Loved your opening chapter. You have a confident style, direct and a good pace. I will be back to read more and give you feedback. ---------

Love this! A great read so far and I can't wait to finish it :) You have an incredible collection of characters that are all very interesting and really draw in the reader. Great job! Jenny After September's War

I have read the first five chapters of Miss Manners and can't wait to read more! I'm not normally a fan of chick lit, but this book is laugh out loud funny, fast-paced and hits the nail on the head! As well as being an entertaining comedy, it is also a biting satire of 21st century celebrity-worshipping culture. It's a bit reminiscent of Bridget Jones at times, but the heroine has her own, original voice which is easy to empathise with. She really struck a chord with me. Just a couple of suggestions - in chapter 4 the use of the word "ideology" to describe a lit-up mirror was not quite correct. And Ziggy Stardust was a 1970s icon, not 80s. In chapter 5 - instead of saying "I was a real people-watcher", just describe what she saw, i.e. show, don't tell. But I can't find much to fault with it. Keep up the good work, Iman, and good luck with getting it published! It's a much better read than a lot of the chick lit published nowadays.

Wow! So sorry that I joined Authonomy too late for Miss Manner's heyday! I've just started the book and it is hilarious; although I have to say your bio is pretty entertaining too! I hope you've had your book launch, and that I'll be able to find your work available on Amazon. I hope you'll continue to post your successes as you are definitely someone to watch. Fabulous and fun story!

I liked what I read after chapter 2, for me I felt even though chapter 1 was short it could have been shorter. I didn’t need to know so much detail of these strangers your character meet in traffic and in the tube. I really liked your description of William Weisman. I can already tell, he’ll be someone that’ll display until the later chapters of your book. I can see him testing the protagonist and her finally putting her foot down. I don’t get why you say your phone bleats. Bleats are quaint sounds of a barn whereas the main character’s phone is an interruption in her already hectic day. Also describing Pinky’s eyes as a pair of bum holes, though humorous could have been done another way. It comes off as angry and small and I think your main character is on the bottom of the pyramid and angry, is she small? The scene where Pinky makes the main character do her bunny dance is realistic. I could easily see that happening and I instantly sided with the main character. There are people like Pinky who provoke then act like the victim. You really hit the nail on the head! This was a golden scene and I would have been satisfied for two or three paragraphs. It just seemed that out of nowhere the main character grabbed Pinky’s diary. I want to read about her being sneaky. She spotted the diary, why didn’t she hesitate? Should I shouldn’t I? I’m fired? God, if I take this will something else happen? Etc Stuff someone would say if they were stealing. You should state who said what. For example “No, no, no. You didn’t wiggle your tail do it again.” said Pinky. Maybe you overlooked added said, replied etc but it helps readers. I love you don’t spoon fed the reader. A few questions: Are there any teenagers named Lloyd? Is Harrolds to be Harrods? P.S. It’d be great if you gave your impressions on my writing

Oh my goodness, this really is a great story. Normally I would offer to finish reading and give you a full five page review if you backed me, but there's so little up of this book that the offer seems invalid. In any case it's high time I did the trade read I said I would do with you, please return the read when you get the chance. Your characters are endearing and your situations are funny, and despite being ridiculous I quiet believe they could happen. It's also good to note your characters have appropriate accents but they aren't so thick those outside of Britain will be lost. You set up quickly what the problems of your main character are and we begin to see how they can possibly be solved. You jump right into the action (in this case humor) and you keep it going. If I were to critique something I might say the girls seem shallow, but then again this is a comedy and doesn't touch on anything deep in the first place so far. I might think on that a little. Really though I can't find any major flaws and I can see why you're on the desk. Please read me and back or put me on a watch list.

this is an awesome read well done author

very enjoyable read. enjoyed very much, love the beginning of the last chapter. :-)

very enjoyable read. enjoyed very much, love the beginning of the last chapter. :-)

Good job! Interesting read--very realistic and funny! Thank you for sharing your story! Alexandra Mahanaim Shoshanna The Battle Series: Encountering Supernatural, Captivity, and Return to Eternity

Hi Iman, Congratulations on making it to the Editor's Desk. Best of luck with everything. Aisling

Congratulations.

So glad to see you made the ED! congrats! It will be most interesting to see what they have to say!

I enjoyed your writing, very accessible, very humorous. Well done and best of luck with the future. I can imagine plenty of people eating up your book.

I can see why you're no. 1! This is a very witty number. It's not often I laugh aloud while reading, but I did, repeatedly. I don't need to wish you luck - you've already got There - but I do wish you joy of your success. Well done. Lindsay A Priest's Tale

I'm back with another chapter read! Hope you'll take another look soon at "Tamria" James "Tamria" http://authonomy.com/books/42617/tamria-book-one/ *** CHAPTER 3 “on the underground” – silly nit-pick I know, but I’ve always seen the London Underground with a capital letter –> “on the Underground” “There was a slight pause.” – your main character is the one making the pause so this doesn’t uite feel right. –> “I hesitated.” Who says: “’Who know what I say? Karma.’” Not clear – until you read the next line, and see it belongs to the narrator character. –> “’Well, you know hat I say?’ Tara said. ‘Karma.’” “assured Tara” – this could go. Just have the unbroken dialogue. You use the word “suddenly” four times in this chapter. I honestly don’t think you need all of them. “Apparently, as Pinkie went to pick up her diary to leave the store and upon discovering it had vanished” – reads clumsy. This feels a bit smoother. –> “Apparently, when Pinkie went to leave the store and discovered her diary had vanished, she threw a hissy fit in front of everyone.” “She, then, asked her minions to calm her down by making dolphin noises.” – the two commas are completely unnecessary. I think this sentence would have more comedic impact if it started with “Then.” –> “Apparently, when Pinkie went to leave the store and discovered her diary had vanished, she threw a hissy fit in front of everyone. Then she asked her minions to calm her down by making dolphin noises.” “Felicity entered with a winning smile on her face.” – I think “on her face” is unnecessary and the sentence would be so much stronger without it. –> “Felicity entered with a winning smile.” Isn’t that better? “which meant both myself and Tara each had to pay £300 per month” 1, £300/month in London? That’s what I call a bargain! Even for a house share. I think £400 is more realistic… 2, “Tara and me” not “myself and Tara” 3, “both” and “each” don’t belong in the same sentence. > “which meant Tara and me both had to pay £300 each month.” How do eyes turn “beadily” ? I know the expression “beady eyes,” but have never heard of eyes “turning beadily”. Felicity does a lot of “squealing”. In fact, the verb “squeal” is used three times in this chapter. Alternative words are “erupted,” “cried,” “exclaimed” – just a start. I bet somebody on this website has already taken that e-mail address: Bentley@couturemagazine.com. Or if they haven’t, let’s wait and see how long it takes until someone does… “’When’s the deadline?’ asked Tara.” – you don’t always have to have “asked” when a character has a question. You have nine “asked”s in this chapter! Just have “said” now and then instead. Alternative verbs are “queried” and “inquired”. “’But what do I write about?’ I asked.” – since this is a question directed as much at herself as at the others - and since you’ve used “asked” so many times – maybe have “wondered” instead. “Applicants must be female aged between 18 and 30 years old” – in a proper advertisement I wouldn’t expect to see the word “old” – just “between 18 and 30 years”, or even “between 18 and 30”. Oh! And once a woman’s past 30 she’s over the hill, is she??? “Firstly… Secondly…” – as I’ve said before, there’s no reason for these not to be “First” and “Second”. It just reads better, imo. “Secondly, what makes me so sure I’ll be…” – you’re moving into present tense here; everything else is past. –> “Secondly, how could I be so sure I’d be selected…” “’Anna, it’s £2,500!’” – incorrect usage of numbers in dialogue. Nobody speaks in numericals. –> “’Anna, it’s two and a half grand!’@ Like “pondered like a ponderer” “’1 May’’ – this is dialogue. Should be “’First of May’.” Or “’May the first.’” Have you ever heard anyone say: “One May” ? That’s how this reads. Tara works at a place called “The Barfly”, which sounds like a jazz restaurant. A barista is a trained coffee-maker – is this place a coffee-bar? Or did you get it confused with bartender? Good chapter ending.

