"Come What May"

It is rare that something touches me this closely. I cried with Cayla, and laughed with Cayla, and felt the butterflies in my stomach as Cayla remembered everything her and Daniel had and then again as she saw him walking towards her. I was there I saw her and her granddaughter is beautiful. Bless young Kelly, I'm glad she didn't succeed with the cord, but I can see why she thought of that. I hurt for her. I wanted to wrap her in my arms and tell her that it's ok, but GOD did and he is so much better than I would have been. Tears come into my eyes as I write this. I have never before seen a book so very unique, and your talent for storytelling, I am in awe of. By the way-- "It's all good!!!"

I have tremendous admiration for your work here, as well as a special fondness for your story-telling gift. This is a story that is truly woven, not simply told. As Cayla and Art unravel bit-by-bit, I am drawn to them-- even befriending them. Your word pictures are amazing... and so outside the typical, usual descriptions ("cheetos-orange mug," "bunny-slippered feet," and "ever-unruly curly bob"). There is such an authenticity here as well, with REAL happenings that make me smile, such as: "junk click delete." From the chapter titles like 'Classy Ties and Oodles of Time,' to the refreshing word choice, to the story line itself, this piece oozes with imagination, creativity, and love. This is the kind of story I would truly read from cover to cover... the kind of book I would undoubtedly purchase and put on my personal bookshelf one day. A lovely piece. For now, 6 stars and awaiting a space on my virtual shelf. :)

All the best,
Faith Rose
Now to Him

Come What May I think taps into a thought that every single person on the planet has had at one point in their life, “What if I had taken the other path life set out for me?” Our lives are like branches on a tree, and once you choose to move down one, you almost never can go back and see where the other one would have lead. On that count, author Laura A. Diaz has brilliantly found a way to write a book that will appeal to everyone regardless of where they are on the road of life. While that alone makes this book extremely marketable, the style will make readers glad they picked it up.

It’s also interesting to make the main character 62-years old. It reminds us that the human animal is not that different from generation to generation. We all question what we’ve done with our lives, and the fantasy that someone in their sixties must be content and living with no regrets is an illusion crafted by people who aren’t likely that old. But Cayla Lysander’s concerns are the concerns of us all.

I can’t imagine this book not being successful once published. Very few titles can legitimately claim such a large potential reading pool. And anyone who picks it up won’t be disappointed.

John Breeden II
Old Number Seven

Collective Analysis of “Come What May”


Characters:
Cayla- Main character that is easy to identify with. Eclectic, energetic, quirky, down –to-earth, woman. Chooses to see the humor in situations and is quick to laugh. She has a passionate faith and a worldview that embraces the sovereignty of God, while passionately believing that the choices we make are ours and we are responsible for them. Does not fit neatly into one category of personality, but is very complex. This is what makes this character so believable as a ‘real’ and identifiable person.

Daniel- First love. Fell in love with Cayla during college. Attracted to her quirky sense of style and humor. Equally drawn to her very ‘real’ faith. If we were reading “Anne of Green Gables,” Daniel would be the “kindred-spirit” to Cayla that Anne Shirley is always going on about.

Arthur- Cayla’s husband. Kind, loving, patient and dependable. It could be described as a very mature love that few men seem to attain in this life. Character could be a living walking poster for the Fruits of the Spirit” found in the book of Galatians.

Abbie- Cayla’s granddaughter. As much, like Cayla as anyone could be, without actually being her. Loves her grandmother dearly. Has had a lot of hard knocks in this life but with Cayla has forged a strong, unbreakable bond, built on, honesty, tears, laughter and faith.

Rose- Minor character. Makes an appearance near the end. Still manages to step into her own inquisitive, personality and be three-dimensional.

Themes:
Choices- Come What May challenges the reader to take a long careful look at his or her own choices in life. Rather than brushing those “what-if’s” off with platitudes, the reader is challenged to step back and see the “big picture.” Come What May leaves the reader with a sense of purpose. .

Family- Come What May explores the relationship between grandmothers and granddaughters. It also explores the dynamics of the husband and wife relationship.

Faith- Come what May challenges the reader to know what they believe about something and why they believe it. It challenges the phrase “It’s faith that makes me believe,” And says that “faith” is only part of it-or perhaps, you do not really believe what you say you do.

Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory:
The title itself is a huge symbol in this story. It is fascinating to note that those are the words not of Cayla, but of Daniel. However, if you were to put Cayla’s signature phrase of “It’s all good!” with Daniel’s, “Come what may,” you get a complete thought. Which is interesting to connect, (in light of) the complete collection of short stories and ending poem, you see that the book itself is one continuous thought. Very fascinating tool to address a theme.
Cayla’s tendency to snort when she laughs was thought by some to be an interesting paradox to her personality. She snorts when she tries to hold back her laughter. Yet Cayla’s personality, on the surface, seems to one that does not hold back . However, she does in way, and not for selfish reasons. It is always with the frame of mind (and out of love) that the needs of others are always greater than her own.

