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Post by Betty Ann on May 25, 2006 15:32:45 GMT -5
Hi There:
I Just finished reading The Converging. This book is very well written with well developed characters and enough suspense/horror that I had a difficult time putting the book down. I surely won't forget Cynara anytime soon, or any of the other characters for that matter. I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel to this book and all the others I'm sure you have coming our way. Great going George! Keep up the great work!!
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Post by George Straatman on May 25, 2006 17:04:19 GMT -5
Thank you, Betty Ann...I truly appreciate your kind words...I hope the interest in the Converging will justify a sequel...I hope so because Cynara's story is far from over.
George
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Post by johnnyprime on May 29, 2006 12:25:45 GMT -5
Hello!
I just finished The Converging last night, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I pretty much tore through the last half of the book this weekend. It was great! I knew that this site was up, and was trying to keep a tally of the things that I liked about it to provide you with feedback, but I’m afraid that I can’t remember them all. %)
Cynara is totally terrifying. I think it’s her invulnerability that unselttles me the most. I mean, even vampires have holy water and sunlight that you can use, but against this demon? Nothing! I could feel the despair of the town.
David Stillman is an interesting character, psychologically speaking. I can’f figure out whether to admire him or to hold him in contempt. I’m leaning towards the latter, just because it pleases me.
Great job!
Johnny
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Post by George Straatman on May 29, 2006 17:02:50 GMT -5
Hello, Johnny Prime...cool picture tag. Thank you for the feedback and I am glad you enjoyed The Converging...If things go well, you can look forward to the second installment (Mark of the Demon) sometime next year. What I really appreciate about your response is the reference to the specific aspects of the book you enjoyed...these are very interesting....
Cynara is an unsettling character...check out her blog on the Chilling Site section of this forum.
You are right about David Stillman...he was intended to be a wishy-washy character and judging by your feedback, I guess that is how he turned out...
thank you again for your kind words.
George
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Post by johnnyprime on May 31, 2006 8:40:57 GMT -5
Hey, it's a pleasure to be able to discuss a novel with the author so directly! I think the thing that struck me is that David Stillman is an author. Almost every other book I've read which had a character in it who was an author, that character was a main character, or a hero, someone to be admired, etc. Not hard to see why! It would be easy to identify with someone who has the same job as you do! (The author in The Shining is an exception!) However, your author, David, is not a strong character. In fact, I agree with Cynara's speech at the end, saying that he was going to drag Liz down!! Funny, at that point, I identified with Cynara.
JP
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Post by Gina on Jun 5, 2006 12:36:52 GMT -5
Hello, Mr. Straatman!
I saw your book at Coles, read the synopsis, and had to pick it up. Great read! I loved your writing style! Some of the authors that I read jump from the past to the present, but they don't seem to do so at the right time. You did, and I marveled at it.
Cynara terrifies me, and I'm glad that she's a fictional character. I'd hate to see this in real life. LOL, I think I'd be the first to hit 101 West (hell, maybe in 101 East!) and not come back!
Liz upset me to no end. How could she do that? Her son was supposed to be the most important thing in her life! I guess I'll have to wait for Mark of the Demon to understand. Hope there's more to her. I wonder if she regrets what she did, but probably not. I have two small kids of my own, and I just couldn't understand how she could do that to Nathaniel. What I liked was that Mathis adopted both Nathaniel and Jimmy. Now there's a man with a big heart.
As for David... COWARD!!! I liked how you developed his character, and was thoroughly pissed at the path that he chose. LOL, it's a good thing he's fictional... I was in the mood to give him a good slap upside the head and laughed at myself afterward. Even though he had to live without Liz, the least he could have done was go back to Nathaniel, even if Cynara would go after him later.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and after reading your excerpt on Mark of the Demon, I can't wait for the next book. Any idea approx. when it'll be out?
Thank you for the joy of reading your work. Who knows? I may just be Timmins second local author... keep your fingers crossed for me.
Gina
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Post by George Straatman on Jun 5, 2006 17:32:44 GMT -5
Hello, Gina:
Thank you for your feedback. As I've said, I particularly pleased to hear how readers react to specific characters. It is especially gratifying when they see them in the same light as they were intended to be seen.
If Someone was to ask me who my favorite characters from the story happened to be??? I would say Cynara and her stolid, doggedly determined adversary Zved Neghev...but that's just me.
As for the sequel, I hope to release it late next year...but this is a business and we will have to see how this particular zeppelin flies.
George
p.s. good luck with your writing and I hope you go on to become a far better writer than me. Also, if you would care for a little insight into Cynara's mind, check out her blog in the chilling site section of this forum.
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Post by hogman on Jul 2, 2006 13:16:00 GMT -5
Hello George,
I just finished this book and I found it to be impossible to put down. I actually had to use the dictionary a few times, and let me tell you, that was a refreshing change from most of the so called literature out there today.
I have to tell you that I am addicted to Elizabeth. I want her, or more of her to be precise. I found her to be an enigmatic character who deserves far more time in future volumes.
All in all, I will be recommending this to all my friends, with a caution about the gratuitous soft porn. Keep up the good work, and I look forward to the next installment.
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Post by George Straatman on Jul 3, 2006 9:55:07 GMT -5
Good morning:
Glad you enjoyed the story. As fate would have it, your wish will be granted as Elizabeth takes front and center stage as the story evolves.
I did want to address your comment about 'gratuitous soft porn'...firstly, unless sex is the primary reason that a product is conceived, I do not believe sex is pornographic. Sex is a natural part of life and whether it occurs out of love or for less noble motives...it is something that plays an integral role in literature. As for the sex being gratuitous...it is my position that these scenes play a critical part in developing the characters involved...especially Cynara for whom sex is a primary medium through which to achieve her ends. There is no denying that there is a base aspect to her sexual agenda, but again it is a reflection of what she is...at least in part. I am more concerned (and hopefully vigilant) that the violence depicted in my novel is gratuitous...not the sex.
George
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