Miss Manners - Iman Sid I've read half of your very believable story about a month ago and now made the time to finish it and I must say, I wasn't disappointed. There is not much to add except that Miss Manners is the kind of book which I wouldn't stress and worry about, should my teenage daughters have wanted to read it. Wholesome and really funny. A lovely book to curl up with on a rainy Saturday afternoon or to read on the way home from work. Six stars and well deserved! All the best further ahead. Maretha/African Adventures of Flame, Family, Furry and Feathered Friends

I must say, I expected myself to read the first chapter, and just possibly the second (only because it's early in the morning for me), but I read all five chapters and wanted to continue reading. I would say this book is hard to put down, but since it's online, I guess it would be, this book is hard to "x" out of. The description is impeccable, leaving nothing to the imagination. I love the voice, and the humour is refreshing. The characters are well developed and believable, and I'm already taking a disliking towards Pinky. Let me know if this gets published, because I would definitely like to continue reading and support a well-written book. Congratulations on making it into the top five. Miss Manners deserves to be there. - Jaime

Hi Iman, All I can say is your book has left me with a smile on my face. Enjoyed it - funny, quick witted, and fast paced. Good luck. Ghosty

Absolutely, hysterically perfect. That is all.

Commit review. Not sure that there is much I can say. I was quite interested to read this admit is currently the number one book on the site. I was pleasantly surprised. First off, I'm ruggedly handsome, chiseled, manly, hunky and not in any way a compulsive liar. This means tha this type of chick lit isn't something I'd pick up in water stones. That said, I did keep reading, and kept reading, much further than I have many other titles on here. This was zippy, amusing, and had a number of lines that may me smile to myself. It is very good and I can see it in the hands of many commuters on the northern line. I thought that perhaps the beginning was a little too long and a tad over described in getting to Harrods, but this is quite a minor thing overall. Very impressive,mi hope the rest has the same levels of humour and that it retains its snap. Good stuff. Lots of shinies and i consider it funny enough to be added to my comedy shelf for the elite. Or I will do when I get onto a real computer...

Brilliant! Is it okay to hate Pinkie so much already? This really is comedy at it's best and I would love to read more from you.

This is a very believable depiction of what probably goes through most people's minds! It takes you into the atmosphere you've created and makes the reader really feel as if they're there. Well written and I like the title. Katie Ridley, 'The Last Message'. x

Wow! This is awesome! I will back your book so you can keep it on the ED! And thanks for watchlisting ANYTHING BUT SERENITY. I hope you will enjoy it!

Quirky and fun. Well worth the Number 1 spot! Looking forward to reading an excellent HC review, Hester

I enjoyed this very much. You have a likable way of telling this story. Good luck and best wishes

Thank you for such a wonderful read. I enjoy your style and wish more peaple on here shared that. Good luck and have a great day

Thank you for such a wonderful read. I enjoy your style and wish more peaple on here shared that. Good luck and have a great day

I'm having to split this comment into two pieces because that's the only way I can post it. Otherwise I get an error message. The first half is below. "Why don’t you go and suck on a lemon, sour face? I thought to myself. But, instead, actually ended up saying…” – I think you could lose “I thought to myself”. Have the thought bubble flow directly into the dialogue. –> “Why don’t you go and suck on a lemon, sour face? What I actually said was: ‘Sorry, Bill.’” “It seemed she had little or no time to herself, whose life revolved around…” – for this sentence to make grammatical sense, you should have either: –> “It seemed she had little or no time to herself, and her life revolved around…” or –> “It seemed she had little or no time to herself, a woman whose life revolved around…” "l’eau mineral” – the first word is French, the second is the English spelling. Should be “minerale”. –> “L’eau minerale.” “Once Joy had handed the mineral water over to Pinkie” – one too many mentions of mineral water. We know what the drink is. Just “the bottle”. –> “Once Joy had handed the bottle over to Pinkie.” “as if he’d just been turned to stone by Medusa.” – I think “he had” would flow better than “he’d”. –> “as if he had just been turned to stone by Medusa.” What’s a “kidult” ? Like my book, your speech marks are single, not double. So the quotations around “talent” (inside dialogue) should be double ones. “Unfortunately, no sooner had I… I was spotted.” – need a “than” before “I was spotted”, for this sentence to flow. –> “Unfortunately, no sooner had I begun to feel elated at the prospect of having been forgotten and not having to be a mascot for the Devilish Diva, than I was spotted.” “her already tiny eyes” – need a hyphen here. –> “already-tiny” “It was lying luringly’ – I like the alliteration, but unfortunately “luringly” isn’t an actual word. Think you want ‘alluringly”. But since the emphasis is on the “l”, you get more or less the same effect.

I promised I’d read and comment on your next chapter, and here it is! Your writing feels a lot smoother than I remember it being on my previous reading – obviously you’ve done a lot of editing. Only minor nitpicks here, and there’s a lot of things I like! I’m really hoping you’ll find these suggestions useful. I’ve just done a radical overhaul to the first three chapters, and I’m hoping you’ll take another look at them. I’m thinking of sending off to agents soon so any suggestions you might offer would be very much appreciated! Thanks for the things you pointed out last time. James “Tamria” http://www.authonomy.com/books/42617/tamria-book-one/ *** CHAPTER 2 Lol, the chapter title made me laugh. “I ran up four flights of stairs as fast as I could” – hmm, this is telling rather than showing. Maybe –> “I dashed up four flights of stairs to Toy Kingdom” – that’s a few words shorter, at least. “But before I had the chance to step through the door” – maybe a simpler: –> “But before I could step through the door, Bill came running over to me…” Fewer words, tighter. “Firstly, who was Pinkie Mortimer?” – “First” instead of “Firstly” ? And “second” instead of “secondly” ? I just wonder if there’s a need for these to be adverbs. “Saturday 9 April to Monday 18 April.” –> “Saturday 9 to Monday 18 April.” I don’t know if you need the two “April”s. Is the department store “Harrolds” (as you spell it) or “Harrold’s” ? Might want to check… “organic chocolate eggs (where chocolate hens have been given the freedom to roam)” – free range and organic don’t have the same meaning. “freedom to roam” = free range. Organic means they were grown in a protected environment without the use of any chemicals. But I think the reader will get your meaning. “twenty-four carat Gold Bunny” – since “twenty-four carat” is a continuous adjective, the hyphen should extent to the “carat”. –> “twenty-four-carat Gold Bunny.” I like the irony of the narrator’s voice.

