I just finished writing an 85,000 word novel that I’ve been working on the past couple of years. It feels good to have completed something of this magnitude, even though I still have a lot of work to do to get it ready to send out to agents.
I’m hoping you can help me do that by “liking” my author page on Facebook, or following me on Twitter. A strong “platform” could give me the edge I need in a competitive market. You can do so by clicking the links in the sidebar, or going to the pages at the links below.
https://www.facebook.com/DeborahJBrasket
https://twitter.com/DeborahBrasket
I’m also looking for a new set of readers, people who will commit to read the novel and provide feedback on several levels: how well it holds your attention, where it sings, where it sags; if there are any holes or gaps in the content (dangling threads, illogical time warps, etc.); anything that comes to mind that could make the novel stronger. If you think you’d like to help out this way, please let me know.
“From the Far Ends of the Earth” is about what happens when the one person who has been holding together a difficult family mysteriously disappears. Will those left behind have the strength and love, or even the will, to keep from falling apart?
The novel is told from the perspective of the three family members left behind.
Kay is a “cranky” grad student studying archeology. While distrusting men in general, and her father and brother in particular, she has been extremely close to her mother, who now leaves mysterious messages on Kay’s answering machine. Mourning her loss, Kay sifts through the shards and debris of childhood memories trying to understand the past and learn how to trust again.
Cal has spent most of his life on the street strung out on heroin, but he’s living at home when his mother disappears. He is deeply hurt and angry at her disappearance, and mystified by the strange photographs she mails him. When his father suddenly leaves, he is left on his own with a house to care for and no clue how to do it. Eventually he discovers his own artistic outlet welding sculpture from scrap metal. Then he takes in a boarder whose tattooed body reveals a past even more tragic than his own.
Walter awaits his wife’s return by paying her credit card bills and tracking her journey through Central and South America. Then he decides to take his own long-delayed trip to Alaska, where a new life, new love, and new tragedy await him. When his wife’s credit card bills stop coming, he travels to Machu Picchu in the mountains of Peru to find her.
I wrote more about the novel in a blog post, which includes a link to a short story “When Things Go Missing” adapted from one of Cal’s chapters.
I have a second short story adaptation in the works from one of Kay’s chapters set Mexico at an archeological dig. It’s called “The Fragrance of Rocks.” While I’m finishing up the final revisions on the novel, I’ll be working on it and some of my other short stories.
The writing life, I’m finding, is one never-ending process. Which is why it’s so important to share and celebrate the milestones with others. I hope you will join me!
“Friday I tasted life. It was a vast morsel.” – Emily Dickinson
“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” – Anaïs Nin
My wife is an avid reader so I will let her know about this, and she can check out your novel
Great! Let me know.
Yeah, she says if you want to send it to her email, she’ll give it the old read through…
email is newkindofnormal@hotmail.com or if you want to send a hard copy, we could provide you with an address.
Great! I will email her when I get it ready to go. Thank you!
I would be honored to read your story. Any heroin addict as a main character is right up my alley!
That’s wonderful! Thank you. I’ll be working this next couple of weeks incorporating edits from the first batch of readers, and then I’ll contact you about the best way to send the novel to you for your comments. It will be especially helpful to have someone who can relate to Cal to give me feedback on his chapters.
Congratulations! The satisfaction found in getting to this point is enormous. Your writing is so very beautiful, deep and meaningful, I can imagine your book being a fantastic read.
Thank you! I really appreciate your encouragement.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!! What a great Christmas gift; to finish your novel. 😀 It sounds wonderful! I wish I had time to beta read your novel, but at the moment I’m swamped.
Best of luck to you, Deborah! I know your novel is going to be great and do great! 🙂
Thank you, Chrys!
Congratulations, Deborah! You can feel so good about that accomplishment! I just followed you on Twitter and will look for you on Facebook!
Thank you, Luanne!
I’m looking forward to reading your novel. I have a similar story at home so really fingers crossed. All the Godspeed to you.
Thank you. I appreciate that!
Congratulations! I remember the excerpt you posted about Cal…I was so taken with the character it has stayed with me. Wonderful news Deborah!
I remember your lovely response to that story. It means so much. Thank you!
Congratulations and wow! impressive!
I’ve liked your FB page and will share it with book group!
Thank You!
Way to go! I’ll follow you on Twitter.
Really appreciate that!
Sounds like a fascinating read. Congratulations on getting something of this magnitude together. An awesome accomplishment. 🙂 x
Thanks so much!
Congratulations, Deborah! Your novel sounds intriguing, and I know it’s going to be one of the greats. It’s been a privilege reading your blog posts because your writing is such an inspiration to me and I’m sure to many others. I wish I had more time help you with it but I’m swamped with book reviews and promoting for my children’s book at the moment. But you can count on me to spread the word for you once it’s published and any reviews you need, I’m happy to provide. I’ve liked your Facebook page and have been following you on Twitter as you probably already know=) Sending you positive vibes with the success of your novel!
Thank you, Gina. I’m feeling the vibes!
Congratulations Deborah. What an awesome milestone. Will be following you on twitter.
Thank you! I so appreciate that.
Although I’ve heard your name mentioned in writers’ circles, this is my first visit to your blog (and website). So many writers grab the prosaic and write about it in a prosaic manner. You find the art inside the prosaic and write about it in an artistic manner. I admire your voice.
Thank you, Anthony. I’ve heard of you too as a writer, so I consider this high praise indeed.