Baby Boomer

Strong women battling adversity and ingrained prejudice is the common theme of the book and credit is due for the remarkable way you link so many different plot strands into a unified whole. The powders that work their magic on males, gradually rendering them more amenable to the feelings and sensitivities of women is an excellent device that works very well.
With the statement, "Where was it written that it was the duty of one half of the human race to be the slave of the other, merely on the authority of an extra flap of skin and muscle between the legs," you set out a powerful agenda, yet this is no feminist rant, but a reasoned argument given validity through the medium of a story-line that never flags. For this ambitious book to succeed, the story must continue to drive the plot along and from the chapters I've read I can only say that it is a triumph. I applaud your vision and your ability to carry this off so well.
Best wishes with this book, it deserves success.
Jared.

I think this is extremely ambitious as you strive to bring many strands together. I think you are capable of it though, your writing is very good, and your characterisation strong enough to weave the story. I would like to see this one in the bookshops & am happy to back it.

Hello Ali,
Fascinating I would say. I don't have much to say except that this is a well-written story, with a sense of description that is amazing. Anna is succinctly portrayed and the insightfulness of the story stands out right at the opening chapter. The story flows smoothly and the characters are well observed. Dialogue and narrative came in handy to make the story even more expressive. Rightly backed.

ll the best.

Janvier (Flash of the Sun)

This is a really catchy..magnificent novel.
What a recipe....Mixing excellent characterization, storyline
and technique with tremendous social insight and progressive politics.
Plus testosterone suppression powders!.......... Brilliant.
Lots of luck with this...................Mikey (The Free )

I came to this book with some trepidation. I had no need, I never lifted my head up till I got to chapter 19, this is a first, mostly it's 7 at most. This is real quality writing, wonderful story line, it has everything, family life from different cultures. history from both country's, I could go on, no need, brilliant. pleased to have this on my shelf.

There is some great writing here. The characters are well-developed and is your strong suit. The dialogue does what dialogue is supposed to do--which is support the back-story, tone, mood, motivation, and/or move the story forward etc.

Great storytelling

Best

Scott
The Esrevinu Chronicles/Secrets of the Elephant Rocks

Compelling read. Charcters and diolouge engage the reader from the first word creating a powerful voice. C W Shelved.

Ali, I've looked at your Chapter 52. Two things stick out that need correction.

First line [Somehow Anna managed to fit in making sure the house was all {in}order{.}

[Across the gangway she dealt with equal aplomb with a well-suited gentleman..] Change to [Across the gangway she handled a well-suited gentleman with aplomb...]

Happy to back the potential of your story.

Joffrey (The Silver Spoon Effect)

You said you wanted help with editing the last several Chapters.

Fifty-One I found to be quite good, and quite typical of women's thinking. Be aware, though, that it is often the excess ambition of women that drives the excess aggression of men. :-)

Fifty-Two - You've already suggested the airlines were having trouble filling seats after 9/11. So how is it that the the airline was unable to seat you together in business class. Seems like wish fulfillment. See comment on Fifty-One.;-)

Fifty-Three - Is it dialogue or conversation? Up to you to make that decision.

Overall impression. You have a serious subject and you know how to handle the language, but it falls prey to one of the weaknesses I see in women's fiction on here, generally, and that is the amount of small stuff. Mirror time, trappings, vanity items, quotidian details. Not as much as most of it, but somewhat. It's distracting. Strip it down to the marrow. Abstract yourself, don't express yourself.

Backing just the same.

Tim Chambers
Moonbeam Highway:With Apologies to Miguel de Cervantes

Ali,

I've read the opening three chapters posted here. You write supremely well - polished, controlled, insightful, intelligent. There's a lovely (probably not the right word to use here) pace to things, something ominous, is building, and it hangs over these pages. I like the way you've woven your story against the backdrop of big events taking place in the world. I think this is something that will work really well as the novel progresses - the little events mirroring the big, connected and converging all the time, perhaps. From your synopsis (and word count) I can tell this is a big novel of big ideas, and from the high, high quality of what I've already read, something you are more than capable of pulling off (and, hopefully, of getting published in the near future.)

