Evergreen

Dear Veronica, what an interesting beginning to your book. There are a few typos I noticed so you might like to look through it again, but other than that I really enjoyed the first five chapters and would like to read more. Good luck with it. Perhaps you would like to have a look at my own book 'Sancyuary' as any and all support would be welcome. Tina Cox 'Sanctuary'

When I first read the synopsis I thought of Desperate Housewives but as I read each chapter I could see Evergreen is much more than that. I love the way you tell the story from the perspective of each resident. A clever twist. You have captured Annie's battle with agoraphobia and OCD perfectly. Each character has their own strong personality which keeps the reader interested and wanting to turn the page. Your writing is accomplished and I would love to read more and see how things turn out. Six well deserved stars.

Kim (Pain)

Dear Veronica

I have just read your uploaded chapters of "Evergreen" and i can see why it is sparking lots of interest.

Your story is set in a close, where the cast of characters will be limited - a clever twist on the usual Agatha Christie, having a cast on a train or a cruise ship.

Your plot unfolds slowly but surely. Your characters are well drawn, interesting and their dilemmas engrossing.

Your writing is clear and crisp and easy to read. There are lots of hooks here for your readers. I would have no trouble reading this to the finish. There is everything to like about your offering, and I hope you feel able to upload more here soon.

All the best with this. I know it will do well so I have added lots of stars to help you along.

Fran Macilvey, "Trapped"

Wow. This is really clever, and very slick. I'm totally on board, I love your writing style and thoroughly enjoyed reading you chapters. Seriously, great going. Lots of sparkling stars, and lots of luck. x

Just re-reading this. By the end of the first chapter I find I am holding my breath and I can't believe it because your writing is so smooth that this purely psychological crisis grips me with its urgency. I especially liked "with their bacteria and notepads." But it was all deeply satisfying to me. I appreciate your presence here so much and am incredibly gratified to see you leaping up the charts. You will continue to have my backing.

Heather McLoud
Sage Courage

Hi Veronica, returning the read and comment.

I read the five chapters currently uploaded.

I was grabbed by the concept of the plot, what's going on behind all those windows and what do the neighbours really know about each other.

Annie stood out for me, she was the character who seemed to have the most depth and I had such sympathy for her situation. I like the way you begin with the view from each house and their individual reactions to the shot. I'd like to see if there will be a chapter from Evergreen and what that tells us. I liked that the only people to actually observe anything of importance had no right to be in the house.

I'm not sure yet about the change in third to first person and in tense. I'd like to read more chapters to see how that develops.

I am intrigued by this and if you add more chapters I'd come back to read further.

'an episode of Eastenders' lol. couldn't stop laughing at that.

hello just read a few chapters of your fabulous book! I loved it was gripped from the start you have great writing style and you know how to creat suspense can't wait to finnish the book it can rest safely on my bookshelf for now

Short, sharp and attention- grabbing; Just what every book should be. I really felt for poor Annie, stuck inside her house and I shared her fear as she finally made it outside. I shall read all the stories a.s.a.p. Very well done. Great stuff. Backed with stars and on w/l.

Kate Grimes LIZZIE - CUPPA TALES - TALES OF WILLOW GREEN - ANNIE.

I read this all the way through, intrigued. For me, there isn't enough to go on here. Will we revisit each of these households? I got very into Annie and her agoraphobia, but she never came back. I'm suffering from your uniform mid-shot focus [sorry to use TV term, but this is quite soap like in its concentration on close relationships and lack of reference to a real outside world]. And I needed a sense of the geography - where are each of these houses in relation to each other? Are they estate houses, homogenous or architect designed? Which people are neighbours? If, as I think, you are already inviting us to conjecture what has happened to Scarlett, it would help to know where everyone is [a bit like a game of Cluedo]. The only people I found unconvincing were the burglar couple; hard to believe they would take time to do a pregnancy test [why didnt she just steal it along with the other booty?] and have a fairly relaxed conversation looking out of the window... just didnt square with how I imagine the mood of a burglary to be - edgy, paranoid, minimum conversation, potential for rage or panic if things go wrong - and doesn't she say 'Never steal from people you know' - surely he knows everyone who comes into the garage?
I like your observations of surburban life. I feel that Annie is the most interesting character here[but I like eccentrics]. I need to read more to see what the shape of this is going to be. If we are going to have more viewpoints, then I think you need to look at not using any first person. First person engages the reader. Third helps the reader get an overview. What do you want from us? Hope this is helpful, Fan K

Hi Veronica,

Well this is very different indeed. I've read all you've posted about three times and I am VERY into the story. You have the most interesting bunch of rather unique characters I've ever read about. I'm just wondering why the change from 1st to 3rd person and the tense change also. You handle it all very well, and I couldn't say you write one better than the other, it's just it's so different I'm a little on the fence about it...but in a good way...it's certainly a style all your own.

I loved the chapter about the robbers, hilarious and charming at the same time (funny for robbers to be so likeable). Also wanted to give your character in the last chapter a good slap lol great hook with the photo's...I'm very intrigued.

very interesting read. you have some great characters and a great plot. I like your style of writing it kept my attention. can't wait to read some more

It's a tall order to handle so many perspectives on the same event and get them to gel - but you seem to be orchestrating it extremely well. Only got half way so far, but enjoying. Will read on.

Veronica, there is such a perfect mix of suspense and ease in the way you write; You keep the reader on their toes by planting questions as they read, conscious that if they lose their concentration, they might miss a clue. The reference you make to The Jeremy Kyle show made me smile as I knew exactly what you meant! There was minor point I stumbled upon and that was the phrase; 'I crack open the wine and olives'. Don't you need another verb for olives? As I said minor point and it does not distract from the fact that you write superbly and are an excellent story teller. Top rating from me. Maria (Georgina's Family) :)

Big sigh of happiness here. Your writing is superb. It flows, it dances on the page, it invites my eye to continue reading. The protagonist in chapter one is very real, very tenderly wrought. There is great pleasure in reading a promising story here and yours definitely fits the bill. Also...I have a friend who is agoraphobic. We don't live in the same state and he (understandably) doesn't have other friends. Sometimes it takes days of phone calls to give him enough emotional strength to go out for groceries. I appreciate seeing a compassionate fictional agoraphobic. In short, thank you so much for presenting this wonderful story.

I'll be putting this one on my watch list and following up with you in weeks to come.

I love this story idea and the short and long pitches are great. I can already envision the movie, with an ensemble cast acting out the parallel stories. Your writing style is clean and smooth, easy to get lost in. I know someone quite a bit like the woman in chapter one, and reading this is fascinating. High stars, I will definitely read on over the next few days. It's very intriguing! ~Gail SECRETS WE KEEP ps - found a little typo in paragraph 7: "...things they come out with, (IT'S)...

I really like the concept behind this book - the same event perceived from different perspecitves. The writing is good and I particularly liked getting inside the head of the first character, with agoraphobia. I was just a little confused by the fact that some lead characters were in the first person and some the third. A good, interesting read.

Enjoyed the first Chapter! Will read more later. Happy to back your work. Hope you have a chance to take a look at Dark Side by CC Brown.
61BBboy

Loving what I've read so far - one small typo in Chapter 5: '...even when I'm in heals'. Would like more, soon, please! Would appreciate a return read/comments on my book.
Best wishes,
Dee

omg im loving it already!!!