Read my new running novel online for FREE -- I ask only two favors....

Hi,

I have really enjoyed this so far. Please post the last section.

I have really enjoyed it.

Nice job.

An enjoyable read which stands on its own merits. Looking forward to the next part.

I've finally gotten the last section of "Coming Back, Coming Up" formatted and posted to my Web site, and I humbly invite you to give it a read.

http://geraldcmatics.webs.com

And when you're done, I have one final favor to ask.

As I said in response to the exchange yesterday about me possibly holding back the last of the book, that's not my style. But it got me thinking, and from 5:00 this morning I was trying to figure out a way to take advantage of what seems to be some interest (besides my own, that is) in seeing this thing turned into an actual published novel. I'm also aware, though it pains a little to say, that at least some of the interest stems more from the lack of running-themed fiction out there than from the story itself -- hey, I ain't Hemingway -- and that, given the opportunity, many of you would tell publishers you want to read more stories about runners.

Finally I hit on the idea of starting an electronic petition to convince publishers to consider publishing "Coming Back, Coming Up." Depending on the level of interest I can drum up, I'm convinced that presenting a publisher with a list of potential customers can only help my cause. I have a few publishers in mind who I've been unable to get much response from, but there are a host of others to try as well.

The favor, then, is that if you read the story and were entertained enough to carry on to the end, I ask you to click on the survey link below or on my home page and sign the electronic petition; you might even think about asking a friend to do the same. You would be helping me out in a big way, and my hunch is you would be helping yourselves out as well.

Once again, thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy, and keep those comments coming....

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Publish_CBCU/

done and done

nice work

mildly cheesing in the end

but i certainly was on edge the last 30 pages

the race outcome certainly wasn't predictable

Fantastic book

I will have to wait and let it settle before I decide to rank it against OAR

Jumbo Shrimp wrote:

I was a screenwriter in Hollywood for a number of years,

With the shit that comes out of Hollwood, are you apologizing or rationalizing?

DonaId RumsfeId wrote:

Jumbo Shrimp wrote:

I was a screenwriter in Hollywood for a number of years,

With the shit that comes out of Hollwood, are you apologizing or rationalizing?

I think it is clear that I was doing neither. I was informing and educating.

But, based on your handle, "Donald," clearly basic comprehension and logic are not qualities you contain...

As for Hollywood and what comes out there, if you knew world cinema, you would know that crap is what comes out of most film cultures in the world. Yep, French cinema, and Indian cinema, and all the others...mostly release pandering crap aimed at the masses.

And actually, on a strictly mathematical analysis, the majority of all products, in all fields...are pretty much crap.

Someone wrote an article in the past few years, that human beings actually settle for less, settle for crap, much more happily than one would expect.

Haven't read the last part yet, but thouroughly enjoyed the first part. Really didn't want to put it down.

Well done.

Dave

It wasn't the best book I've read, but it sure kept me interested. Solid effort.

Oh, and BTW, the "Vince Taggert" name doesn't stick out that much by the end. Maybe it's just me, but you kind of get used to it as the story goes along.

I've read half the book so far and just wanted to shout out my support. Since I'm writing from abroad, you can consider yourself an internationally acclaimed writer.

I've enjoyed the read so far and wanted to say thanks and best of luck in getting this published.

I just wanted to let you know that I read the whole book and really enjoyed it. The ending was a little different than I had thought, but I thought things tied together really well. I also signed your petition.

My only complaint is that the dinner "breakup" with Suzy and Vince seemed a bit off. It didn't seem reasonable for Suzy to want to end things just because dinner was interrupted, unless the relationship was already really strained. I know this is hinted at since she felt like he was getting more focused on running than her, but it seemed like a big jump.

I finished reading. I didn't really like the ending, but part of that is because I knew exactly what was going to happen in the last race ... though that is only because you gave it away in your first post.

I think everything ties up far too nicely, but maybe I just don't like happy endings. As far as running novels go, I still thing OAR is by far the best (and that is despite having some completely unnecessary chapters), but I'm impressed by anyone who can put together a large scale artistic work without it sucking. And your book is far from sucking. Sucking in running fiction is "Again to Carthage."

