Never Say Die

Hi C.I.!

Since you haven’t been to Authonomy for a while, I hope it’s okay that I’m sending this through your book comment:

I’d like to thank you for backing BRAINRUSH (a Thriller) last year. Because of you it hit the Authonomy Number-1 slot, attracted an agent, and landed a film option. Now that’s a brain-rush! The formal book launch is September 1st and the sequel will be released in December. None of this would have been possible without your help. So, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

Sincerely,
Richard Bard, BRAINRUSH

PS. If you want a good laugh, check out the temporary book-trailer video on the BRAINRUSH website. It’s there as a placeholder for the upcoming professional video. The current one features children and it’s guaranteed to make you smile! And yes, the younger kid on the screen is really me. You can see the video at www.RichardBard.com. The link is also on my Authonomy profile page. While you’re there, check out the “Feel the Rush” promotion that will get you BRAINRUSH plus 2 FREE thrillers from the Kindle Top-20 PAID Bestseller list – yes, really!

Well written and gripping pitch.
Dawn,
My Friends and Me / Sammy and the Wise Willow

Once past that prologue (eek) I like this a lot. Good writing with the kind of pace and character development that will appeal to the Paranormal Romance sector. backed

Wonderful. I am hooked, just like that. I love finding a YA piece that I can back without hesitation, but this is definitely one of them. A strong premise and, in Saydie, a fascinating protagonist.

Backed with pleasure.
Abi xxx

I'm hooked. Backed.

DW (River Dream)

Really, really good, I wish you the best of luck with this. Backed. E.Loraine Royal Blood Chronicles book one

An interesting idea and well written. Backed with pleasure. Colin

It is quite clear why you have gained much praise for your writing. You have such a easy going narration from the start that the reader falls into the story and accept the character, enough to find themselves carried along by the story for much longer than they originality might have intended.
Backed with pleasure.
David
Bailey of the Saints

What a fantastic premise!!! I really enjoyed this and it had kind of an Anne Rice flavor to it. I read for content and enjoyment, not bothering to nit pick. There are others here that love to be editors, so you won't need me finding fault. I think you have a whole set of lore to work with in, the kind of unforgettable character that will support many sequels and I fully expect to see them all in the future.
Best wishes for a speedy success and a comfy seat on the money wagon.
Dawn De Remer (Golden Moon)

Hul lo C.I. I haven't quite finished your book, meaning that I am having trouble stopping my read. Each chapter seems to take me in closer to Saydie and her people. I can see that you like Nora Roberts. Even though I am a simple rather scientific researcher, I lean towards romances such as hers. You have been added to the list since your work simply draws in the reader. Great story which I will finish out reading. Grammer-wise I will say that you might want to divide your work into more paragraphs to make it more readable. you are missing a few comma's but that is about it. I would run a grammer check with whatever computer system you are using and it should help you find those spots. But, really a great story. It is an interesting concept that demons and such could live among us. I would not be in the least surprised. Already shelved and backed. I know you don't particulary (sp) like a genre such as mine but give it a chance. thanks in advance
LLL

I remember the first time I read this last year via a link you sent on twitter and the discussions we had back then. I think the character has scope and I hope you get published. Hope the art work turned out ok.

Saydie is a unique and interesting character! Young adults are going to love this! So far it is well crafted and polished and I am thankful the entire book is uploaded so I can return for more of this gem tonight! BACKED

Liz
The Cheech Room

This book is an inside look at what it's like to be a demon who collects evil men's souls. Writing it in first person was clever because it made me feel as if it's happening right in front of my eyes. I thought at first I wasn't going to like Saydie because she spent a lot of time talking about her appearance - but when I got to know her better, all that changed. She's a good character. The story is a good read. Burgio (Grain of Salt).

Never Say Die:

C.I. Crenshaw,

The idea of the beautiful 19 year old Saydie, attractive to men and disarming to women, yet being a demon, is some combination!
I like the easily readable first person prose in which Saydie describes to the reader, in conversational tone and with such candour, the plus and the minus of her personality.
All this combined with the intriguing storyline promised in the synopsis makes me want - but not need - to read on to know that I'm in the hands of an author who knows where her plot is going and how best to build an engaging main character.

Backed.
Ray
(A Child from the Wishing Werll)

Hello Creenshaw,

You came up with an awesome concept here. Aren't all of us haunted by a demon, an obsession, an addiction, a negative emotion and so forth and so forth. In Saydie you explored that amazingly.

I am not that familiar with this genre, but I must confess that you captured my interest right from the start through characters, a plot , scenes and descriptions that are not only poignant, but entertains conflicting emotions. I like the story.

All the best.

Janvier (FLASH OF THE SUN)

C. I. Crenshaw has put together an interesting concept. A girl who looks like she's nineteen but is actually over two hundred years old. A stunner for looks who has the gift of 'Charisma.' A demon, no less, who hunts for souls. Oooh, the mere description of that should send chills right down your spine. It is a well written tale with well drawn out characters. And I have only one suggestion to make it better. In the opening chapter show Saydie's darker side a little more vividly. She is a demon. Make her frightfully beautiful--somone you could be hynoptised by but someone who would rip your throat out if pushed, I think it's necessary to instill this fright into the reader early. It would go a long way in making the mystery more intense as to why she goes ga-ga over this man she is about to meet.

But that is just a suggestion. It's a good read and people will enjoy this.

Hi C. I.: Love the premise. She makes me think of Anne Rice's Lestat, for fully committed to the vampire experience.

All I heard was the beating of our hearts and the rain... Awwwww..... Big big sigh with my hand over my heart. You write so well.

I noticed (that) he looked as stunned as I was about the electric feeling that had just passed between us. is the first instance of my thinking you might change something. Well the second. When she flashed her best smile seemed a bit out of character. This is the point you will need to be careful not to make this predictable. What am I saying (thinks back to my mc meeting her love interest and how predictable that may have seemed--thinks I did okay).

It leveled out nicely when she complimented him and smiled absently at his reaction. You might watch the play by plays, if you want. You don't need her to walk into the living room to see that Flan had fallen asleep. When I studied screenplay there was the issue that scenes should start after they've begun and end before they're over. You can just state that Flan had fallen asleep in the chair and dropped her book on the floor. But this particular character walking into a room has nice appeal.

This is well written, C.I. There isn't much to critique about your work. I was concerned at first that you were starting with mundane conversation, but you gave important information about how she effected the cat and proved the lightness of their relationship.

I wasn't sure at first if she was a good person or not. When you said she was trying to avoid negative behavior by staying away from other demons, it shows she has a conscience. This is good work and shows promise. On my shelf. Rachael (American Clique).