The Cleobury Quartet

Written and posted up over two weeks, pretty much on the fly and with little or no editing, this novella is not here looking for backings, comments or anything really, but it seemed a shame just to let it rust away in an ancient and forgotten thread.

So it's here in the hope it will afford the odd passer-by a moment of pleasure and not too many nightmares ...

Only an excellent writer can turn a dull and very wet weekend in Cleobury into an enjoyable read.

Well done you.

Mary

I'm curious over the absence of speech marks; only ever saw Pete Hamill do that in 'A Drinking Life' It does prove, though, that good writing works with litte punctuation.

I only popped on to autho for a moment, but saw that this was the featured pitched book on the home page, and seeing as it was you, Dai, thought I'd take a look, and read the whole thing. A masterful exposé of different voices. Very enjoyable.
Cheers, Simon

Dear Dai


I have started to read your writing and must say that it is compelling. Already you have established your animated characters in my head, ( they are not leaving soon) and i feel strongly to back your book now. such talent you have to create a compelling read for me. I also believe your long pitch sells your book well. I do wish to be part of your climb to the top on this site. CONGRATS and I will comment more as I read more.

Please take a moment to look, COMMENT which is important to me, and BACK my book. if not that is OK also

The VERY best of luck to you

BACKED BY ME FOR SURE
Denise
The Letter

Dear Dai, Well, this is your 5th book I'm reading & commenting on. :) I love the way you have dialogue with the lines before each quote in your story. :) I especially love your rambling about movies in chapter 6. :) Your writing is unique & makes me laugh at your humor. :) I've now backed all 5 of your books :) - could you please take a moment to back my memoirs book? :) Thanks so very much. :) Love, Susie :)

:) comment to follow :)

I have so enjoyed reading this Dai. The stories each tell are so delightful and odd...just perfect! You really have a way to bring a story along in a quiet and thoughtful way.

From your NZ based fan club,
Barbara

I am in the middle of reading this. Into chapter two--so glad to be on the internet again. I will be back and talk about it some more tomorrow, Dai.
Barbara

I like this one better than the mr. pootles one. This is so very English and reminds me of some friends of mine. It's zany and quirky and made me laugh, and you're possibly barking mad like I am, so I reading on with a smile to chapter two now....... and then on to the one with the baked bean tin....

I'm glad I read this through to the end, because by middle of the second story I started to think you were off your nut and didn't even realize you were working out the same tale again.

I'm glad you included the notes as well. Allowed me to better appreciate the thought you'd put into it.

Nicely crafted.

Hi Dai:

I know you don't want comments, but I like this very much and think it would be well worth your effort to adapt your punctuation to what's conventionally in use. The style is crisp, natural. It moves well and feels realistic, all of which appeals to me. Seriously. Fix it up and sell it.

Jeanne

Every detail of this story was crafted to perfection. I couldn't quit reading it. As a matter of fact, I may read it again, even though I'm falling-out-of-my-chair-tired! (seriously, this is on my elite study list ) MDEyler

APPRECIATED MDEyler

Dai, this is a book/novella after my own heart (I speak as a member of the Ghostly Company, and several other groups that focus on supernatural fiction and old horror films--I love Amicus), and it's the one I was immediately drawn to after reading the pitches for your other books. I think you should work on this one. I loved all the references (Crowley, Wheatley etc) and although the first two stories seemed rather similar in concept, I'm sure there was an ironic reason for this. I like your style (apart from the abandonment of the conventional speech marks, which, while used by many writers abroad, always puts me off) and I love the black comedy.

Maybe you could develop the relationship between the story tellers more--put in some unfinished business or a rivalry or something, to give a twist on the 'Amicus' format.

I'm definitely putting this on my watch-list.

Well-written fun. No, I'm not commenting since you don't want comments. Just observing....
And backing.
Anna (Black Damask)

Despite your frequent pronouncements that your stuff is 'no good', I'm sure that you must know that you have talent, otherwise you would not have such confidence to write such unique prose.

I do wonder however, why you have dispensed with the usual speech marks for this. I find it off putting to be honest. Perhaps I'm old fashioned.

It annoys me I can't cut and paste - the paragraph beginning 'And the sun still refused to give her light' - this is a perfect example of your writing. Very, very good. Different. Poetic without being stodgy or overly floral. A lightness of touch and two fingers up to the 'rules'.

If this was in book form (I realise it is very short) I would definately read to the end. (I'm sorry, I hate reading on screen.) Though I would be irritated by the dialogue format. But, as ever - that's just me. I note nobody else has been bothered by it.

Still - excellent writing. Backed. Cx

I see I am the only owner of a virtual copy of said work Mr Lowe. I read this...some of this....the first page of this...... a while back. And....fancy starting a sentence with 'and'....having read your very funny children's book (it WAS meant for children wasn't it? Oh God please say it was ...... I knew this world be just a funny. You are a funny man who writes funny stuff....funny that, you being a nihilist and all......

Dai,

You always give us all this bollocks about being a crap writer, but you know it's not true. I've read all your stuff on here, and your ability to switch styles is astounding. I like this vignette here. This piece is more accessible, commercially, than Fardel's Bear, I think (although Fardel, for me, is your best on here).

You should get yourself an agent and get published. I know we can download your stuff from your web site, but you should be making money out of being one of the best writers I know.

R

Really enjoying your work-- a lot.

The premise is perfect, and might I add that the word count is so great for a site like this. I can see you moving up extremely fast.

I intend to finish your work tomorrow, but for now I can say with pleasure-- backed.

Dan
A Life of

Seems a strange, but charming, blend of the old with the new: pootled up, old Morris, pissing it down. Aunt Zuleika ... do we get to draw our own conclusion? ... Revenge? Uncle Zebulon ... am I seeing a pattern emerge? ... elbow... mmm. Should I predict what Neville's going to say? Xanthippe Regardie ... drat, I was mile adrift. Zacharia Blackwood ... now were back on track.

The ending makes it all worthwhile, especially those last two sentences. Good stuff, entertaining, thought-provoking.

Written and posted up over two weeks, pretty much on the fly and with little or no editing, this novella is not here looking for backings, comments or anything really, but it seemed a shame just to let it rust away in an ancient and forgotten thread.

So it's here in the hope it will afford the odd passer-by a moment of pleasure and not too many nightmares ...