Doubles- the fact that Abbie is a double (in a sense) for Cayla is highly important. It shows the ‘ripples’ of one individual life and the effect that life can have on others, making them who they are.

The gold locket, catalpa tree, and the garden: All are symbolic of a true and solid love that Cayla and Arthur shared. Very interesting in light of the fact that all she had of Daniel was a sense of “twin spirit” so to speak.

Genre: COME What May can be placed in many genres. IT is Literary Fiction because It is a spiritual journey, yet it is also the journey of one woman the immediate people in her life. It is a romance with a twist, in that it is not just boy get girl or vice-versa. The tone leads to ‘Chick-Lit’ because of the “voice” of Cayla that is so strongly woven through out. However, it would have to be classified as ‘Chick Lit’ with more ‘heart’ than this genre is usually known for.

Writing Style: Come What May, feels to the readers as if it is their own journey and not Cayla’s. Each scene has you feeling the emotions and seeing the view through the eyes of that particular POV.
This brings us to another fascinating aspect. Although the POV is clearly and most directly that of Cayla; the reader is treated to the POV of Daniel in alternating chapters. This is not something that many authors can pull off. This one has done it quite effectively, without shortchanging the depth and three-dimensional quality of any of the characters.

The style itself is interesting because it is told in one night! We get the ‘real story’ through the memories and flashbacks of the characters, in a time travel sort of way. Again, not something that just anyone could pull off, but is done quite effectively here.

All-inall: The imagery and fantastic attention to detail the author uses makes for a pleasant, fun and introspective ‘ride-along’. Another important compliment to the author, in that, even the writing style reflects the ‘style’ of the main character.
It was unanimous that from the group that we would most definitively recommend this to a friend. A very inspiring story from a very talented up and coming author.

We thoroughly enjoyed this reading. Take everything with a grain of salt. Please disregard the many grammatical and spelling errors. This was just thrown together based on my notes. This is only the collected thoughts on analysis by a few college students and myself. Feel free to respond. I am sure that they would like to hear whether they “got it right” or not.

Warm regards,
Prof. J.O.

I only came to read a few chapters. I have a few on my WL to review.
BUT... I could not stop reading this!! I have only stopped after 7 chapters because a friend of mine will be picking me up shortly, and I'm not ready yet.
Cayla is such a lovable character. I love your attention to detail, and smiled when Daniel described her feet on the seat opposite her when they met.
The love that she has for both Daniel and Arthur is heart breaking, endearing, and completely relatable! As I am reading I have this weird feeling in my tummy, almost as though I can feel how they are feeling.
I am sad that I cannot read this in one go, and shall definately be back to read more.
For now I rate you 6 stars and shall back you with pleasure.

Thank you for a wonderful distraction to my otherwise mundane Tuesday.

All the best.

Luciana House
Burning Angel

{Come What May} returns!!! Let me be the first to say YES!!!

It's so good to see! Have a wonderful day!

- Scott

Thank you very much for your commetns. I am very humbled that you even took the time to read this. :)
Yes, I know. I am comma proficient deficit. ( Can I call it CPD and get a med. for it? =) )
What's funny is that you noticed things that my professional editor DIDN"T! Yikes!
Again, thank you for taking the time to read this!
Much love to you!
Laura

Chapter 5 Love the cheerios comparison. 5th paragraph I recommend replacing the 2nd Cayla with her. Excellent descriptions here. Such a moving chapter.

Dennise
Second Chances
&
Summer Vacation

I loved the opening and the repetition of ‘what may be’. 'come what may' It made me think of all the times I’ve wondered if I had of did something different, what things would be like now (not that I have any great desire to change what I have now). First chapter we get to meet a 62 year-old Cayla preparing a night held in her honour and are quickly taken back to when she is 37 and discussing a new job offer with her husband over dinner, in which time we get to see a couple who appear to be happy and comfortable with each other. The chapter ends with one of their friends announcing via email an impending wedding. I read till the end of the second chapter and as I was reading I found some nitpics which you may have picked up when editing.

I think this fits the women’s fiction well and I like your voice.

You don’t need a comma between ‘billowy’ and ‘plastic’

You don’t need the ‘had’ between ‘Arthur’ and ‘design’

Suggestion. Instead of ‘followed his eyes to the garden’ perhaps ‘followed his gaze to the garden’, as his eyes didn’t really go to the garden ;)

You don’t need the ‘that’ in the sentence… “…ever thought that they’d actually want to hire me.”

“Cayla laughed,” - it should be a fullstop after laughed

Also need a fullstop after ‘kissing her forehead,’

Chapter 2 – oh, we’ve gone back again in years, I think. If that’s the case, you may need to alert the reader at the top of the chapters.

