Song for My Father

The book is on my WL and will comment after finishing the read in a couple of days.

Hi Miles

Sorry for the long overdue return read...of course these are only my opinions (which don’t really amount to much since I’m no professional editor) so take/leave what you like.

I liked your opening chapter – not what I expected at all towards the end of it, I want to know who these people are and why they’ve done something so extreme! I did feel that the intros in chapter 2 were a little hard to get on with, just because they weren’t introducing names – rather they were describing ‘nameless’ people. The references to the man in the baseball cap etc felt a touch tiresome after a while and I just wanted to know their first names. It feels a bit strange reading third person in the present tense. I like it but it feels as though I’m having to concentrate harder, which is a bit strange.

In terms of dialogue, there wasn’t enough for me personally as I found it very narrative heavy. Chapter 2, where the Greentree brothers were introduced felt a bit long on backstory that, in my opinion, could have been worked in with dialogue or cut back and re-worked in a little later as I wanted to get back to the burial. Chapters 2 and 3 introduces a lot of characters at once which I found a bit confusing. I also wondered if you really needed all of them. The run down of Bessie Mae’s previous husbands for example – for me it didn’t really add much and although it’s all told with humour, I was beginning to forget what was actually going on with the story line.

I read up to chapter 4 and aside from a few typos, your writing style is good. I liked the wry humour throughout but would have liked a little more description around the settings just to bring it to life a bit more. I was also confused in places where you had two people speaking in the same paragraph – in other words it wasn’t broken up by one line for one person and another for the other if that makes sense?

Silva

Miles, A. Robinson is a gifted writer.
The opening chapter alone is testament to that fact.

Oliver Greentree – What kid of a man was he? He must have been good, wasn’t he? And dearly missed too. Why else would the handsome couple visit his gravesite on such a wretched winter’s day? Well? Think again. Once you’ve read the last line, I’m sure you’ll agree that you’ve never seen a more innovative characterisation.

The competent writing, the impeccable analogies and a fast narrative that’s spiced with a mix of sharp wit, unabashed profanity and dark humour deliver a thoroughly entertaining read. It stays on my watchlist, as I’ll take my own sweet time in relishing and cherishing this rare treat. Highly rated and recommended.

* * * * * *

Best regards,
AGC

Hi Miles,

It's a tale with several connotations both physical and mental. There are so many lessons to be learned as we read on, about the way we live in general, our relationships with our kith and kin, the social intercourse which shapes our psyche and what not.
I'm sure there is a lot of meaning in the narrative although it is told with a dry wit about it. I cannot think of anybody disliking the contents.
I have starred it and placed it on my watchlist, soon to be shelved.
All the best with this.

Jay Adiyarath
EXPIRY DATE

Hello Miley-
book - Song for my father-

read eight chapters and some chunks more last night before going to bed.
and what a tonic it proved to be, in fact just what the doctor oredred;
It's brilliant to the extreme; full of comic relief every second ;
The wise cracks, the dark humour, just make one want to gobble up the pages.
This story of the disfunctional Greentree family gets off to to a great start on the first page alone;
would a handsome middle age couple piddle on the grave: what a picture you set in the minds eye.
certainly gave an insight as to what to expect further on down and throughout the book.
line like Carls- you love me, is that why we can't have sex'
highly recommended for those of us who like tongue in cheek humour and lots more

good luck Miles'

tom bye - book - from hugs to kisses'
oblige and read some of my story please.thanks

- Song for my Father -

(Based on chapters 1-3)

My, my, this is good. I really enjoyed the dark, pitch black, humour in this and the excellent character sketches. The dialogue too is often very witty. Not much to say in the way of constructive criticism so I'll just add a few general impressions.

The small opening prologue is absolutely perfect. There is such intrigue there as to who the two people at the graveyard are, who the man in the ground is and the people they talk about - the senator and his wife. It was a great hook as I really felt I had to know who these people were. Then the ending - it's as disgusting as it is hilarious. Loved it.

As I read the second chapter, what struck me most was how great a vehicle a funeral is for introducing characters, their interrelatiopnships and their past histories as we have all these people coming together on an emotional occasion. The black humour runs throughout here too and the dialogue is really good.