Best of luck

NA 'A Red Sky in Morning'

Just to say that testosterone isn't all bad, its what you do with it! This is a good read with an interesting message. Women do get a raw deal, no doubt about it. Not sure about the ending but, hey, in fiction anything can and does happen! Interesting slant on current affairs. Good luck with this, Jim D Serpent's Blood

Hi Ali, glad to finally get a read in at last - I very much enjoyed your first chapter. There were themes of emancipation running through the three threads you had moving, across different timelines. There's the idea of predestination which irritates one character as she tries the compatibiity test; there's family constraints in the second section, and in the third there's domestic violence and controlling behaviour. These are rich themes to take on, they will speak to every woman, and the characters are well drawn. Best of luck

Pat Black
Snarl

Hi Ali,
For me, this story comes alive in chapter 4. 5 and 6 are excellent too -shelved.

The early chapters of this book are a bit disjointed. I think you should concentrate on the story Anna and tell that well. The early chapters should be stripped of anything not directly related to Anna. Anyway, that's what I'd do if writing this. Only my opinion,of course.

Good luck with this

John Booth (Shaddowdon)

Hi Ali,
I read the first several chapters of your book and at first I was a bit confused with the many separate starts of different characters until I realized that you were putting them all together to make an excellent story. But may I suggest that for your short synopsis of the story, you keep everything in the same tense? I'm passing this on to you because your book has great potential and in your short overview you switch from past tense to present, and from the writing courses that I have taken, it has been strongly emphasized that publishers prefer you to stick to one tense, usually present. Otherwise a great read!
Ronnie (author of Mudslide)

Baby Boomer

Hi Ali

Boy this is intelligent stuff, the reader is made to immediately to respond to the misogynistic challenges of the world. You have vision, talent, versatility and enthusiasm I am pleased to already see this doing so well. Best wishes and good luck, but my predication is th

Andrew W
(

Dear Ali Withers,

Thank you for sharing your story with us. I skipped to chapter sixty-six and sixty-seven, and they hit a tender spot. I was in college about this time in your story and attended anti-war protests. That the US went to war anyway jaded me, I’m afraid. In your story you’ve heightened the tension further by having a couple divided on the issue of war. Just as a country is about to be attacked, their relationship might also crumble.

In my fallible opinion, you could make your story even more exciting by activating some of your passive verbs.

This aside, I enjoyed your story. Bravo! Backed.

Best wishes,
Alan Marling

This is an interesting subject, and one well suited to today. There must be many women out there who would find this book both inspirational and encouraging. Anna is a very real character. The contrast of Anna and Farida, early in the book, is very effective. Farida has always allowed other people's ideas to rule her life. Anna has not done this, but with her mother's death she has begun to wonder if she is really so very different. The book shows Anna stepping out for herself, and, as the personality quiz in Chapter One tells us, making sacrifices to help others. You write clearly and well, in a style easy to read, and your characters come to life. Backed.
Gerry McCullough,
Belfast Girls.

The story switches effortlessly between India and th UK, drawing on rich and fertile material to put together a story which has an epic quality. As a mere man, I have decided to put my own sugar into my tea...just in case.
Backed

I like the premise. I personally think women get a very raw deal. In many cases, shockingly raw. And inspite of all the correct sounds coming from world leaders, from you and me for that matter, the world is still run by the powerful. So until women can grab a chunk of power ... What this about a secret magic powder then? Intriguing. Shelfed!

There is a'bit of telling rather than showing in this (for example in the last paragraph of chapter 1) but nothing that can't be fixed. Plot wise this is interesting, although it's not the usual sort of story that appeals to me. Backed.

Hi Ali,
Chap 1: The jump between the three different situations works really well. The last line of our first meeting with Meena is chilling and links brilliantly with Gloria's situation. I also liked the link from Jan and Anna's cup of tea to Meena's pot of water. In fact both links felt very film-like. The powder is very intriguing...!
Chap 2: The different points of view here give us great insight into everyone's motives. The only word I might change was right at the end: 'mused' seems a bit too fancy here - 'thought' would be fine I feel. Ignore of course if you don't agree!
Chap 3: Lots of 'world backstory' here. I think that's ok, but if, as we are led to believe, agents read 3 chapters, then this, as the last they'd read, doesn't move the story along. Maybe feed this info in as little chunks - breaks in the narrative, chapter by chapter, rather than all together here.
Apart from that, I think this is fine writing.
Cheers,
Simon

Hi Ali, I think this is an interesting premise. Women battling abusive husbands and the mysterious powder. I like the different stories interwoven and I would like to see how you maintain this throughout the story. It beautifully written and I think this should do well. Its on my shelf. Helena (A Load of Rubbish)

I read your uploaded chapter 54 and 55 at random. Overall Iiked the dialogue and the flow. Sending a couple of typos to your message box - but overall I thought the writing I read was well put together. Best of luck to you.