You have the chick-lit genre down to a 'T.' Your 'voice' is definitely yours alone and makes a reader feel like they could join you for coffee and start chatting right away. I can't wait to read more. Pat, San Diego

An excellent start! I like your turn of phrase and your "colorful" characters. I'll be looking for it at bookstores....

Hey Iman, i've read the first three chapters and found them really easy to read. The tempo is great, and the way you build up to a particularly funny line, you have down to a T. All three girls get on so well and you can see why as they have a lot of similarity's, but each one has her own part to play and i don't have to imagine that this book is going to be incredibly funny, and a roaring hoot, because i can read it. Very entertaining, quick witted and fiery. All the best Emma

The first book I've looked at here. Superb - and well deserving of its Number 1 position. Well done!

I love the pace, pitch and prose. Don't change a thing. But you will. Good Luck new friend. Paul Bradley - Stolen Minds

Excellent - funny, well-written and entertaining. Rated it and backing it! If you could take a look at my book and comment/rank/back I would be grateful. My book http://www.authonomy.com/books/44865/said-the-spider/

Mademoiselle Nobel, Catchy name! I backed your book today. Excellent job! Could you please take a look at my novel, DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS for your possible backing. Your help will be appreciated. Good luck and happy writing. Dwain

Hello Iman: I started reading Miss Manners because I saw so many people backing your book and wanted to see what the craze was all about. Wow! Little wonder you have won over so many supporters. You have a delightful, heartwarming sense of humor, creating a charming character whose life resonates with many people on a deep, albeit often hidden, level. Blessings to you and congratulations in advance for reaching the ED. James

Iman, I just finished reading your marvelous book. It has an underlying sadness, yet is hilarious at the same time. The obituary was absolutely perfect - both tragic and witty. Brilliantly written!! Your descriptions are very creative and so funny! (like a football with legs, if you unfold her brain it would be the size of a rabbit dropping, etc., etc.) I greatly enjoyed the read and am more than happy to give you 6 stars and a place on my shelf for the rest of the month. All the best to you!! Patti A God for All Seasons

This is a lighthearted and a little flighty tale, very much in the same vein as bridget jones. I'm not sure that I Alan add much at this point given the numerous reviews below. From my personal point of view, however, and with the caveat that I am not the target audience for this type of book, I found that I was looking for more jokes in the fist chunk to nail the comedy moniker, perhaps an edit and tightening up might have helped here. I also suspect that there is much more humour to be found on the tube or with the rac call. Other than that, shinies awarded, good luck.

This is a lighthearted and a little flighty tale, very much in the same vein as bridget jones. I'm not sure that I Alan add much at this point given the numerous reviews below. From my personal point of view, however, and with the caveat that I am not the target audience for this type of book, I found that I was looking for more jokes in the fist chunk to nail the comedy moniker, perhaps an edit and tightening up might have helped here. I also suspect that there is much more humour to be found on the tube or with the rac call. Other than that, shinies awarded, good luck.

Witty and easy to read I read all of it in one sitting! Actually laughed aloud at the description of Pinkie. Very well edited to my eyes and enjoyable smooth easy prose. Annas sassy humor is hilarious! Looking forward to reading more of Anna's adventure! Kate Malone-Twell

Miss Manners is clever with a likeable main character than many women will identify with in one way or another. Her relationship with Pinkie is enjoyable and satisfying. The humore is sublte, creeping up on you instead of punching you in the face, which fits the story. Nice job and good luck.

Well madam I came back to read further and look deeper into "Miss Manners". I stand by what I said of your Oscar Wilde wit in this great read. The tube scene with Anna going through her claustrophobia was a classic example. While my experience is limited on congested subways, Louisiana's watery soil doesn't support systems well, I know of the confined environment of a model runway shoot backstage. The race scene with the old woman for the seat still brings shame when I think of my own misadventures. Where a lot of novels and movies go to far trying to be funny this quirky story delivers. Iman keep producing novels like this. You have a gift for it.--JL "The Devil Of Black Bayou"