Chapter three - Ah, Bessie May. What a great character. The language mix up and the result thereof were hilarious.

The only thing I wondered about is whether the swearing will alienate some readers. It doesn't bother me at all because I'm a working class Scotsman and unused to my peers completing a sentence without one or to F's or C's but I imagine it could narow the readership, as it so often seems to with pubIished authors.

In any case, this is very clever and a hugely entertaining read. Really enjoyed it.

All the best with it,

Ross

SONG FOR MY FATHER / Miles A. Robinson

Imagination / Creativity / Cleverness define this author. Mr. Robinson gets started right away in his short forst chapter that appears more like a prologue. I almost gagged laughing when at the end of it, the two characters, after tidying up Ollie's grave, pulling weeds, placing flowers and so forth, drop their pants and urinate on it. Absolutely freaking bizarre. I had a feeling I was in for a good read. AND....I was right!

The author has a fantastic sense of humor. He weaves that trait directly into a story about a man who managed to tally up a lot of people who would rather see him dead than alive. The cleverness by which Mr. Robinson depicts these characters, telling their stories, is engaging. The dialogue is real-life, the descriptions, while occasionally a bit overdone, are entertaining. He establishes a theme early and sticks to it.

I don't want to give away fine points to the story by talking about details but I will say some of the one-liners and cliches' are fabulous. There is a real sense of down to earthness about this author whereas he 'pulls no punches' in the interest of political correctness or worry of whether anyone will judge the accuracy of his depictions in relation to real-life. Essentially, he has given it to you straight, the way people talked, lived, thought and felt in the time described.

In CH3, when depicting Bessie May, I almost blew a gasket laughing so hard about her 'previous' husbands. Her 1st hubby was a plumber who explored the inner plumbing of half the women in town or something like that but eventually was killed in an untimely 'septic tank explosion'. #2 was a carpenter, Oh never mind people...just read it.

The careful, plot-moving set-up of the first three chapters rivals anything I have ever read. The humor, the detail, especially, the characterizations are fabulous. It has flavor, punch and is even a bit raunchy at points (when talking about whorehouses and stuff) but never is it not entertaining. Mr Robinson has completely captured the essence of small town politics of the era, the way things rerally did happen and unfurl them out for the reader in a way that is guaranteed to please.

Anyone who reads the first three chapters of this book will continue. This, I am most certain of.

The author's style is interesting. The overuse of some phrases / adjectives etc,... is there, but, I feel it in the voice of the narrator. What we have here is a book that wouldn't be the same if it was done differently. Mr. Robinson has a command of language and he demonstrates this with unique ways of delivery, using craft to serve it to the reader. I wouldn't want this book to read any other way. When talking about Ollie's exploits, the power of Bessie May ot the son's experiences, it could only be done this way.

It is very clever the way the author comes at his plot from each character's angle and influence to it. I guess many might say that this is too many POVs, but not me. By Chs 4 & 5, I want exactly what I'm getting. The set-up is coming full-circle and I couldn't put this book down if I had to. I'd literally cancel plans today to read this if I had to.

6 hours later....
EVERY AUTHONOMITE NEEDS TO READ THIS BOOK !!! Some will find it as I have. Others will think it contains too much profanity and descriptions of lewd behavior. Some will no doubt think Mr. Robinson could have left some things out and shouldn;t have mentioned them. I am just as sure he will be critisized for some of his references and 'stereotypes'. Even still, there will be those who will be mindful that he is an author, that the story is fiction (I think), and will enjoy it as I have.

EXCELLENT! 6 stars for this book. I think it the best 'undiscovered' book on this site. Miles Robinson is truly a gifted writer with an unbelieveable command of words and the ability to weave them like yarn, into a story.

PS - Don't cheat and read the ending. It will spoil the entire read.

Song for my Father,
Fiction comedy, dark, 3rd person, multiple.

Premise; a father dies, but rather than mourning the loss, his kids celebrate in rather, um, unusual and comical ways ... for decades!

