Messing About in Small Boats at the Bottom of the Known World

Hi Raymond,

I love your title although it had rather unexpected connatations; I imagined maybe some ripping yarn about jolly school boys messing about in the summer holidays. From the first line of your book I began to feel a real sense of isolation and my attention was focused on the radio, the description of the central character is scant (I presume deliberately) although you manage to fit an awful lot of information into the first paragraph. I felt like I had a good grasp of what was to come after reading it.

I know nothing about racing boats but felt you included sufficient detail to make it authentic without being to technical...I particularly enjoyed the line 'with twenty seven thousand miles under my keel'.

The way you talk directly to the reader made the book feel a little like a radio play at times..if that makes sense? I liked the way you handled it at the beginning of chapter one with the offer to turn the radio up, very unusual style but I thought you did it with confidence and it worked well.

Sometimes found your tenses a little jarring, eg. 'Here I was' (near beginning of chapter 1) wonder why you didn't either say 'Here I am' or There I was' it kind of works though, and gives the reader a lot to think about. Another example was where you used the line 'This was my fourth trip in here today' wondered why you didn't use 'It was my fourth trip of the day' or 'It was my fourth trip in there'? Perhaps the line is delivered exactly as it is thought by the character?

I looked Dicyclomine Hydrochloride up and its an antispasmodic used for stomach cramps....you obviously do your research :-) should never have doubted you.

All in all, I was gripped by the concept and the style of your work and although this wouldn't usually be a book I would expect to enjoy....I did. I'm intriqued by the situation you have created and I would really like to know the rest of the story. I will be adding you to my shelf and thank you for your comments on my work.

Hen.

Great fun; very entertaining. Loved the irreverent MC. He is absolutely believable, just the sort of person you'd expect to sail the vast oceans alone. I dont usually like things written in the first person but this works really well. Most impressed!
BS soon, (thats book shelf!)
Andrea
The de Amerley Affair
I'd appreciate a return read if you have time.

This is very thrilling. The whole plot idea is super adventurous and fun.
It has a lot of new ideas that one seldom reads.
The book is wonderfully written and created. it is a grand read.
Good work!!!

Shelby Z./Driving Winds

P.S. Please read my pirate adventure Driving Winds.

Raymond,

I usually don't read book set in the modern era, what with no easily identifiable villains twirling handlebar mustaches and heroes bereft of a white steed to set them apart, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

The frankness of the MC is endearing and the supporting characters well defined. There are many unexpected twists and none of the predictability I, well, predicted. You even have a smashing villain!
Well done. I would love to read the conclusion.

Additionally, I love the technical additions about sailing that you include.

Warmest Regards,

April Gray
The Illusion

Some wonderful writing in here, marred by a lot of usage errors that jar the reader out of the necessary suspension of disbelief. The other problem is structural - we go into what appear to be reminiscences of the narrator without explanation, and it is a while before we get back to the mainframe story. There is a considerable drive to this tale, and I do hope the author revises it to the fine polish it deserves. I will back it just as soon as the current inmates of my bookshelf are released from confinement.

--James David Audlin

Messing About in Small Boats at the Bottom of the Known World

Raymond Terry

An honour placing this on my shelf Raymond. After reading The Second Coming of Walter Clements, I am sure this will be a good one too. But I don't want to race through merely a few paragraphs as this will not do your book justice, so I'll put off reading and commenting at length for now until I have more time on my hands. I like how you write based on my reading of Walter Clements, so you can imagine how much I am looking forward to coming back to read this one.
Best,
Zan

Marvelous suspense and action in chapter one. I love the story! Will read more, but must back. Best regards, Jedward (Knut)

Sure to be a big hit with boat lovers and all - backed and good luck !

Been there; something missing, did not get pulled in.
I think with addition to the descriptive and emotive narrative it will then link well with the active dialogue. It is my type of novel. Will keep it on my W/L in the hope of improvement.
BK

Hello Raymond, well this was an unexpected treasure sitting on this site. Your book cover is simple but attractive enough so that I would pick the book up. Your short pitch really was the one that said read me and your long pitch well crafted. The storyline is illusive in the beginning however you really paint a good picture. BACKED for sure Best of Luck Raymond .......My book is of a different genre but that is the beauty of this site, I am not asking you to agree with my book, but if you could 'REVIEW' and 'COMMENT, and if you feel BACK it. I would be so happy. Again BEST OF LUCK with your book

Denise
The Letter

Dear Raymond, I love your exciting adventure & the suspense in a part of the world that is totally foreign to me - great job. :) Your pitch is excellent, so set the hook for me to read your book. :) When you use short paragraphs & lots of dialogue, it makes me want to keep reading to find out what's going to happen next. I'm backing your book. :)
Could you please take a moment to back my TWO memoir books? Thanks, 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"...authonomy quote.
"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.

Hi Raymond,

I love your title although it had rather unexpected connatations; I imagined maybe some ripping yarn about jolly school boys messing about in the summer holidays. From the first line of your book I began to feel a real sense of isolation and my attention was focused on the radio, the description of the central character is scant (I presume deliberately) although you manage to fit an awful lot of information into the first paragraph. I felt like I had a good grasp of what was to come after reading it.

I know nothing about racing boats but felt you included sufficient detail to make it authentic without being to technical...I particularly enjoyed the line 'with twenty seven thousand miles under my keel'.

The way you talk directly to the reader made the book feel a little like a radio play at times..if that makes sense? I liked the way you handled it at the beginning of chapter one with the offer to turn the radio up, very unusual style but I thought you did it with confidence and it worked well.

Sometimes found your tenses a little jarring, eg. 'Here I was' (near beginning of chapter 1) wonder why you didn't either say 'Here I am' or There I was' it kind of works though, and gives the reader a lot to think about. Another example was where you used the line 'This was my fourth trip in here today' wondered why you didn't use 'It was my fourth trip of the day' or 'It was my fourth trip in there'? Perhaps the line is delivered exactly as it is thought by the character?

I looked Dicyclomine Hydrochloride up and its an antispasmodic used for stomach cramps....you obviously do your research :-) should never have doubted you.

All in all, I was gripped by the concept and the style of your work and although this wouldn't usually be a book I would expect to enjoy....I did. I'm intriqued by the situation you have created and I would really like to know the rest of the story. I will be adding you to my shelf and thank you for your comments on my work.

Hen.

Howdy Raymond
I read C1. As I mentioned before I loved the title and I like the idea that this could really be something different. The opening seemed paced but maybe it should be a bit spicier on the agents-only-read-5-sentences theory. What kept my interest going was Britannia Central—I love the concept there of building tension and getting that nagging feeling that the radio call might be important. That said,. I might suggest playing this up a bit.
I liked your irreverent interjections: the pig one and the feed a nuc sub ones were memorable. The hey you have a navy part was good too although seemed slightly inconceivable that a sailboat could go where the navy and air force can’t, but maybe you explain that in later chapters
Nits:
• My grammar is far from perfect but some of your sentences get pretty close to run-on and / or seem to have an awful lot of conjunctions (see the sentence in P1 that starts ‘Nothing very’ for example).
• Would an American really be able to recognize the Queen of Britain’s voice?
Overall I liked it and will keep reading when I next get time. If you have a chance, pls check out my novel, Gho:

http://www.authonomy.com/ViewBook.aspx?bookid=6219

Regards
Chuck