You don’t need a comma between ‘oak’ and ‘mirror’ nor between ‘cheery’ and ‘yellow’

nor ‘long’ and ‘athletic’ – with that same sentence…you need to consider rephrasing it because at the moment it says ‘Abbie’s long athletic framed sported the smile ;)

don’t need the comma between ‘smooth’ and ‘gold’

Hope something helps. Good luck with this.

Hi Laura
Just read the first four chapters of 'Come What May' and have to say I'm really enjoying the read. The interaction between Cayla and Abbie is very good (reminds me of my daughter with her Nan) - as you say "they get each other".
Your writing style is easy to read and I like the way you've written each chapter with the present day and then Cayla's thoughts back to the past.
You are on my watchlist and I've also star rated you.
Jane (Jedye)

Dear Laura,
Greetings:)
Great work, Lot of scenne play as a director fogged glasses, orange mug & hazlenut coffee a treat to a reader, intense sense of couple reponsibility as in though one should intensely follow his or her passion but family approval sought inteligently is a wonderful message for the reader, Subtle jealousies of couples shown in Arthur's comments of Daniel's letter, a beautiful way of showing a woman's feeling for an old flame which was clearly shown when Cay was in tears on reading of Daniel's Marriage not to forget the beautiful way in which it was shown of how intelligent a man Daniel was by his letter and which is one of the most irresistable qualities of a man for a woman, A WORK OF ART WORKING ON ALMOST ALL THE 5 SENSES SIMPLY GREAT.~Naveen Nayar

Chapter 3 – 4 Such a heartwarming story. Love the dialogue and character interaction.

Dennise
Summer Vacation

Thank you for reading. :) I'm actually not doing so well on here. It's one step forward two steps back for me. Not much progress. I keep plugging away at Blanca's story and will be sending out queries and proposals to agents. I can't really get my hopes up about this site. I don't think I "scratch enough backs" or whatever. Although I try to be friendly toward all just as i am in life. I've a made a few GOOD friends along the way, and maybe that's what will count for me in the long run. :)

Dear Laura,
Greetings:)
You make me feel jealous(estoy bromeando), you are a gifted writer for sure, I have to sit sometime in the evening and get back to you maybe the week-end would be find. Why I tell you something is that the way you begin has already has had an effect on me as I was going through something & " Come what may we have have to act in a righteous manner that is as per the Gospels of Christ" answered my question I read you Introduction as an author your husband, children, Grandma & of course Romeo, Your Synopsis though I strongly feel should be your Acknowledgements.I am sure it is a great work though feels to be Non-Fiction but for sure Super-Glue.~Naveen Nayar

Dear Laura,
Greetings:)
You make me feel jealous(estoy bromeando), you are a gifted writer for sure, I have to sit sometime in the evening and get back to you maybe the week-end would be find. Why I tell you something is that the way you begin has already has had an effect on me as I was going through something & " Come what may we have have to act in a righteous manner that is as per the Gospels of Christ" answered my question I read you Introduction as an author your husband, children, Grandma & of course Romeo, Your Synopsis though I strongly feel should be your Acknowledgements.I am sure it is a great work though feels to be Non-Fiction but for sure Super-Glue.~Naveen Nayar

Ha-ha! Thanks, guy! Have you mom sign up as a reader also then. ;)

Dang. This is good. I bet my mom would love this. Fast reading although its a relaxed pace. I could hear the voices of the main characters real well. Good job.

Dang. This is good. I bet my mom would love this. Fast reading although its a relaxed pace. I could hear the voices of the main characters real well. Good job.

Hi, Laura – I’m a big fan of your other book so I thought I’d stop by and check out “Come What May.” I also think we need much more Christian themed writing so am happy to keep you on my WL.

I bring my English teacher alter-ego, The Grammar Hag, along on reviews. Anything you disagree with was her idea.

