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Hi Chris,Would you be interested in my 64K words set in Russia where I have been many times.
A retired military historian visits the battle sites of Stalingrad. He dislikes women and Russian culture equally. He was burned in divorce and other relationships with women. His dislike of Russia is based on his visit to the Soviet Union.
He mistakenly gets a female guide because of confusion with Russian patronymics.
Over a week in Volgograd (Stalingrad) he comes to love his female guide and Russia culture by appreciation the depth of both.
Through his guide he also discovers the criminality of Russian society after the Soviet collapse.
Am I the only person who finds it interesting? Russia might not be a subject of interest at the moment but I started it before the invasion. Folk might want to know something of Russian life.
I await your opinion.
Derek
Very interested, Derek. Send me a DM and we'll figure out where to start!
Hello, I've got a project too that I'd really appreciate some unbiased, brutal opinions on. It's about 40k words, it's a little bit of a mess. I suppose you could describe it as literary or speculative fiction? I can't describe it, but Chat GPT says "WIP follows the protagonist tumultuous journey of self-discovery and interpersonal conflict as she navigates complex relationships, inner turmoil, and the search for authenticity in the face of societal pressures and personal insecurities." Would you be interested??
Sure thing, Patience. DM me the details and I'll see if I can trawl out an angle.
Chris wrote: "Sure thing, Patience. DM me the details and I'll see if I can trawl out an angle."Looks like your messages are off?
New Adult Urban Fantasy Word count 84996
Rendition of beauty and the beast.
After pulling a prank on a witch, Essa is cursed to become a beast when night falls and only love can break the curse. Two years later and fresh out of a break up, love has never been farther away.
Plus, one day before starting her shift at Fifi's club and cabaret as a dominatrix, Essa receives a valentines box from the witch full of roses as she always does, but, this time she receives the box before Valentine's Day and knows her time is running out. She believes she has two options, find a love or break the curse by her own hand.
Thanks for considering, looking forward to your decision.
Hello! I have a first draft of a sci-fi fantasy YA book. At this point, I know there's wording to tweak, but my main concern is the pacing and plot. Can you help review?
Hi Chris, Still looking to beta read? If so, I just finished a 74k Psychological Thriller that I think you'd enjoy. Please let me know here or private message and I'll send you the synopsis. Thanks! -Also Chris
Hi Chris, I've got a 94K third draft YA urban fantasy I'm looking for Big Picture feedback on. Blurb:In Santa Cruz, California, 16-year-old Rowan seems to have it all. Heir to the Standish fortune, and granddaughter of the coven’s High Priestess, she is destined for greatness. But will her ego sabotage her destiny?
Meanwhile, Danika Malina has no idea magic is real, much less that she holds an ancient connection to it. Why all the secrecy? And Is she too lost to find her way?
The paths of the two young witches cross and recross as they navigate their way towards initiation in the Coven of Ilitra Lor. Along the way, they uncover magical beings and mysteries that could mean the end of magic altogether.
Please contact me if you're up for it--
Jess
Hi Chris,Do you currently have time to beta read? I have written a 50K words memoir on my childhood and the psychological abuse of my father and would be happy to get some feedback.
Have a great day!
Jessica wrote: "Hi Chris, I've got a 94K third draft YA urban fantasy I'm looking for Big Picture feedback on. Blurb:In Santa Cruz, California, 16-year-old Rowan seems to have it all. Heir to the Standish fortune..."
Najeev wrote: "Hey Chris,
My manuscript is an 85,000–word YA fantasy inspired by the mythologies of South Asia.
I've now queried this manuscript for a little over a year. In that time, I've received 10 full re..."
Chris wrote: "Hi Chris, Still looking to beta read? If so, I just finished a 74k Psychological Thriller that I think you'd enjoy. Please let me know here or private message and I'll send you the synopsis. Thanks..."
Hi, folks! I don't actually know if a multi-reply works so treat this response as a bit of a test. Jumping back onto my threads to pick up another couple beta reads. Your projects sound neat and I'd be happy to take a look. Shoot me a message with what I can help with and how best I can read your work and we'll see what we can do!
