Custard, Cats and Consequences

This is clever writing with far more on offer than I'd imagined from the title or the Chick Lit / Romance / Comedy classifications. The pitches suggest intrigue, complications and humour and I wasn't disappointed at all as I read on. I soon realised that this is the work of a writer who has the skill to succeed in many different genres and I'd like to see more evidence of that in future offerings. I write crime fiction, on this site at least, and you have the potential to write an exceptional thriller, if you choose to do so.
Fabulous characterisation here, frothy and light story-telling on the surface, but so much more as well. No nit-picks, no suggestions at all. I've read it and loved it.
Backed.
Jared.

Hi SJ, I found this by accident and knew I would be backing it by the end of the first paragraph! I'm enjoying this so much! Perfect escapism reading - funny without trying too hard, light without being frothy or dumbed down. I would love to find this in my Christmas stocking - I'd probably read most of it before getting up to cook lunch! Nothing to criticise so far. I really don't want to read any more now because I hate reading on screen and I'm serious - I want this in book form! Good luck with it. AnneX

Witty, intelligent, outstandingly written, and with a fantastic topic to tickle the soul, Custard, Cats and Consequences is above average "chick lit." Readers will not only love the book's characters - they'll also laugh out loud from the first chapter! On my shelf and Today's Pick I Like for 12/22/09: http://newandgoodreading.blogspot.com/2009/12/todays-pick-i-like-122209.html

L. Anne Carrington, "The Cruiserweight"

This is the book which changed my life. Seriously. It put Sj on the map for me as a writer who sincerely cares both about her characters and her craft. Plus she approaches Custard from such a delightfully twisted place, you can't help but read further to see what fate will befall the main characters next. From the first, Custard situates the reader in a world of good humor in the face of personal disaster. A greatly entertaining book with a very kind (but sometimes cruel) heart.

Very funny :-) Great pitch, ‘Vampire obsessed hacks’ – brilliant! Loved the description of the nephews. All in all a clever, entertaining read.
Starred and enjoyed,
Tammy Robinsin

Hi Clever, sardonic and humorous -- it's a great mix and i think you've done a very good job with this.
The opening with Xan in the creative writing class is superb and the reference to vampire stories, so apt for this site. I loved the Lucretia Borgia reference and the ancient diesel Mercedes -- they say a lot.
Backed with pleasure, Barry
LITTLE KRISNA AND THE BIHAR BOYS

Delightful, intelligent and clever writing, this is brilliant! It's rare to find characters so immediately, but I was hooked by the end of the first paragraph. Excellent work, and I'm looking forward to reading more about Xan and Calli!

Abi xxx

I like the work because it almost includes sound effects. Backed. Chuck (Paperboy Adventures) (Literary Agent Blues)

You have just had me laughing out load in my kitchen The opening of your book sounds like precisely how I feel about Authonomy. I have to say this is some of teh best 'chick-lit- writing I have seen here. normally this is not a genre I would be drawn to, but you write so effortlessly that is is impossible not to engage with Xan. I'm also a college lecturer so I understand him better than most. I liked this a great deal and wish you luck with it
Carl
The Time Hunters

I remember a creative writing class where everyone but me was creating worlds for vampires - so your pitch jumped out for me. You've made Xan a sympathetic character and someone I wanted to follow. Calli is a good compliment to him. I like stories about everyday people so I found this a really good read. I'm adding it to my shelf. Burgio (Grain of Salt).

I will normally read a chicklit until the first brand name or mirror appears but I got through your first chapter with ease and neither abomination in evidence. Good on ya. I feel empathy for poor Xan living with his mother after his girlfriend threw him out for attempting to write a second novel. Most amusing.

Happy to back this pleasant surprise if you'll have a look at my offering.

Tim Chambers
Moonbeam Highway: With Apologies to Miguel de Cervantes.

I love your cover art it is a brilliant choice and I enjoyed your interesting writing style. You have a very strong opening; your descriptive writing is exciting and it was very easy to be caught up and drawn into the story I thought your strength is in your MC, which is well developed, displaying insecurity, hopes, and dreams.
Great storytelling
Best
Scott
The Esrevinu Chronicles/Secrets of the Elephant Rocks

I love this and would buy it- perfect chick lit! BACKED 100%

Liz
The Cheech Room

CUSTARD, CATS AND CONSEQUENCES:

SJ,

This is romantic comedy at its best. A deliciously understated humour shines through your writing. The pitch makes it quite plain that the two main characters have problems in big doses, so there is much to overcome before romantic bliss is achieved. All the right ingredients for this genre.