It took me a bit to get into this novel, i tend to be hooked ot lost by the first few pages. I think it was the lack of narrative or description and the constant dialogue or it may have been the small print that it was in and the lack of hard copy in my hand. This being said the book took off after that and i found the characters interesting and appealing. The ideas of this book are obviously a winner as well with over half of the population. Well done with it, backed with pleasure, glad i read past the first bit which was good but just down to me being tired and wanting it easy probably.
Regards
Chris

It took me a little while to get into this, not least because the opening is written in the present, which I think poses some problems, and is not my favourite tense, unless it can be successfully paired with the first person. I also think it's still a good idea to be careful about the use of the word 'wog'. Of course, you're tackling some difficult issues here, and that's what interests me most about this novel.

Shelved, because I think too few books are confronting the issues that drive modern society, good and bad.

Adelie High (Naming Names)

Wow - you are taking on some huge ideas here, spanning the globe and decades, life and death, families, natural and man-made disasters. I can imagine reading this when it's in print and enjoying it very much indeed. Backed.

Hello Ali,

Baby Boomer is not only an enjoyable but an informative read. You have created some great and strong female characters. The storyline moves smoothly through chapters 1& 2. Chapter 3 wandered a little and I was occasionally thrown off balance by the short paragraphs and extra space between, but this a book I am glad to back.

Daniel “Storykeeper”

You tie a lot into your story. It is a captivating idea and one that held my attention for the three chapters I read.
It did take me a little time in the beginning to get into it, but I am sure that is person and not a slight to your writing.
THis was delightful. The writing is great, the layout not so much but that is because of autho and not you. Every line having a space between it, how annoying.
That said, the onlyt hing I could see that could be amended to make the story better is that there are some really long sentences. Perhaps paring them down or breaking them up would help. It would increase the fluidity of the plot and cut out some unnecessary wording.
Backed.
T.L Tyson-Seeking Eleanor

You do an excellent job using a narrative voice that is authentic, yet powerful. I could picture the women here in extremis, and feel their power as they work through it.

You do occasionally inject editorial comments that detract, usually through adverbs such as "cynically" (in ch. 8, for example). You've done the work of conveying the emotions without marking them up for the reader -- I'd lose that.

Stuart Phillips
High Cotton

Amazing storyline, best part is the way different topics have been introduced and handled which is a very dauting task for a writer....just read first four chapters...will read more as time permits..Good luck!

Hi Ali,
I love the premise of your book and added it to my watchlist. Your pitch is fantastic.
Jane Cooper, The Transformer

Now that I have time at weekend job, of course my luck being what it is, the website is now acting up and I cannot read any book. I'll try to swing by later to read what you have posted. Meanwhile, I am SHELVING this effort. If you get the chance when the website is working again, would love your comments on my book, but it's NOT mandatory, NOT even your backing is required. Because I do not want to upset anybody, just read mine at your leisure. Cheers!

JC
The Obergemau File

to compare and contrast the lot of the western woman with that of her asian sisters makes for a compelling read – differences, yes, but not absolute... domestic abuse is replicated everywhere – ‘magic powder’ to make men more amenable... real? metaphor?

this is fine indeed – the indian earthquake: “the earth heaved and tossed 100,000 people from their slumbers into the hot, pre-dawn air” – the contrast between anna’s mother’s funeral in the cold north of England and its indian counterpart continues the contrasting theme

and then the global coming together – 9/11 – echoes perhaps anna’s own thoughts as her western life and her asian roots become less distinct...

your paragraph style – short, one-line in places – good stylistic choice... a clipped narrative to contrast well with the more lyrical descriptions elsewhere, and providing the strong, slightly detached voice which carries this narrative well .

this book deals with important issues and does so in confident and purposeful tone – i’m putting it on my rotating shelf and wish you well with it .

freddie
("honour")