Thanks,
-Chris
Chris wrote: "With a handful of beta reads under my belt, I'm looking to tackle another handful now that I've got the notion of how this all works.No restriction to genre.
I'd really prefer under 100k.
On the ..."
Hi Chris,
I have a fantasy novel, approx. 60K. It's "It's up, it's painted, but now I got to add a layer of sealant and I really want to know if it's a good tower of blocks before I show the teacher and it's time to put everything away"
Here's the 1st draft of my blurb (I really hate writing those things, but it covers the gist of the story)
In the town of Gold Fields, evil wears a friendly mask, blood doesn’t always run red, and fire doesn’t always burn.
Eight-year-old Innah McLeod witnessed a nightmare that shattered her innocence and left her with supernatural abilities.
For years, she used her abilities as a weapon for law enforcement, spying on the drags of the supernatural community. But when her partner and mentor is killed in the line of duty, Inah’s only wish is to retreat to the country and the solace of beautiful sunsets.
Now Captain Bradshaw wants her back. If she accepts this one assignment, he will release her from her contract. Unable to refuse, Innah finds herself undercover in the town where she lost more than she ever knew.
She knows the drills—go in, identify the members, get out. But Gold Fields is home to a dangerous cult, one who brings the past knocking on her door and awakens old nightmares.
Once, Innah McLeod faced unspeakable horrors. In the town of Gold Fields, she will step into that darkness again.
Let me know if it's something that interests you. My inbox here is open for DMs, or you can email me at jina.salameh1@gmail.com
Best,
Jina
Chris wrote: "With a handful of beta reads under my belt, I'm looking to tackle another handful now that I've got the notion of how this all works.No restriction to genre.
I'd really prefer under 100k.
On the ..."
Chris,
Went to DM you but seem unable too. I have visited your profile and seen what you are reading (Currently Jack Reacher). I have posted in the Betas wanted section, but I will post here for you as well just to keep it easy. I think (Hope) my book might be something that would interest you.
Regrads,
James
"Almost complete. Commercial fiction. Military setting. Thriller / (Slight) Sci-fi
Target Audience: Thriller, Military, New Adult / Young Adult, SciFi
Status. 100,000 words, finishing my last chapter, and approaching my epilogue. Before I start my whole book revisions. I thought this would be a good time to reach out to the BETA group so I can incorporate feedback with my own revisions.
Credentials. I am an Ex British Army Officer, and now work in a similar but private sphere.
World. My book is loosely based in the world experienced going from being a civilian into the military world (It’s a series that will follow the protagonist from training (based on the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst the UKs officer academy I attended), second book will be operational, third book will be private sector work.
Overview. Individuals conceived with genetic assistance from a classified government programme are indentured to the UK government as a return of investment. The individuals are enrolled in an academy to undergo military training with a view to developing them to work in the tri-services. A minority go to work for an organisation called UKCHIS who are a less well-known collection within the intelligence community.
Detail. At the start we meet the protagonist, Emma. A seventeen-year-old is plucked from obscurity in North Wales to attend the programme at Minley Academy. She starts out as timid and home loving, if slightly unhappy and lonely. She is distressed at being forced down this path, and as she attends, she tries to unravel the truth surrounding UKCHIS and the purpose of this secret government organisation and a way out, whilst undergoing basic training.
I hope this might interest someone."
Hey Chris. Do you have any availability in mid-June? My book is Women's Historical Fiction and 115,000 words. I'll send you a DM as well.Megan
Jina wrote: "Chris wrote: "With a handful of beta reads under my belt, I'm looking to tackle another handful now that I've got the notion of how this all works.No restriction to genre.
I'd really prefer under ..."
Hi, Jina!
I'd say it's a pretty good blurb and I'd be happy to give it a read and see what feedback I can come up with. I'll toss you a message and we'll go from there.
Thanks!
-Chris
J wrote: "Chris wrote: "With a handful of beta reads under my belt, I'm looking to tackle another handful now that I've got the notion of how this all works.No restriction to genre.
I'd really prefer under ..."
What can I say? I've got a weakness for airport bookshelf adventure novels.
Took me a bit of finagling but I was able to figure out how to change my messaging settings for people to be able to reach me.