see page 57 comlit review for my comment on this book. 6 stars

It's certainly one for the girls, but I loved your sense of humour! Chris

I promised you I'd have another read and comment on your book, and here it is! I'll see if I can do the whole five chapters before they land on the ED. Hope you'll find these useful - some of my comments are take 'em or leave 'em. My only real concern is your use of some cliches, like "heart skipped a beat" and "my life flashed before my eyes." And there's word repetition in there as well: "funeral" appears three times in one paragraph. Minor issues. This is very readable. Have a nice day and I look forward to your thoughts. James "Tamria" CHAPTER 1 “that loomed so large in the windshield that I could do nothing but jam my foot on the brake pedal.” – very tiny nit-pick but I think you could lose the second “that”, it’s only one word but it slows the sentence down. Actually, instead of “I could do nothing but” I would have “all I could do was”, it feels slightly smoother. You could probably remove the “end” after “rear”, we know what’s meant by “rear” of a cab. All this would tighten this sentence immeasurably. –> “Ten minutes before I’d been singing to Dizzy by Tommy Roe, and the next thing I knew I was trying to avoid the rear of a cab that loomed so large in the windshield all I could do was jam my foot on the brake pedal.” “For a split second, my life had flashed before my eyes.” – I’m always being hauled on clichés in my writing (most of the time less-known ones that I don’t even recognize until they’re pointed out to me!) and here you have two in close succession. Given this is a chick-lit, and considering the tone of the novel as a whole, you might get away with it. But I wouldn’t push your luck so early in the story. “For a split second” could be just “For a second” – that’s one word less, no cliché, and none of the meaning is lost. And maybe instead of “flashed before my eyes” you could have a different verb. Just changing the verb could stop this being a cliché. –> “For a second, my life had rushed past my eyes.” There we go, it’s practically the same meaning as before but it has ceased to be a cliché! Or even “whipped past my eyes”. Or how about – if you wanted to be REALLY inventive and imaginative (this is a phrase I just came up with off the top of my head!) –> “For a second, the kaleidoscope of my life had flashed before my eyes.” You’re still keeping the word “flashed”, but by the introduction of the word “kaleidoscope” you’ve put a “twist” on a well-wrung phrase! Hope this helps. “pony tail” – should this be one word? “ponytail” “I would have died without having achieved anything” –> “I would have died without achieving anything”. That’s a bit smoother, I feel, and it avoids repeating the “had” tense. You have the word “funeral” three times in this paragraph. Perhaps this is done for effect, but I think you could mix it up a little. How about “there would only be three people present at the eulogy” (a “eulogy” is a tribute paid by friends and family to a deceased), and “I pictured my own memorial.” This way you’re stretching the book’s vocabulary a little, and none of these words are big or off-putting. “Then, I pictured what would be written on my gravestone:” – this is fine as it is, but I notice the previous paragraph began “I pictured my own funeral” (same verb). Different word, maybe? –> “Then, I imagined what would be written on my gravestone.” “But then, as if that wasn’t already a depressing enough thought” fine as is, but maybe –> “But then, as if that thought wasn’t depressing enough…” Does that sound better? “But then, I pictured my obituary” – hmm, the verb “pictured” again. Is the repetition deliberate? If you ever happen to read my correspondence on this site with Lucy Middlemass, you’ll notice that word repetition is one of my bug-bears. –> “envisioned my obituary”, maybe? “ten pin bowling set” – should “ten pin” be one word? “tenpin”. Minor nitpick. You have a long paragraph beginning “My colleagues”. Whenever possible, try to break big paragraphs up. Visually, shorter ones and “white space” on a page are attractive. I’ve been doing a lot of paragraph-chopping in my work! I might insert para breaks before “The tasks required” and “You know, book reviews”. Try it and decide how you feel it looks. “woke me up with a jump” – think you could lose “up”. –> “woke me with a jump”. “thrust me back into the reality” – could lose “the” ? –> “thrust me back into reality”. That sounds more dramatic. Like the Homer Simpson Bart-strangling reference! “My heart skipped a beat.” – another cliché. Again, maybe this is ok because of the type of the novel and the tone of the story. And the narrator’s conversational “style” certainly does invite clichés – this is how normal people speak! But you could stop this being a cliché by simply removing: “a beat”. –> Just “my heart skipped”. “he snapped, cutting me off midsentence.” – I don’t think you actually need this. There’s only the two people involved in this conversation, and the hyphen at the end of the last sentence is an interruption indicator. Read this alteration and see if it makes more sense: “‘Aa-nn-aa! Where are you?!’ he screamed the moment I opened my battered, old blower. ‘You were supposed to be here five minutes ago!’ “‘I’m so sorry, it’s just that my car’s broken down in the middle of – ‘ ‘I don’t want to hear it! Just get your sorry self in here right now or you’re fired!’ Click. The phone went dead.” “The burly cab man that looked like a wife-beater” – he’s a person (I know, a wife-beater, but wife-beaters are people too!) so “who” not “that”. –> “The burly cab man who looked like a wife-beater”. “The cabbie stared at me. I stared at the cabbie.” – I like the repetition here – giving a sense of a “staring match” – but it’s the sort of thing I’ve always been told to avoid. Just –> “The cabbie stared at me. I stared right back.” And then you’re not risking an agent or editor’s disapproval. “But there was a short, rotund lady on the opposite bay that spotted it too.” – as with the wife-beating cab-driver earlier, she is a person so “who”, not “that”. But I tidier way to phrase this sentence would be: –> “As I entered the train car, I noticed there was only seating space left. A short, rotund lady on the opposite bay spotted it in the same moment.” This sentence here – I think It would work better broken up: “Only ten stops to go, I reassured myself whilst looking at the tube map and realizing I had to change from Northern to Piccadilly Line.” –> “One ten steps to go, I reassured myself. I busied myself studying the tube map, then realised I would have to change from Northern to Piccadilly Line.” LOL, I take the Northern Line to work every day! Go from Lewisham to London Bridge, change to the underground there, hop on the Northern Southbound to Morden and get off at Colliers Wood. That’s where I work, at the big M&S store opposite the train station. Last time I read this book, though, I worked somewhere else and had never used the Northern Line! Think you could drop some of the “a.m.”s. We know it’s still morning. Having “It was 9.46 and I finally arrived…” would sound more dramatic and urgent than “It was 9.46 a.m…” When people are in a hurry, they don’t mention the a.m. or p.m.! “inscribed on the front of it.” – maybe you could lose the “of it” ? Two redundant words that don’t add anything to this sentence. –> “It was a quaint, beautiful piece of architecture encompassing seven floors with its motto Omnia Omnibus Ubique – Everything for Everyone, Everywhere – inscribed on the front.” (Maybe “emblazoned” instead of “inscribed” ? Just my suggestion. I love word tinkering!) But this description feels a bit at odds with your character’s mental state – if she’s in such a fluster is she likely to remark on the architecture of a building she’s hurrying to? Just a thought. “felt jealous at their carefree nature” – you can feel jealous *of* something, not *at* something. Unless: “felt a twinge of jealousy at their carefree nature…” How’s that?

Miss Manners. Wow, this is such a funny book - in fact its hilarious! There are so many things I could pick out that made me laugh out loud, I'd be forever writing them. I can see why its been so popular and I've been meaning to read it for a while. Its excellently written, and its fast paced, funny and easy going style, should be published straight away. I found no faults, its edited brilliantly and without hesitation I'll do my bit to keep it on the no.1 place on the desk by giving it 6 stars and putting it on my bookshelf. junetee FOUR CORNERS.book one.The Rock Star.

Ok, i managed to read the first 3 chapters to miss manners. I have to admit that i laughed when i pictured Anna in her rabbit costume beating up Pinkie. I was also very interested with all of the things that were planned in Pinkies Diary and when i saw the notes she left about sabotage, that was the exact kind of thing that i figured Pinkie would do. Excellent job, high stars from me and im sorry it took me so long with this review. My life has been pretty busy over these last few months.

I just read all five chapters you have posted and I truly enjoy Anna's voice! The writing flows so well, it's easy to read and fun to boot :-) The dry, wry humor and the biting sarcasm are great and I can hear her voice as she's narrating and see the expression she would be making while saying them. What I loved about it: I liked the way she had her hair pulled back in such a tight ponytail that she'd given herself a face-lift. I love the Teletubby line! I thought the way the mysterious Mojo with the FREE readings (now how weird is that for that tent to be there just when she needed it...!) gave the same advice as the comedian: stay true to yourself. Will be interesting to see if Anna actually does! These lines had me giggling out loud: - I had only ever been given a small, non-speaking part of a flailing tree or a glove - flailing tree! glove! Perfect :-) - that's what the smell was. I thought it was the gassy little toads over in the petting corner - OMG gassy little toads! (and that reminds me - the way that kid used OMG while speaking was priceless :-) Makes me wonder if one day it's going to be it's own word... ) - Tara and Felicity stared at me as if they had just smelled a fart. - perfect description imo! - Boys are stupid. Throw rocks at them - I can totally relate to this sometimes, though I'm such a pushover I'd be more likely to throw feathers :-) I also love how she takes Pinkie's diary and how she's too afraid to leave Mojo's tent :-) Notes (grammar suggestions or things that made me pause and took me out of the story - as I expect everyone to do, just ignore what you don't agree with! And I hope you don't mind me noting them): - in the first chapter I wondered why she could hear the cabbie but he can't hear her. Is this because he's shouting and she isn't? - You're missing some vocative commas: Alright Sharon, Shaz. // Come here Bunny! // Oh, hi Mum, - "my Mum" should be "my mum" (in general Mum, Dad, etc. should only be capitalized if you can replace it in the sentence with a name) I hope this helps a bit. I'm backing. You definitely deserve a shot at editor's desk! Go, Miss Manners! Sonya

Incredible. I can see this on tv. You have such an easy style of writing. This one must get noticed. Backed and on my shelf

I know this is a chick book and I'm and old man who would never pick up a book titled "Miss Maners" but this is really a great read. Besides, I like chick and romance books that with good well rounded characters so I'm enjoying this and waiting for you to upload more chapters. I can understand why you book as risen on the list.

