The Zambinos of Blue Hill: The Proving

Brilliant elements full of life and crazy characterisation drive this story on, you couldn't imagine it without them. Very visual, excellent,

This is a wild and crazy story. I like the idea of the brain implants and having to prove they work. Sort of the same thing as a mafia "made man". You've obviously spent a lot of time in this future world because you know the details of it so well. Those details make it sound authentic - and a great read. I’m adding this to my shelf. Burgio (Grain of Salt).

Will -

This is Heinlein at his funniest (yes, he occasionally got a chortle or two), Vonnegut at his...well, Vonneguttiest, and maybe just a touch of Tom Robbins to keep things interesting.

Who knew the future could be such a damn hoot?

Backed, happily.

And if you could share your thoughts on my book, I'd love it.

Best of luck here.

And thanks.

-Jeff Lee
THE LADIES TEMPERANCE CLUB'S FAREWELL TOUR

It is evident that you have spent time, energy and passion in writing this book. Bless you for having all the chapters are uploaded. BACKED with pleasure!

Liz
The Cheech Room

ARISE, AUTHONOMY GHOST!

Ease those weary, withered limbs from your coffin. Push away the stone from the mouth of the tomb.

You have one last task to perform. One last, sacred shelf to confer.

Whether you were plugger, spammer, gusher or troll, whether you flirted or fought in the forum or beavered away in the shadows, now is the time for your resurrection.

One last time. Marshall your strength, muster the last vestiges of your power and carry out your final Authonomy act:

Back my book, MIRROR IN THE SKY.

Then, only then, you may rest easy in your Authonomy grave.

Nick Poole2 (formerly known as NickP)

Saw your post on the forum and popped by. I like the feel of this very much. However, having read the first few chapters, I think your start is a bit confusing. From your pitch I know that the schooner will have relevence but my feeling is that we need to focus in right away on Scoom and Chookanoo. Given this is a YA novel, our sympathies need to be with the younger characters, who I assume will be your MCs. I'd be tempted to start with the boys at camp and weave in the rest as you go along.
Just my thought.
However, I do like the writing (it's a bit wobbly in the first bit on the schooner but settles down nicely) and think this has huge promise. It's different and fresh. So I'm happy to back it.

Thank you Jane - yours is valuable and refreshing input. I agree, my opening is a bit wobbly, as you put it. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.

I noticed on your page you are interested in shamanism. I recently had an experience with this. I visited my brother in San Diego with the plan to visit the Anza Borrego, a part of the Mojave Desert.

We visited an ancient Native American site that we have explored in the past. My brother has brought other visitors there and they have reported feeling sick and had some disturbing paranormal experiences.

His Native American Shaman friend prescribed a specific ceremony to be performed prior to an expedition. During the ceremony and the following expedition we had some interesting experiences. I give an account on my blog, if you are interested.

I am a skeptic by habit, but as more strange things come my way, I am left with fewer “rational” explanations.

In any case, it is a fascinating subject.

Thanks again for stopping by.

Will

Saw your post on the forum and popped by. I like the feel of this very much. However, having read the first few chapters, I think your start is a bit confusing. From your pitch I know that the schooner will have relevence but my feeling is that we need to focus in right away on Scoom and Chookanoo. Given this is a YA novel, our sympathies need to be with the younger characters, who I assume will be your MCs. I'd be tempted to start with the boys at camp and weave in the rest as you go along.
Just my thought.
However, I do like the writing (it's a bit wobbly in the first bit on the schooner but settles down nicely) and think this has huge promise. It's different and fresh. So I'm happy to back it.

This is a good story for children as it would appeal to their imagination. At first I was expecting something like the Explorers but once I read the full blurb I noticed that there was more to this. The first chapter was very dramatic with the sailing ship caught in the storm. Then comes the baby found in the mad scientists lab, each adding to the next build a story that you can easily lose yourself in.

Thank you Bill - I haven’t visited Authonomy for a while and I was pleasantly surprised to get your comment.

Will,

I've read four chapters and am putting this on my shelf for the time being-- at least until I have time for more reading. It's unique, and has a wholesome feel to it, which is unusual in a SciFi novel. I saw a couple of typos, but Lord-- that's to be expected... we've all read our own writing until we know it by heart, so these are hard for us to spot.

Like it, and looking forward to more adventures from the coast of Maine.
Karen--
Grumble Bluff

This is a good story for children as it would appeal to their imagination. At first I was expecting something like the Explorers but once I read the full blurb I noticed that there was more to this. The first chapter was very dramatic with the sailing ship caught in the storm. Then comes the baby found in the mad scientists lab, each adding to the next build a story that you can easily lose yourself in.

Hi Will. Just wanted to thank you for your comments. Very glad you like Dexter :) If you've room on your bookshelf for him he will greatly appreciate it!

Hi Will. This is a promising Young Adult sci-fi, with the suggestion of an involved plot and evidence of a fertile imagination. The mix of interesting SF ideas - the grain implant and the proving particularly - and the Native American 'colour' makes for an original blend - and starting it off in the nineteenth century was nice and unexpected. What I felt the opening four chapters lacked was a bit of pace, it seems to flag a little, and there's a degree of repetition when describing the creature's cat-face which was distracting and threw me out of the action temporarily. You've an interesting world created here and I think it warrants readers being grabbed, and pulled in and really involved in what's going on.

Thank you Kate and Diane,

Diane, you are not the first to want to know more about the past relationship between Victor and Mellonini. I may have underestimated the appeal of that background to the readers.

Of course, I can always do an early years story after I finish the next books.

I hope you and Kate have a chance to come back - you'll find that some of your questions will be answered and you'll see who the real main characters are.

Thanks again (and I intend to return to your books as soon as I get a chance).

Will

Hi Will,

I liked this a lot -- the smashbot visuals, the hybrid, how we've jumped forward in time, the good writing and easy-going voice, etc -- it was all very intriguing. The only niggle really was that I know little of Victor and his world at all. I would have liked to have seen some background information drip-fed into the action -- how long he'd been after the doctor, why was the doctor creating these creatures, what makes Victor the kind of character I'd want to spend a whole novel with, etc. Give me a little back story to get me interested in him, his world and his nemesis and I'll be back for more.

Thank you for sharing your work with us, Will.

Hi I thought this book was really good, a very interesting and different plot. I read chapter 1 and 2 but will read more.