Baby Boomer has a strong and interesting storyline, though for me the pitch dwelt too much on the backstory; I would have liked to see more on the real focus of the book which [presumably] is the post 2001 epiphany and revolutionary journey. C1 opened strongly; I liked the parallels and contrasts between India and London with the 'powders to work their magic on otherwise cold and brutal men'. I was thrown by Jan and Anna though - I found myself asking who they were, where they lived and why had they appeared, and so lost the thread of the story.
The C2 transition to Gujarat left me wondering again - is this the same place from C1? And suddenly why am I reading about the North of England now? Who is Farrider?...Jude?....Mike? Next, why am I suddenly reading about the deficiencies of the NHS and an alcoholic surgeon while Gujarat is going through a 'giant celestial crusher'?
You write well and have a good story here, so I'm happy to back you. But the editor needs to get to work IMHO and untangle the narrative threads. Think about the poor reader; introduce each new character and place them in the story - who/where are they and why are they there? Jumping about too quickly from place to place is also distracting; give the reader some continuity and time to adjust. Hope these thought will help. All the best.

This is an ambitious novel, combining several narrative strands and tackling multiple themes relating to the zeitgeist of the early post-millennium years. Overall, it works well. You’ve created some strong female characters and you draw us into their daily struggles and the slow drawn-out tragedy of their lives, from the working mother sans time-to-bloody-think to her mother, who is trapped by a more traditional family role. You also deal sensitively with the implications of being caught between two cultures: UK and India. You have a lively and inventive way with descriptions. One example that springs to mind is your wonderful depiction of the Gujarat Earthquake in Ch2.

Just occasionally, your evident desire to comment on contemporary issues detracts from the story, by reducing its immediacy and impact. Some of the exposition in omniscient narrator POV could be worked into the dialogue or the thoughts of your characters. This would strengthen the narrative drive and improve its chances when you start sending it out to agents and publishers.

Hope this helps.

Backed with pleasure and good luck.
Tony (Sirocco Express)

Hi Ali,

I found your writing direct and compelling. I'm sure I didn't do your book justice by the amount I read, but for me it is the feeling of the writing. Your style has a journalistic flair, yet touches on the mystical. This is an accomplished work. Backed.
Craig (Painted Lives)

1st thoughts...the story is genuinely *novel* - which is always refreshing.
2nd thought - 75 chapters - bloody hell!!

ch1 -
I loved parts 1 & 2 (& their connection with the powder) - though part 3 seemed more loosely related & thus left me scratching my head a little.
ch2 -
Are you sure Farida is a name that would be kept by Parsis..?
typo: That day AN exasperated consultant...
I like the Q that you ask - are the baby boomer generation ultimately happier than their parents..? However you do occasionally get a little preachy: where was it written that it was the duty of one half of the human race...

And I initially thought Mike was her husband, not brother - that might be sloppy reading on my part, but just check that his intro is indeed clear.

I felt for Farida though - lonely, despite having her children all close by. The last sentence was very touching.

ch3 -
I personally liked the summation of the cusp of milleniun & shortly after. However I feel you need to be careful to not inject the recap with your personal views in a lazy, overt way: '...generations who had not had the technology to fool themselves into thinking they could control nature...' However another thought - some of the detail (e.g. train disasters) will not carry well, internationally.

Eventually however this chapter reads as almost entirely apart from the novel taking shape:
in the global village electronic communication was truly a tool of democracy - equally available to terrorist or freedom fighter... - it reads almost like an article in The Economist!!

In conclusion I really liked the outline but the delivery in part was not to my liking - I'd be cautious of being preachy or merely dumping your views, like in a write-up for a newspaper. Apart from having no place in a novel it symied the emerging story, I felt. But I repeat, the basic story - and much/most of ch1-3, definately appealed.

Dear Ali, I see your book as a beautiful fabric woven from rich, varied strands, among them Indian culture and English society, a personal story and historic events, Anna’s past and present. Your narrative isn’t only brilliantly constructed and gracefully written, but also extremely evocative and highly compelling—there’s also a knowledgeableness and intellectual sophistication that’s all too rare in fiction.

What’s equally impressive if that Anna is both a unique person and a symbol of her generation: an amazing creation—you should be proud.