In my view, you are telling us far too much here. In the opening few paragraphs we have a potted recent life history which adds nothing at this stage. Why not let us learn about the narrator gradually as the book progresses? It feels very front-loaded at the moment. There are some good moments, however. The opening line is great and every now and again we get to see glimpses of some original and funny writing. Elsewhere, you are trying a bit too hard, which is a common criticism from me. What matters in this sort of book is character and plot. Your crowded writing style gets in the way of both. Try to work out what your narrator would really think and say in these situations rather than forcing backstory and detail through her. I hope these suggestions are useful. S

It’s not easy to stand out in the chick lit genre these days, but Miss Manners does a great job at it with strong writing and a neat sense of humor that prevails through the entire story. I read all five chapters posted here, and it’s easy to see that author Iman Sid is a true professional. I couldn’t find any errors, and the author sets each scene perfectly. Right from the title of each chapter we want to dive in and find out more. The story does not disappoint. I know this is chic lit, but I actually think Miss Manners would appeal to anyone who likes a good story and a well-written comedy. That should help it capture a large audience once published. John Breeden II Old Number Seven

Hi Iman, just read your chapters and thoroughly enjoyed them. Very easy to read and identify with on every level. Who hasn't had bad mondays and worse tuesdays? Great work, hope you post further chapters soon. Best of luck. Little Miggy.

I have been trying too get to this book for quite some time, and it was worth the wait. OMG, i loved every giggle. Good writing that flows well, with excellent characters and story line. Six stars and on my desk R.C.

Miss Manners This time, I’ve read the lot! It’s been a while, and I know there have been changes but nothing stands out as not fitting so they must blend in perfectly. There’s so much to enjoy here, and so much of it is funny. Anna is a realistic, struggling twenty-five year old who veers from one crisis to the next. The plot keeps moving nicely, and I’ve no doubt that the chapters that you haven’t uploaded are also full of the same humour and irreverence. You might not want close crit, since your book is doing so well, but I’ll review in the same way as I would any other anyway. I hope you don’t mind (you’re always so lovely, so I guess not!). Ch 1 “I spent the past three years studying…” and “in the two years since graduation” seem to contradict each other. If the past three years were at uni, how has she also had two years since she graduated? Love “daymare.” You’ve created a new word, you haven’t explained it and everyone will know what it means still. Brilliant! “that looked like a wife-beater”. How can someone look like a wife-beater? Also, possibly should be “who looked like a wife-beater.” “Can I call you Shaz?” is funny. I like that you’ve only given us one side of the telephone conversation. It makes it easier for us to imagine we’re in the scene where, of course, we wouldn’t be able to hear the other half. I’d never have thought of it and it works really well. I might steal it for another book! “Models backstage at London Fashion Week,” That’s perfect. What a good choice! Ch 2 “Where chocolate hens have been given the freedom to roam..” Made me laugh, although organic isn’t the quite same as freerange. I still liked it though! You might remember (or not) that I loved “umbrella-haired” all that time ago when I last read it. I still love it. So much so, I’ve mentioned it again! “or a glove.” That’s funny, too. The shop is called Waterstones, it doesn’t have an apostrophe in it. I like that the children want to pet her. I don’t remember it from last time, so perhaps it’s new. Forgive me if not. “It seemed like she had no time for herself, whose life revolved around..” This doesn’t quite make sense. It could do with being “..no time for herself; someone whose life revolved around…” “size zero” Since this is set in the UK, where we have no size zero, this might be better as “size four” because that’s the smallest size here and its equivalent. However, if Anna has an interest in the fashion world, perhaps that’s why she’s using US sizing. I like it that the water is for the dog. All this deaf, blind and dumb talk isn’t very nice but then they’re your characters and not all of them are supposed to be nice so it fits okay. Ch 3 “everyday is Groundhog day”. In this case, it ought to be “every day is…” I don’t know what a Mars bar toastie is but I still want one. You have light bulb and lightbulb right next to each other. “a spring chicken” usually refers to someone young, rather than someone bouncing. If there’s an hour’s slot to be filled, and Boris offers Tara are thirty minute slot to cover the missing Quinto, why would she assume they aren’t coming in at all? Surely she’d guess they are simply half an hour behind? Zachary Quinto is a famous actor, so Zak Quinto shares his name. Which is fine, of course! In the last chapter, highlights include “Did you kill a monkey?” and “More?“ The number of times she gets up to leave is funny, especially her own acknowledgement of this. I’m pleased this looks like it is going to make the ED at the end of the month. I’ll be keeping an eye on it, with the intention of giving it a nudge if it looks like it needs it. In the meantime, I hope that my comments have some value to you. Good luck with it! Lucy

I had time to read the first three chapters. I am captivated by what will be happening next. Still much I do not understand but reading on screen is not the best way for a very slow reader to read. I don't skim read well and I devour so I often go back over passages to to be sure I understood...like I had to know you actually knocked Pinkie down and was choking her...i liked the imagery...I look forward to more.

Iman, I can hardly wait to read the rest of this book. You have created a character that is humorous, heart warming and oh so real. She is truly a fleshed-out character that one comes immediately to love. I think every girl has been in one of her situations at one time or other and can really identify with her emotions. It also makes you think about our society and what is a celebrity? I so loved the fight scene. Who has not been in her place when a customer treated you badly and you just wanted to kick their butt!!!! I know this book will be published and hopefully soon. Excellent work Iman and I am sure you have a bright future to look forward to!!!

I read the first 3 chapters. I really enjoyed the characters and I'm in a somewhat similar situation (no job, just got a car to replace one that was broken down.) Can't wait to read on!