On the first page, the Hag is surprised to see so many things to nit. You have had many readers.
“Who believed that if you wandered….” Why not replace “who” with “Obe?”
No comma after Air Force; Airmen isn’t capitalized. Just airmen.
“…”what-if”;….” The punctuation goes inside the quotation marks: “….”what-if;” “
“a dinner, being held in her honor…” should be “a dinner being held in her honor…”
No comma needed after retired.
Have to be figuring out…..have to figure out. A verb of being followed by an –ing word is always wordier and less powerful than the past tense of the –ing word.
“…five kids that…” should be “…five kids who…”
The chair is adjacent to not adjacent from.
“I never, in a million years…” lose the comma
“What? No! WAY no!” This is an unusual sequence.
Schools have principals. The Principal is your pal. The Hag has principles. She wishes.
Can an athletic form sport an amused smile?
Eyes that look so much…. Two occurrences of the word ‘that’ here. You could recast the sentence to make it stronger and lose at least one ‘that.’
“…a widow now, for almost nine years…” don’t need this comma
Halfta. This would be a contraction of have and to. Hafta, maybe. But not with an l.
“…’out of generation’?” The Hag is pretty sure the single apostrophe goes outside the question mark.
“…people that…” should be “people who…”
“The handsome, fifty-nine year old gentleman, fiddled…” Don’t need that comma after gentleman.
Systetmic Pathology Class…..doesn’t need a comma afterwards.
“What are reading that’s so intense?” Word missing…
“…trips to the beach with there circle of friends….” Their!
“…to see who would, ‘rule the world!’…” don’t need a comma after would
“…only a few days after his conversation with Dr. Whittaker…” have we met Dr. Whittaker yet?
The Hag is having a harder time finding nits to pick because I am enjoying the narrative so much. I love this story!!
“….people from her and Arthur’s church that….” This is awkward. Why not just say, “…members of their church congregation who…” or “…people from their church who….”
“…the home she and Arthur had raised their children…” you need a where in there after home.
When Daniel says “Yeah, it has,” out in the garden, is that really what he would say?
Search for Abby. It’s misspelled in chapter 10.
No apostrophe in Starbucks. (The Hag lives in Seattle, home of Starbucks.)
Cow-towed? I think you want kow-towed.

I finished “Come What May,” and I really, really liked it. I especially liked the way you incorporate faith as a natural part of life. So often, Christian writers make the faith seem like some kind of extra duty or worse, a hobby.” Your characters are truly walking with Christ.

Best wishes to you,
~Audrey

It is rare that something touches me this closely. I cried with Cayla, and laughed with Cayla, and felt the butterflies in my stomach as Cayla remembered everything her and Daniel had and then again as she saw him walking towards her. I was there I saw her and her granddaughter is beautiful. Bless young Kelly, I'm glad she didn't succeed with the cord, but I can see why she thought of that. I hurt for her. I wanted to wrap her in my arms and tell her that it's ok, but GOD did and he is so much better than I would have been. Tears come into my eyes as I write this. I have never before seen a book so very unique, and your talent for storytelling, I am in awe of. By the way-- "It's all good!!!"

COME WHAT MAY
hullo Laura, Your story is interesting since it illustrates something that many people are faced with at some point in time. All about making the right decision. this is good and I am starring and with shelf ASAP. LLL

I have tremendous admiration for your work here, as well as a special fondness for your story-telling gift. This is a story that is truly woven, not simply told. As Cayla and Art unravel bit-by-bit, I am drawn to them-- even befriending them. Your word pictures are amazing... and so outside the typical, usual descriptions ("cheetos-orange mug," "bunny-slippered feet," and "ever-unruly curly bob"). There is such an authenticity here as well, with REAL happenings that make me smile, such as: "junk click delete." From the chapter titles like 'Classy Ties and Oodles of Time,' to the refreshing word choice, to the story line itself, this piece oozes with imagination, creativity, and love. This is the kind of story I would truly read from cover to cover... the kind of book I would undoubtedly purchase and put on my personal bookshelf one day. A lovely piece. For now, 6 stars and awaiting a space on my virtual shelf. :)

All the best,
Faith Rose
Now to Him

Laura,

I have to admit that I approached "Come What May" with a little trepidation -- I don't generally read chick lit, and I don't generally trust "Christian fiction," so I wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleased to find that your opening chapters introduce a group of quirky characters with a tangled history, deep faith, and a sense of humor. There is a story here, not just a sermon. Whew! The frame tale of the awards banquet (which I realized must be set a few years in the future if Cayla was 19 in 1979 and is 56 now -- a touch appreciated by this SF writer) offers a nice opportunity for the characters to recall events in the past and how their lives crossed, separated, and re-crossed. The ending of chapter 1 hints at discontent in the apparent happy-perfectland, which made me want to read on.

Throughout, you have many nice little descriptive touches: the cake crumb almost the same color as the tablecloth, bunny-slippered feet. The Greek setting of the college scenes offers an exotic setting completely different from the Indiana portions of the story. It's a nice touch that Cayla and Daniel are both mestizos that no one would peg as "Hispanic" without knowing them.

I noted just a handful of edits for correction:

Ch 1

chair adjacent from her Did you mean across from her, or adjacent to her? Since she puts her feet on it, I'm guessing it's across from her.

principle should be principal when it refers to a school administrator

You've made a good effort to fold exposition into dialogue. Some of it is too obvious, as when Cayla goes into detail about what her degree is when speaking to Art, who would know all this already. Read that dialogue scene aloud to see where it works and where it doesn't.

Ch 2

Look at your dialogue formatting, especially in this chapter but also in chapter 1. In a number of instances, the pronoun "he" is capitalized in the phrase "he said" etc. when it shouldn't be. Also, unless the line of dialogue is a question or exclamation, it takes a comma when followed by a dialogue attribution.

Ch 3

poke her self herself should be one word.

they had each wrote You want "written"

Nice work, and good luck with it!

