Graeme Rodaughan - Featured Author - A Subtle Agency (The Metaframe War #1) -July 1, 2022 - July 31, 2022

[Nyssa]

Nyssa wrote: "I will be starting this on Saturday."

I got a later start than anticipated and am only a few pages into the first chapter.
I found myself rooting so hard for (view spoiler)[Anna & William (hide spoiler)], and the outcome surprisingly guts me. Although, I am also angry at them for leaving (view spoiler)[Anton so vulnerable, uninformed, and unprepared (hide spoiler)] in the first place. I truly believe that secrets - or, more importantly, the lack of communication - can kill! (view spoiler)[ They should have sat that kid down at around age 15 or 16 and told him what was what - especially once he started spending time alone. (hide spoiler)] Chloe wasn't wrong about the blame there.

As for Chloe, am I right in believing that (view spoiler)[she is not exactly the "bad guy" we're to think she is? (hide spoiler)]
There is much more to her than we are seeing, but I can't tell if it's a selfish goal or one for "the greater good" yet.

I have to say this for you, Graeme - 30 some-odd pages in, and I am already emotionally invested!

[Kieron]

I'm starting this today. I've probably said this before but goodreads needs to sort out the spoiler tags on the mobile app.

[Nyssa]

Kieron wrote: "I'm starting this today. I've probably said this before, but goodreads needs to sort out the spoiler tags on the mobile app."

Aww, I'm sorry. If it's any consolation, everything in my post happens by page 30.

[Kieron]

oh no don't apologise that comment wasn't aimed at you at all. It's just hard to do groupreads because of the goodreads app.

[Nyssa]

Kieron wrote: "oh no don't apologise that comment wasn't aimed at you at all. It's just hard to do groupreads because of the goodreads app."

Yes, the app can be really inconvenient at times (which defeats the purpose of having an app).

[Kieron]

Exactly. You can hide spoilers with ease on the discord app for instance.

[Kevin]

Marie wrote: "Just a teeny weeny announcement on here for all members that are reading the series. We will be running the entire series through the group when this read is finished. We will schedule the books as..."

I'll jump in when we get to book 3. I recently finished 1 and 2. They are definitely worth a re-read but I already have a few other reads scheduled.

[Jason]

This is so good, really easy to read, loving all the set up and the background stuff. Can't wait to see Antons journey unfold.

[Graeme]

Kieron wrote: "I'm starting this today. I've probably said this before but goodreads needs to sort out the spoiler tags on the mobile app."

Hi Kieron, if you're on your phone, there's a little 'button,' on the bottom right corner of the page (check the home page, or any page) labelled 'Web version,' which may work for you.

[Graeme]

Nyssa wrote: "As for Chloe, am I right in believing that there is much more to her than we are seeing, but I can't tell if it's a selfish goal or one for "the greater good" yet. ..."

Indeed, Nyssa. She's definently a villain, but she's a nuanced villain, morally ambiguous and quite easy to identify with.

[Graeme]

Nyssa wrote: "I have to say this for you, Graeme - 30 some-odd pages in, and I am already emotionally invested! ..."

Hi Nyssa, that experience is precisely what I aim to share with readers by writing stories. Glad to see it's working for you.

[Graeme]

Kevin wrote: "I'll jump in when we get to book 3. I recently finished 1 and 2. They are definitely worth a re-read but I already have a few other reads scheduled..."

That'll be fun. I'm sure you'll enjoy 'The Dragon's Den.'

[Graeme]

Jason wrote: "This is so good, really easy to read, loving all the set up and the background stuff. Can't wait to see Antons journey unfold."

Thanks, Jason. Glad you're enjoying it.

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Never can get enough action with this series and I am out of Oreos this time too - how did that happen? So I am reading without munching along on something. lol

So throwing a thought or two out on here.

