This newspaper gig has brought some interesting things. Because of it, I have met all kinds of people and learned all kinds of things. I have interviewed a potter, a stained glass artist, a horse barn owner, Guatemalan immigrants, winery operators and a woman with two uteruses. That last one may seem odd, but she's one of the few women in the world who has given birth to surviving twins, each developing in its own womb (you can see the adorable kids and read the article here ). I have learned about antique steamer trunks, dandelion wine, the history of steel drums and that people in Papua New Guinea are being evacuated from their island because of rising sea levels. I've read books on the repercussions of factory farming, and I've researched childhood obesity—did you know that Ohio ranks 17th on a list of US states in order of weight? Yet, someone in my own town would comment online suggesting we leave our poor kids alone. The other day I was in a court room to cover a case...
Moving this up to the top so no one forgets!!
Comments
Well, I gave your chapter a 10 and wrote nice things about it.
you're a 10 robyn.
Ah, Old K's a real sweetie isn't he? Love that cute little turn of phrase he has, too. Ahhh...
Ten stars. No messing.
Old Knusdon, you're a dear. Thank you as well, and I'm sorry I couldn't include anything spicy there for you. It's one of 21 chapters, and there isn't a single spicy treat in the whole stinking thing.
Lynn, at gather.com there should be a spot in the upper right hand corner to sign up (free). My plan was to read your novel after I finished obsessing over my own, so I'll get right to it. Thanks for the compliment about mine. Sorry to pull the story before you were finished. I can send it to you if you really want it.
Thank you for your thank you. It was my pleasure.
Hey, my Maryanne link still works but it only gives the first two chapters (which is when I set it up).
So when the competition's over and you're grinning like a fool at your prize, re-establishing the full link would be nice.
In the meantime, for anyone who hasn't printed off all 21 chapters like Rich has, the second chapter is still available on my sidebar.
I'm just reviewing a book at the moment Robyn but as soon as i've finished that, i'll ask for your novel please yes.
http://www.gather.com/register.jsp?beamBack=joinGroup.jsp%3fgrpId%3d3659174697244428&grpId=3659174697244428
You know what I think from our emails, so it's a very carefully considered ten!
He did have a point about having Brittany at the table when Jean says bad things about the kid's father, though.
Maryann can't show her full character until she reacts to circumstance, and the circumstances she has to react to have yet to happen (or at least have yet to be revealed) in chapter one.
If you developed her fully in chapter one, there'd be nothing left to write about.
And as for Jean; friends and neighbours are like that. They're not perfect. It's real life.
His point about Brit at the table might be valid in NeverNeverLand, but real people say dumb things in front of kids sometimes.
Your characters are very well developed, and very real world.
He's a dork.
:)