Characters: powerful and intriguing characters here. The bad, oh so bad! Fantastic and very unusual but believable characters through Ch 2.

Plot ... not entirely evident, but the approach is so entertaining, the plot is secondary to the characters.

Mechanics: as far as I could tell, mostly clean. A copy editor would like this book as there isn't much to fix.

POV: swaps around. But in this format, it is not offensive. It adds to the comic aspect by understanding how the individuals tick.

Overall, I found this to be fairly engaging through Ch 2. If time permitted, I'd certainly be interested in reading more. Starred generously and holding on WL until space opens on my shelf.
Raechel
Echo

Hi Miles,

I finally managed to get time to look at your book. Sorry it took a few days. :(

I'll comment as I read since I find that the easiest way to keep track. Please don't be offended by any suggestions. After all, they will just be my thoughts. You can always ignore me if you think I'm wrong or stupid. ;)

(Sorry in advance for any typos, but my keyboard’s a bit knackered:()

Chapter 1: Hmmm intriguing 1st scene. I wonder why the kids wanted their father dead. 10 years, and they still don't seem to have got over whatever problem there was. I almost laughed out loud at the end of the chapter. It was so shocking and funny, and it came out of where. I've hear people say they'd like to do that to seombody's grave but I think it might be a 1st for this to actually happen. This, I think, will be a quirky and darkly funny read. ;)

Chapter 2: Hmmm who is this man? I like the heterosexual back pats ;). Wow slutty flight attendant. I love it. ;)

I've 1 tiny suggestion here. Sometimes, I think you overexplain a little. eg "... leers and reaches out as if to cop a feel." implies the action will be unsuccessful, diminishing the tension of what follows. If, instead, you wrote something like "... leers and reaches for her bottom." the reader won't know whether or not he'll manage his noble quest until he succeeds/fails later on. I think this would keep the tension there for as long as possible. ;)

Reading on... I like all the strangely used Star Wars references. They're v funny :). Ah the man in the long coat seems to be recenty bereived. No wonder he doesn't seem interested in the flight attendants oh-so-subtle overtures ;).

I've a little suggestion on dialogue here. At times, I don't think you need to explain it quite so much. eg when you explain the man in the black coat cut her off before she can finish, we can see that's happening from the dialogue itself. I'd just cut that explanation completely. Your dialogue's good. I think you should let it shine on its own merits. ;)

Reading on... I almost laughed aloud when I learned she was married. And wow the guy with baseball cap is cruel. How can he be so willing to destroy lives in such a fashion? looks like he's not as bad as he used to be, but it's almost as if the new morality is because he's just not in the mood to score. Ah it sounds like they're going to a funeral. That would explain the mood.

Gloomy day for a funeral. Hmmm it seems as if Oliver wasn't exactly well liked. And for good reasons. Interesting little descriptions of the sons. I think you do a great job of painting pictures of their characteristics quickly and efficiently. Rory's a bit of a bastard, who only seems to have shown up in the hope of being included in a will. Honor seems to be that way by both name and nature. And Dewey actually seems genuinely sad, until we learn he's a gifted actor ;).

I've a tiny suggestion here on adverbs. 90% of the time, I think a strong verb does a better job than a weaker verb-adverb combination. eg in "... puffed contemptuously on the cigarette that dangled precariously from his lips." I think "precariously" isn't needed at all as you've already described the action perfectly with "dangled." And I think a verb would do a better job painting a picture than "contemptuously" which feels like telling rather than showing. eg I think something like "... puffed on the cigarette that dangled from his lips and sneered." would work better.

