Comments for Spun Stories, home of Cynthia Sally Haggard, historical novelist http://spunstories.com where I review books for new authors, give advice on the craft of writing, share tips on self-publishing and spin stories from threads of the past Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:20:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on THE SHINING by Stephen King by Tso William http://spunstories.com/2012/02/01/the-shining-by-stephen-king/#comment-297 Tso William Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:20:00 +0000 http://spunstories.com/?p=1916#comment-297 I think Stephen King has done a great done in telling us that the greatest ghosts resides in our own psychological mind. i have written a review here: http://tsoamateur.blogspot.com/2012/02/shining.html I think Stephen King has done a great done in telling us that the greatest ghosts resides in our own psychological mind.

i have written a review here: http://tsoamateur.blogspot.com/2012/02/shining.html

]]> Comment on THE ORACLE by William J. Broad by Cynthia Sally Haggard http://spunstories.com/2012/01/25/the-oracle-by-william-j-broad/#comment-296 Cynthia Sally Haggard Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:24:00 +0000 http://spunstories.com/?p=1855#comment-296 Thanks, Daniel. It's great to meet a reader like you who really gest what I was trying to say. Have a great day! Cynthia Thanks, Daniel. It’s great to meet a reader like you who really gest what I was trying to say.

Have a great day!

Cynthia

]]> Comment on THE ORACLE by William J. Broad by Daniel Milstein http://spunstories.com/2012/01/25/the-oracle-by-william-j-broad/#comment-295 Daniel Milstein Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:11:00 +0000 http://spunstories.com/?p=1855#comment-295 Good Share.I hope more people discover your blog because you really know what you're talking about. Can't wait to read more from you! Good Share.I hope more people discover your blog because you really know what you’re talking about. Can’t wait to read more from you!

]]> Comment on PAN E POMODOR: MY PASSAGE TO PUGLIA by Cynthia Sally Haggard http://spunstories.com/2011/11/23/pan-e-pomodor-my-passage-to-puglia/#comment-294 Cynthia Sally Haggard Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:02:00 +0000 http://spunstories.com/?p=1522#comment-294 My comment is in response to a query from the author, Ian McEwan, who asked me to elaborate on my review. Unfortunately, I mislaid his email. (Sorry, Ian). So I'm going to provide extra comments here. I went through the novel again, and naturally, I can't find the switch from 1st to 3rd person that I talked about. However, that doesn't mean to say that there aren't problems. There are 3 general problems: 1. Switches from 1st person singular to 1st person plural. Most of the time, this is not a problem. Occasionally I notice it. 2. Switches in tense. This really jars. The author has a tendency to describe something in the past, then add on his personal take in the present. Here are 2 examples: Again it wasn't a half hour drive. It was an hour. ARE they using a different clock? Well, no problem, we'd already got a lot further than we dared hope. They CAN'T be that difficult to find; there MUST BE someone who KNOWS them even if they've emigrated... 3. Too many tells. Here are 2 examples: Then a man appeared by the woman's side with a menacing look, ASKING A SIMILAR QUESTION, I SUPPOSED. "Yes, we'll think it over," WE FELT OBLIGED TO SAY. If you cut the tells, the prose will be much stronger. Overall, it reads as too loose. The writing is really not bad, but it does need a good editor. To Ian, if you are thinking of re-doing this book for a new edition, your best plan is to get an editor. I hope these comments help! Best, Cynthia My comment is in response to a query from the author, Ian McEwan, who asked me to elaborate on my review. Unfortunately, I mislaid his email. (Sorry, Ian). So I’m going to provide extra comments here.
I went through the novel again, and naturally, I can’t find the switch from 1st to 3rd person that I talked about. However, that doesn’t mean to say that there aren’t problems. There are 3 general problems:
1. Switches from 1st person singular to 1st person plural. Most of the time, this is not a problem. Occasionally I notice it.
2. Switches in tense. This really jars. The author has a tendency to describe something in the past, then add on his personal take in the present. Here are 2 examples:
Again it wasn’t a half hour drive. It was an hour. ARE they using a different clock?
Well, no problem, we’d already got a lot further than we dared hope. They CAN’T be that difficult to find; there MUST BE someone who KNOWS them even if they’ve emigrated…
3. Too many tells. Here are 2 examples:
Then a man appeared by the woman’s side with a menacing look, ASKING A SIMILAR QUESTION, I SUPPOSED.
“Yes, we’ll think it over,” WE FELT OBLIGED TO SAY.
If you cut the tells, the prose will be much stronger. Overall, it reads as too loose. The writing is really not bad, but it does need a good editor. To Ian, if you are thinking of re-doing this book for a new edition, your best plan is to get an editor.
I hope these comments help! Best, Cynthia

