Never Look North

Hello Jerome, I enjoyed this a lot. I read upto and including his arrival in Colchester for his sentence.
I enjoy the way this builds in character and storyline. The opening is a great way to get two characters together and simultaneously demonstrates how time passes with the country pile now open to the public.

Luke's story then begins to unfold taking in his poverty-stricken and neglected early life that leads him to follow his deceased father into the army.

The harsh regime at Colchester is well drawn. You have a style that straddles the feel of those days coupled with an economy with words. Very good and very backed.

Many Thanks, for your excellent comments. I have looked on Debrett's and have cleared up my error on use of addressing a Marquis. I have also, opted to use the modern standardised version of Marquess in the book rather than the more French Marquis. Thanks, once again, Jerome.

Hi Jerome,

I was tempted to read 'Never Look North' by your long pitch, and was intrigued by your opening chapter with the central character, Luke, receiving the news that a woman he knew from his past, Sybil, is dead.

I was curious to know more of Luke's relationship with Sybil, with him prepared to cross the Atlantic Ocean to attend her funereal. Visiting the big, old house he used to stay in his youth, you describe his old room he used well and conjure up the nostalgia he feels for his youth.

I liked the snippet of what kind of character Sybil was, made by Alex, tantalizing the reader to know more. 'She always made everything last to to the fullest.'

I enjoyed chapter two which acquainted us with Luke's chaotic childhood, and the reader can only sympathize him having such an upbringing by his widowed, alcoholic mother. There is a sense of relief, when at 14, Luke is recruited into the army.

Luke would not have addressed his old, former best friend, Alex, a marquis, as 'your grace,' that address is reserved for dukes.

Good Luck,

Carol

Hi Jerome,

I was tempted to read 'Never Look North' by your long pitch, and was intrigued by your opening chapter with the central character, Luke, receiving the news that a woman he knew from his past, Sybil, is dead.

I was curious to know more of Luke's relationship with Sybil, with him prepared to cross the Atlantic Ocean to attend her funereal. Visiting the big, old house he used to stay in his youth, you describe his old room he used well and conjure up the nostalgia he feels for his youth.

I liked the snippet of what kind of character Sybil was, made by Alex, tantalizing the reader to know more. 'She always made everything last to to the fullest.'

I enjoyed chapter two which acquainted us with Luke's chaotic childhood, and the reader can only sympathize him having such an upbringing by his widowed, alcoholic mother. There is a sense of relief, when at 14, Luke is recruited into the army.

Luke would not have addressed his old, former best friend, Alex, a marquis, as 'your grace,' that address is reserved for dukes.

Good Luck,

Carol

Hi Jay,

Wow, very nice writing style, loved reading this one. As I am not a regular reader of books, I only find very few interesting and fun to read. I like detailed description of scenes that you paint so well. Well done and keep up the good work.

Please allow me to clarify that by saying "fully developed", I merely mean when you feel you have benefited satisfactorily from feedback and are ready to make the final touches and to prepare for querying.
I enjoyed my read--I really like when I can be successfully transported to an era, like 1929.
Best,
JBC

Jerome,
At its core, your work is full of charm; and you have some delightful phrases: the old bell system giving one time to think, crossing the Atlantic by air being much more civilized and the Corps of Drums, as a cabbage. I enjoyed my read of the first three chapters. This story will need a good edit, but it's good to wait until you feel you've fully developed it. My only nits were grammatical--I could never write this well in French. I wish you the best and am offering Never Look North a happifying number of stars.
Cheers!
John B. Campbell

A really good read - read this after recommendation from Bea Sinclair. High stars and backed.

Emsie

This reads like a published novel. You have caught the mood of the time perfectly. High stars and on my Watch List. Yours Bea

Cher Jerome: If only I could write french as well as yo have written in English. Being your second language you have mastered it well. I have noticed in a few spots your writing in english but your translanting through french. ie She smiled politely back perhaps say a polite gesture, she smiled back at me.
Also a "black tie" refers to a tuxedo white and black tie is not necessary. Your details are very precise .
Best of luck
Michelle

What an extraordinary amount of work. Great Historical Fiction with masses of accurate detail.

“Morris trucks with plank seating”

I’m absolutely convinced by your description of Colchester Prison 1932. Well done. This should do very well.