(view spoiler)[Every time I read this book - lots of emotion in the beginning of the book just pulls you right into the storyline - tons of stuff happens and it is still hard to get through a decapitation of Anton's mom - I probably won't ever recover from that attack -like some readers haven't recovered from the Noodle House explosion. Action abounds within just a few scenes - actually with this first book there is no time to breathe and come up for air as everything is continuous (hide spoiler)]

I am trying to move slow through this book to absorb it but I say that every time I read it too. There is really nothing slow about this book - pace of the book is like a supersonic jet. :)

[Graeme]

Marie wrote: "Never can get enough action with this series and I am out of Oreos this time too - how did that happen? So I am reading without munching along on something. lol. So throwing a thought or two out on..."

Indeed, Marie. You make me think about my general attitude to how a story starts -something like this ...

1st Para:

A flock of seagulls danced with the early morning breeze.
Yvette and Sam walked along the beach, hand in hand, while their 5-yo son Jordie and family pet Maze dodged waves at the water's edge.

2nd Para:

Maze pricked up his ears and stared out across the ocean.
Jordie dropped a handful of shells to the sand and took a step backward. He turned to his parents, a question on his face. "Mommy?"

3rd Para:

Maze growled low in his throat, backed away from the water and stood in front of Jordie. A wall of dark fur, muscle and bone between the boy and whatever was coming.
"What's up J," Yvette asked, her head cocked to the left. "Did you cut yourself on a shell?"
Her husband lifted a hand to her right shoulder, and asked, "What's Mazie growling at?"

4th Para:

Maze howled and seagulls shrieked.
A pair of giant tentacles speared out of the water and wrapped themselves around Yvette and Sam. Both screamed, loud and long, as the tentacles waved in the air before plunging into the ocean.
Jordie stared at the roiling water with eyes like saucers while Maze barked at the frothing waves.
He whispered, tears starting in his eyes, "Mommy? Daddy?"

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Graeme wrote: "Marie wrote: "Never can get enough action with this series and I am out of Oreos this time too - how did that happen? So I am reading without munching along on something. lol. So throwing a thought..."

WOW! Cool! It looks like the start of another series! Hurry up and write it as I want to see what happens next! ❤️

*Me grabbing my bag of chips and scrunching down in my cozy chair for some Rodaughan Cinema Theatre Action!*

[Graeme]

Just a doodle.

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Graeme wrote: "Just a doodle."

😊

[Kasia, il Barbaro]

Starting now, scared and excited!!

[Kasia, il Barbaro]

Only 5% in but holy shmoly! Wowzers.

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Buckle up Kasia! The vampire train will be speeding along at the speed of light! :)

[Nyssa]

I'm now just over the halfway mark - Chapter 4 - (view spoiler)[Dinner after the Noodle Shop explosion (hide spoiler)]. That whole sequence of events would look fantastic in a movie!

I'm feeling anxious about the next steps and where loyalties will lie. (view spoiler)[ Our group may be falling into a trap. (hide spoiler)] I so hope that: (a) I am wrong; or (b) they figure it out early/fast and successfully.

I'm also curious about James. (view spoiler)[ Chloe was mentioned by name, and I could have sworn one of them called her out as a vampire during their discussion. (hide spoiler)] He verbally brushes the group off as being crazy, which I get on the surface, but did he not listen to everything they said? Are alarm bells not going off in his head?

Also, how do the Wu's (view spoiler)[ have no countersurveillance around them? I would have expected them to have ways of recognizing when they are under watch. (hide spoiler)]

Oh, and Louise Wesson seems wicked smart. I'm hoping she becomes an ally.

My only quibble is that I wish the chapters were shorter, allowing for more natural stopping points.

Okay, back into the fray for a few minutes before I start work -

((view spoiler)[ Li and Anton in the hallway - are they becoming a thing? (hide spoiler)] I immediately flashed to one of my favorite movies and asked - "Is this a kissing book?" LOL)

[Kasia, il Barbaro]

Graeme, your writing style is exquisite. I always heard that the action in your books was incredible but I am blown away by your sentences. Each one is pure magic.

[Graeme]

Hi Nyssa,

Chapter 4 spoilers ahead.