You have fashioned your writing style perfectly and the characters are well drawn. The dialogue is crisp and taut and sounds as if it is coming out of the mouths of real people.

A most enjoyable read.
Backed with pleasure,
Sheila (Pinpoint)

A well-written first chapter. Humorous and entertaining. Nothing really to fault in this chapter.

Happily backed.

Joffrey (The Silver Spoon Effect)

Poor old Alexander! Sooo many vampires! This was an entertaining read, especially as I have been in a similar position myself, only with Star Wars type stories to mark! You do dialogue well and quickly establish sympathy for your MC's. Happy to back, Jim D Serpent's Blood

This is rather fun. The characters fair leap out of the page...even (especially) Gertrude the car. There is an air of idiosyncracity here that provides for a read that doesn't take itself too seriously, which ironically, draws the reader in ie takes it seriously. There are touches of Wodehouse and Pooter giving it a classic feel, and I suspect that this book will be read for a long time into the future. Backed.

Dear SJ Heckscher-Marquis,

Thank you for sharing your story with us. I skipped to chapter four to cover less-traveled ground and was rewarded by of the tensions of Xan trying to arrive to work on time and appropriately clothed. As a punctual person myself, arriving late is actually a great fear of mine, so I immediately formed a connection with Xan. You give Anita a fun and almost fairy-ish description: small and flighty. Your description of Calli is enhanced by how her work pants and boots look like a gown and glass slippers to Xan. Good job making Calli’s initial reaction to him cool, as I don’t want them to fall in love too easily. That would take all the fun out of it. I also like that she’s taller than him, an original touch. I laughed at the “back of the fridge condiment experiments”.

I enjoyed your story. Bravo! Backed.

Best wishes,
Alan Marling

Are you sure Xan Jacobs is not reviewing on Authonomy (Vampires, Elves... Werewolves, Magical Kingdoms, Swords, Sorcerers...). Calling him "Xan" makes him seem Chinese... could you think of a more user-friendly name? Nice gentle comedy - a smooth read. Shelved,
Frank

Oh, this is really good fun and such a great read for the first day of the New Year. Thank you for the pleasure.

Backed.
Ana G. Ram

Wanted to take a look at this for awhile, the name really is what piqued my interest.
The opening chapter is really enjoyable. The brother sister relationship between Xan and Lucilla was endearing as was the whole family dynamic. The descriptions of Gertrude was funny. actually there are a lot of notably funny moments within this story.
I can tell this is going to be good. well no, let me correct myself. This is good. After only two chapters I am nearly head over heels for your characters who are both vividly drawn and able to carry their scenes well. They are expert players and you have clearly crafted them with a loving hand.
It really shows when i writer takes the time to get to know their characters, judging by the way yours leap off the page I can only assume you have thought about them a lot.
The writing is both witty and quirky without being dumb, which is sort of what I expect from chicklit.
Another highlight for me, the fact that it is third person.
Backed
T.L Tyson-Seeking Eleanor

This was fun ... I think I backed it without comment but now I've finished what's on here ...
Poor Xan ... everyone wants to organise him.
I really like the names and suspect I am going to like Callisto.

"Can't I visit my favourite brother?"
Ï'm your only brother." LOL

You have a terrific collection of characters here. Hope you're going to put more of this on the site.

i was expecting great things and i wasn't disappointed. you write with enormous, unpredictable and rewarding humour. i wish there were many more like you. there are so many surprise lines i lost count. your end of chapter could do with a tweak (IMO) but otherwise, i love this. delighted to put this on my shelf and hope you get some real takers soon.
xx
m
THE ETON MOTHERS' HANDBOOK

Hi S J, So many amusements in this. I laughed out loud many times. Liked the way Xan’s life is told, his love lost, and Toby reaching his ambition and finding his love. I often wondered about the descendants of people like Henry Fielding and this humor slayed me. That the grandfather would match make with Xan and Calli sparks the whole thing, especially as Xan is supposed to be writing. The names skipping to the nickname worked although that was the only thing that made me pause. It’s consistently upbeat while charming! Shelved – Katherine (The Swan Bonnet)

I read ch 1 and 4.

