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Ceci Miller's avatar

I enjoyed meeting Old Man Fiengo and the anonymous fellow who devours free books! Captivating writing. I’m familiar with the twinge that comes when you realize it’s now necessary to remove a piece of writing you really loved making, and which also sounds as good read aloud as this one does. But clearly you’re willing to let go of this segment for the good of the whole. Maybe now it’s free, it will morph into a short story, you never know.

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Ceci Miller's avatar

So interesting how characters find their way in! And it’s not easy to say goodbye to them – whether you’re the writer or the reader. Life that your editorial buddy invited you for a walk. She missed you, too.

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Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

I think I can do a whole novel out of all the stuff I cut out and even then it weighed in at 95,000 words. One of the women who helped me ALL the way — from initial story written for stage to the final draft — has been away and wrote me today to invite me for a walk. And all of a sudden I not only missed her but the novel, too.

The origin of that character was pretty interesting, too. It came from a typo. I wrote about it in one of my A Writer’s Journey posts. The typo occurred in the story Doc which was the second of the staged stories and I had meant to write her, or perhaps it, but I wrote he and I wondered, who is he? And I kept going with it. He’s already morphed into one of the major threads to the story of Hiram Falls. He had been in the beginning and the end (and throughout) but now he’s intertwined with one character and, at the end, another.

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Ronnie's avatar

i hope you get published. I am looking forward to reading about Hiram Falls!

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Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

i will publish. thanks.

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Kara Westerman (she/her)'s avatar

Such a good opening. Quite enthralling!

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Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

thank ye so much. I like the new one — different characters, more suspense. This storyline threads the book, but is not the main one. At least not anymore.

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Joe's avatar

I read it and I am wanting more of it. Intrigued even. I throughly like this beginning. After a limited amount I am left wanting more. Publish this Geoff. I will buy it!

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Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

I will get it published. Soon I hope. Thanks so much.

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Cinse Bonino's avatar

I listened to your reading. I was transported to a black and white movie, one made by a director who understands the human condition, who recognizes the power of linguistics, and who understands we all write our own stories. As always in your writing, there is the human and there is humanity abiding side by side in your sentences. Love it!

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Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

thanks so much, Cinse. I really really appreciate that.

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Shari Lane's avatar

I enjoyed this, and look forward to reading the published version!

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Geoffrey Gevalt's avatar

Thank you so much. And so do I ....

best to you,

gg

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