The Goodnight Agency

Tyler, you've been gone for a long time, but I hope this comment will result in an email to you. I have read all you've posted of this book and really want to read the rest.
RSVP, please!

Good luck with this. I've enjoyed what I've read so far. Ruby is a great character. Katherine Strata

Tyler: the short pitch works. That long pitch? Well, drop that last paragraph, at least the "Come with Ruby ..." part. Don't explain, sell the story to the casual reader. Perfecting your pitches is how you climb in ranking to gather more exposure and comments to better your novel. The writing is good so I am SHELVING you.

Though I have been a very active member for over a year, I can still use your comments on my book when you get the chance. Every little bit helps. Cheers!

JC
The Obergemau Key

This is a wild story. Ruby is a great main character; she's likable and very sympathetic because as you say in your first paragraph, "She's run out of aunts." And now has found herself involved with the strangest agency ever. All that combined makes his a fun read. I'm adding this to my shelf. Burgio (Grain of Salt).

Tyler, your first chapter reads smoothly. I like the originality of the opening sentence. Good work.

Happy to back this.

Joffrey (The Silver Spoon Effect)

A sort of Men In Black meets Sanctuary. I enjoyed what I read. Ruby is a feisty MC and quickly grows on the reader, like a rash you want to scratch but quite enjoy really. Jim Darcy Serpent's Blood.
ps feeling dim today but what is a 'brownstone'?

I quite liked this. It's sort of like a snarky Charles de Lint style (my favourite author, by the way). Backed. And best of luck.

Tyler
I like the cover...works very well on authonomy.
Pitches: short=good! Long=very good.
There is a really interesting baroque quality to your writing...mainly in the names and settings.
I find the writing to be very clear/few extraneous bits...all flow and have me interested in Ruby/her uncle and what will happen with his business and her ..troublemaking potential.
Best of luck with this!
-=Bradley

This is sooooooo good. The writing is tidy, evocative and smooth. The dialogue is excellent. I read a lot of bad dialogue so this was a breath of fresh air. You establish a great relationship between Ruby and simon straight away. His willingness to trust her and her honesty about her past behaviour - which is funny and charming. The curious content of his home and Ruby's obvious intelligence make this a compelling start and one that I plan to read more of.
I would perhaps keep the nature of simon's work out of the pitch and leave it as a reveal. int towards something other worldly but don't give it away. I think it would give the rules section of chapter one more power, particularly the 'not loking directly at' the clients.
I genuinely don't understand why this isn't higher up the charts.
I think there is an enormous market for this kind of book which would appeal to both slightly older kids and YA.
I can see this ispart of a series. Ruby is as distinct a child heroine as Potter. This really desreves to do well and I wish you every success with it.

An absolute pleasure and backed with real joy.

Kindest Regards,

Alethea

Your first line is an insanely good hook. I love the use of the word "exhausted." I feel like in this case it could mean either her aunts were literally exhausted by her presence, or the definition meaning "used up," or both. That may just be me. Anyway, I greatly enjoyed the first chapter and honestly can't wait to come back and read the rest when it isn't so late at night. I'm backing this with a smile on my face and fondly wish you good luck with it in the future!

-G.M. Cross

A very interesting for me. Backed

shah

Your pitch made me want to read this book - different and interesting. Your writing style is fluent and easy to read. A few typos and misplaced words but nothing a good edit won't sort out. The story so far is compelling. I like Ruby - she dissects owl pellets - I liked that! Your characters have interesting names and I can see this developing into quite an original and well-plotted story. Good luck. GJ.

Backed February 1.

Jesse - Savant

Hi,

I have backed you book because I found it eminently readable
and have to cover 25 books a day just to keep my place on here.
If you would like a more specific comment please return the favor.

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

Tyler
I love the premise, and your pitch is a fabulous magnet......I made a couple of notes as I read....

the last thing (she had that) Aunt Julie had given her.
vis a vis
the last thing Aunt Julie had given her....


She overtipped the driver, just to get rid (of the ) rest (of the) travel money.
vis a vis.
with the last of the travel money, she overtipped the driver ....

Other rules (of the) house............Other house rules.

Stay out (of the) basement. (Stay out of the) attic.............Stay out of the basement and attic.

I became concious of overseeing 'of the' .......Mmm...Maybe do a word search, if I became aware of it enough to sit up and start looking then there is a definate repitition.....

