Reviews and Revisions

You write to communicate to the hearts and minds of others what's burning inside you. And we edit to let the fire show through the smoke. ~ Arthur Polotnik

I got a 5 ANGEL review on "Miles From You" from Fallen Angel Reviews! Woo!

Here's what it says:

Miles From You by Marianne Arkins takes the reader back in time to an era where Truman and Dewey were headlines and Studebaker Champions owned the roads. In 1948, Millie is a spinster working at a diner. She has a crush on one of her regular customers, Paul, and makes a point of making his favorite pie in the hope that he’ll stop in for a slice. When he tells her he’s taken a job far from the diner, she realizes they may be spending their last moments together.

Miles From You is a touching, heartwarming story of love and hope. I loved it! I felt as if I was living in the age along with the characters, as if I could feel the tears Millie cried and hear Paul’s voice as he said good-bye. Ms. Arkins has given dimension to her characters, even in such a short story. I would have honestly loved it if this was longer, because I liked Millie and Paul so much that I wanted to know more about them. I am hoping for a sequel to this story, just to learn what happens next! Aside from making me care about the characters, Ms. Arkins has also given the reader a compact, yet engaging, story, complete with tons of details that made the images come alive. Miles From You is one of those great little stories that can be savored time and again.

So, if you haven't already purchased it, what are you waiting for?

I've finished all but about 5,000 words of this round of edits. I've hit the part where the wonderful writer who read through the entire draft says this: ALL OF THE REST NEEDS TO BE RIPPED TO SHREDS. IT ISN'T WORKING IN ITS CURRENT STATE. (Waves to D... XOXO sent your way!)

Guess it needs a little work, huh? LOL...

Actually, after working through the first 45,000 words or so, I started doubting that it was even a decent story. Is my heroine TSTL? Does she do things so crazy that no one would believe them? Are her actions unreasonable? Should I just flush the whole thing down the toilet?

Does anyone else go through this?

BTW, thanks for all your well-wishes for my DD. Apparently, she just needed to throw up and then felt fine and dandy. So thanks! She's all well.

The bank tellers though? Scarred for life.

Incidentally, I haven't forgotten the Friday Fifteen. I'm working on those closing right now and will post them later... so tune back in and check them out!

What are some of your favorite closings in books? Anything really stand out for you? I can remember the marriage proposal in "Faking It" by Jennifer Crusie: "Marry me, Matilda, and make me the most confused man on earth." I loved it!

Wanna share yours?