Karen Eisenbrey
CRANE'S WAY
TIME SQUARED

Chapters 1 Yeah for high school literature teachers-although I probably didn't feel that way in high school. I recommend googling attribution said and read the recommendations for the he said she said attributions. So far this is an endering story. Fun, serious, intriguing and one I will continue reading. Great, believable dialogue. Simple, yet effective descriptions.
Chapter 1 the paragraph in Daniel's email that begins with 'Drum roll please...' I understand Daniel lives in Portland? since it's mentioned after the invite. If so, I recommend changing the 'there- to be there to here. OOO ending of 1 great page turner.
Chapter 2 I'm always saying that. Darn another thing that's not mine (Ecclesiastes 1:9) Paragraph 6 I recommend removal of the words 'still' Not needed. They don't add anything. Also recommend checking your manuscript for words such as these that you tend to use. Mine are start, begin, etc.Paragraph 9 I recommend a period after 'Cayla's own.' and leave of the remainder. Not needed.Paragraph 12 did you mean 'She said'?
Dennise
Summer Vacation

This is slower than my normal read and my concentration isn't always very good so I had trouble focussing at first but the characters drew me in and I came back to it this morning. The 'what if?' scenario is one that everyone has experienced at some point, making the mc older but with flashbacks to younger days enables people of all ages to relate to and there are very few typos (in fact I only remember 1 in the first 5 chapters, though my bad concentration could have missed some). I have yet to read it all but so far it promises to be a very successful book with a wide appeal. I'd be grateful if you could read and comment on my book when you have time. It probably isn't your usual read but if you read far enough you will find that the two mcs are Christian.

Hello Laura, I am new on this site. My book is in the Christian genre too "Walking in God's Calling" : non-fiction. Would be grateful if you can read it and make a comment on it and if I am lucky enough, you will be backing me. Rest assured I would do the same for you, thanks.

Hi Laura, I enjoyed these pieces very much indeed. It is clear that you love your writing and do it very well. The idea that the students met and loved in Greece is unusual, but the rounding off with the same theme gives promise of Cayla's and Daniel's life returning to a familiar road after a long - and no doubt fulfilling - detour. There are many clever touches and moments of light and shade throughout Come What May.

You do not say how long it is. My guess is that it is of novella length, not too easy to sell but there are growing markets for a more slight book which can be read during a precious 'evening off' and this is just to kind of book to satisfy that need. The language flows easily and clearly, another bonus - and I know that such a style is anything but easily produced. I suspect, though, that it would be a mistake to try to sell it attached to a group of short stories to bulk it out to book size. It stands very well on its own. The structure and plotting is strong and balanced and the characters very appealing. You are plainly writing for a Christian audience, although the high preponderance of the Christian message may not be to everybody's taste. To call this Christian chicklit does it a dis-service because the story's depth has a universality which will appeal to all ages.

I picked up a couple of typos - and one puzzling word. Near the beginning Cayla was engrossed in her book ignoring the gyro beside her. This is probably a US/UK thing, but what is a gyro? A little later in the same chapter you used there instead of their... 'circle of friends'. In Ch 12 the letters of extravegant were transposed. There were one or two more, but very, very few - and you use of case is so welcome - whom in the right place. I thought the word had died!

And have you included an anachronism? Cayla is 62, but at age 37 you have her deleting junk mail after the children go to bed. Surely the internet would not have been up and running then? Computers, yes, but probably Amstrad flying typewriters. Or is it a time switch that I missed? Authonomy does us no service in the way it transposes our texts into business layout. It means that there is no distinction between ordinary paragraph separation and the double separation needed for a switch of scene or time. It is particularly unfortunate for this story which depends on these switches. I followed them all, I think, and you are good at flagging them, but I wonder if it is worth playing around with different fonts to help even more?

The one thing I have real problems with is the last paragraph of your pitch. My granny used to say,'Self praise is no honour.' It is possible that agents are having a look at your stuff. One thing they don't like is an author lauding her own work, because it suggests that she might not be open to changes they might want made. However good you think your poem is - and it is - it is better to cut the word stunning and stick to what the poem is intended to do. Be strictly practical. Leave it to others to judge the quality, or the success.

Of the stories, I think The Battle of the Tenses is a winner. Send it to market, now! Very best wishes with it and with Come What May. I am glad to star your work.

Margaret Woodward : Kilbaddy

I am commenting on Melissa's comment. Since I already told you how much your book means to me and have been spreading the word about it and gave it 6 stars.
I SAW that they were mestizo Melissa, however, that is not the "heart" of the book. And you know that is what I'm all about ,hermana.
Love ya anyway,
Eva

A 'warm hug' of a book.