I enjoyed the read, your MC is a bit of a handful.....in a nice way, although not sure I'd want her living with me...

Shelved with best wishes.

The Goodnight Agency has an intriguing pitch that tempted me 'through the door'. I enjoyed Ruby and her style [used up her last Aunt, for example] - she is a character who comes to life in a way that will appeal to the YA audience. Simon and Octavian add spice too, and the journey from the doorstep to the thing in the tank in Simon's lab was an enjoyable one. This is an easy read in a chatty, modern style that fits the YA audience, and I'm confident it will do well. I'll be happy to back this.

Hi Tyler

I have read all five chapters and enjoyed every minute. This is very different and I know that young readers will just love Ruby and her tom boy ways. The 'monsters' are great and I would love an Uncle like that, how exciting?
Ruby is a great strong, quirky character and I am sure she will appeal to the boys too as she is not too silly for them to like.
Backed
Sarah. T-cup and The Dream Team Fairies

Entertaining read, and your dialogue carried it along nicely.

Haven't had fish sticks for years!

Backed

MG

Tyler
Chapter one was easy to follow due to the good dialogue and interesting blog. Ruby is a likable young girl to follow and reader's will gladly soak up the investigation. All the best. Backed. Rosali
Fieldtrip to Mars

Tyler--Echo the nice comments others have provided. The characters are engaging, dialogue is fun and snappy. Creepy things things going on...great fun.

Hi Tyler, I loved the title, Simon's last name, and his dialogue. The descriptions and dialogue generally work together to give a very familiar picture of Ruby and her uncle, making them both likable. So far, the intrigue mounts and working it into a lifestyle adds to the amusement. I'm still trying to figure out how such charming characters can be associated with horrific crimes and creatures. The writing is excellent so that I find myself slowing to savor some of the paragraphs. You certainly have something here! Shelved - Katherine (The Swan Bonnet)

I read all that you have posted here and thought it was great. I loved Uncle Simon's personality soooo much and I really like the fact that this is not really a romance. I am not fond of romantic books. I really think that this is very intersting, especially bat boy and Uncle Simon's other clients. I am excited to know more about what he does and how it will involve Ruby. This book is going on my bookshelf, it has loads of potential and I think it will do really well.

Carrie L McRae
The Keeper of Adamas

This is fine work - amusing and with a lively MC. original ideas and lively dialogue. A winner. Backed. barry
(Little Krisna and the BIhar Boys)

A very amusing book. The pitch promises an exciting plot as we move on. Ruby is a great central character, a girl with an unusual past and her own way of dealing with it. Leaving owl pellets in her pockets so that they went into the wash may have been carelessness, but chasing a boy who tormented her up a tree with a toy gun shows us how strong, feisty, and determined she is; and makes us interested in her, and ready to like her, straightaway. Uncle Simon is an eccentric and attractive person, too, and the mix looks set for sparkling developments. You write well, with lots of humour and a straight forward, clear style. Backed.
Gerry McCullough,
Belfast Girls.

Clever, clever writing. Great story flow and dialogue as well.
(Sasquatch? Really? I hope so! Put more of your book on, right now, I command you!)
Backed,
Voni
The Bell Ridge Cave

Interesting soup, I’ve never had that. I think you have an original plot full of intrigue. This is well written with great characters and realistic narrative. I am sure this will appeal to you YA readers. I will back it with great pleasure.

Tony
Life Bringer

Great cover and title. The story-line is intriguing, and it has a lot of hooks to draw the reader in. Lot of skillfull assesments within its content, which is a good thing. Great job.

This is a delightful novel. I love the name and cover but more so the premise. You have a fantastic opening line there. There is quirk and oddity throughout which captures the reader. I think you have something here. The idea is fun and engaging, something I think YA would really enjoy. You have a knack for drawing characters. I like Ruby, you have the female teen down pat. And I love the last line of the first chapter.
There are some good hooks in this, the pitch being the main one. It causes the reader to think, well if they aren't human what the heck are they? And what sort of trouble will start? You do a fantastic job of drawing someone in to want to read this and I really cannot stress enough how much I adore the name of your book. Premise, cover and pitch alone would have had me buying this.
Wonderful.
Didn't pick up on any writing nits that could help you, unfortunately. I think you have a good story. the only note I wrote down was, great stuff and other such unhelpful tidbits.
Backed
T.L Tyson-Seeking Eleanor

Tyler,

I read your pitch for "The Goodnight Agency" and thought, "How cool is that?" After reading the five chapters you've posted, the answer was obvious. "Very cool." No nits to offer that won't be spotted in the course of normal revisions. Well done and Backed!
If you get a chance, would you mind checking out my novel, "The Wild, Wild Quest"? Much appreciated.

