My first review!
Today was the meeting of my novel group where we discussed the last chapter of my novel, The Willow Maiden. I left the meeting feeling enthused because it had inspired the reaction I had hoped - they were touched by the ending and thought I had wrapped up the narrative well. Of course there were some very good suggestions for things to consider changing or cleaning up.
A couple group members had written mini-reviews, the type of thing for book jacket quotes, and I thought I would indulge my ego by posting them here:
"Set in Denham's exquisite prose, this fascinating tale may be understood both in its own right as a bewitching fantasy of romance and adventure, and as a perceptive allegory for our own more troubled times.
The intense love between the very human Aldric and the magical, ethereally beautiful dryad, Salisa, bridges the chasm between their contrasting, sometimes conflicting cultures. Their selfless devotion enables Aldric and Salisa to overcome the potent forces of evil that at times come close to destroying them.
This book will appeal to those who love a good read, and will leave them with many a thoughtful insight."
John Morgan
"Denham presents a delightful tale of a land as enchanting as Middle Earth. Her characters, richly realized, strive to overcome unique and magical obstacles as they wend their way through their astounding adventures."
Kate Kirk
----
After reading over their comments and hearing their reactions, I am feeling like I really do have a novel here. I want to take a small break to work on polishing a short story, and then start editing from the beginning, after which I will have a few people (outside of the novel group and my immediate family!) have a look.
Interesting that one of my reviewers focused on the love story and the other on the magic/adventure side. For me, the story became less about either one of those than about Elma, the Mother Tree and mother of Salisa, the Willow Maiden of the title. The book started as a love story, but ended up being about how Elma copes with the changes that come to her family's life and the world over the course of centuries, to find herself alone as probably the last Dryad. It is her love in spite of her profound lonliness that I hope will stay with the reader at the end. And based on the meeting today, I think it does.
A couple group members had written mini-reviews, the type of thing for book jacket quotes, and I thought I would indulge my ego by posting them here:
"Set in Denham's exquisite prose, this fascinating tale may be understood both in its own right as a bewitching fantasy of romance and adventure, and as a perceptive allegory for our own more troubled times.
The intense love between the very human Aldric and the magical, ethereally beautiful dryad, Salisa, bridges the chasm between their contrasting, sometimes conflicting cultures. Their selfless devotion enables Aldric and Salisa to overcome the potent forces of evil that at times come close to destroying them.
This book will appeal to those who love a good read, and will leave them with many a thoughtful insight."
John Morgan
"Denham presents a delightful tale of a land as enchanting as Middle Earth. Her characters, richly realized, strive to overcome unique and magical obstacles as they wend their way through their astounding adventures."
Kate Kirk
----
After reading over their comments and hearing their reactions, I am feeling like I really do have a novel here. I want to take a small break to work on polishing a short story, and then start editing from the beginning, after which I will have a few people (outside of the novel group and my immediate family!) have a look.
Interesting that one of my reviewers focused on the love story and the other on the magic/adventure side. For me, the story became less about either one of those than about Elma, the Mother Tree and mother of Salisa, the Willow Maiden of the title. The book started as a love story, but ended up being about how Elma copes with the changes that come to her family's life and the world over the course of centuries, to find herself alone as probably the last Dryad. It is her love in spite of her profound lonliness that I hope will stay with the reader at the end. And based on the meeting today, I think it does.