]]> Comment on DAUGHTERS OF THE WITCHING HILL by Mary Sharratt by Anonymous http://spunstories.com/2012/01/04/daughters-of-the-witching-hill-by-mary-sharratt/#comment-293 Anonymous Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:23:00 +0000 http://spunstories.com/?p=1702#comment-293 Mary, I'm so glad you enjoyed the review. Happy New Year! Cynthia. Mary, I’m so glad you enjoyed the review. Happy New Year!

Cynthia.

]]> Comment on Why I am one frustrated & disappointed Thesis Theme customer by FrancoSheen http://spunstories.com/2011/04/17/why-i-am-one-frustrated-disappointed-thesis-theme-customer/#comment-292 FrancoSheen Mon, 09 Jan 2012 02:36:00 +0000 http://spunstories.com/?p=793#comment-292 This is probably late and you likely have it sorted but if not you can remove those sidebars and the multimedia box by going to 'Design options' in the Thesis Admin panel (left side of your admin login page) In design options you'll see 'Multimedia box' and under 'Display options' - 'Sidebar' make the changes there. Good luck This is probably late and you likely have it sorted but if not you can remove those sidebars and the multimedia box by going to ‘Design options’ in the Thesis Admin panel (left side of your admin login page) In design options you’ll see ‘Multimedia box’ and under ‘Display options’ – ‘Sidebar’ make the changes there.
Good luck

]]> Comment on DAUGHTERS OF THE WITCHING HILL by Mary Sharratt by Mary Sharratt http://spunstories.com/2012/01/04/daughters-of-the-witching-hill-by-mary-sharratt/#comment-291 Mary Sharratt Sun, 08 Jan 2012 10:24:00 +0000 http://spunstories.com/?p=1702#comment-291 Thank you so much for the lovely review! :) Thank you so much for the lovely review! :)

]]> Comment on Thwarted Queen by Sonubhatt772 http://spunstories.com/books/thwarted/#comment-290 Sonubhatt772 Sat, 31 Dec 2011 04:21:00 +0000 http://spunstories.com/?page_id=833#comment-290 I am indian boy and looking for a hot indian women for sexy relationship I live in delhi my emaild sonubhatt772@gmail.com I am indian boy and looking for a hot indian women for sexy relationship I live in delhi my emaild sonubhatt772@gmail.com

]]> Comment on About by Harlan Hague http://spunstories.com/about/#comment-288 Harlan Hague Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:34:00 +0000 #comment-288 Your web site and your interests suggested, even before I read about you, that you were English. I lived in the Cotswolds during an idyllic sabbatical year and can identify a Brit or a hopeless Anglophile from a mile off. Now I will navigate about your web site some more. Your web site and your interests suggested, even before I read about you, that you were English. I lived in the Cotswolds during an idyllic sabbatical year and can identify a Brit or a hopeless Anglophile from a mile off. Now I will navigate about your web site some more.

]]> Comment on Monday Tips: Do your writing BEFORE you do your marketing by Cynthia Haggard http://spunstories.com/2011/10/31/monday-tips-do-your-writing-before-you-do-your-marketing/#comment-286 Cynthia Haggard Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:08:00 +0000 http://spunstories.com/?p=1236#comment-286 Sher, I'm so glad you found this post useful. Sorry to be a little late in replying, but I've been overwhelmed by all the tweeting that's been happening recently to me. Speaking of which, thanks so much for re-tweeting Cecylee's entrance on All Hallow Eve. Her ladyship was really chuffed! Sher, I’m so glad you found this post useful. Sorry to be a little late in replying, but I’ve been overwhelmed by all the tweeting that’s been happening recently to me. Speaking of which, thanks so much for re-tweeting Cecylee’s entrance on All Hallow Eve. Her ladyship was really chuffed!

]]>