I already told you this on the forum, but I want you to know that I absolutely LOVE on your book! In that first story, "Come What May" I think that's the heart of the whole piece, if you ask me, I love that Cayla and Daniel are mestizo. I am surprised that no one has noticed that in your comments. Even the Professsor Ortiz dude!
Todo bien, babe! Six Stars sky high! ;)

I came to read the first chapter to give me an indication of how long it would take me to read your book--or even if I wanted to read past the first chapter. What happened was that I read all twenty-five chapters in one sitting. (well, I did get up a couple times.)

I am not qualified to critique your work but I can tell you what my experience and thoughts were with reading it. It took me awhile to get into your story as there seemed so many names and relationships and ages to keep note of. Chapter Seven was the break-through chapter for me and hit home. How close your feelings of wondering match my own and probably hosts of others. How few have the courage to confront and verbalize to the world their deepest thoughts. All I can say is 'I know what you mean.' Your poetry at the end made me think, made me smile, and made me laugh. Thank you for sharing your work.
Roy Belletete
"In Search of a Memory"

The pacing is great, and I was drawn in by your intro. Your characters are likable, and the story manages to convey some pretty deep thoughts without sounding morose. I like it :)
From a technical aspect, there are a *lot* of misplaced or missing commas. I'd advise going back over the comma rules for guidance. It also really helps me to read out loud, emphasizing the commas with pauses. That way, you can hear when a sentence doesn't come out right.
With a few small exceptions (notably in the computer-speak department), your dialogue feels natural, and it's a tricky thing to get right in the first place.

There is a market for Christian fiction, but it's more limited than the secular one. If you're writing this to get published (and I'm not assuming you are), then it's going to make things a little more difficult. That doesn't mean it's not worth doing, of course - it's just something to be aware of. The Christian market is also primarily inspirational, as opposed to philosophical / narrative, so you may end up filling an under-served niche.

Kudos on making it to #49! With some editing, this story could be quite publishable :)

Hi Laura,
I enjoyed another read of the early chapters of Come What May. Accessible and pleasant with many insightful bits that reveal character. I like your premise and the pitches. The writing is very nice. I am wondering, however, if you are being a bit too descriptive at times: Cayla sat at her solid oak, mirrored dresser. To me, three modifiers throws off the rhythm. It might be cleaner with simply: at her mirrored dresser (but I should mention that I'm not accustomed to this genre, so maybe it's appropriate).
Also: Arthur's thick, black hair. Now, there's nothing wrong with having both thick and black to modify but, it feels a tad heavy-handed to me (maybe it's a male thing).
Anyway, I truly like your writing and the concept of this fine piece. Highly publishable and starred accordingly.
Cheers!
John Campbell (Walk to Paradise Garden)

OH! Beautifully written. I feel like I was sitting in the kitchen with them, nodding at her reason why she should go back to work and wishing I had some of that cake as well! I love the character's and even though it starts off fairly light, you bring up a very honest and serious question "What if" plagues us like no other! I've only read a short section and already love it. Wonderful!

Neicy

I have backed your book with pleasure! I hope you will check out "Ana Grace - A Heart's Journey" and let me know what you think. A backing would be greatly appreciated also. Thanks!

Ok. Read Some of your writing. It is well formulated and there is 'calmness' over the story - like the author isn't getting ahead of himself, but feels comfortable with telling the story. I like the details thrown in about the characters such as the bunny slippers, it makes one more 'there' in the story.
Now on a personal note I am more of a reader with love for the action packed pages and am not one to dabble with the what-ifs of life, for me to find it entertaining there would need to be some drama, conflicts Yet that is taste and does not change the fact that this is good writing.

I love a book that makes you go back and question your own values and lifestyle choices and this book does so in a very comforting way. Enjoyed getting to know the characters and the lots of different relationships such as grandparents, mother, friends, colleagues and partners.


Best of luck with this book
Kind Regards

I love a book that makes you look at your own choices and lifestyle, especially when the characters are so easy to relate to. I love the way that there are so many different types of relationships in this book, family over generations, friends, professional.

Best of luck for the future with this

Only read chapter 1. Great dialog, pleasant family. Enjoyed it!
M.Wilhelmsen
Exact Places

I read some of your writing on you Author's Page/Blog. You have a talent ! Whatever you write about I keep getting drawn into. Good sign. Best wishes! I love this story!

Tonya

Never fear, dear lady! You said, "Sad to say, that its not winning the "popularity" vote ". Many of the classics were not popular in there day either. Many modern authors go through the same experiences. Someone like Juno Diaz. His art was not appreciated by traditional sources, or by his college teachers in fact, but now the man has a Pulitzer!
Keep the faith- take a little dose of Cayla and it'll all be good , come what may.
Prof.J.O.

Lol! I don't know whether to laugh or cry, Prof. :o) I think I'll laugh. Thanks! I needed cheering up~;o)

Laura A. Diaz
"Come What May"

Never fear, dear lady! You said, "Sad to say, that its not winning the "popularity" vote ". Many of the classics were not popular in there day either. Many modern authors go through the same experiences. Someone like Juno Diaz. His art was not appreciated by traditional sources, or by his college teachers in fact, but now the man has a Pulitzer!
Keep the faith- take a little dose of Cayla and it'll all be good , come what may.
Prof.J.O.

