The Last Olympiad

Hope the 'men in power' read this one!
Have read your first chapter and think it very well crafted and beautifully worded. Your descriptions pull me into your story and I believe it!
Well done.
Have added your book to my watch-list.
Kaye

The Last Olympiad is a well organised example of 'how to' in the thriller genre. Take an element that is firmly rooted in reality, add a creative imagination, mix in a continuing frisson of excitement and allow to marinate before permitting the reader to peel away the layers and experience the thrill. Excellent prose, powerful pace and an extremely credible plot. BACKED. Robert Davidson. The Tuzla Run.

John,
You've written a very topical and believable thriller. I can see all of this happening. The countdown atop each chapter is an effective device to build the tension. Using Gavinder's POV is also a clever technique. Through him we cannot only follow the terrorist plot, but he is far enough removed from the real bad guys that we can identify with his moral dilemma and and fight for survival. Nice job! Backed.
Niobrara Kardnova (Family Irregulars)

John,

When I first read your premise I thought that your book was one that I wasn't sure that I would like but that it had great potential. You definutely made me want to read into your book with your premise though and once I got here I was happily surprised. You know your stuff. As I read the first chapter you made me believe that you know much about being on the water and your main character is both believeable and is someone that I strangely want to like. This is a book that I could really get into. When you have it in print please let me know. Have a great day!

- Scott Toney, The Ark of Humanity

Dear John,
The Last Olympiad is by far the best thing I've read on or off Authonomy in a long time. I plan to add you to my list of on site books to read which I post in my bio. Your prose is smooth, the narration inside Gavin's head is right on. I read all you posted, compelled by the story as it unfolds. What I especially liked is how you show how he developed into a terrorist in the making (can't think of a better term), how mentally life shaped him, how he is developing in his thinking and his beliefs, and how strong those beliefs are. Also, you've humanized someone who wishes devastation to my side of the world. I like him. The Last Olympiad deserves to be published. Best of luck John, and welcome to Authonomy.
Caroline
KC Hart
Summer Rose

Hope the 'men in power' read this one!
Have read your first chapter and think it very well crafted and beautifully worded. Your descriptions pull me into your story and I believe it!
Well done.
Have added your book to my watch-list.
Kaye

The Last Olympiad

John Goodwin

I read this a few days ago before the establishment of the new regime with its star-rating facility. Enjoyed it very much and have now star-rated it accordingly. Was more than happy to do so John and wish you the best with it.

Going through all my comments to see who I backed and doing the star thing. Good luck, again Four Better Four Worse

The Last Olympiad

John Goodwin

Creative imagination and a thriller with much relevance to the times. Prose is beautifully done and characterisation is credible. One I have no hesitation in backing.

The Last Olympiad is a well organised example of 'how to' in the thriller genre. Take an element that is firmly rooted in reality, add a creative imagination, mix in a continuing frisson of excitement and allow to marinate before permitting the reader to peel away the layers and experience the thrill. Excellent prose, powerful pace and an extremely credible plot. BACKED. Robert Davidson. The Tuzla Run.

John,
The writing is crisp, and the premise interesting.
I wasn't completely riveted by the opening, but you held my attention.
MickR - The Nightcrawler

To John Goodwin (The Last Olympiad)
I'm very taken with The Last Olympiad. It really is a brilliant piece of work.
I'm BACKING your book and have a space for it on my bookcase. I also look forward to reading the outstanding paragraphs.
Good luck with your writing.