Regarding chapter 4 and its implications:(view spoiler)[

Are Anton, Li, and Gang - falling into a trap. It remains to be seen - they are definently on the run and are being pursued.

Yes, James heard everything that was discussed. His initial reaction is to disbelieve and brush it off, but he is on a journey too.

Wu counter surveillance relies on the big overhead screen over their backyard training environment (James refers to it as a 'black hole,' (if I remember correctly), plus high fences and garden screens, and finally, publicly blending in as just 'regular folk.' Gang is on the side-lines (mostly) of the big conflict between humanity and the vampires.

If you read on into the series, you'll see multiple instances where an 'active sensor array,' is detected by the opposing force... so, the Wu family stay away from a high-tech solution.

Louise is wicked smart and has some very useful survival skills.

Sorry about the long chapters (watch out for chapter 1 in 'A Traitor's War,' it's a doozy). I experimented with shorter chapters and my beta readers didn't like them, so kinda stuck with them.

Regarding Li & Anton and a possible romance angle. You'll have to read on - at best, their relationship is 'complicated.' That said, I don't write 'paranormal romance.'

(hide spoiler)]

Thanks, glad you're enjoying the story, Nyssa. I really aim for a visual experience when writing. I try to situate the reader right in the middle of what is happening; witnessing and experiencing what is going down through the senses, hearts and souls of the key characters at that moment.

[Graeme]

Kasia wrote: "Graeme, your writing style is exquisite. I always heard that the action in your books was incredible but I am blown away by your sentences. Each one is pure magic."

Awesome. Glad you're loving the story. As my first book, I tend to see it as my 'first effort,' and I've attempted to improve my craft with every book. So, your experience bodes well for the rest of the series - should you continue on.

[Kasia, il Barbaro]

Of course I will read them all! I'd be robbing myself blind if I didn't.

[Nyssa]

Graeme wrote: "Hi Nyssa,

Chapter 4 spoilers ahead.

Thanks, glad you're enjoying the story, Nyssa. I really aim for a visual experience when writing. I try to situate the reader right in the middle of what is happening; witnessing and experiencing what is going down through the senses, hearts and souls of the key characters at that moment."

I am enjoying this very much (to the detriment of two other titles - lol).

Thank you for engaging with us by addressing our comments, questions, and concerns. :)

Edited to Add - Based on my experience so far, I do plan to continue the series with the rest of the group.

[Graeme]

Kasia wrote: "Of course I will read them all! I'd be robbing myself blind if I didn't."

Awesome, Kasia

[Graeme]

My pleasure, Nyssa.

I love reading these books with readers.

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Another question for you Graeme. :)

What is the Metaframe?

[Graeme]

Marie wrote: "What is the Metaframe?"

Firstly, there are events. For example, eating an apple.

For the event, eating an apple, there needs to be at minimum, an apple to eat, the desire to eat an apple and someone to do the eating...

The apple, desire, and the someone are all part of the framework that enables the event of eating an apple to occur.

Now imagine a framework where there are no apples ... clearly, the event of 'eating an apple,' can no longer occur.

Now imagine a universal framework (Reality) enabling all the events that occur.

Now imagine that our universal framework does not allow vampires to exist. Let's call that Reality#1.

Now imagine that there is a 'machine,' or 'system,' that allows someone to literally reach into the universal reality framework and 'shift it,' to a new state.

Such a person, could shift Reality#1 (sans vampires) to a new framework, Reality#2, where vampires are possible, and someone who'd just died, was alive (and unintentionally) a vampire.

This could happen because a simple resurrection back to perfect health and well being and a resurrection as a vampire are 'just a nudge away,' from each other on the Metaframe control dial.

Hence Mekra.

The Metaframe is named the way it is as it is a 'Framework of Frameworks,' a system for managing shifts from one Reality frame to another Reality frame.

It has one very important constraint - it can't be used to go back or reverse time. Once something has happened, it's happened and can not be undone.

