I really enjoyed your Dickens Challenge entry so far, and will keep checking it so that I can finish it.

Good to see someone else from Kentucky....and surprised to see we are in the same town...

when will you be updating your story? what day of the week is your goal? that way I can keep up with it.

Terrific job of writing in the Dickens Challange. Get started on your novel, you can definately remove the training wheels.

You were very kind and helpful in the discussion about crimewriting software. I think you are someone I would like to know.
:-) Mari

just curious, what happened to your review of the stories in Plots With Guns?

Thanks, John.

Thank you for your comments about my story, Green Gables. I've read enough of your postings here to have an appreciation and respect for your opinion, so the kind words mean a lot.

Couldn't reply to your discussion, so I will have to leave my opinion here. Hope that's OK. As for the first 100 words, I, sadly, must agree that if authors would like to be published those first 100 words (but it's really 50 pages) have to be tight, fast and furious. Otherwise, you will get the dreaded form rejection letter saying, "This is not for us..." etc.

If you have a connection with a publishing house or a relationship with your editor, then you may discuss alternative techniques, however, this is be done on the front-end of planning the next novel, not the debut, which many are in a position to do. Just not me. LOL. Besides, my favorite crime thrillers are all fast,, addictive, read-all-night, page turners. Who doesn't love that? You get away from formulaic writing by being creative within your idea and its execution, etc.

Thanks for the discussion...

Hi John
Where can I find the video you raved about?
Or am I mistaken about who said what?

I'll look for The Cage, buddy, and give it a try!

John,
I feel redeemed and more determined about my discussion regarding the sometimes botched attempt at turning a book into a movie. When I booted up my computer this morning, guess what popped up on MSN? An ariticle entitled, "How Hollywood takes good books and makes them into bad movies." Perfect timing.
Charlotte

sorry didn't know you had to be registered, i'll post after the contest is over - i modified the post.

You've got a refreshing, liberty-oriented viewpoint (your "prohibition doesn't work" comment). Thanks for sharing on my thread.

Hi John, I want to introduce you to my debut novel "A Circle of souls" which is a murder, mystery, psychological thriller and a tale of justice and hope. Do visit www.acircleofsouls.com to read more about the book. Make sure you sign up to win an autographed copy of the book. You can also read more reviews by clicking on the More Reviews button at the website. Thanks for your time in advance.

Best regards

Preetham Grandhi

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Book Synopsis:

The sleepy town of Newbury, Connecticut, is shocked when a little girl is found brutally murdered. The town s top detective, perplexed by a complete lack of leads, calls in FBI agent Leia Bines, an expert in cases involving children.

Meanwhile, Dr. Peter Gram, a psychiatrist at Newbury s hospital, searches desperately for the cause of seven-year-old Naya Hastings devastating nightmares. Afraid that she might hurt herself in the midst of a torturous episode, Naya s parents have turned to the bright young doctor as their only hope.

The situations confronting Leia and Peter converge when Naya begins drawing chilling images of murder after being bombarded by the disturbing images in her dreams. Amazingly, her sketches are the only clues to the crime that has panicked Newbury residents. Against her better judgment, Leia explores the clues in Naya s crude drawings, only to set off an alarming chain of events.
In this stunning psychological thriller, innocence gives way to evil, and trust lies forgotten in a web of deceit, fear, and murder.