Young adult military sci-fi is a niche that I've read quite a bit of and would love to give your project a read. I'll shoot you a message and we'll work out how get started!
Thanks,
-Chris
Hi Chris I see that you are already very popular, so I have no expectations. What I do have is a 90 K word novel that has gotten very positive feedback on the first and second chapter but never been read in entirety. I’ve done all the editing I can without feedback. I’d love it if you would be open to reading it and telling me what you think it could benefit from.
Quick pitch : first person, sardonic and witty, but jaded and addicted Therapist, his only friend being his cat who gets one more chance at a normal life when he meets a healthy woman and starts a relationship. But are his flaws terminal can he grow?
I’ll be happy to send you one chapter to see if it holds your interest .
I appreciate your time . Thank you.
Mat
Mat wrote: "Hi Chris I see that you are already very popular, so I have no expectations. What I do have is a 90 K word novel that has gotten very positive feedback on the first and second chapter but never be..."
Hi, Mat,
I've found I don't have a lot to say about first chapters. I'd be happy to take a look at the whole thing, but, until I find out where everything's going, I don't tend to have much to say about whether a bit is useful or good.
Thanks,
-Chris
Hey Chris,I know you've got a lot of stories already, but I thought I'd shoot my shot. I have a 63K novel that I could best describe as a YA urban fantasy with cryptids. It got rave reviews on a writing site so I've revamped it and hope to publish. If you've got the time and interest, let me know!
Good morning. I am looking for a reader for a sci-fi/urban fantasy.Angels among us is a 49000 word contemporary urban fantasy sci-fi novel. It is book 1 of a trilogy. Book 2 is also written, but in third person, and starts roughly ten years after the end of book 1.
It is written in first person, as a fictional memoir.
In modern society, angels exist. Not in the biblical sense though, these are otherwise ordinary human beings who grow wings at puberty. They have always lived among us, in secret, for obvious reasons.
Richard is one of these Avians, a historian, trying to discover their true origins.
When he meets Gabrielle, born with wings, everything changes.
Their actions on their journey of self-discovery will have epic consequences including a coronation, a kidnapping, the discovery of the origins of mankind and even saving the planet from ecological disaster.
What I am looking for is a general feel for the story and characters, areas where showing could be improved, and parts where you would like to know more.
The book definitely needs to be longer, and I am hoping that reader input will help me with this, without resorting to add filler fluff.
I do not have a specific deadline as I am in the process of self publishing one of my other books.
Thank you for your time.
Kind regards.
Q
Hey , I am looking to gather a group of beta readers for the first draft of my YA Epic Romantasy Fiction Novel with BL (Boys Love) - the main character is gay but it's not the main focal point of the story.
The project is due to start on 15 June 2024.
Current Blurb:
"Amidst a realm torn by war and sibling rivalry for the throne, a surprising alliance emerges when an unexpected visitor, an enemy prince, arrives at the city gates bearing knowledge of rising evil.
For Chase, navigating the treacherous currents of political intrigue and personal vendettas becomes imperative as he reluctantly forges an alliance with this unlikely adversary. Together, they must set aside their inherited bitter history to confront the far greater threat looming on the horizon.
Yet, as they venture into the depths of this daunting quest, they quickly realize that appearances can be deceiving, and trust becomes their most elusive weapon.
Embark on a spellbinding journey, where magic intertwines with the bonds of love, friendship, duty and family. Each tested fiercely under the looming shadow of betrayal. The fate of the three kingdoms hangs precariously in the balance.
If you're drawn to the allure of epic warfare and an enthralling love story, brace yourself for a captivating adventure unlike any other."
I only want so share this with a select few people, so please drop a response below or email me on jamiehadleygrave@gmail,com and we can take it from there, I would love to show you some mood boards and the share first few chapters once we both agree that we are a good fit for each other and this project.
Sweet! :)
Hi Chris,Your building blocks remind me of Stephen Covey's rock, pebbles and sand metaphor. I think I have some neat blocks and tall towers, and not the leaning tower of Pisa kind. But I haven't sanded off the rough or blunt edges and I'm nowhere near a coat of paint.
If you are interested I have a 89k complete coming of age memoir.