Best of luck,
J. A. Johnson
(The Wild, Wild Quest)
http://www.authonomy.com/ViewBook.aspx?bookid=13246

Hello! My name is Lindsay and I am seeking some feedback for my book, Parker and the Parallelium. I'm hoping to find some good advice for my next round of edits. Anything you could offer would be greatly appreciated! I'd be happy to swap reads if you are interested- just let me know. Thanks for your time!

Lindsay Nagode
Parker and the Parallelium: Into the Beyond

This is truly original, I love it! I'm not much into comments, I just want to thank you for this wonderful read. It deserves all the publishing it can get, it has a bit of Gaiman in it and the story just rolls out and catches me. Well done and really, I wish you the best with this book.

Julia
Children of Light

Its not a bad book, Has a lot of potential, It's no good having ten good chapters at the end of a book, you have to grab an agent in the first page even, in the first few lines, thats why you are on authonomy , so we can help make our books beter, your on the way, I'll look at this book again and maybe next time I'll back it
John

Good opening description of setting lends immediacy and involvement as Ruby is on the way to her uncle at his Midnight Agency. This eye for cogent detail is maintained throughout the first chapter and woven neatly between the dialogue as we eavesdrop on a very realistic and crisp exchange between Uncle Simon and the man in his shop.
The dialogue between Uncle Simon and Ruby, as he gives her 'the rules of house conduct', so to speak, nevertheless shows that the uncle has real warmth, understanding and sympathy for his niece, bearing in mind the emptiness created for her by the behaviour of her parents.
You do a very good job of conveying maximum narrative ground with a relative minimum of narrative exposition, once dialogue is under way, that is. This brought me much closer to the Uncle-niece relationship at its best and provided a sure sign that your observation of character would continue to deepen and engage as each character is thrown into a storyline full of intrigue and challenges for Ruby. Shelved.
Ray
(A Child from the Wishing Well)

Uncle Simon is a man with some really stunning clients. I can see Ruby is going to have a lot of excitment out of them.
Ruby herself is well drawn, typical teenager attitude over laying a vulnerable and easily hurt little girl.
This has a nice imaginative story line and a plot with lots of potential.
Backed.

Great unique story! Hard to find something that doesn't follow the herd and you've done a wonderful job with this!

Missy
Mark of Eternity

This is quirky. Your story is the kind that would cause even the sleepiest imagination to come alive. There were a couple of places that I thought the wording was off but that could be just because we are, I think, from different pars of the world. This is a wonderful little piece. All the best
Connie

Very interesting premise! Backed.

Hi Tyler,
I'd appreciate it if you could have a quick look at my book 'The Cup Snatchers' and give a few comments. I'll do likewise. Cheers, Gerry

This is wonderful. Arresting title, great dialogue, characters (Ruby casually revealing her skills in Latin and maths, wow) - terrific setup. And love the cheerleader-bimbospeak! Backed, with pleasure.

The characters jumped out and grabbed me. I didn't mind at all. This is a delight to read, Ruby is endearingly funny, and yet the character has depth, and is possibly Savant from the little I'ved so far.

This is gut level funny, and moving at the same time..oh how I wish I'd had an Uncle Simon.

Backed with much pleasure.
Suzannah Burke

This is a good place to start. Arrival.

There's some subtle stuf going on straightaway...she overtips to get rid of the last of Auntie Julie's money. The reader wonders, why? So we go on.

A hook. Ruby Morgan has our interest...giving away money seems idealistic and we like her for it.

I think you should call him Uncle Simon since we are in Ruby's point of view, rather than switch to Simon indiscriminately.

But we are in a real story here. Unusual customers. Warnings not to touch anything. An orphan suffering the sins of her dead parents. But most of all, mystery and wonder.

I think this will take wings and soar.

This is a fun story with loads of potential.

I pretty much love this - original, charming and funny. Great story.