I love character driven reads. Yours are well fleshed out in efficient style, giving the reader a good idea of who their dealing with relatively quickly. They are endeared to the reader, too, as you give them very real problems and circumstances that are all too common.

Check your 'thats' and 'hads,' as they are a bit rampant in the read from time to time. There's a few punctuation issues here and there, too.

Nice and fun story sure to attract attention.

Through chapter 3 and all remains charmingly fun and funny. This is a wonderful on the beach sort of read. I would love to have it in hard copy to carry off to Ruakaka in the North Island to read! Oh well, have truly enjoyed what I have been able to read on here. No nitpicks found by me!
Well done and on my shelf.
Barbara
The Sea Pillow

You've pegged the publication world in your opening scene - heavens it does seem that vampires are the key to success -- but here it is the key to a humorous opening that made me smile. You've had several comments on your first chapter, so I chose your uploaded chapter 4 for my read. I could empathize with Xan - I've had my own days when only pudding will do -- and I liked the character interaction that you laid out. Nice smooth dialogue - and I could always tell who was talking. NIce work.

Clever, well written and laugh out loud funny. The begining really had me laughing. A car called Gertrude..... genius, I know someone who had car called Hilda. I'm sure they would have been great friends.
Backed with complete pleasure.
Leigh Fallon
The Carrier of the Mark

Custards, Cats and Consequences--

This is fun, well-written and you're doing a great job of developing the story. I love how you've set Xan and Calli on a path that is sure to cross and merge. I like how Xan isn't the stereotypical arrogant male character, but instead, is somewhat of a dreamer and naive. It makes him very likable.

I'm far from an expert on this genre, but I think you've done a wonderful job with it. Backing

Excellent. :) Made me smile more and more as I read it. :)

Mme Heckscher-Marquis, you have similarly small portion of your text uploaded as I. This makes it difficult to know just how this story is going to develop.

Interestingly, your (final uploaded) fourth chapter, sees you really warmed up. Fielding Books and the introductions and interactions conducted therein, constitutes a very nice extended scene. The writing is very stimulating and you really have your characters interacting effectively and believably. I think that maybe leaving people wanting more after this chapter, could prove an enticing hook for future chapter by chapter uploads (maybe two at a time would be better).

Very pleasing and full of potential. Your characters are thoroughly engaging. Looking forward to seeing more and already seen enough to back.

Alexander

Custards, Cats and Consequences-

This is brilliant! A great book; fits perfectly in the chick-lit genre...and I'm not saying this 'just because I'm a girl'--
As I read this, I can actually see this as a film in my mind's eye...absolutely wonderful-

On my shelf-
Joyce

I've read the first two chapters and I really like the family dynamics. I agree with Jared that this set-up so far is more than just a romance or a chick lit book. The dialogue is clever and the pacing is quick. Excellent. Backed.

Marvelous title! Lively pitch that made me smile. I wonder how far along you are with this? Clearly it is an intelligently humorous piece of work and the potential is there. One or two observations ...
Think about dropping the surname Fielding it is far too closely associated with this genre and would put publisher's off. [They might assume yet another pastiche].
Also you've got some curious spacings going on.
Chap 3 para'2;
when his mother had woken him at ten am.
just dislocated
Read that bit several times it doesn't sit right!

Hi, only had time to read the first chapter of this great book, sorry Christmas looms! This had me giggling from the off, well done and good luck, Maggie P.

This is clever writing with far more on offer than I'd imagined from the title or the Chick Lit / Romance / Comedy classifications. The pitches suggest intrigue, complications and humour and I wasn't disappointed at all as I read on. I soon realised that this is the work of a writer who has the skill to succeed in many different genres and I'd like to see more evidence of that in future offerings. I write crime fiction, on this site at least, and you have the potential to write an exceptional thriller, if you choose to do so.
Fabulous characterisation here, frothy and light story-telling on the surface, but so much more as well. No nit-picks, no suggestions at all. I've read it and loved it.
Backed.
Jared.