Blurb:
The novel Georgia is about undiagnosed childhood mental illness through the point of view of the child, with often quirky, and occasionally profound self-realizations.
Synopsis:
Artistic Allison daydreams away her family’s alcoholic, misogynist, religious fervor. She becomes invisible to get by. While she loses friends and God, will her undiagnosed ADD or her epilepsy lead her off that cliff? Or will the brilliant boy from Rome save her? Does she even need saving? She can escape to New York City, but can she escape her fate?
This is my first novel. My second novel is slightly beyond the vomit draft stage.
I have a 30p short story, published in "Fødselsdepression - der er hjælp at få!" from the Danish publisher Frydenlund.
I have a thick skin from being an oil painter, which by default means massive rejections, so tough criticism is welcome.
I'm grateful to you and your time, for offering to beta read. If you are interested, please email me info@artallison.com
Allison
I'm looking for beta for my contemporary psychological romance 50kSynopsis:
"All These Things..." follows the journey of Nina, a reflective woman grappling with the intricacies of modern dating and relationships. Initially, Nina navigates the world of online dating with cautious optimism, encountering both promising connections and disappointing interactions. Her initial interactions with Robert, a symbol of potential stability, contrasts with the tumultuous relationship she develops with Blaine.
As Nina's relationship with Blaine unfolds, it is marked by intense emotional highs and devastating lows. Blaine's unpredictable behavior and bouts of jealousy strain their bond, yet Nina remains entangled, driven by a deep-seated desire for connection and meaning. Through their interactions, the narrative delves into themes of identity, self-worth, and the existential quest for purpose.
Despite her efforts to support Blaine, his emotional volatility often leaves Nina feeling isolated and overwhelmed. The tension culminates in several dramatic confrontations, highlighting the fragility of their relationship. Nina's internal monologue reveals her struggle to reconcile her need for love with her growing awareness of the relationship's toxicity.
The story's climax sees Nina confronting the painful reality of Blaine's betrayal and the chaos of his family dynamics. In a poignant epilogue, Nina appears to have settled into a semblance of domestic tranquility with Blaine, yet the narrative leaves readers questioning the true nature of her contentment and the sacrifices made for this illusion of stability.
my email: nat.petruch@gmail.com
Hi! If you are interested I have open slots for my book:STRANDED_REAL GAME://
She just wanted to play the game – until the game decided to play her.
A foreign university student, Ami grapples with social anxiety and the pressures of academic life. She finds solace in the immersive MMORPG, Dragon Seed Genesis Online – only to find herself trapped in a web of unfathomable danger.
As she navigates perilous quests and battling formidable foes, she discovers that the game’s sinister twists are far more than mere pixels. Every choice she makes in the virtual realm has life-or-death consequences in the real world – not just for herself, but for those around her.
Will Ami uncover the truth behind the game’s dark secrets? Can she survive when the stakes are no longer virtual? Will her quest to achieve her heart’s deepest desire ever be fulfilled?
The book explores themes of connection, sacrifice, and determination, set against a captivating blend of fantasy litRPG and real life, all underscored by a romantic yet dark twist of fate.
Trigger Warnings: violence, murder, gore, blood, captivity, medical nuances
Other interesting information: limited spice and profanity, complex romance, shapeshifting, skills and abilities, female MC, first person POV
Genre: litrpg/ action romantasy
Word count: 129,000
Hi! If you are interested I have open slots for my book:STRANDED_REAL GAME://
She just wanted to play the game – until the game decided to play her.
A foreign university student, Ami grapples with social anxiety and the pressures of academic life. She finds solace in the immersive MMORPG, Dragon Seed Genesis Online – only to find herself trapped in a web of unfathomable danger.
As she navigates perilous quests and battling formidable foes, she discovers that the game’s sinister twists are far more than mere pixels. Every choice she makes in the virtual realm has life-or-death consequences in the real world – not just for herself, but for those around her.
Will Ami uncover the truth behind the game’s dark secrets? Can she survive when the stakes are no longer virtual? Will her quest to achieve her heart’s deepest desire ever be fulfilled?
The book explores themes of connection, sacrifice, and determination, set against a captivating blend of fantasy litRPG and real life, all underscored by a romantic yet dark twist of fate.
