to discuss in this group.
Wonderful to hear, M. I’m absolutely in love with the cover and I can’t wait to discuss the book with you all.
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Kimberly wrote: "I got about 1/3 of the way through in one sitting! Very smooth writing style, and a MC I "feel" for!"Kimberly, I’m so glad. That’s what every writer hopes for, an MC that is relatable enough to pull us along for the ride :)
I agree I love the cover and the art at the beginning of every chapter! No spoilers! But I love the beginning and the end.
M wrote: "I agree I love the cover and the art at the beginning of every chapter! No spoilers! But I love the beginning and the end."Good to hear! Any scene that stuck with you in particular?
Yeah! The family trip part! That was a really good part where they’re driving to the cabin. The flashbacks were some of my favorite parts of the book!
I loved the flashbacks too. I pulled from many family trips crammed into stinky vans for the road trip scenes. I'm not sure how my parents tolerated my cousins, siblings and I without crashing. We were a pretty rambunctious crowd.
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Oh, sweet question. I remember watching a video once where they dressed someone famous in ragged clothing and had them pretend to be a homeless person, and how people ignored them to the point that they felt invisible. It struck me what a massive impact that collective ‘ignoring’ must have on one’s mental health—especially those who may be mentally ill already. We’ve all had those pivotal moments where we’ve been forgotten, a co-worker gets our name wrong, the bus leaves without us, our parents don’t pick us up from school. They’re impactful enough that they stay with us for a long time. With David, I wanted to examine what it would look like to actually experience that on an escalating scale. He doesn’t feel like he belongs at an age where finding where you belong is critical. That could really mess a kid up. And David’s just a normal kid, with an incredible dogged strength to keep pushing through the invisibility to save the ones he loves, even when he doesn’t feel loved back. I wanted him to have a sense of humour because many people who are pushed to the edge and survive use humour as a crutch, and I wanted him to be soft, even in the moments he lashes out, because soft, quiet, practically invisible people, sometimes they are the toughest of all. Sometimes they’re the ones who save the world ;)
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Kenneth wrote: "Shelly, did you ever have an instance where your parents forgot to pick you up? I know I did. You’re right. What a horrible feeling. No cell phones at the time."I did. I was older though, so it wasn’t so scary. I do remember getting lost on a school field trip to the zoo and having the horrified, but still somewhat excited , thought “Okay. That’s it. I guess I live here now.” :) Shelly of the zoo.
Kenneth wrote: "Shelly, did you ever have an instance where your parents forgot to pick you up? I know I did. You’re right. What a horrible feeling. No cell phones at the time."Yeah, no cell phones made it a whole different ball game, didn’t it?
Kimberly wrote: "I'm about half way through, and David just seems so REAL to me!"Aw, I’m so glad! He felt real to me too, Kimberly. Putting this book out into the world felt like pushing David out into the world and hoping he does okay. Hopefully I don’t have to bail him out of jail for a DUI or anything like that ;) Teenagers. Amirite?
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Aw, I’m so glad! He felt real to me too, Kimberly. Putting this book out into the world felt like pushing David ou..."
I have two big ones, and a special needs guy who will be a teen this year!! LOL!
finally got started last night!
Kimberly wrote: "Shelly wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "I'm about half way through, and David just seems so REAL to me!"Aw, I’m so glad! He felt real to me too, Kimberly. Putting this book out into the world felt like p..."
Mine are not teens yet, but they’re close. Tiny teens.
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Kasia wrote: "I just started it, and it reminded me when my mom passed right by me and totally forgot to pick me up around the corner then came back few minutes ago after a few turns back, funny how that's a thing."Right? Everyone has at least that one time that they remember. Poor David just has multiple times.
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Kasia wrote: "I'm really enjoying this rich story Shelly, thank you so much for being here for our reactions, what a treat!"Aw, how wonderful to hear, Kasia! It’s a real treat for me too. There are not too many times an author can share the excitement with readers in real time as they turn the pages, so this is really cool for me too :)
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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Fantastic story!
Kimberly wrote: "I just finished last night, and posted my review (here and on Amazon).https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Fantastic story!"
Kimberly, thank you so much for reading and for your wonderful review. I’m so glad David’s social anxiety came across realistically. Really appreciate you taking time out of your busy world for my book. Thanks again :)
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Latasha wrote: "I'm currently listening to your interview on the podcast Dead Headspace. That's a lot of fun! Right now, y'all are talking about 11/22/63."I had a blast talking to Patrick and Brennan. There’s inspiration from 11/22/63 in Gulf, for sure!
Thank you Shelly for having written this wonderful novel. My review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....I could see the inspiration from 11/22/63 - which was going to be one of my questions - what were your influences in developing this story? There are so many great dimensional-time-warping stories out there.
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M. wrote: "Thank you Shelly for having written this wonderful novel. My review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....I could see the inspiration from 11/22/63 - which was going to be one of my ..."
M, thank you for your very kind review. Much appreciated! I was influenced by time travel stories, for sure. Gulf was originally a short story written from an online prompt that merely said: There’s a locked door and your character finds the key. What’s behind the door? I liked David enough as a character to want to spend more time with him. I agree with you that more action on the other side of the door would have been awesome. Thanks again for taking the time to read and review.
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Thanks Shelly - so cool that Gulf started as a challenge for a short story. One of my favorite stories about a challenge that hit big was the Box Tops song "The Letter". Wayne Carson wrote the song as a challenge from his father who gave him the opening line "Give me a ticket for an aeroplane". I will ask (view spoiler).
M. wrote: "Thanks Shelly - so cool that Gulf started as a challenge for a short story. One of my favorite stories about a challenge that hit big was the Box Tops song "The Letter". Wayne Carso..."That’s so cool about the Box Tops song. Sometimes a challenge is the perfect spark for a new idea. As for your question (view spoiler)
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Kasia wrote: "Just finished reading page 32, half of my brain was trying to read it fast because I was getting rattled and the other half was like, slow down, its a book, it's not real, isn't it? Oh so good!!"Oh Kasia, that’s so wonderful to hear. Thank you!
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