Reading on... I like the immediate contrast after learning Dewey's a good actor with Ollie's... ahem ... gritty words on acting. I almost laughed when I read that. It was just such a surprise. Yvonne hardly seems sad at the old man's passing either. Is anybody sad this man is dead? I'm starting to doubt it. I'm amazed Ollie actually paid support for Yvonne. It hardly seems in character for him. Maybe it's a sign he wasn't stupid enough to risk getting hauled to court over the issue. Just because he was the devil, that doesn't mean he had to be an idiot. ;)

Hmm there's a real mystery here. Why on Earth did Mary stay with Ollie? Sounds like she was a decent woman. She must have known what he was like and suffered. Ah it seems Ollie was gone a lot of the time. I guess that made things more bearable + I suppose she'd have wanted to stay for the sake of her boys. + Ollie brought in the all-important money. Sad end to Mary. Sounds liek she deserved better. :(

Chapter 3: Hmmm Bessie seems like a smart business woman. It can't have been easy for a woman to manage such financial success back then. she must be clever. I loved her trying to beat up the singer she thought was calling her fat ;). Maybe this is a hint at the real reason for her success. She's tough and aggressive. Hmmm there's a mention of tough friends. Does she have links to some sort of organised crime?

She got through a lot of men, but to be fair it sounds like she was a bit unlucky i her choices. Uh oh looks like she may have had the plumber murdered, though. Bessie's not a woman to cross. Yup, she's dangerous when humiliated. Carpenter hubby found that out the hard way too. As did hubby number 4. Looks like the musician was actually lucky he just got ripped of in a settlement! I love the fact the descriptions of the philandering activities and deaths of the husbands (apart from the strange fishing accident) link into their professions. Very karma. ;)

Hmmm looks like Bessie really diversified when she got out of the whole marriage game. I guess the whorehouse would be a wellspring of information and influence if used in such a way. Clever. I'm amazed she even managed to influence KKK members. This is 1 determined woman! By the end of the chapter it looks like it's only her intervention that kept the Greentree boys out of jail.

OK I just saw how long this comment's getting. I better sum up and stop before it gets ridiculously huge. Sorry, I think I got carried away by your story. :)

There's a lot to like in this book. I think you've really got a gift for creating interesting characters and making them come to life. Ollie, despite no longer even being alive, is a constant presence hovering in the background. He was so odious that his influence over every character in this book can be felt all the time. I think the irrverant dark humour you inject into your writing fits the tale perfectly and lightens what otherwise could have become too sad a story at just the right points. It's a great read. :)

I've rated this with 6 stars, and do hope you get an agent to look at it. I think it has real potential. :)

Best of luck getting it published,

Pete

Miles,

I started reading your Opus and thought I would give you my cent and half:

The narrative style is one of moment by moment, which means each moment is a dangling act that acts like an engine for the next, the point being to create a certain immersion on the reader. This is enhanced by the telling done on the present tense.

The trade off is that the sideways - descriptions - have to be short and to the point, to keep the dangling act together.

For, you have made a promise to the reader.....so you better keep it...lol.

I also like the minimalism of the lingo in the dialogue. Frankly, as an Hispanic, I get tired when people ask me to talk like "an Hispanic". That is when I am asked to differentiate myself though some kind of ethnic sub-language

My usual answer is: thanks....but no thanks

so I am happy you are not exploiting that over-exploited device called ethnic lingo

I particularly like it's absence in the first chapter's dialogue.

Now the jewel of this narrative is the psychological map of the main character: here we have a creature that is tired of himself...he wants to flirt with the lady in the airport...but doesn't have the energy....here is a fellow that has watched himself a thousand times display his usual bag of tricks and now is tired of performing them...

...much like a parrot must get tired of uttering the same line...time and time again

and so he goes...

I haven't read the whole thing....but if that's where you are going then that is an interesting psychological map to explore....a man tired of himself.

Some Minor/Minorest/Minormost points:

"Walks into the old cementery"
I need a mind picture here to set up the scene:
for ex: "the thombs in the cemetery looked like white orchards on a yard"
one line would suffice

"A Black man....."
Again, I need a mind picture
for ex: "tourists in the airport formed a line that undulated like a caterpillar, all the to counter"

Some of the self disgust could be cut a little for, is like like in a sit com. If you pile too many jokes in one line, none of them are funny

..... the art lies in the phasing.

Let me know if that helps,

Overall, wonderful

david

Miles, I read the first 6 chapters of your book. It was quite funny! Although I'm not usually into funny books, this one kept my attention. My only quibble is that the begining of authonomy chapter 2 was somewhat confusing and might need a second look. Thanks for the good read Miles, I put you on my WL and will back next week!