Frank James (The Contractor)

An excellent start, full of strongly drawn characters, punchy dialogue, and a believable plot. I did worry that Gavinder is a little too naive. Surely any Moslem beng asked to plant a bomb these days would realise what it was for - not mere disruption but much worse. He is supposed to have been trained in Afghanistan where he would have been subjected to propaganda sessions. It is well known that such training camps imbued their students with hatred of the west and a desire to murder the infidel. So although your story is possible it would be much more likely that Gavinder was a committed terrorist to start with. However, it is certainly well written, the style is fluent and it is likely to find a ready readership. Backed Jaye Hill Runa Seven and The Fantasy Trip

The tight, precise details in the opening chapter mark this work out from most others. The navigation, the planning and precautions, the terminology (painter, gunwales, lactic acid) speak of expertise and intellect, yet never lose the reader. As a counterbalance, the description brings alive the tang of the sea, the shape of the coastline, the salt marsh, and a longing for home - all of which are familiar to most of us.

Cold Eyes and Mad Eyes - what a welcoming committee. It gets better, 'He'll do what he is told'. He and Razeem are both caught by their love of speed machines, but Gavinder's original love had been for his own speed, a talent betrayed by his fellow athletes, thus making an attack on the London Olympics so much more apt. 'Set to explode two weeks before the opening ceremony', now why don't I believe that?

This novel is the work of a talented and disciplined writer with an ability to inhabit the minds and hearts of his characters. With Gavinder, we have a protagonist who is both familiar and alien. We can see and understand his complex motivations and his divided emotions, his much-too-trusting youth and respect for his elders. The Last Olympiad is a thriller as complex and detailed as the terrorist plot that drives it, but which always remains human and personal in essence ... backed.

Possible nits: Perhaps break the long pitch into smaller paragraphs. 'a stainless steel bench was against', a more descriptive word than 'was'?

John -

The Last Olympiad - Countdown has begun, Gavinder falls into the gap, is soaked. An interesting metaphor for what is to come, my guess. From the pitch I learn that he's not prepared to go the whole mile when he finds out the less than clear intentions of the various forces he joined. A struggle of conscience. The writing is very engaging and there is the promise that beyond being a gripping thriller, the story also offering valuable insights into the making or unmaking of a terrorist.

Backed, Pia (Course of Mirrors)

Wow, this is very good. I'm impressed, John. When you said you spent two years editing this, I thought, "Uh-oh, it's going to be obviously over-fucked-with," if you know what I mean. But you kept the prose concise and resisted throwing in a bunch of adjectives and adverbs, which is how many people "edit." Well done. Engaging and smooth reading. Backed.

Laura Freeman
Writers on the Storm

You are very Kind Laura. Thanks

Wow, this is very good. I'm impressed, John. When you said you spent two years editing this, I thought, "Uh-oh, it's going to be obviously over-fucked-with," if you know what I mean. But you kept the prose concise and resisted throwing in a bunch of adjectives and adverbs, which is how many people "edit." Well done. Engaging and smooth reading. Backed.

Laura Freeman
Writers on the Storm

John, This is amazing work...... Quite brilliant actually.
Backed with pleasure
Helen
The Last Dream

john.
How well you write, The topic itself is a popular one and this plot would attract many readers. But the strengh of this book lies in the way you bring this plot out, slowly at a fine pace, I truly marvel at the construction of it.

A potential best seller

best

Yasmin. Thank you for your kind words they are much appreciated.

John G

john.
How well you write, The topic itself is a popular one and this plot would attract many readers. But the strengh of this book lies in the way you bring this plot out, slowly at a fine pace, I truly marvel at the construction of it.

A potential best seller

best

Hi John,

This is terrific stuff. Well written, crisp. Good premise. A couple of pifflingpoints of detail. You refer to the BOC in your pitch. Always a good idea to spell out any acronym the first time around. In the first chapter the French should probably be 'ca va.'

Philip John

Hi, John,
I'm familiar with this book having been around during its conception so to speak.
I wish you the best of luck with it and I am backing it of course.
Brian aka JB. Woods

This is absolutely well written and structured perfectly for a thriller. It read very easily for me also, until the last paragraph, where the flow felt a little off. I think this is because the last four sentences are all structured with introductory phrases, making them read like the same sentence with different words. that happens to me sometimes too when I'm writing, though, and I'm sure it's something you would have caught in edits. I love the POV character you chose for this and it's interesting how you manage to get us to feel sympathetic toward someone who in another story would have been portrayed as a bad guy. I like him in the first chapter, anyway, so I can only imagine that feeling will continue. Good luck with this!

xBeccaX
The Forever Girl

Finally got back to this and is as good as it promises - nearly canned it because of the pitch which is good, then starts to bog you down. Suggest you rethink it some? Best of luck with this.