Wow! You guys have really floored me! That is the most in depth analysis that has ever been done on this book! I appreciate the time you all spent on this and actually look forward to reading the reviews you do of your other chosen books. Some things mentioned under imagery, I found interesting. But I could really see how someone could come to that analysis. This was a story that wouldn't let me go. Until i got it out of my head and onto paper I was in its grasp. Not unfamiliar for a writer to say about a story they've written, but nevertheless true. Sad to say, that its not winning the "popularity" vote that is needed to make it to the top here. lol! :o)
Many many blessings,
and with gratitude,
Laura A. Diaz
"Come What May"

Collective Analysis of “Come What May”

Collective Analysis of “Come What May”


Characters:
Cayla- Main character that is easy to identify with. Eclectic, energetic, quirky, down –to-earth, woman. Chooses to see the humor in situations and is quick to laugh. She has a passionate faith and a worldview that embraces the sovereignty of God, while passionately believing that the choices we make are ours and we are responsible for them. Does not fit neatly into one category of personality, but is very complex. This is what makes this character so believable as a ‘real’ and identifiable person.

Daniel- First love. Fell in love with Cayla during college. Attracted to her quirky sense of style and humor. Equally drawn to her very ‘real’ faith. If we were reading “Anne of Green Gables,” Daniel would be the “kindred-spirit” to Cayla that Anne Shirley is always going on about.

Arthur- Cayla’s husband. Kind, loving, patient and dependable. It could be described as a very mature love that few men seem to attain in this life. Character could be a living walking poster for the Fruits of the Spirit” found in the book of Galatians.

Abbie- Cayla’s granddaughter. As much, like Cayla as anyone could be, without actually being her. Loves her grandmother dearly. Has had a lot of hard knocks in this life but with Cayla has forged a strong, unbreakable bond, built on, honesty, tears, laughter and faith.

Rose- Minor character. Makes an appearance near the end. Still manages to step into her own inquisitive, personality and be three-dimensional.

Themes:
Choices- Come What May challenges the reader to take a long careful look at his or her own choices in life. Rather than brushing those “what-if’s” off with platitudes, the reader is challenged to step back and see the “big picture.” Come What May leaves the reader with a sense of purpose. .

Family- Come What May explores the relationship between grandmothers and granddaughters. It also explores the dynamics of the husband and wife relationship.

Faith- Come what May challenges the reader to know what they believe about something and why they believe it. It challenges the phrase “It’s faith that makes me believe,” And says that “faith” is only part of it-or perhaps, you do not really believe what you say you do.

Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory:
The title itself is a huge symbol in this story. It is fascinating to note that those are the words not of Cayla, but of Daniel. However, if you were to put Cayla’s signature phrase of “It’s all good!” with Daniel’s, “Come what may,” you get a complete thought. Which is interesting to connect, (in light of) the complete collection of short stories and ending poem, you see that the book itself is one continuous thought. Very fascinating tool to address a theme.
Cayla’s tendency to snort when she laughs was thought by some to be an interesting paradox to her personality. She snorts when she tries to hold back her laughter. Yet Cayla’s personality, on the surface, seems to one that does not hold back . However, she does in way, and not for selfish reasons. It is always with the frame of mind (and out of love) that the needs of others are always greater than her own.

Doubles- the fact that Abbie is a double (in a sense) for Cayla is highly important. It shows the ‘ripples’ of one individual life and the effect that life can have on others, making them who they are.

The gold locket, catalpa tree, and the garden: All are symbolic of a true and solid love that Cayla and Arthur shared. Very interesting in light of the fact that all she had of Daniel was a sense of “twin spirit” so to speak.

Genre: COME What May can be placed in many genres. IT is Literary Fiction because It is a spiritual journey, yet it is also the journey of one woman the immediate people in her life. It is a romance with a twist, in that it is not just boy get girl or vice-versa. The tone leads to ‘Chick-Lit’ because of the “voice” of Cayla that is so strongly woven through out. However, it would have to be classified as ‘Chick Lit’ with more ‘heart’ than this genre is usually known for.

Writing Style: Come What May, feels to the readers as if it is their own journey and not Cayla’s. Each scene has you feeling the emotions and seeing the view through the eyes of that particular POV.
This brings us to another fascinating aspect. Although the POV is clearly and most directly that of Cayla; the reader is treated to the POV of Daniel in alternating chapters. This is not something that many authors can pull off. This one has done it quite effectively, without shortchanging the depth and three-dimensional quality of any of the characters.

The style itself is interesting because it is told in one night! We get the ‘real story’ through the memories and flashbacks of the characters, in a time travel sort of way. Again, not something that just anyone could pull off, but is done quite effectively here.