As it is, I'd say the read was worth about $5, but I'm going to read anything about running. I can see why you haven't gotten a publisher to bite yet, and I think your options are either to re-work the entire novel or just work on the sequel and make it better. You are kind of straddling the line between wanting to have a cult running novel and wanting to have a piece of fluff fiction that will sell. You need to pick which it is you want and work toward that objective.

Good books keep the reader interested, while great books make people re-read them for enjoyment.

Judging from the responses here, I'd say that your book was good but not great.

On another note, congrats on your 1:54 800 meter indoor PR.

I'm only on page 13, but that's all I really needed. I've never read "Once a Runner" but I like what you've written so far. Like all stories (running, sci fi, historical) the books are not really so much about the topics, but the characters and their situation and how much you can relate to them. I'm on page 13 and I already like this Vince Taggert guy and can feel myself rooting for him already. Vince's running along with Suzy is a bit creepy, but I think all guys can feel the pull of 'hey my life is kind of crappy, but god that girl I can just tell right off the bat would make me forget all my troubles',

There are a few things I would change, just simple wordings here and there that any editor might do, nothing specific though.

I agree with the poster who critiqued the name 'Vince Taggert'. It makes me think of Mick Jagger, or just a general tough name.

Thanks for the free read though, I'll be sure to recommend this to my friends, and good luck with getting it published.

backwards wrote:

I think everything ties up far too nicely, but maybe I just don't like happy endings.

Well, it wasn't entirely happy.

(Spolier warning)

Coach Brooks dies, Ryan's mom never fully recovers, and Ryan and Vince cannot both compete in the Olympics.

171 pages wrote:

backwards wrote:

I think everything ties up far too nicely, but maybe I just don't like happy endings.

Well, it wasn't entirely happy.

(Spolier warning)

Hm, the Olympics scenario is almost like 'The Hammer' an Adam Carolla movie.

Obviously I'm in the minority, but the prologue and first few chapters failed to hold my attention or make me interested in the rest of the book. I felt like the running part was trying to hard to be similar to OAR, even if that wasn't intentional. The romance part I totally didn't care about and found both parties fairly nauseating.

I enjoyed OAR when I was in college, but did not think that it was a very well-written book. If it had been a book about swimming or football or any other subject, but written in the same style, I wouldn't have finished it. And that's how I felt about this story. The only thing interesting about it was that the protagonist was a runner.

I must say that this sentence (or fragment anyway) immediately made me want to dismiss the entire book: More like the proverbial girl next door on Easter Sunday, when she dresses up soft and pretty and glows in the springtime air as she walks out her front door after a hard winter to show herself to the world. Besides being poorly written, as a woman, it makes me strongly suspect that the main romance is going to be some wannabe's masturbatory fantasy. And then the way you brought up Title IX in Chapter 2? Seriously? Come on, it didn't add anything to the story, it was just a chance to throw in a personal complaint.

Lantermanc wrote:

I'm only on page 13

and... Finished. Good stuff, and again good luck.

I swore to myself when I started posting the book that I wouldn't get defensive, and I'm not starting now. yetanotherchick, I'm sorry you didn't like the story, but nevertheless I appreciate your taking time to comment. Just so I'm clear, you did or did not finish it?

Anyway, I'm replying to this one for two reasons: first, I don't want to leave anyone with the wrong impression as far as Brooks' thoughts on Title IX. They're thoughts I think would not be unusual for a 60-something male who coaches men in one of the sports typically most affected, but they don't represent any complaints on my part. I understand it can be hard to separate the thoughts of a character from those of the author, and clearly Brooks' thoughts struck a nerve. (Personally, I support Title IX's goals; I think both sexes should have the same high quality of facilities, same opportunities to pursue their dreams, etc., regardless of what the money-maker sports are. I just wish the goal could be achieved by expanding resources for women to equal those for men rather than slashing resources and opportunities for anyone.)

Second, it didn't occur to me until I read your post that, so far as I can tell, you are the only woman who has commented so far. I'm curious to know what other LRC women think, about the Title IX passage, about the romantic subplot, about what we might call the "corniness" factor, or whatever else you as a female might have liked or disliked. Please, ladies, I'd like to hear from you.

By the way, as of 20 minutes ago, the number of hits on my site strictly from CBCU readers reached an even 1,000. Not bad for only five days! Many thanks to all of you, and keep spreading the word.