John,

I read three chapters and found nothing to fault. This reminds me of the works of Terrence Strong or even Frederick Forysth: good narrative, plenty of action, but all underpinned by a persuasive sense of reality.

Backed

Hi John, The intriguing start is written ominously. I could feel the silence once Gavinder was sailing alone - good building of the surroundings and his tension. His feeling the lactic acid and his muscle strain was ironic with the attack on the Olympics in the synopsis. Looks like a immersing story with a thought-provoking plot. Easily shelved - Katherine (The Swan Bonnet)

Dear John,
The Last Olympiad is by far the best thing I've read on or off Authonomy in a long time. I plan to add you to my list of on site books to read which I post in my bio. Your prose is smooth, the narration inside Gavin's head is right on. I read all you posted, compelled by the story as it unfolds. What I especially liked is how you show how he developed into a terrorist in the making (can't think of a better term), how mentally life shaped him, how he is developing in his thinking and his beliefs, and how strong those beliefs are. Also, you've humanized someone who wishes devastation to my side of the world. I like him. The Last Olympiad deserves to be published. Best of luck John, and welcome to Authonomy.
Caroline
KC Hart
Summer Rose

By popular demand I have added chapter five. I hope you like it.

What a great idea for a story. Topical but not sensational, you write well and your characters convince. Let's hope you are not a prophet. :)
Jim Darcy
The Firelord's Crown

This is a very well written piece, with good clear prose, a pace appropriate to the story, and good characterisation.
Not much is uploaded yet, only four chapters - not enough to make any judgements about the plot as a whole, but so far the text gives the reader a lot of confidence that the author knows exactly where he is going, and how.
I can back this with confidence.
RT

John,

When I first read your premise I thought that your book was one that I wasn't sure that I would like but that it had great potential. You definutely made me want to read into your book with your premise though and once I got here I was happily surprised. You know your stuff. As I read the first chapter you made me believe that you know much about being on the water and your main character is both believeable and is someone that I strangely want to like. This is a book that I could really get into. When you have it in print please let me know. Have a great day!

- Scott Toney, The Ark of Humanity

John,
You've written a very topical and believable thriller. I can see all of this happening. The countdown atop each chapter is an effective device to build the tension. Using Gavinder's POV is also a clever technique. Through him we cannot only follow the terrorist plot, but he is far enough removed from the real bad guys that we can identify with his moral dilemma and and fight for survival. Nice job! Backed.
Niobrara Kardnova (Family Irregulars)

Dear John
It is so good to see that your book was well received. I have already commented and backed your book, and as at times the backing have not shown, i will back your again, just to MAKE SURE.
I do wish you the very best with your writing

Denise
The Letter

Dear John, I got so excited when I saw that you had backed my memoir book, "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not." :) I really appreciate it. :) Could you please take a moment to back my other memoir book, "Tell Me True Love Stories?" Thanks so very much. :) Love, Susie :)

John. I noted you were on the site at the moment whilst I had my computer on. So I thought I would let you know of the first thoughts I have of your book which I thoroughly enjoy, and have finished the first chapter [but want to continue]. Although I have only just started the book, I can see it has a good pace to it as well some useful descriptive background. I have not yet got to much characterisation, but will let you know how Gavinder and Shakir develop. I will however BACK it now.
I would appreciate if you could recipricate and read a bit of my childrens' book ; Adventures of the Paperbats.