All-inall: The imagery and fantastic attention to detail the author uses makes for a pleasant, fun and introspective ‘ride-along’. Another important compliment to the author, in that, even the writing style reflects the ‘style’ of the main character.
It was unanimous that from the group that we would most definitively recommend this to a friend. A very inspiring story from a very talented up and coming author.

We thoroughly enjoyed this reading. Take everything with a grain of salt. Please disregard the many grammatical and spelling errors. This was just thrown together based on my notes. This is only the collected thoughts on analysis by a few college students and myself. Feel free to respond. I am sure that they would like to hear whether they “got it right” or not.

Warm regards,
Prof. J.O.

Im done with the first Chapter and the flow was amazing ! I zipped through it ! Its like you have a beat going with your writing ,that synchronizes with my brain,lol..I can see why you are at 49 !

I liked the email checking bit,lol.

"Junk,click,delete,
Junk Click,delete,
Ohhhh NASTAY,,junk! Click, delete"

I have found this to be very poetic and beautiful Your use of imagery is alive and fresh and one of the best that I have read. You are a favorite of mine now. I hope that you do really well , and I look forward with anticipation as you climb to the stars.
Eva

Will read more asap. WL for now. M.Wilhelmsen Exact Places

I love this! I can so see this being made into a movie or something!

Very nice read and like the attention to detail. I enjoyed the banter between Arthur and Cayla which sounded all too real.

Don

"Grateful".

I am enjoying this so much. I thought to read just a chapter or two to see if I wanted to back this(because my bookshelf is rather empty right now) . I made it to 13 and can hardly stop, but I have to be up in six hours, so the rest will have to wait.

I only came to read a few chapters. I have a few on my WL to review.
BUT... I could not stop reading this!! I have only stopped after 7 chapters because a friend of mine will be picking me up shortly, and I'm not ready yet.
Cayla is such a lovable character. I love your attention to detail, and smiled when Daniel described her feet on the seat opposite her when they met.
The love that she has for both Daniel and Arthur is heart breaking, endearing, and completely relatable! As I am reading I have this weird feeling in my tummy, almost as though I can feel how they are feeling.
I am sad that I cannot read this in one go, and shall definately be back to read more.
For now I rate you 6 stars and shall back you with pleasure.

Thank you for a wonderful distraction to my otherwise mundane Tuesday.

All the best.

Luciana House
Burning Angel

I think it's great. For starters, it's different. It engaged me and it carries you along with a real sense of purpose. I don't hold at all with the comments that your diction is stilted. Your dialougue is your own and there is room in the world for every type. It matters not what type of dialougue you employ, as long as it suits your characters and yours does.
Well written and with your own style, something so often lacking both here, and in the published world. Keep it as it is and keep going.
This is not the sort of story I read, or indeed, write. Yet read it I did. That should tell you all you need to know.

Good Luck

Rob

I love this book!!!!

Interesting questions, great story! Thanks for sharing. High rating. xx

Dear Ms. Diaz,
I greaty, and sincerely apologize if I offended you in any way what-so-ever. With my previous comments.You are correct. My wording was hasty and thoughtless. And by no means meant to be a demeaning remark about your ethnicity.
Your book will remain on my shelf however, if you don't mind. I believe it stands on its own merit.
Again, my deepest regrets for my lack of tact.
May God Bless you and your writing,
Shaun

I found your book very interesting.
My first goal on this site was to place on my shelf and showcase the wonderful books written by women of ethnicity. I felt that we are sorely under- represented in this venue. I did not look at your profile picture(if that is you) :) and started reading.
Cayla is so strongly grounded by your descriptives that she easily apears to stand before the reader in all her strong faith and humor but is not an ethinic minority. However, her dialogue and her story was so compelling that I found myself seeing my grandmother delivering those exact lines to myself. And trying to see my grandmother as a teenager and envisioning her experiencing these things. This story bridges generational gaps and ageism. For you I am making an exception and putting your work on my shelf. It crosses cultural and racial boundaries andI predict it will become a treasure to future readers. Congratulations and continued writing sucess.
God Bless,
Shaun

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you! I read three chaps, and I thought they were wonderfully cute. The narrative is sweet and simple, and the characters full of spark. I did find the capitals odd when placed so often, but that's just my opinion. I use italics for such exclamations, and caps for super intense scenes--like someone screaming for their life. ;)
I really thought the way you told the story was very endearing--so sweet and sentimental, but not gushy or anything. Just natural. Absolutely lovely! It has the energy of a teen about to go to a vacation, and the sweetness of someone who has known the gifts of life.
If you could spare a moment, and if you wish, would you please comment on Revelation and Revolution? I'm not really looking for backing, mostly comments, but anything would be appreciated.
God bless and have a wonderful day!

--Shieldmaiden