On my shelf. Maria, The Pharaoh’s Cat

Hi Alison, I find this story full of promise, perhaps partly because I like stories about India and have traveled there twice, once for six weeks, once for a month and both times left only because we were just too exhausted to go one. . We traveled by public bus and train and stayed in government cabins or small hotels. Since this about you and your book, I will now do what I am supposed to and comment. I just wanted you to know that I am on your side all the way. I won't say I "know" India but I can visualize it when you talk about it and want to hear more.

I love the premise of your book so far, the mixing of Indian and British culture, and your writing is good. However, I have some comments to make. I think you should begin the book as you did with India and then move to Britain, but I feel that the real story should begin with Farida's death and 911 with a minimum of looking back and explanation. The first chapters are comprised mostly of facts without delving into the characters except for some things about Farida, but neither she not the others come alive to the reader. We don't feel the mother daughter connection or husband/wife connection, etc. We are told about them without getting to know who they are and, frankly, not caring that much. I think that even though it needs some work this book has great possibilities. I am shelving it.

I love this kind of novel, the kind that tackles issues of gender, race, spirituality, personality in a hugely personal way.
I know that personality test! it's a clever way to introduce Anna but I think you need to break it up. Make it more dynamic by putting in some dialogue between the two women, a bit of banter to establish the relationship, the two women and also the fact that Anna is in her 50s (I was puzzled initially as I thought they were two young girls, in their teens or twenties).
But you have a very strong voice and a valid and intriguing tale to tell. Yes, it's ambitious, but I think you can pull it off.
I'm happy to back this.
Jane
(Walker)

Hi Ali

I’ve read to Ch 6 of Baby Boomer., your writing really flows and the descriptions are great (clouds cannoning etc) I think your background as a professional writer really shows. I love your economical style and the opening vignettes from different cultures - and the hook of ‘the little powders’,’ which has a nicely mischievous feel.
Not quite so keen on the ‘personality test’ – it’s a very good way of introducing Anna, but it’s too long, I think, for this point in the novel, when we want to see narrative developing. I suggest you keep the actual quotes shorter and break them up with discussion between Anna and her friend in which you could also draw out some character – or leave it for another moment. (BTW – how old is Anna at this point? I assumed a teenager, and couldn’t work out how old in subsequent scenes until you tell us she is in her fifties).
In the next few chapters there’s great conviction and the themes are clearly laid out. I have two criticisms (or suggestions, depending how you look at it!)
First of all, I think you need to look at the chronology in this section. Ch 2 is mainly flashbacks which are nicely done but do seem to slow down the pace as we’re moving backwards rather than forwards. (Yes, I know have some myself – I’m currently on a mission to get rid! ) I also got a bit confused that the funeral is described at the start of ch2 but then happens again as it were later on. It seems a shame that Mike’s discoveries in Farida’s house and the finding of the jewels aren’t shown ‘in real time’ as it seems to have a big impact on all concerned – could make a great scene with some lively dialogue.
I’m not sure if my other point is a criticism or not – I can see it’s part of your style to hand us out chunks of information – whether about the past or about current events, but I do think there’s a danger of it reading like memoir rather than fiction. Your account of the year 2000 could, for instance, be seen more specifically through Anna’s eyes as a journalist (looking back though old newspapers?) This would show us her attitude rather than yours as the narrator. Generally I would suggest focussing on the dramatic moments in your story – the ones that matter to the overall plot - and drawing them out into scenes (rather than simply telling us what happens). (Have you read Tim Lott, Rumours of a Hurricane? – nothing like yours! but good example of social history/politics in fiction - and he’s a journalist!)

I expect I’m looking too hard at stuff in which you are mainly setting the scene and it would be easy to tweak this in later drafts. I’m happy to put you on my shelf and hope I can come back sometime to find out about Anna’s journey – and the little powders.
sorry to go on - it means I think you're worth it!
Best of luck.
AliB

Hey Ali,
If only there was a little packet of powder that could be sprinkled in the food of violent men, ending their tyranny of violence forever. Thanks for mentioning Baby Boomer in the forum as I may have missed it otherwise.

You’ve woven interesting cultural snippets about an Anglo-Indian family against a broader narrative backdrop, i.e. the shocking state of world affairs and I like the spiritual references and the flash to the village.

There’s a lot of ground covered here, and it is obvious that you are someone who cares deeply about the state of the world and the daily injustices people suffer. If only the hope at the start of the millennium had carried on, but boy did it go downhill for the world in 2001. One thing you didn’t mention was the Millennium Bug – that was so huge at the end of 1999 that it could be worth a mention.

