... and they no longer belong to me.
I don't know who said that, might have been me, could have been any number of authors whose books finally get published.
It's the realisation one experiences when a book is released into the wild; when it ceases to belong to the writer and is in the hands of a reader and their interpretation of the words. It's that moment when the imagination of someone else is applied to the story - the landscape, the look of each character, the nuance implied in the language; they might spring from the page into someone's head as something completely different to that intended.
A Little Something To Hide publishes today, 1479 days after the first word hit the page. On that first day, 1 November 2020, in response to the call of NaNoWriMo, I wrote 356 words. Not many of those survived to the tenth and final draft.
Stacked on my desk is a pile of books measuring 46 centimetres, representing the various iterations that led me to the point I've reached today. I thought it was ready with the one sitting at the bottom. An array of folks suggested otherwise, offering kind words and correctives, indicating that perhaps I needed to work the manuscript a little harder; restructure the narrative, hone chapters, drop passages, re-engineer some of the stories. Not all of it was easy to hear, but every piece proved valuable in some sense, leading, I hope, to an improved outcome.
Obviously, I'm not the one to judge that, my opinion might be influenced by just a shade of bias. If pushed, however, I would suggest it's a bloody good read - one of the best books hitting the market in 2024. Possibly even, the Christmas present for which you will receive the highest degree of praise and thanks. Just imagine the kudos you'll get for being the one to introduce someone to such a treasure. I'll leave you to dream.
Alternatively, I could make the dream a reality by telling you exactly where you can get hold of such a gem. It's available at all good bookstores named Amazon and you can get it by clicking HERE.
If, however, you are minded to support independent booksellers - and there are few nobler causes - you could pop into your local book shop and ask for a copy. If they're out of stock, they'll be able to order a copy to arrive in a few days.
There's also a companion piece that goes with it, exclusively on Amazon, called Nothing Left To Hide, which provides insights into the motivation behind the book and each of the characters. It's full of spoilers, so don't sample that before you've read the main book, unless you're one of those barbarians that reads the final chapter of a book first - why, oh why! I blame the parents.
Whatever the case, I'd love you to grab a copy of A Little Something To Hide and join the passengers on the road to Albuquerque. You might recognise some of the people you're sharing the bus with and be delighted you're travelling together. Others, you'll hope, will never have the opportunity to sit alongside you again. Either way, you might find yourself in for a little surprise.
Thanks for reading, I hope you'll climb aboard.
Craig
=============A Little Something To Hide
Some people want to take their secrets to the grave.
On the Briscola Coach Service to Albuquerque, that’s just not possible.
A Little Something To Hide is an exploration of the human condition. Every traveller on the Briscola Coach Service believes they’re harbouring a secret that none of the world can see. Some secrets are darker than others and none of them are truly hidden. Climb aboard to learn more and remember, never trust the person you’re next to, no matter how sweet they look.
“... remarkable insight into the lives of these characters, aptly portraying the impact on those characters and their various reactions to the abuses they have suffered.”
Maureen Kelly, Reedsy
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Craig Brown is an author living in Newbury. To follow his work visit craigbrownauthor.com
Facebook/BlueSky/Threads/Twitter/Instagram: @GOMinTraining
Copyright © Craig Brown, 2024
19 November 2024
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