My god this takes me back. In the 90s I drove around the UK on my own with a map like that. Earlier on I had joined the CND. My mother used to do a solo sit-in on the street corners where we lived, getting mocked and stuff chucked at her.
I want the WHOLE book (what a great voice) ... similarly, I lived round the corner from Greenham - what my mother called, 'those bloody women', being a benign misogynist.
Banger opening, Eleanor! Your trademark deftness of character sketches and scene and detail. So many favorite moments, like this one: “The rest of them, Paul, Bridget, their dad moved with the jagged sense of a world outside; Paul raced and Bridget slumped and their dad bent but Janet floated above it.”
“Her mum said everything quietly. Bridget wished she would shout sometimes or do something mad, but her mum swished along in a cloud of cigarette smoke and gentleness as if she lived in a cloud; nothing touched her.” Love feeling some of the familiar origin behind a daughter’s desire to fight. What a great beginning.
Wow, this is really well written, Eleanor. I’m quite surprised and mad the presses didn’t pick this up! Really loving the premise, the characterization and the voice. I can’t wait for the rest of it.
Thanks, Andrei. I appreciate you saying that. It has been maddening. But on the plus side, I get to publish it here, and connect with readers in real time, which is a joy for me. And maybe once they see that it’s commercially viable, they’ll pick up the phone to my agent…
With so words, you firmly establish the setting for the story and the personality of this family. I’m excited to be here from the beginning and to see how it unfolds week after week.
My god this takes me back. In the 90s I drove around the UK on my own with a map like that. Earlier on I had joined the CND. My mother used to do a solo sit-in on the street corners where we lived, getting mocked and stuff chucked at her.
It was both a joy and a horror to go back there in research…
Excellent stuff. Loved that opening paragraph tease, and then the family scene felt very familiar indeed - and yet curiously of its time.
All the complications of map reading in the 80s (well, pre-2000s) I'd slightly forgotten about. I'm amazed that anyone was ever able to find anything.
Me too! A map on the lap as we drove. Ridiculous
What a great story! I'm enthralled!
I want the WHOLE book (what a great voice) ... similarly, I lived round the corner from Greenham - what my mother called, 'those bloody women', being a benign misogynist.
Ha, that’s lovely to hear. The white knuckle ride of the drip feed….
is it over now? I lost track (substack has upset my reading habits) - please send link to complete text! (on paper even better)
Not over! Chapter 40 published today, with 13 more to go till the end….
I will look forward to all of it - gripping
Thanks. Welcome aboard!
Good for me to wait - Like Happy Valley ... once a week - everyone hungry for the next slice at once ...
... great writing Eleanor - thank you. Extremely generous of you to let us read free.
Like Happy Valley! I’ll take any comparison that puts me in the same sentence as that work of genius.
...' knew a lot about America. He'd been there once' 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
🙌🏻
What a beginning!
Love this Eleanor! I read 2 first as it’s what came across my screen. Superb writing and wonderful reading. I’m in!
Banger opening, Eleanor! Your trademark deftness of character sketches and scene and detail. So many favorite moments, like this one: “The rest of them, Paul, Bridget, their dad moved with the jagged sense of a world outside; Paul raced and Bridget slumped and their dad bent but Janet floated above it.”
Ah, thanks, Julie, yes; I loved that line when it came out.
“Her mum said everything quietly. Bridget wished she would shout sometimes or do something mad, but her mum swished along in a cloud of cigarette smoke and gentleness as if she lived in a cloud; nothing touched her.” Love feeling some of the familiar origin behind a daughter’s desire to fight. What a great beginning.
Echoing the other comments here. Fantastic start, richly painted in such a short space of words.
This is a movie. I forgot I was reading.
Well-done!
🙌🏻
Wow, this is really well written, Eleanor. I’m quite surprised and mad the presses didn’t pick this up! Really loving the premise, the characterization and the voice. I can’t wait for the rest of it.
Thanks, Andrei. I appreciate you saying that. It has been maddening. But on the plus side, I get to publish it here, and connect with readers in real time, which is a joy for me. And maybe once they see that it’s commercially viable, they’ll pick up the phone to my agent…
Always a chance of that, and it would set such a good precedent for the rest of us. Good luck to you!
I’m on a one woman mission to rehabilitate indie publishing for the literary fiction writer. Glad to have your support.
Tight.
🙌🏻
With so words, you firmly establish the setting for the story and the personality of this family. I’m excited to be here from the beginning and to see how it unfolds week after week.
Thanks, Ben. How family’s show up, I’ll never know. I’ll always be grateful for the mystery.
Such an excellent job grounding us in the family while setting the stage for a broader plot.
Thanks, Stephanie