Trigger Warnings: violence, murder, gore, blood, captivity, medical nuances
Other interesting information: limited spice and profanity, complex romance, shapeshifting, skills and abilities, female MC, first person POV
Genre: litrpg/ action romantasy
Word count: 129,000
Hello Chris,I am looking for beta readers for my YA Speculative Fiction book called "The Thrift Shop."
See blurb below!
Devon gets bullied daily, and he is dealing with severe PTSD after losing his father to suicide. His father was a professional baseball player, and Devon wants to follow in his father’s footsteps, but he is uncoordinated and small for his age. His life is one misery after the next until he stumbles upon a Thrift Shop where every item is steeped in history and grants its new owner magical properties.
Devon gets offered a job at the Thrift Shop, and slowly, things begin to turn around. But Devon begins to dig into the magic of the Thrift Shop, and secrets once hidden are revealed to him. He takes advantage of the magic in the shop, finding his own special item: an antique baseball glove that belonged to Lou Gehrig, and he begins to play baseball like never before.
But Devon’s life turns upside down when he finds out his mother has cancer. Everything begins to fall apart. He decides to sell the glove to make money for his mother’s treatment, challenging fate, and he angers the protector of the shop, an ancient evil that brought about the Dark Ages the last time someone tempted fate.
Devon must risk his life and make a bargain with the devil to turn things around and save his family, his friends, and all of humanity.
Hi Chris,“Galaxy Astronomy: Field Guide For Kids” is a short beta read at 9k words. Intended for kids age 8-12, it uses beautiful images from the Hubble Space Telescope and shows how to identify a galaxy type by shape and markings. It illustrates the concept of measuring distance in light-years and introduces the idea of using invisible light (infrared and ultraviolet) to see stars and galaxies in a different way. The narrative incorporates galaxy evolution to explain the changes galaxies undergo over billions of years.
Message me if you are interested. Include your email address and I’ll email the EPUB to you.
Please send me your comments by 14 January 2025. The EPUB is yours to keep. I’ll also add your name to the Acknowledgements, with your permission.
Thank you. I look forward to reading your impressions!
I am seeking some free beta readers for my novel: Because the Demons Scream So Loudly. The novel is 115k words. It is an epistolary novel- it is written completely in journal/diary format. The novel is a mixed bag of religion/spirituality/romance/vampiric elements/fantasy.Blurb/Excerpt: Entry 148- I still don't know how I managed it, Holy Sonom Soeht; the mind is indeed a powerful thing. My mind had already started to dissociate as the bleeder ran up to me, pinned me on the ground, and sunk his teeth into my neck. I fixed my eyes on the emerging moon as blood dripped down the back of my neck. The night lights blurred with tears but did not disappear. Not a single muscle of mine moved as he released my neck and stood up. To my shock, the bleeder spoke then as my gaze remained pinned on the sky. “It’s been quite a long time since I drew blood without a fight, and from a god woman to boot.” I heard him pick up my broken cleric chain off the ground. His foot pushed against my still frozen face as he stood over me, dangling my chain from his hand. “Such a shame that misery and naivety are not virtues,” he declared with blood still on his lips. The chain fell on the dirt beside me. As I listened to his footsteps turn and leave me, he hollered, “A word of advice, woman. If I can smell the insincerity on you, don’t you think your omniscient deity can?” I’m not sure how many minutes passed after he left, with me still paralyzed on the ground weeping.
If you are interested in beta reading for me, let me know and I can send you my beta reader application link. Please feel free to ask me any additional questions. Thank you so very much for your valuable time in considering it! Happy New Year!
Hi Chris! Hoping you’re still interested in beta reading because I am in exactly the space you described - first draft manuscript, not sure the blocks are in the right places! It’s an 80k memoir/CNF around my daughter’s journey through pediatric cancer. Thanks for considering!
I know asking people to come off of Goodreads is a lot but I would appreciate any beta feedback. https://storyoriginapp.com/betacopies...
Hi Chris, I’m hoping that this offer is still up to date, I’m starting to write a romance book right now I’m a little over 11,000 words and well I need help. I don’t know if my plot is good this is my blurb:Xander Mitchell has always kept his emotions locked away — until Riley Quinn shows him that maybe, just maybe, it's time to thaw.