The many luminous spheres illustrate the current 'configuration,' of the Metaframe - and serious change results in a variation in the configuration of the many visible spheres of lights, orbits, velocity, colour, spin direction, spin speed, etc... the total possibilities are essentially infinite.

Any questions?

[Kasia, il Barbaro]

All that could be a book all in itself <3

[Graeme]

Hi Kasia, I put a bit of time into thinking the MF through. It's my version of the 'One Ring,' - an ultimate representation of power/dominion. 😎

[Nyssa]

Chapter 5 - (view spoiler)[Gang told Li and Anton to care for each other - I have a bad feeling about this! He's not going to make it through the night (?); Self-sacrifice (?) (hide spoiler)]

UGH, So much anxiety!

Question - Did we get a description of James earlier in the book? If so, I can't remember.

I will start Chapter 6 after work tonight.

[Graeme]

Nyssa wrote: "Question - Did we get a description of James earlier in the book? If so, I can't remember."

Some descriptions of James as seen by others ...

Anton: He studied the suit closely; he wanted to be sure that he would never forget this man. He was tall, about six feet four inches, powerful looking, more a wrestler’s rather than a boxer’s body. He had short, dark brown hair, a little gray starting to show at the temples, and a pronounced receding hairline. He had strong features, big nose, big jaw, and big hands. He looked tough, hard, and dangerous.

TBD: A man stepped into view, ruggedly built, six feet, four and about two-hundred and thirty pounds. He moved with the practiced ease of someone with intimate knowledge of combat.

[Nyssa]

Graeme wrote: "Nyssa wrote: "Question - Did we get a description of James earlier in the book? If so, I can't remember."

Some descriptions of James as seen by others ...

Anton: He studied the suit closely; he w..."

Ah yes, I remember now, "more a wrestler’s rather than a boxer’s body."

Thank you. :)

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Graeme wrote: "Any questions? ..."

Well........hmmmm.......I don't know what all that was about but I think I will go back to my dark cave and eat some of those apples that you were mentioning up there in that post. 🍎🍎🍎😍🤩

[Kieron]

I'm about half way and agree with everybody about the pace and how easy it is to read.
Found a way around the mobile app.
Great explanation of the metaframe Graham.

[Graeme]

You're welcome, Nyssa.

[Graeme]

Marie wrote: "Well........hmmmm........."

😉😎

[Graeme]

Kieron wrote: "I'm about half way and agree with everybody about the pace and how easy it is to read. Found a way around the mobile app. Great explanation of the metaframe Graham."

Thanks, Kieron.

Good to hear the app situation has improved.

[Nyssa]

I just finished the book. Well done, Graeme; well done! :)

I have purchased the rest of the series.

[Graeme]

Awesome, Nyssa.😁

[Kasia, il Barbaro]

About to make some Marmite spaghetti ( must try Vegemite next) and get back to reading :D

[Kieron]

Finished today, Very enjoyable read. I got Blade meets Jason Bourne vibes with all the swords and secret organisations. Looking forward to book 2.

[Nyssa]

Kieron wrote: "Finished today, Very enjoyable read. I got Blade meets Jason Bourne vibes with all the swords and secret organisations. Looking forward to book 2."

That is a good description! :)

[Graeme]

Kieron wrote: "Finished today, Very enjoyable read. I got Blade meets Jason Bourne vibes with all the swords and secret organisations. Looking forward to book 2."

Glad you enjoyed the story, Kieron. Spot on about the influences.

Blade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4eb_...

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

I finished today too (for my 5th time around - lol). I never tire of this series. It is like watching a favorite movie franchise for the umpteenth time and finding something new every time you watch it. :) Speaking of movie franchises - this should be one. :)

[Graeme]

Marie wrote: "I finished today too (for my 5th time around - lol). I never tire of this series. It is like watching a favorite movie franchise for the umpteenth time and finding something new every time you watc..."

5 reads, that's awesome, Marie.

[Marie, Coffee-Chocolate-Book Lover]

Graeme wrote: "5 reads, that's awesome, Marie...."

Thank you, Graeme! :)