Song for my Father.
RIP - true hate like true love, never dies. Laughed out loud at this short, snappy passage in which the author slyly misdirects the reader with the actions and dialogue between a couple visiting the grave of miscreant, Oliver Greentree.
Flagrant sexual enticement in an air terminal and its ultimate, albeit reluctant, rejection is well-crafted, observed and described. Standing by Oliver's grave whilst he is interred, the reactions and past experiences of his children, together with thoughts about their father are succintly explored, giving the reader a taste of how vile a man he was. Although this is mostly 'tell' it didn't feel like an info dump and this is surely due to the author's expertise for story telling. This also applies to the passage about ruthless Bessie May, which made for a compelling read. Stark but cut with humour, I have no idea why this isn't higher in the rank. I just know it should be.

Nanty - Chrys!

Miles -

Song of My Father - Your sharp humour somehow filters through all the characters, relentlessy - echoing what remained in the children, the sordid concoction of a love/hate attachment to a powerful character. The book becomes a legacy of what a totalitarian father leaves behind. And in the background is Mary, the wife who remained until she had a nervous breakdown and was comitted - and - apparently killed. Not all is at it seems.
The fantasies circulating in this mindspace are raw but coherent and you express them with a unique voice.
Resurrecting my comment and catching up with rating. Best Sucess, Pia (Course of MIrrors)

Miles, You have a gift with Character development. We are immediately drawn into this as if we were amongst the stories and situations. This coukd easily have been non-fiction as fiction usually imitates life, The stories are so vivid that the imagery you create just compliments the already inter-twinning lives and viewpoints.

So often when you speak to siblings their perceptions of a parent are vastly different. The culture aspect is another huge important element that aids in this being a book that will appeal to many...Backed with Pleasure and certainty Patricia aka Columbia Layers of the Heart

Hey Miles,
Just finished Chapter Eight . . . can't seem to put it down. Song for My Father is an unexpected treat, filled with an array of stories and characters which catapult the reader from one chapter to the next seemlessly. Absolutely loving it so far. Your dry sense of humour, combined with the matter-of- a- fact way in which you weave your tale makes this a delightful read.
I wish you the best with your wonderful book. ******
Cly (Hybrid)

Song for My Father reads like a literary version of The Great American Song Book, a true epic.
Woven throughout this fascinating tale of hate, duplicity, disfunction & near-to-the-knuckle black humour is a knowledge of American history, custom & culture that is so impressive it's hard to tell (being English) if it is real or imagined, or a mix of both, as in the hilarious account of Elias' demise after the infamous Orsen Wells broadcast.
Miles, this is really impressive writing, my only worry being its length. I'm not sure if you're a rookie author, but my fear is, if you are, a prospective publisher might baulk at the word count, which would be a shame as in my opinion there isn't a phrase or paragraph I would urge you to remove.

I backed Song for My Father some time ago, but will keep it on my WL and keep dipping in when I find the time.

Derryl Flynn(Scrapyard Blues)

your philosophy shines through in your writing, excellent

Backed Song of My Father. I can relate to this story. Wish we could pick our parents. Life is full of surprises and so is your story. Backed with pleasure.
CC Brown
Dark Side

Guitars..... they seem to live in odd places and hear all sorts of things but never tell. I love guitars,

RichaRD

Guitars..... they seem to live in odd places and hear all sorts of things but never tell. I love guitars,

RichaRD

Ha, great first chapter. Read five and enjoyed them all. I have to say, the end of chapter one was a smile grabber. Well done!

Dear Miles,
Strange twist at the end of your opening - I sure didn't expect it! Makes me think there are a lot of surprises in your book. I'll have to read more!
BACKED
Elizabeth Wolfe (MEMORIES OF GLORY)

Hi Miles, This is burgeoning with character and it is narrated with zest. Bessie Mae’s influence was fascinating and also her portrait, the extensions of her dealings with Oliver and her concern for his boys. The synopsis is very inviting; I’d like to read more about his boys. Shelved – Katherine (The Swan Bonnet)

What hooked Carolina below also hooked me. Excellent stuff. I shall certainly return for more. Loved it. Gordon - The Harpist of Madrid

'They drop their pants and urinate' hooked me. Your main characters are well developed and interesting. Your descriptions are effective. For example, your description of the black man in the airport. Your deepen your brilliant narrative with clever metaphors like 'serpentine parade of suitcases' and apt similies such as 'like a panda in heat.' Your dialogue is fresh and relevant. Your wit is hilarious. Your pacing held my attention.