A wealthy hockey captain with a reputation for being cold and untouchable, Xander’s life is built on expectations, performance, and perfection. But when a chance encounter with Riley the scholarship kid with a sharp tongue and an even sharper gaze forces him to confront the cracks in his carefully constructed world, everything begins to unravel.
As they collide, both on and off the ice, Xander is faced with a choice: keep the walls up, or risk letting someone see the truth behind the facade. But as his feelings for Riley grow, so does his fear of losing control over the one thing he's always had his heart.
Wow, amazed that, a whole year after I posted this, twenty-odd beta reads, and a few published books later I'm still getting people finding me for reads.Still reading, still inconsistently dropping back onto the site now and again to pick up a new read to think about. If I fall off the face of the planet after we started talking, well, whoops, probably just filled my boots on somebody else's projects and didn't log back in for a couple weeks.
For you recent posters, I'm still willing to give anything a shot, just shoot me a dm and we'll see what we come up with. I do this for a lark so I might not have a lot of good feedback about genres outside my wheelhouse but I'll likely still find pondering at your project a gas.
Stay groovy,
-Chris
Feet like an idiot, but how do you dm on this site?
Bets wrote: "Feet like an idiot, but how do you dm on this site?"On desktop, go to the user's profile, and next to the "add friend" button is the word "More" with a down arrow. Click on it, that's a drop-down menu. Choose "message". There you go! That's it. :)
Hi! I’ve got a finished manuscript that I’d love for some feedback on and it’s a thriller. Here’s the summary:
Aspiring writer Mara Sullivan seems to have it all-a successful career, a devoted fiancé, and a bright future ahead of her. But beneath the surface lies a dark secret that could tear her perfect life apart. As their relationship deepens, Mara's carefully constructed façade begins to crumble, and the line between truth and fiction becomes increasingly blurred. With the threat of exposure looming, Mara must confront her past and face the consequences of her deception before it's too late. Will the truth set her free or destroy everything she's worked so hard to build?
Hope to hear from you!
Hi Chris,Would you be interested in reading a young YA sci-fi/suspense novel? I'm looking for general feedback such as is the story engaging, would you want to keep reading it even as an adult, anything I missed or is not clear about the plot, etc. This is the first book in a series. It is complete at 80k.
Thank you,
Debra
Sure thing. I usually go off of google docs, so just dm me a link for a copy with the permissions set and I'll let you know if I've got the time to tackle things.Usually, since I just do this for the entertainment value of thinking about how stories work, I've fallen into a fairly consistent pattern. Grammar, word choice, stuff like that isn't something I bother with. Editor passes are boring and you'll clean things up in the next draft, anyway.
Typically, I'll send back the copy with some in-line stream of consciousness notes about what I'm thinking as I go. Once I'm done, I'll usually compile things into a big issue, a quibble, and some kind of general point I'd encourage you to keep in mind as you work on the next draft.
Hi Chris! I can see that you've got many requests and might be busy for a while :) Still, I'm going to be optimistic and see if you'd be interested in reading my Upmarket Historical Fiction? Here's my starting paragraph for the query I'm working on:Emi never thought herself as brave, but here she is, facilitating the exchange between Allied spies and forces in Nazi-controlled Paris, as she hides coded messages in elaborate dresses, tailored by her childhood friend.
Thanks! Looking forward to hearing from you!
Chris doing is refusing me. ir just keeps saying processing. Is there a way I can send you anything else you are interested in?
I believe you might be a fellow carpenter, though this is just an assumption. I am seeking Beta Readers for a Gripping Apocalyptic Novel! The word count of the manuscript is 120,000. It is complete, but I am open to any suggestions and comments.
Are you a fan of dark, gritty stories that keep you on the edge of your seat? I’m looking for beta readers for my dark apocalyptic novel, a raw and intense tale centred around two teens fighting for survival in a shattered world.
The story follows their harrowing journey to safety, 130 miles of treacherous terrain, moral dilemmas, and unimaginable dangers. It’s a graphic, emotionally charged narrative that doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of a collapsing society.
