When I first concluded to print the book, I made an honest effort to construct it in the third person.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I was very fortunate that my first novel captivated the imaginations of so many readers who asked for a sequel. After that, one book led to another as I discovered other facets to my characters I wanted to investigate further.
My first novel was a challenge to myself. No one had an inkling that I was working on it.
When I had worked on my first book, I had readily shown bits and pieces to everyone - for encouragement, to force myself to write.
I think some people wished I'd kept myself out of the book. But I kind of insist on it because I want the reader to share my engagement with the material, if you like, not pretend that I'm doing it completely intellectually.
If I hadn't been able to get my first book published, I am not sure what I would have done.
I've written short stories in first person, but you have so much more control writing in third person. Third person, you know what everybody's thinking. First person is very limiting, and I could never sustain a first person novel before.
I get to show the reader the essence of the book without giving anything away.
As soon as I finished the first book, I wrote a second, which I hope to sell this year, and I have just about finished the third book in the series. Two more are already outlined. I'm in this for the long haul.
One of the commitments I made to myself when I decided to write a book was to be brutally honest, particularly about myself.
When you pick up a book, everyone knows it's imaginary. You don't have to pretend it's not a book. We don't have to pretend that people don't write books. That omniscient third-person narration isn't the only way to do it. Once you're writing in the first person, then the narrator is a writer.