Nit:
'... paid him off with favors from the girls that worked in her various enterprises.' 'That' should be 'who.'

This is an engaging comedic tale. Backed.

Wow! What an intelligent read!

Indeed, the entanglements between humans, their wishes/needs/strives -- all is a comedy of constant error that leaves one no way out. Except -- be and experience.

I love you humor, the depths of your observation and your superb writing and storytelling skills.

My highest complements! Backed with the utmost pleasure.

Johanna Kern
Master and the Green-Eyed Hope

Hi Miles. I'm not a critic, just a first time novel writer coming from a screenwriting background. Enjoyed the way you paint with words. Terrific visuals! Backed.

blessings,
jim
jack & charmian london

Laughed so much at this 'Greentree mess', who'll make it impossible for the stewardess to face her husband without tears, who never learn that it's a mistake to confide in Ollie without him gossiping, and who urinate on his grave.
'Ollie was ready to die and the boys wanted him dead.' Wonderful, natural dialogue and outrageously funny. Backed. lynn

Hi Miles
This is full of mystery and intrigue but entertaining and funny at the same time. You do an expert job of trying attracting a wide audience into your book. The characters are solid and the plot is original. What I enjoyed most was the sheer quality of the writing. Great stuff.
DP Walker
Five Dares

Suspected for the murder of his wife ' Song for my Father' is more like the overture of Ollie Greentree, especially when considering his illegitimate daughter. Ripples of suspicion permeate in the mid western town because the very influential Bessie Mae doesn't believe the suicide verdict. So this is what Rory, Dewey and Honor Greentree have to contend with, the possibility their father killed their mother. But this is the least of their worries as Ollie demeans and embarrass's them at every turn. No wonder they are reluctant to be at their fathers bedside on his deathbed.
Great story with strong ripples of humour and parody mixed together. A Kaleidocope of indefatigable characters living on the very edge of the law who are mostly mean and unrepentant.
backed with pleasure.
Daniel Manning
No Compatibility.

good opening, made me laugh. in the second chaper you start slipping from present to past tense, which could do with sorting out. apart from these types of minor errors it reads very well, the tone and attitude are deftly handled and above all it is funny. The kind of peopel you write about are intrinsically interesting and I enjoyed it. Backed.

I appreciate this is set in the midwest, but there are elements of Roddy Doyle and a style which is Irish in part. It needs a little proof reading here and there, (Ch 28 final paragraph 'They looked sat each other') but I really did enjoy the writing and the stories in this.

Read and backed with pleasure.

Utterly hilarious! I wish I had this as a book in my hand right now.
Mal

a very effective opening chapter, to start us off a grap out interest...well done- watchlist for now...
read SEASONS...

This is raw and full of insight. I've had some contact with dysfunction, and the way you play out your premise rings true. The dialog is particularly good, spot on. Technically I didn't see any weaknesses in the writing. Hope this does well for you here; glad to back it.
Craig
The Job