If you enjoy stories that blend heart-pounding action with deep character development, I’d love your feedback! Let me know if you’re interested, and I’ll share more details.
Thanks for considering this story. It means a lot to me, and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
I can supply you with the book blurb if this interests you.
Content warning.
Violence
There is some sexual innuendo, no sex scenes, though.
death.
Info.
UK based, UK spelling.
This will not be the first book I have published.
120k.
Hey, my book is a memoir that is kind of dark and deals with a lot of stuff that can be triggering to a lot of people, and at the same time super relatable, introspective and raw. If you would like to beta read it for me, I would so appreciate it.Wordcount is about 46k.
Thank you
Hi Chris,Would you be interested in my 75K words set in Russia where I have been many times.
A retired military historian visits the battle sites of Stalingrad. He dislikes women and Russian culture equally. He was burned in divorce and other relationships with women. His dislike of Russia is based on his visit to the Soviet Union.
He needed a guide and only women were available.
Over a week in Volgograd (Stalingrad) he vists barrle sites, theatre and churches. He comes to love his female guide and Russia culture by appreciation the depth of both. many aspects of russian culture are observed and discussed.
Through his guide he also discovers the criminality of Russian society after the Soviet collapse. Oligarchs, the mafia and corruption are observed by his interaction with them.
Am I the only person who finds it interesting? Russia might not be a subject of interest at the moment but I started it before the invasion. Folk might want to know something of Russian life.
I await your opinion.
Derek
reply | flag
Hi Chris,Thanks for doing this! If you’re still available, I’ve just finished revising my YA survival thriller, complete at 90K. Currently trying to lower my word count and would love some feedback :)
Here’s the blurb:
Seventeen-year-old Ava should be learning to make macarons in a sun-drenched Parisian patisserie. Instead, she wakes up on a deserted island surrounded by classmates she was excited to never seeing again. Without explanation, the teens are divided into teams and forced to compete in challenges testing their strengths and morals to win rewards and avoid elimination and a brutal death.
As the 18 teenagers fight to stay alive, old friendships are shattered, unexpected romances blossom, and bloodlust ensues. Trying to hold on to her humanity and save the people she loves, Ava must face a monster she would never have suspected: herself.
Back home, Sophie, receives a link to watch a brand-new reality show. Her whole world collapses when she recognizes her twin brother and the show goes viral. As Sophie races to uncover the truth and save her brother, she unearths secrets that cast doubt on everyone involved, including the people she thought she knew best.
Only one person can be declared The Champion, and their soul is the price. Who’s the best among them? Tune in and find out.
If interested, feel free to write back or email me: noemiecromes@gmail.com
Thanks so much!
Chris, I have a short (17,724 words) Police Procedural/Thriller that I have been working on. I have gotten to the point where I need a few sets of new eyes to look at it.
If you have the time and inclination I would be interested in having you read it.
Thank you either way.
Jack
Well, may as well poke my head back up and pick up a couple new beta reads. As per usual, just shoot me a dm with a google docs link and what you think about where you're at in your project and I'll see what I can come up with.Stay groovy,
-Chris
No restriction to genre.
I'd really prefer under 100k.
On the front end, let me know where you think you're at and, more importantly, how much more work you're willing to put in on further drafts. Put it this way:
Have you carved out some building blocks and, you think they're good blocks, but you're not sure if they're the right blocks?
You've made some towers and neat things out of the blocks but still think they're kind of all over the place?
Have you been able to put most of the blocks into a big, cool thing, but you've got these blocks you thought were really neat but don't know where they should go?
Are all the blocks in place but, when you were playing with blocks and building all this cool stuff, you didn't really think about sanding and squaring everything to smooth faces and sharp points?
It's all done, but you've got to put a coat of paint on things and you're worried that'll mess up your cool tower of building blocks and make the clean edges wobbly?
It's up, it's painted, but now you've got to add a layer of sealant and you really want to know if it's a good tower of blocks before you show the teacher and it's time to put everything away?
Send me a DM. First come, first serve. I'll probably not check my messages while I'm in the middle of reading something. I do it because I think it's neat and I think it's dope you've managed to get a whole book most of the way finished.
Stay groovy.