All the best. Jerry [paperbat]

This is shaping up to be a heck of a ride! I am hoping you upload more soon, it's like slamming into a wall once I got involved! It's an exciting premise and you start into it right away. I love that you do this fro Gavinder's view, we get to see this from a completely different side than I would have imagined and it works perfectly. He's a great character and I liked him regardless of what he's done or is going to do. I could really see this as a movie and I know that may sound cheesy or butt kissing but it's the truth. It played vividly in my head as I read, even cast the character! Anyway, please let me know if you upload more!

Missy

John: do apologize for this spam comment but I did BACK your book. Though my book is currently on the Ed's Desk, I can still use your comments on my book before the end of this month. Thanks - cheers!

JC
The Obergemau Key

To John Goodwin (The Last Olympiad),
This is the novel I would like to write, but I have been unable to put together a framework for it. I reckoned the 2012 olympics being held in London would have inspired me. Not a bit of it. I'm bBACKING your book. You're on my bookshelf.

Frank James (The Contractor)

This is First class..all the best with it Anna

Hi Barry
The book is in fact finished I only put in a taster. You're probably right about the exclamation point I'll cut it.
Thanks for the backing I'll have a look at yours as soon as I can.
Best regards
John G

Hi John, this is a well-written and absorbing piece of work, so far.
Have you considered that the time frame may well have expired before you complete it -- how about 2016 games?
Ok (okay)
Ask if you need exclamation mark for The signal. (editors hate them)
Good luck with your writing,
Best wishes, Barry
LITTLE KRISNA AND THE BIHAR BOYS

I realise 2016 games are not i London, so I guess you have to hurry.

Hi John, this is a well-written and absorbing piece of work, so far.
Have you considered that the time frame may well have expired before you complete it -- how about 2016 games?
Ok (okay)
Ask if you need exclamation mark for The signal. (editors hate them)
Good luck with your writing,
Best wishes, Barry
LITTLE KRISNA AND THE BIHAR BOYS

You have written a most interesting and unique action adventure storyline dealing with terrorism at the 2012 London Olympic games. Your character development of Gaviner is excellent as is your use of imagery. You build the tension well and this with your descriptive writing style makes your thriller a pleasure to read. Backed.

Andrew Burans
The Reluctant Warrior: The Beginning

Dear John

I have started to read your writing and must say that it is

compelling. Your ability with words to craft an orginal

read is amazing. the characters have decided to take up

permanent residence but i will insist they leave soom to

go home. ha! I have to wonder on this site at the

creations that come from peoples heads and of course

the immense talent of those like yourself to animate

such colorful characters.

BACKED BY ME FOR SURE.
Please take a moment to look, COMMENT which is

important to me, and BACK my book. if not that is OK also

The VERY best of luck to you

Denise
The Letter

THE LAST OLYMPIAD

This is an interesting story, particularly so because it reads like one that might happen. You’ve created good characters for this; the idea of telling this from a terrorist standpoint instead of from a detective’s view makes it a unique read. Your writing style is good for this type of story; you have a lot of back story to cover here so this all makes sense to your reader; you know to limit that, however, so your story doesn’t bog down but keeps always moving forward. I’m happy to add this to my shelf. If you have a moment, would you look at mine (Grain of Salt)? I’m in 3rd place but only holding on by my teeth. Burgio

Dear John, I love your pitch, so was drawn in to read your book :) - wish it was finished so I could see the ending. :) Great write with nice tight dialogue & paragraphs causing me to keep reading. :) I've backed your book :) - hope you'll take a moment to back my 2 memoir books. :) Thanks. :) Love, Susie :)

This is information from authonomy (so beware of any other untrue information you may receive that is spam & not quotes of authonomy):
"When you back a book, it only improves the ranking of that book, not yours. However, the author whose book you are backing may decide to back your book also, in which case yes, your ranking would be improved"
"Every time you place a book on your bookshelf, your recommendation pushes the book up the rankings. And while that book sits on your bookshelf, your reputation as a talent spotter increases depending on how well that book performs."