Hi SJ, I found this by accident and knew I would be backing it by the end of the first paragraph! I'm enjoying this so much! Perfect escapism reading - funny without trying too hard, light without being frothy or dumbed down. I would love to find this in my Christmas stocking - I'd probably read most of it before getting up to cook lunch! Nothing to criticise so far. I really don't want to read any more now because I hate reading on screen and I'm serious - I want this in book form! Good luck with it. AnneX

Witty, intelligent, outstandingly written, and with a fantastic topic to tickle the soul, Custard, Cats and Consequences is above average "chick lit." Readers will not only love the book's characters - they'll also laugh out loud from the first chapter! On my shelf and Today's Pick I Like for 12/22/09: http://newandgoodreading.blogspot.com/2009/12/todays-pick-i-like-122209.html

L. Anne Carrington, "The Cruiserweight"

This is the book which changed my life. Seriously. It put Sj on the map for me as a writer who sincerely cares both about her characters and her craft. Plus she approaches Custard from such a delightfully twisted place, you can't help but read further to see what fate will befall the main characters next. From the first, Custard situates the reader in a world of good humor in the face of personal disaster. A greatly entertaining book with a very kind (but sometimes cruel) heart.

I was right! CUSTARD, CATS AND CONSEQUENCES is hilarious fun, and I am pleased to back it!

I hope you'll be posting more of the manuscript so that I can read on!

Best wishes,
Douglas Braverman
A TASTE OF VOODOO

Love the book title!

Lesley
Kangaroo Land
www.lesleybonney.co.uk

This is great craic. Really enjoyed the flowing and humourous approach to your writing, laughter is a tricky business it seems. All the very best on here
Michael

I know it's a cliche but I must say that this is laugh-out-loud funny. I tried to find something to in your four chapters that I could 'critique' but the truth is that I've enjoyed reading these chapters and I found nothing that took me out of the story. I look forward to reading more.

Backed.

El
(Reckless Scarlett)

SHELVING because this is a compelling story.

I can use your comments on my book when you have time. Cheers!

JC
The Obergemau Key

Eureka!

Eureka! ....Wit!

Backed with a vengeance! (Real wit!)

(Accept no imitations, readers!)

cant...stop...reading...

-- Andrea

(Last Days of the Transitional Objects Institute)

This is a very amusing and enjoyable book. Zan is a great character, independent, free, likable. You write is a gently humorous style which keeps the reader very happy. I loved, for instance, Zan's attitude to his laptop, while trying to write, or not write, his second book, looking at it 'as though it was a particularly savage dog which he fully expected to bite him.' The settings of your book are of great interest to me, and probably to most readers, that is, a creative writing class, and later a bookshop. The repeated vampire theme of the forty one student manuscripts is so funny and so true, alas. You draw your characters very well, Zan himself, Toby, Zan's mother, Oreline, each sketched in with a sure touch, each funny and individual. The prospective love affair between Zan and Calli promises to be great fun, and very satisfying. Backed.
Gerry McCullough,
Belfast Girls.

This is much funnier than the usual run of chick-lit because it appeals to a higher intelligence, and the humour is often self-deprecating. Your characters are all so totally flawed, and all the more normal for that, and the dialogue just sparkles with intrigue. I think this will do very well. Backed with pleasure. Best wishes, Tony.

You made me laugh!

I laughed out loud at the very beginning - which was met with frowns, as people of the male variety are here trying to watch an old episode of Doctor Who. I love the pretentious Dear John letter, the painful birth of seven words, the unusual names. If I read the opening in a bookshop, I would buy this. Fabulous stuff. Backed.

SJH
Fabulous , a lovely embroidery of words....simple yet compelling, an easy read.....
2nd paragraph....I skimmed the words......They had become....I started that sentence with.....Attached......

Xan had to admit (that) Gertrude had a smooth gearbox (and), the big machine glided with a certain Geramic snootiness out of the parking space........

Didn't think you needed (that) (and).....I wasn't looking until then, I lose focus on the storyline otherwise which I have to say I enjoyed....

Shelved with good wishes......

Super, lighthearted fun read.


Melxx
Impeding Justice

I do like your narrative. I would write it just like that. ‘He rubbed the mirror clear of toothpaste splatter’ – I laughed out loud at this. You have this as chic-lit but to be honest I think this will be loved by both sexes. It is funny and Alexander is a great character. Very funny and sometimes a little sarcastic, this is a great read. I wish you lots of luck with it and I will back it with great pleasure.

Tony
Life Bringer

I like it :)

Very entertaining, I love the cover and the title, not to mention the pitch. The opening is excellent and sets the scene very well. Humourous and often sarcastic, I just had to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. Excellent, deservedly on my shelf.

Sandie
The Crown of Crysaldor