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BigSimon

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first registered 29.04.10

last online 5 days ago

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about me

Just returned after a few months break from this site and from the incessant tinkering with one's work which seems to result.
While I can't promise to be quite as active as before, I shall try to get back to everyone who has shown an interest in this first novel of mine.
Special thanks to those who have read all the way through and given me such valuable pointers for improvement.

WHY CONNECTED?
Years ago, at university, a fellow student had a breakdown and was admitted to the local psychiatric hospital. A few, who knew him well, went to visit and reported that he'd subsequently lost the plot and was now gabbling incomprehensibly about having found the answer to life, the universe and everything. Apparently it was all to do with concentric circles which he proceeded to draw on every available surface including himself.

While most people seemed consumed with sadness and pity at this, my first thought was "What if he really had discovered some universal truth?" 

Although I never seriously believed that he had, it was on that day that the seed of an idea lodged in my brain - a seed that in the summer of 2002 would germinate into the drafting of the first three chapters of CONNECTED from a cabin in the French Alps.

I then returned to the reality of a career in IT marketing and the novel was relegated to the back-burner where it sat simmering for another seven years. Finally, last August, finding myself with an opportunity to take some time out, I picked it up where I'd left off and in February this year, added those two long awaited words: THE END.

It's hard to express how much I enjoyed writing this novel or the sense of satisfaction having finished. If I succeed in finding a publisher, that would be wonderful. If I don't, that will be fine too.

If you're tempted to read it, I hope only that you enjoy it. If you subsequently see fit to leave comments and back it, I will be very grateful.

favourite books

William Boyd, Any human heart
Ian McKewan, Saturday
Ayn Rand, Fountainhead
William Gibson, Neuromancer
Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle
Kazuo Ishiguru, The remains of the day

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my books

CONNECTED

Simon Denman

Searching for the reason behind two apparent suicides, two men embark on a quest for truth leading them to question the very nature of existence.


Set in contemporary England and spanning a period of six weeks, the story unfolds through two converging plot threads.

Beginning with the funeral of a renowned classical violinist in a small rural hamlet in the lake district, a former theoretical physicist tries to make sense of his brother's suicide.

Across the country, a university student, enjoying the unexpected attentions of a sexy enigmatic seductress, is disturbed when his best friend falls to his death from the thirteenth floor of a neighbouring campus tower block.

As each tries to unravel the mystery behind the apparent suicides, they are drawn into an obsessive search for a computer generated video sequence, which promises to have startling effects on human consciousness and might just pave the way for discovery of the ultimate Theory of Everything.

GENRE

If I had to pin a label on this, I might call it a philosophical / scientific thriller. I hesitate to use SF since the peppering of science (String theory, neuroscience, quantum physics) is all based on science fact. On the spectrum from SF to literary fiction I have aimed for the literary end.

 

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latest

Nathan O'Hagan wrote 6 days ago

Hi Simon, Forgive the unsolicited spam, but I would be very grateful....

A G Chaudhuri wrote 13 days ago

Dear Simon, My apologies for this unsolicited message. It’s an ....

ndayery wrote 90 days ago

(rafica_4ndaye@yahoo.com) My name is rafica i saw your profile toda....

Ben Hardy wrote 119 days ago

Hello You were one of the many people who commented on ‘Adventures....

flyntigger wrote 119 days ago

So proud of you for finally finishing... Lovely job. -Smiles

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my comments

latest

I wrote 578 days ago

A very interesting mix of human interest and thriller. Starting with the unacknowledged advances of a frustrated wife, I suspect the relationships will prove to be at least as important as the action thriller elements of the story. Shawn's lack of response to his wife as observed by her in the first... view book

I wrote 585 days ago

Hi Miguel, Very interesting style - more poetry than story telling almost. There is enormous emotion and depth of feeling which comes across well in the first two chapters. My only comment, and this is really just a matter of personal preference, I found myself wanting to be a little more involved ... view book

I wrote 585 days ago

Wow! John, this is fantastic! Just read straight through all 6 chapters uploaded and was disappointed to find that #7 was only padding to ensure minimum word count. This is very fine writing indeed. Your choice of vocabulary and use of metaphor is perfect and this makes it incredibly visual. T... view book

I wrote 587 days ago

This is highly original, shining with intelligence and curiously addictive. It's not often I find prose that has me reaching for the dictionary quite as often as this but with the exception of "augerance" in section III (which I'm not sure actually exists - did you mean augUr), I have to admit th... view book

I wrote 587 days ago

A powerful story with the distinct feel of an American classic. The plot is intricate, well constructed and you seem to be revealing it at just the right pace. The characters - particularly Jamie and Jane are complex and realistically flawed creating a strong empathy in the reader. You include some ... view book

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