Lighthearted and delightful, the kind of read you sit with a cup of coffee on a rainy day. I hope it does well with the HC editors. Six stars and on my shelf. Milu

Hi Iman, I read Chapter 4, it is an excellent descriptive account of what appears to have been a real life experience, I feel I was there alongside the characters watching what was happening. I love the way Tara got ready and was dropped at the last minute, it is a story many have told. Good luck with the book, I am sure it will do well. Kind Regards and Best Wishes Lenny Banks Tide and Time: At the Rock

My second comment on your book: I have read all the five chapters now. Could you please upload more??? I can not have enough of it. This has to be one of the best ever books I have read on authonomy. My English is not good enough to describe how much I loved reading your story. Everything falls in place. The pace is wonderful, the story is extremelly funny, well written, the plot is great and I can not wait to read more of this book. I will do what I have never done on authonomy. I will spread to my friends on my list about your book as i really believe it needs all the support to get to the top and stay their for the whole month. Thank you so much for sharing this story and I hope you will upload more of it and if you do, please,let me know as I really would love to read the whole book. Thanks Eddie Brian Brown Bear and the Strange Horrid Smell

Congratulations and I hope that you continue your success to the E.D. If you would please check out my work, "Out Of Orleans" as it seems to be stuck in the 100-120's and I really could use your support. Thanks in advance. Lee J. 1 Love~

I admit that chick lit isn't usually my genre, but this is brilliant! I love the witty narrative style that pulls the reader into the story, and the characters are great. This is one of the few books I've read on here that I'm honestly unable to criticise- it deserves to be published, and doubtlessly will be someday! An excellent read that made me laugh- best of luck with the Editor's Desk! Emma

Hi! Wow, I can definitely see why this is in the top five! I've only read the first chapter, but I really loved it! The writing is light and funny, and I can't wait to read on! :) xx

Little black book suggested me to read Miss Manners and I started a few days ago, but life got too busy and I was forced to stop. I re-started reading the book today, added to my watching list, rated with 6 stars and added to my bookshelf and just because I am loving reading your book. I am on chapter 3 and just stopped because I need to go to bed. I like the pace of your writing, find it extremely funny, well tempered and I think it has all the elements necessary to receive a great review by the editors and hopefully to their taste to be published. I don't have any criticism to what I have read so far, and I will read all the chapter you upload and I hope you can upload more chapters if the 5 chapters you have here are not the whole book. The only 'bad' if it is, comment I would like to make is that I didn't feel Bill angry enough when he came to separate her during the fight. I thought it should be stronger, but that is just my opinion. Apart from that I would like to congratulate on your talent. You are definitely a somebody and your mother should and will be very proud of you when your book are reviewed as I can only forecast a great review. Eddie Brian Brown Bear and the Strange Horrid Smell

...can't wait for the time to read more! Definitely something to look forward to.... Brilliant opening line to yr first chapter! Best of luck, Linda Horowitz www.whilethesandswhisper.com

Iman, I had a smile on my face for most of the read. I love this book, it's entertaining, a bit sad at times, but dedinitely a winner. Good luck with the ED. Six stars and on my shelf. Mae

An amazing book, great author and look forward to many books from this creative and fresh author! A real pleasure to read.

Thank God, a funny, enjoyable book to read. Not enough of thes today. I'm giving you 5 stars. This should be published easily.

Hi Iman I swung by to check out your book with the intention of only reading one or two chapters, but sat and read the 5. Your style is very Helen Fielding-esque, that isn't a bad thing at all, because your main MC isn't BJ. I've laughed out loud, which surprised me and was drawn in by your characters normalcy, but with twists on the horizon. I noticed a couple of typos, can't remember where now, frow instead of frown was one of them, fairly early on. Am not clear where she managed to raise the 2500.00 for the Miss manners comp? That wasn't clear to me. Oh and the rent was always 200 each a month, but then you say it was 850.00. Minor minor glitches. Well written and thoroughly enjoyed it, post more. Have rated you very high and added you to my shelf. Please check out my book too. Thanks. Sam Rivers - The Balance of Your Life

The pace is wonderful. I was done reading the five chapters before I knew it. You have a really good book here.

Great fun to read. And sad to say but I can relate! Fabulous writing.

Intending initially to read a couple of chapters, I've read all of the uploaded.This kind of read is totally new to me, nevertheless I don't think, it is for chics only I am a proof that some growing-old-stallions, will like it greatly too. Realistic plot, lively, well painted characters with breathtaking emotions and natural feelings, good pace(A dammed heap of events is flashing through our eyes in less than two hours in the initial two chapters!) and well polished text make this book a great success. I have no doubt it'll be a bestseller, dear Iman. I can't even point out the most beloved scenes because everything from the very first disaster-promising chapter to Bunny Simpkins-Pinkie fight and Anna's decision to take advantage of information from Pinkie's diary (as for me, I wouldn't make my protagonist using stolen thing), from Tara's Jazz failure to the oracles in Mojo's tent are extremly interesting (Maybe four attempts to move away from the tent are too much? We take Anna a resolute girl, besides, curiosity is a great anchor). Thank you, dear Iman for drawing my attention to your excellent book. All possible stars and my support next month. Valentine But Escape

More! I want more! Iman, this is hysterical. I would give anything to see this in a film. I can see it being freshly entertaining. I love your writing - it's real conversations and reactions; not overly done at all. Heads up, this IS a winner. When are you adding more? Ashara (Like Corns on My Toes)

Aftre two chapters i hate to put this away, but time is running out. A great read with tons of giggles. Very uplifting. Five stars and on my shelf. GL

Chick lit at its best - love it! Janny

I don't normally like chick-lit. It doesn't do much for me. But this is decidedly a cut above the rest. Good luck, Iman, I look forward to seeing this in the bookshops! x

Chick Lit isn't my thing, generally, but this was refreshingly funny, and despite my far more advanced age, I found myself relating to Miss Manners. The descriptions were delightful and the style easy and enjoyable to read. I could easily be tempted to read it right through. Well done!

Iman, I just read chapter 1. This is very entertaining. I particularly enjoyed her abandoning her mini Cooper in the road. I will read on and comment further, however I wanted to point out a suggestion. I think that you summarize just a little bit too much as she daydreams about the kind of job she wants, when she talks about the fact she wants to write. IMHO this kind of summarizing should be kept to minimum, especially in the early parts of the book. Otherwise, they tend to detract from the plot. On the other hand, I felt that all the banter about how she will be remembered when she dies is very entertaining. I thought that you could actually expand on this. In any event, I will read on and give you more detailed comments later. It is great fun. Best, Maeve

Dear Inman: I love Earl Grey tea! and, as I sit here reading "Miss Manners," with my cup of Earl Grey in hand, I am casually smiling at your witty book until I reach the section about the Pinkie assault - then I burst out loud laughing and had to sit my Grey down to keep from spilling it. I needed a smile and a laugh today, and this book is hilarious! You have a winner on your hand here and when it's published, a best seller :-) An additional couple of my lol moments in reading your delightful book: Ch. 3: "you go to an antique auction and 3 people bid on you." Ch. 5: "seizing it (the day) and grabbing it by the bullocks" I found myself really regretting that you had included only 5 chapters as I finished with the funny session with the fortune teller. Keep writing because you are an excellent writer! Manys stars! Pat

Reading "Miss Manners," it is a pleasure to be in the company of Anna Borgstrom, a narrator with a strong voice and an immediately interesting situation. Stuck in traffic with a broken down Mini Cooper, Anna's main concern is actually getting to work on time (and, in a larger sense, her main concern is getting a better life.) Her interactions with the cabbie on the road are delightful, as are the cutting comments she makes about tube travel and her own looks and lifestyle. It will be a pleasure to continue on with this narrator. One humble suggestion: Anna's interior monologue goes on a bit long at the beginning and takes away from the rather exciting moment on the road. I might suggest cutting out the three paragraphs starting with "My parents tried to point out if it was a job I was after" and getting back into the street scene. That would make your opening more grabbing and take away some not-so-exciting exposition. I'm sure it's important information, but if it isn't apparent later in the novel, you can pepper it in later. My guess would be that such a change would make this more interesting when it reaches the ED. Daniel Rider "Indian Summer"

True pleasure ! Nice work, in fact overwhelming ! I very much liked the part about the obituary note !

