Book Jacket

 

rank 5468
word count 33326
date submitted 08.09.2009
date updated 08.09.2009
genres: Fiction
classification: universal
complete

Cold Highways Book One: The Dead

Benjamin Akira Tallamy

Set between worlds, Cold Highways is the dramatic story of ordinary people drawn together by the events that claimed their lives.

 

Somewhere there is a place without hope, a bleak and desolate hell known only as the Plateaus. This is where the people of Shrive have built there home and it is here that Tristen’s journey begins. With the help of a retired cartographer and a stranger calling himself The Tracer, Tristen must leaves the cities behind him, pushing out into the deadly wilderness beyond. Meanwhile, Larry Crest awakes by the roadside in the twisted wreck of a car – the sole survivor of a horrific accident. By impossible odds he is alive and unharmed, stumbling from the wreckage with the only clue he has to his past - a battered briefcase, covered in scars. As Larry struggles to learn of the events that brought him here, it seems his path is somehow inexorably linked with the prisoners of that other place. There are bonds and bridges that cannot be severed, as all the while a far crueller soul tears through the desert with a gun in his hand...

 
rate the book

to rate this book please Register or Login

 

tags

action, adventure, afterlife, akira, atmospheric, ben, benjamin, benjamin akira tallamy, cold, cold highways, hell, highways, loss, parallel worlds, t...

on 3 watchlists

17 comments

 

To leave comments on this or any book please Register or Login

subscribe to comments for this book
meemers wrote 864 days ago

I think that you will be a writer to be remembered in the coming years and your future is bright and just getting started. This is moving, cloudy and mysterious. Glad to back it.

Sue Sohn
Fate's Chastening

soutexmex wrote 973 days ago

I backed you last Sunday and I am just now getting around to posting a comment. I do apologize for the tardiness of my response. The thing that popped up at me was The Stranger began too many sentences and paragraphs. This is not good. Mix it up.

Both of the pitches need to be rewritten. This is a sales technique. Convince the casual passerby why they need to read your book. SELL me as to why your story is all paramount.

As I stated, I dud shelve you last week and now taking you down. You do have an interesting story. I do look forward to your comments on my book if you have done not so already. Cheers!

JC
The Obergemau File

J&M JENSEN wrote 975 days ago

Finally got to you for our swap! And I'm glad I did - this is a really well-written piece of work and you've clearly edited already as I didn't spot any typos to help you out with. You really know how to leave your chapters on cliff-hangers - so much so that I am already at Ch9 and wondering what on earth that briefcase is about! In fact, Larry is my major hook - he is so mysterious, and the whole lost memory thing has always fascinated me (as you can prob tell from Graemor!) There is a great deal of dark atmosphere, almost at times, tinged with despair and yet it's very addictive and leaves the reader mystified rather than depressed. I feel bound to discover Larry's fate so I must read on! Shelved and praised!

M&J
'GRAEMOR'

Helena wrote 976 days ago

Hi Benjamin, I've just read the first chapter and it is extremely well written. Your descriptions are vivid, I can imagine the field and the children bursting innocently from the undergrowth, you have painted it all very well and built up the suspense. It leaves a lot of questions, the suitcase, the fires, the children about to die? This is not a bad thing however, it just makes us curious and that's a definite page turner! I'm putting this on my shelf and I would (time permitting) like to read on, too many questions unanswered!
Helena (A Load of Rubbish)

mikegilli wrote 981 days ago

Shelved. What a chilling story. Ch 1 is a cracker, really hooked me,
though it left every question unanswered. Tghe n Ch 2 striaght into
the car wreck and more puzzling suspense.
What I like is the concrete attention to detail
so you feel you have to ubnderstand it and cant quite....
Great book...and I suppose the other 2 as well..........Mikey

morningside wrote 982 days ago

This is exactly my kind of story, and the cover alone would have me draw to it in a book store. Your story seems to be one you treasure, and one you put your whole self into in writing; it only captures me further to see the love you've expressed in this piece. You've dragged me along on a wonderful adventure.

Backed!
Ashley | Morningside

Tammy Snyder wrote 982 days ago

Your descriptions are wonderful and easy to picture. You are very good at conveying the scenes to your reader.
You have a few editing errors in the beginning where you repeat yourself back to back but, hey, I'm not one to talk. (grin)
This is terrific!
Shelved
Tammy
The Chimney Still Stands

BenTallamy wrote 982 days ago

It feels as if you have spent a great deal of time honing your sentences and words, it reads that smoothly. If you haven't spent time, then I am green with envy! This is well written and I cannot offer insights that would make it better. Of course you will receive varied opinions regarding adverbs, etc, but I always say follow your instincts.

The only negative I foresee is word count. 33k is a bit on the short side for a novel.

Other than that, a worthy tale. Shelved.

Elaina

Hello there Elaina,

thanks for the comment. i did actually spend a lot of time editing and drafting so i'm glad it's gleaned some positive results! i've put your novel on my watchlist so i shall have a read sometime soon.

And i agree it is a little on the short side - originally all three books were meant to be one volume in three parts but it was a bit too long and rather than split three parts into two parts, i figured the intended breaks could work as books.

it wasn't my first choice, but maybe a trilogy is more marketable....who knows?