Song for My Father
Miles A. Robinson

Miles,
I'm enjoying your book very much. Your pitches first of all are wonderful - I think just about the best I've seen here. I couldn't believe your intent when you wrote "It is a book with stories about rotten people doing rotten things to each other. It was written to make you laugh. Nothing more." Of course this describes the history of mankind, rotten people doing rotten things to each other" but then no one is surprised for it was declared so many thousands of years ago that man will dominate man to his own injury. But written to make the reader laugh, and nothing more, is another matter - perhaps the reader takes away more thaqn laughs, despite your intention. I liked this last para of your long pitch, "Song for My Father is set in a Midwestern hamlet nestled neatly on the road that you travel on your way to somewhere else. It's a place where unlikable people thrive by doing unpleasant things" - ha! broad interpretation is likely to place many people in many places under this umbrella - great humour to start with and I thoroughly enjoyed your pitches. The opening "Rip" was very compelling - this graveside scene - "Ollie was ready to die and the boys wanted him dead. As far as they were concerned, the commitment ended the day they buried him." Immediate interest in the dead Ollie as one wants to know why his sons wanted him dead, but of course your long pitch gives away the answer. Some indication in this part where after placing the floral bouquet atop the headstone, "they drop their pants and urinate on Mr. Greentree's final resting place." A could imagine a challenging task for a woman - and in wintertime too! But, as you end, well worth the effort. Was Ollie that bad? I'm coming back to read more in order to find out. YOu have a very good plot I think - unusual and quite original. And the writing style of course is highly entertaining and individualistic. Absolutely nothing to complain about here. May this get very far. Happy to back it Miles and I hope you find a publisher for it.
Zan

Witty as hell and great satire.

You are fantastiac, Miles! :) How can I ever thank you enough for backing my 2 memoir books? I discovered your other book, so it's backed, too. :) God bless you. :) Love, Susie :)

Dear Miles, I love your heart rending story - what an ending. :) Before I began to read your book, I was prepared by your recap/pitch,which was very well done. :) Your story is good because you create interest by having short paragraphs & lots of dialogue, which makes me want to keep reading to find out what's going to happen next. I'm "backing" your book: When you back a book, it only improves the ranking of that book, not yours. However, the author whose book you are backing may decide to back your book also, in which case yes, your ranking would be improved...authonomy. :) Please "back" my TWO memoir books, "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" & my completed memoir unedited version? "Tell Me True Love Stories," which tells at the end, my illness now & 6th abusive marriage." Thanks, Susie :)
p.s. Remember: Every time you place a book on your bookshelf, your recommendation pushes the book up the rankings. And while that book sits on your bookshelf, your reputation as a talent spotter increases depending on how well that book performs. :)

Funny, good luck. E.Loraine Royal Blood Chronicles book one

This book is funny. My brother promises this when he gives my father's eulogy: "My father was an asshole. Now he's dead. That makes him a dead asshole." I feel ya Greentree. Backed.

Greentree sounds like my father. Very funny. I like your style.Backed.

Great story and I really enjoyed

Tell my what couple looks like not "handsome" a the beginning. Draw me in like the words do after that.
Well crafted story.
Backed all the way.
Keep writing,
A zoomer
Going Out In Style

Song for My Father has all the hallmarks of an excellent novel. The pitch puts us on notice that we can expect some unsettling action but fails to mention that the author will have no compunction whatsoever in ambushing the unwitting reader. The ending of the first chapter, where the quality of the writing throughout reveals an artisan at work, surely and competently gaffs the unwary. I , for one, was firmly hooked. BACKED. Robert Davidson. The Tuzla Run.

I absolutely love the black humour - well, well done. Excellent use of imagery and character development. Backed with pleasure.

Andrew Burans
The Reluctant Warrior: The Beginning

It is the characters that take this story from "very good" to "outstanding" You create real people, bringing them to life on the page and pulling us in. It's easy to empathise with them all, and you have done a stunning job of telling their stories.

Backed.
Abi xxx
"Everyone knows the rule: Stay inside the Wall, but Tisha believes rules are made to be broken." - Relic

Ollie, Honor, Dewey, Rory .. man what characters, and Yvonne and Carla... Your entry paragraphs were deep, I so enjoyed all I have read. I am at ch 5 and do not intend on stopping ... Your descriptions are so riveting I have been able to see each character distinctly and cannot wait to see more.. Grateful to your for writing Songs For My Father.. the very best to you Cookie.. "Being"

this is a fun and entertaining read, well written , backed

alison

This is well written and your sense of humour shines through. You certainly have a flair for descriptions of what people are wearing and I couldn't help but chuckle at these. You have explored many different angles and woven many different strands into the story. The overall effect is wonderful and it is carefully written and polished - congratulations on a great book - backed with pleasure. Paula & Patrick Barrett - How Mean is My Valley?