Amazing book, it's funny, it gives excellent detail and feeling, and excellent characters. I really enjoyed reading this book and I can easily see why it is on the Editor's Desk. Thank you for sharing! S.C.

Just finished the first chapter. Loving it! Your writing voice is refreshing and the character is easy to sympathize with. The descriptions feel natural, like they fit the character very well and Anna just...feels like one of those people who thirst for more but must settle for less. This feeling isn't forced upon the reader which is a relief. Her goal is clear and her reactions are natural. Your writing is simple but also perky and percise--a pleasure to read. I can tell I will enjoy this immensely. Definitely backing this! - H

Iman: This book sounds and reads like a day out of so many lives! I love it! Can't wait till you finish it. I just have to know where it all ends. This is a quick read. Has lots of activity. Even her thoughts are in motion -(if that makes senseeing from New York I really enjoyed the description of the subway ride. That was priceless. I have had many of those days. I really enjoyed the processing she goes through when she has to play Bunny Simpkins. Her impression of Pinkie Mortimer is dead on: people who are famous just for being famous (and noone ever really knows why they're famous to start with). Being fired might just be salvation. Ashara (Like Corns on My Toes)

This is hysterical and so delightful! This is a book I would put on my real bookshelf and snag every time I needed a good pick-me-up. It is an easy read, funny, and I love your descriptions. (i.e. Bill-a football with legs, face squashed by someone angry, and umbrella haired)-genius! It's fresh and different and brilliant! I can relate to your character, car breaking down, grid-locking traffic, having to act like a fool for your job, etc. I could totally sympathize with your character, who was entirely likeable! I honestly didn't see any flaws in it. When this book is published (because I am SURE it will be) I will run out and buy a dozen copies! It's amazing! Six stars! Can't wait to see it on the editor's list soon!

Great start - will put on the watch list

A great fun read. It's well written, it has a premise that comparable with the Bridget Jones saga and should be a great success. Backed with pleasure, Laurence Howard, The Cross of Goa

Hi Iman, I enjoyed the first two chapters I read, obviously its all been said before; fast paced, wacky, great characterisation (particularly loved Pinkie, came over more as Piggy actually), and you capture the rising swell of panic very well. I know exactly what market this is aimed at and I'd say you've done a pretty accurate job. Maybe some of the asides the reader are a little forced and repetitive, we get that she's a loser by the action so don't need to be constantly prodded about it, but I can see it builds intimacy with the readers, which I'm guessing will be mostly female and will enjoy/empathise with the heroine's travails. Nice Harrod's details, goes a long way to giving the story a solid believable background in he midst of all the mayhem. Good luck, will put it on my shelf for a short while to get you to ed's desk. Please have a read of 'Jacey's Kingdom', I think you'll enjoy Jacey, despite her desperate predicament, maybe George as well, once you get to know him. Cheers!

O M G. Amazing. I loved it! You've thrust me into the story effortlessly, and I think I am in love with your book! I will sit down and continue to read later on tonight. :) Well done my dear!

Hi, you bought here, no actually i will call it forwarded here, something pretty real in your fiction, oh sitting in the mini, those line to remembe, fired, admission fee, bill and budget sheet. oh no- the mini impounded. Please do complete, it is great. What happens next? surely she will win a lottery, as a miracle l!!! Guessing only, only you can tell what happens next.

Fast paced and amusing. Really good read. Lovely! Caroline "Walking On Eggshells".

Fast paced and amusing. Really good read. Lovely! Caroline "Walking On Eggshells".

Iman I have backed and highly starred your romantic comedy! My apologies for taking so long to come back to "Miss Manners. Thoroughly enjoyable read with a flowing narrative, great character development, and witty dialogue. Can't wait to see what you write next.--JL "The Devil Of Black Bayou"

Comment continue from chapter one. I completed chapter two...... Thanks goodness you arrived at work in one PIECE. I'm pleased about that but not the Easter bunny costume that you had to wear for a week. You were a model worker, you never liked it but you wore it to promote the company merchandise. Thanks for your mom's inspirational words "do your best and forget the rest". It helped you when dramatic/irritable/ disrespectful Bill kept bugging you. I was pleased when your battery died. At least for that moment you didn't have to listen to his irritable voice. However, he found a way to get to you. He had not clue about the details with you and Pinkie yet he stormed into the room where you were with nonsense then sacked you. Its not nice to be dismissed but the environment was hostile. He did you a favour, I thought. If you had stayed you probably would have had a breakdown. I hope your next boss is respectful. That's if you don't think too much about being sacked and get depressed. You already referred to yourself as "loser" I'll be back to see how you cope in chapter 3 and what you did next

I read chapter one. Your mind cultivated ill-thoughts whilst stuck in traffic. You hate your life. You visualised your funeral. You also cultivated good thoughts. You are not a failure. You studied. You worked. And speaking of work, you got stuck in traffic on your way to work. That you realised when came out of daydream. Then you experienced a bit of road rage with a Homer Simpson voice man. You jumped to defend yourself only to be interrupted by a phone call from your boos, Bill, who wanted to know why you were late. Moment later you considered the possibility of dismissal. The problems escalated on the road. You abandoned your car for the tube I'll be back to see if you make it into work and if you got sacked and what other problems you experience on the way 6 stars + recommended thus far

Dear Iman You asked me to join in a swap a while ago and I've now begun to go back on all unanswered messages which I apoligise for,but hope to make right. I'veread some chapters of your delightful book. Many of us can relate to her problems living and working in a big city. I've rated and put on my watchlist and will BE in touch soon. Hope to hear from you soon. Should you want to read/comment and hopefully rate may I please ask any chapters from 4-7. Kindest regards P.S.Please overlook typos am using phone and stylus Maretha African Adventures of Flame Family Furry and Feathered Friends

Sorry am only responding now but have been trying to find my feet. I've put M.Manners on my watchlist and started reading and have enjoyed the first ch very much. Will be IN TOUCH soon with the rest. Would like to ask if you would be able to read some of my book preferably from ch 4 onwards and comment and if warranted rate? I hope to hear from you soon. Kind regards Maretha African Adventures of Flame Family Furry and Feathered Friends

I am at 3 chapter of your book... Reading it I feel like i am watching sex and city... Formatting, descriptions and dialogues are well done... For that I have scored your book 5...will write to you back about what i think about the story when i am done... Till then, all the best.. Olga 13

Hi, really enjoyed what I've read. Your writing style seems similar to mine. Very funny. I'm not a big reader, prefer the writing, but I could see this being a really good holiday read. Congratulations and good luck! Best wishes Ruth Being Sarah Chilton (A guide for all mums when the sh*t hits the fan)