I’ve enjoyed the first five chapters of this finely written story and am happy to back it.

Cheers,
Heather
Friends & Pho

Strong women battling adversity and ingrained prejudice is the common theme of the book and credit is due for the remarkable way you link so many different plot strands into a unified whole. The powders that work their magic on males, gradually rendering them more amenable to the feelings and sensitivities of women is an excellent device that works very well.
With the statement, "Where was it written that it was the duty of one half of the human race to be the slave of the other, merely on the authority of an extra flap of skin and muscle between the legs," you set out a powerful agenda, yet this is no feminist rant, but a reasoned argument given validity through the medium of a story-line that never flags. For this ambitious book to succeed, the story must continue to drive the plot along and from the chapters I've read I can only say that it is a triumph. I applaud your vision and your ability to carry this off so well.
Best wishes with this book, it deserves success.
Jared.

Many things make me smile It's funny how the white powder causes one to be kind to the kinds and not beat his wife for three weeks. And the doctors' choice - suicide or drinking and sex. Like those are the only choices. Love the contrast of characters. There's enough here to hold my interest and you don't waste your words.

Hi Ali, I enjoyed your writing a lot and I was captivated by the story. You created the atmosphere and settings with great skill and blended the strands of the story carefully and quite effectively. Very insightful and enjoyable. I'm happy to give your book a bit of time on my shelf.
Michael Croucher (Bravo's Veil)

Hello Ali,
Fascinating I would say. I don't have much to say except that this is a well-written story, with a sense of description that is amazing. Anna is succinctly portrayed and the insightfulness of the story stands out right at the opening chapter. The story flows smoothly and the characters are well observed. Dialogue and narrative came in handy to make the story even more expressive. Rightly backed.

ll the best.

Janvier (Flash of the Sun)

I think this is extremely ambitious as you strive to bring many strands together. I think you are capable of it though, your writing is very good, and your characterisation strong enough to weave the story. I would like to see this one in the bookshops & am happy to back it.

This is a really catchy..magnificent novel.
What a recipe....Mixing excellent characterization, storyline
and technique with tremendous social insight and progressive politics.
Plus testosterone suppression powders!.......... Brilliant.
Lots of luck with this...................Mikey (The Free )

This is a really catchy..magnificent novel.
What a recipe....Mixing excellent characterization, storyline
and technique with tremendous social insight and progressive politics.
Plus testosterone suppression powders!.......... Brilliant.

Suggestions.
I saw one or two typos...loos instead of loose in Ch 75.
If you're re/editing I would cut any unnecessary sentences, especially
in late chapters.. I'm doing the same and I know it's hard.
In Ch 1 I would include a clip of actual violence, along with the secret recipe.
I loved the WWC revolution... I thought you could add more details to make it
more real..... or make it clear its a big process just beginning at the end of the book.
So readers are provoked into thinking and maybe acting, without the excuse of
saying -'This is unbelievable'.
I have another idea I'll send a message.
Lots of luck with this...................Mikey (The Free )

Hi Ali,

I liked the way you brought in four individual charachters from different backgounds in the first chapters. All so fascinating and endearing to read. I especially like the Indian couple (ofcourse I would, I say!) but it was great to come into another time, another space, another country altogether.

The story does not halt and the writing is great.

I will read on. But in the meantime, on my shelf!

Malika
Ashes of Hope

This is a really good read! The site is running slow at the moment and I haven;t got through a lot but I will come back and am happy to back this right now!
Simon (BLACK SHADOWS)

This is an enjoyable read, your characters are well drawn and believable - the setting you create for them is really well done and I can see the story playing out in my mind. I wish you luck with this, it deserves to do well. SHELVED!
Bests,
AnnabelleP

OK Announcement! to all those who were worried by the prologue idea - it's been re-worked and is now chapter 1. Better or not?
Ali
xx

Ali, I love this book, you have a gentle writing style, but it's also haunting, evocative and realistic. You have a great plot, characters and premise. My only suggestion would be to remove your 'healer' prologue - this will certainly put off potential agents/publishers - instead, maybe just encapsulate the role of the healer in one sentence as an upfront 'quote?' Alternatively, you could have a scene between healer and one being healed - to bring out your healer philosophy. Shelved with pleasure.