All the best,

kind regards,

Ben x

BenTallamy wrote 982 days ago

I've only had time to read three chapters, but I know I'll come back to read more. Great ending to your first chapter, demanding that the reader turns the (virtual) page and everything that follows appears to be of the same high standard. Three books under your belt and you still find time to be in a band? I'm truly envious. You'll get a lot of advice on this site which will help you when you come to do an edit, but I'm too busy enjoying the reading to look for faults. I'd split your pitch to make it scan easier than at present with a single block of text. I like your style very much. I'm backing this and expect you to do very well.
Jared (Mummy's Boy)

Thank you so much for your kind comments.

i've not had much feedback at all about my books and it's really nice to have any comments,

thank you for the tips on splitting the pitch - can't figure out how to do this though, maybe i'm too much of a luddite!

still getting to grips with how all this 'backing' stuff works but thank you again!

Ben x

BenTallamy wrote 982 days ago

First, I want to say how impressed I am that you have completed a trilogy, and if they are all of the same high quality I have just read I shall have to make room on my shelf!
Your first paragraph - no, sentence, made me think that this was worthy of backing. I can't explain, but it just read well, like there was no work needed, the words were precise and flowed well and the style was one which I admire. I jumped and picked a random chapter (8) and found that this was maintained and upheld and strengthened by the dialogue.
Kendall Craig, The Halo (of Delight)

Thank you for your comment, i'm glad you enjoyed what you read.

i shall have to take a look at your as well.

Best wishes!

Ben x

BenTallamy wrote 982 days ago

Only just realised i could have replied on here and saved the messaging malarky!

Hi,
I read three chapters and my comment disapeared!!

This is a very enjoyable read.

Basically it is well-written but I think it needs an edit and needs to be tightened up. You often use a lot of words when a very few might do.
Get rid of almost all of the -ly adverbs.

The crafting however is excellent. The pace and plot evolution is very very good.

The first chapter has a great hook and leaves you wondering what happens to the children and makes you want to turn the page. Interestingly although you don't find out in the next two chapters also make you want to read on.

Gret stuff,

Shelved.

See ya in the funny papers!
Fred

BenTallamy wrote 982 days ago

Hi there,
Thanks for your comment - still getting my bearings here but seems a fab site.

how do i put my pitch into paragraphs? i did try but it undid all my efforts and it didn't like html either.

Hope you enjoy my book.

all the best

ben x

Hi Benjamin!

You've got a crisp approach to the detail you weave into this book - very fascinating to read through. I like your style! Great hook at the end of chapter one - makes the reader want to continue, very good! My only suggestion might be to section your pitch into multiple paragraphs - it'll make it easier for the reader to digest. Other than that, great start to this gripping book! On my shelf.

Kim
Invisible Justice

Elaina wrote 984 days ago

It feels as if you have spent a great deal of time honing your sentences and words, it reads that smoothly. If you haven't spent time, then I am green with envy! This is well written and I cannot offer insights that would make it better. Of course you will receive varied opinions regarding adverbs, etc, but I always say follow your instincts.

The only negative I foresee is word count. 33k is a bit on the short side for a novel.

Other than that, a worthy tale. Shelved.

Elaina

Jared wrote 984 days ago

I've only had time to read three chapters, but I know I'll come back to read more. Great ending to your first chapter, demanding that the reader turns the (virtual) page and everything that follows appears to be of the same high standard. Three books under your belt and you still find time to be in a band? I'm truly envious. You'll get a lot of advice on this site which will help you when you come to do an edit, but I'm too busy enjoying the reading to look for faults. I'd split your pitch to make it scan easier than at present with a single block of text. I like your style very much. I'm backing this and expect you to do very well.
Jared (Mummy's Boy)

Kendall Craig wrote 984 days ago

First, I want to say how impressed I am that you have completed a trilogy, and if they are all of the same high quality I have just read I shall have to make room on my shelf!
Your first paragraph - no, sentence, made me think that this was worthy of backing. I can't explain, but it just read well, like there was no work needed, the words were precise and flowed well and the style was one which I admire. I jumped and picked a random chapter (8) and found that this was maintained and upheld and strengthened by the dialogue.
Kendall Craig, The Halo (of Delight)

Kim Jewell wrote 984 days ago

Hi Benjamin!

You've got a crisp approach to the detail you weave into this book - very fascinating to read through. I like your style! Great hook at the end of chapter one - makes the reader want to continue, very good! My only suggestion might be to section your pitch into multiple paragraphs - it'll make it easier for the reader to digest. Other than that, great start to this gripping book! On my shelf.

Kim
Invisible Justice

Fred Le Grand wrote 985 days ago

Hi,
I read three chapters and my comment disapeared!!

This is a very enjoyable read.

Basically it is well-written but I think it needs an edit and needs to be tightened up. You often use a lot of words when a very few might do.
Get rid of almost all of the -ly adverbs.

The crafting however is excellent. The pace and plot evolution is very very good.

The first chapter has a great hook and leaves you wondering what happens to the children and makes you want to turn the page. Interestingly although you don't find out in the next two chapters also make you want to read on.

Gret stuff,

Shelved.

See ya in the funny papers!
Fred

1