Shadows

Vivid and intense - your work is quite different from many other types of this genre that I've read on the site. very easy on the eye to read and the story flows well.

Backed

Kev

The cover here is eye catching, it pulled me over. This is on my shelf because I want to read it. the servers are down and not working for me to read so I am backing it so that I can remember to read it tomorrow. The pitch is working for you, the premise is interesting. I am eager to read this. Judging by the cover, the title and the pitch I would have bought this if it were in the store.
Backed
T.L Tyson-Seeking Eleanor
Pleased to have read this, It is engaging and dramatic with a brooding dark underlayer.
This did not disappoint.

Phil, Shadows sounds like a great read. Would you care to exchange reviews?
Test Pilot’s Daughter has received a lot of editorial input and backing from Authonomers moving it to #1 on the Ed desk. I would appreciate your help keeping it there until the end of the month. As professional editor I always return reads and give constructive reviews.
Steve Ward
Test Pilot’s Daughter: Revenge

Hi Phil!

I'm from almost the same hometown - well, except the place I was born is in the States, and is called Gloucester, not Gloucestershire, but almost the same! *grin*

Yes, you choose your book cover well - I'm another one drawn here by the artwork, but stayed for the story. I just planned to take a quick peek tonight, then if your story caught my attention, I was going to ask if you wanted to swap reads. However, I blazed through the first chapter, and decided instead of waiting, I'd just pop this up on my shelf.

You did a great job of creating tension and keep me intrigued (and heartbroken for the children), and the subject of witchcraft is near and dear to my heart. I'll definitely be back to read more in the future.

~Traci
Tangled Web

Poppet backed this book earlier so I'm backing it now because I know her talent for finding good writing. SHELVED!

I could use your comments on my book if you do get a chance. Any constructive criticism will be most welcomed. Cheers!

JC
The Obergemau File

Lol I didn't know the cover would attract so much attention. Sadly, no I didn't make it - it's off a site called Wiccantogether.com from a user called +goth+ but I'm glad you all like it, and more importantly, glad you like what's inside it too!

Damn, your writing is vivid and intense. Love the way you pull this off: like a Quentin Tarantino film. And, as many others have said, that's a fucking awesome cover. Did you do it yourself? WL>

Hi Phil!

First of all, I have to say I LOVE your cover! Did you do it yourself? (I'm a marketing gal, so get a little excited about design... This is really eye catching!)

Your premise and writing are, in my humble opinion, as good as the cover! Your characters are believable, and the storyline is gripping. Should appeal to a wide audience. Great job - on my shelf!

Kim
Invisible Justice

The cover and pitch drew me in straight away. I love the first chapter - really atmospheric and chilling. Then we're bounced forward in time and I'm intrigued by the story here too. I've read up to chapter four and think you have a great writing style, vivid and engaging. Not entirely sure why the need for it to be non-chronological yet (but sure that becomes clear further on). I do worry a little that an editor might pause and ponder at that description.
Anyhow, I really like your writing (and still LOVE that cover). So I'm happy to back you with this.
Jane

Hi Phil

Because you say 'non-chronological' in your pitch I decided to jump around. Of course I read ch1 to get a feel for the story first (excellent tension there) and then read 17, 20, 26 and 30. Naturally I don't have the full weight, but I also discovered your narrative holds up throughout and every chapter has something to say. I thus conclude you have something unique here. I hope to come back to read more.

Great cover, by the way!

Shelved.
Elaina

School has started back up :( so unfortunately I'm gonna be really really slow at reading stuff... so bear with me as I'll read as much as I can in my lunch hour! x

There are some great lines in this; 'like broken teeth,' for example. You have a wonderful imagination and do a superb job in keeping it intact as you put it onto paper. Backed.

Andrew

Such polished prose you have here! This is beautifully written and is the type of book that I would pick up immediately to see if I wanted it. Based on what I've read, I'd buy this.
I've really nothing else to say other than I enjoyed it and i think it's great! I wish I could offer you more, but I simply can't... =)
Already shelved.

-Eden / The Abandoned Edge of Avalon

as good, very well written in my opinion. One thing - 'Ina kioymarinatoh firel paroywonelrai oyfia Ehraifir tohoy firel kiunasarel oyfia firel fioynarai.' - I don't know if I would use such a long tongue twisting string of words. I breaks the flow, which to this point is excellent, easy to read, and comfortable to set up a nice reading pace. That's just me, though. Good ending to this chapter. Dex is well described and the plot is unfolding.
Some more weird words in chapter 3. Just my taste again.
'The words seemed to pierce Dex’s heart,...' - Not too fond of that.
The action with Chase in this chapter is well done. Very nice writing all the way through, so far.
I like this book and think it has a good chance here. I'll give it some time on my shelf to help it along. Good luck with it.

WOW!! I love it.
Sweet Empress.

This is excellently written, exciting stuff. I am not a fan of magic but many are and this is good. Backed
BADD

Cheers all, I've added a little more to Chapter 2 just to make it a bit clearer that he is being Chased ;)

Nice work, Phil. This reminds me a bit of the TV show Supernatural. The scenario also reminds me of a programme I once watched where someone went spying on a crazy cult in the woods and they reckoned the leader of the cult was George Bush haha

Steve.

Hi Phil, really effective writing in chapter 1. I felt the fear, it was gripping! After "I need to-" the quote marks are backwards. I tend to keep an eye out for mid-chapter perspective shifts, cause it can be a problem, but it seems to work really nicely here. In chapter two I didn't quite feel Dex's fear because I didn't really know what (if anything) was chasing him. It seemed like something was... but nothing, really, was? Another thing I found a bit odd was referring to Dex as Dex and 'the man', because I guess I felt like I was in Dex's point of view so 'the man' would be someone else. But apart from those things it is a great action-packed, well told piece of work so far, and it's quite a page-turner. I've backed it. I'd love it if you'd check out Black Earth. Cheers, Helen.

Ha good spot! I find I get so wrapped up in it most of the time that I miss really obvious stuff like that - I'll change it now :D

The pitch reads like the plot for a horror movie, full of suspense and mystery. I greatly enjoyed the prologue, which I found to be exceptionally well written with some great descriptions, such as Mary trying to trap haet and courage together beneath her bed sheet, or looking out into the inky darkness. Obviously the reader wants to know the bearing this has on the story and I suspect it is something to do with the book.
One minor thing, when jacob whisks Mary out of bed and she says that her feet are cold and he replies that they are quiter without them, I paused, re-read and assumed them to be shoes or boots, although it was not specified. Perhaps she could say 'my feet are cold, I need my boots' and then his response would be smoother.
This is really very minor though. Please do not let this distract you from the main point which is that I thought this to be well constructed and will not hesitate to place it on my shelf. I think it will do very well here.
Kendall Craig, The Halo (of Delight)