Great pitch, very clear and stylish, sets the light-hearted tone very well. If it were mine, I’d slightly rearrange the ingredients. I wouldn’t put the nice list of secondary characters as the last word. I’d move that up a bit, and have your summary (second to last sentence) end the pitch – or possibly your question, if she can be the next big thing. This is one for the Girlies, no question. Perhaps there is the occasional reference or technically ungrammatical bit of slang that makes me feel old, but that’s my problem. Young readers who know what Camden Town tube smells like will be able to relate to her frustrations. She wants a cushy life. She wants to drive a car and never take the tube. She wants money and fame. She mentions fashion week but wears grey ratty knickers. There are loads of young women will relate to this. It’s a modern day fairy-tale – with a mini-driving Cinderella waiting for a fairy godmother (or the closest thing) that will transform her from a working-girl servant into a moneyed lady of leisure. Plus, there is the supreme irony of “Everything for Everyone” being Harrods’ slogan - this is too good to be true. Of course it is only for the elite, not for everyone at all! I am not surprised you shot up the ratings. Best wishes to you, from Eileen Kardos The Noodle Trail

LOL - this is brilliant! It's not my kind of book at all, but you roped me in anyway. It's fast paced and funny. My brain isn't fast enough to keep up. I mean you need to read it slowly to take in all the intricacies of the delicate descriptions, but reading it slowly spoils the deliciously racy pace. Words fail me. Six stars, and I will make room on my bookshelf soon.

Your book is hilarious and deserves to be published! Thanks so much for letting me know. You have an amazing gift for humor and good timing!

Oh, I love your writing style immensely. I'm backing this book up and want to see it published :) Good luck!

I'm not really qualified to comment on chick-lit, it isn't my cup of tea. I do find this very readable, though. The MC is easy to relate to and the narrative is nice and pacy. Just a minor comment, I didn't get the 'clocked in job' line in chapter 1. I'm assuming you mean jobs where people have to clock in (9-5)? It didn't quite work for me. This is a minor point, I think your writing is good. Best of luck with it GG x

Very readable first chapter- there seems to be some problem loading the remainder, unless I'm doing something wrong.

Well I have to confess I'm starting to enjoy reading Chick Lit. You are a very talented author. I left you a full boat of stars. Crayton

Fun, breezy read. Great for the beach season. Good luck! Melissa

Fun, breezy read. Great for the beach season. Good luck! Melissa

Let me preamble this by saying that I am not a fan of chick lit novels. Love the movies...not so much the novels. However, not let me say that I loved it. You are hilarious! I love your sense of humor-you do it so well and naturally. It totally reminds me of Bridget Jones which is a good thing in my opinion. "Died Trying" LOL! I haven't laughed out loud from reading a book in a long time, so thanks for that. Usually I would give constructive feedback, but I don't really have any. Really great job. I am backing your book and I look forward to reading more. Frith, Kayla Shaw PHILOSOPHIA

Oh, yeah! this is good. I'm hooked. Now, I absolutely have to read it.So, when are you posting the rest of it? Ashara (Like Corns on My Toes

I read through most of ch 1! A major feat - I did warn you that Chick Lit is not my thing. Putting that to one side, the writing was excellent. You could easilty picture the scene; we've all been there. Only one weeny item I would pick you up on - you describe her orbituary as 5 lines - there are only four. Yah sucks - you see, I did read ;o). Seriously: well written. Good luck with the ED. Oh, high stars. Rob Lawrence.

This is a lot of fun. I love the voice; it's perfect. That, together with the concept, makes it such a fun, escapist book for women. I can relate to the MC too, since I was an English major who wanted to work at a magazine after graduation. I like the tension too. You really push things to the limit. My only nitpicky suggestion is to have her already know Felicity before seeing her at the Pinky event and offering up the room. That moved a tad fast. Seriously, great job!

Hi Iman, Melanie, (la vie) recommended I read your book and I'm so gald she did! I'ts really funny and endearing I thoroughly enjoyed it, well done I4m sure you will do very well with it. Highly stared! All the best Karen Bates Faking it in France.

This isn't my style of book, but I liked Anna and thought it was funny and well-written. Keep up the good work! TJ Dowling

Ha ha I felt as if I was there with you! I have lived in London so fully felt the pain of the poor person in the car! I can't wait to read more :) I would love to connect with you on Facebook too if possible www.facebook.com/kingsdaughter21 I will comment more when I have read more but so far so good - no, fantastic!

Ha ha I felt as if I was there with you! I have lived in London so fully felt the pain of the poor person in the car! I can't wait to read more :) I would love to connect with you on Facebook too if possible www.facebook.com/kingsdaughter21 I will comment more when I have read more but so far so good - no, fantastic!

Ha ha I felt as if I was there with you! I have lived in London so fully felt the pain of the poor person in the car! I can't wait to read more :) I would love to connect with you on Facebook too if possible www.facebook.com/kingsdaughter21 I will comment more when I have read more but so far so good - no, fantastic!

Ha ha I felt as if I was there with you! I have lived in London so fully felt the pain of the poor person in the car! I can't wait to read more :) I would love to connect with you on Facebook too if possible www.facebook.com/kingsdaughter21 I will comment more when I have read more but so far so good - no, fantastic!

Ha ha I felt as if I was there with you! I have lived in London so fully felt the pain of the poor person in the car! I can't wait to read more :) I would love to connect with you on Facebook too if possible www.facebook.com/kingsdaughter21 I will comment more when I have read more but so far so good - no, fantastic!

I really enjoyed reading about Anna, she is so sarcastic and quirky so it was easy for me to identify with her. Also I like that she is so consistent in her personality, The description of how she views the world is fantastic... slightly cynical but entertaining. There are moments when I think it is a little too much in random description but at the same time it helps the pages come to life. I am slightly torn by this. One last thing may I just compliment you completely for your depiction of Pinkie!? I was laughing as I read about her and the things she said it was so great :D. My all time favorite line from this so far was "boys are stupid, throw rocks at them." I look forward to your work's development and the days to come. Anna is a great character and she really brings life to the page. Someone I would want to be friends with.

Hi, I spent the evening reading "Miss Manners", here are my thoughts; hilarious, your character descriptions and back-stories are great... From the beginning, the car scene, the boss scene, the humiliating bunny suit and then the cat-fight (sorry bunny-fight)... very funny... I really enjoyed the story, good luck, I will remember this one when I see it on a Barnes & Noble book-shop table and on the NYT Best Seller List.... FC

Just finished Miss Manners. Very well written book (yeah I was going to do a chapter a day BUT...your work absorbed me). I'm really looking forward to hearing more of Miss Manners and especially the arc between Anna and Pinkie. You set up a believable protagonist, kind of like the everywoman, and you present a clear and concise picture of London (where I've never been to). I really like what you have so far, I'll be looking forward to reading more as you update more chapters. Very well done!! :-) Regards, Victor (ViViAsh)

Hello, just an update and commentary on Chapter 2: I love it! Pinkie Mortimer...that's just too clever! Love the whole scene (and what she gets). Your main character is delightfully awesome! Very clever. Only one tidbit. Bill Wiesman as Bill? I would think maybe William Wiesman or another name. Bill being known as Bill is a bit redundant. Otherwise fantastic! Continuing to read on... ViViAsh

I don't usually go for a book like this but from the start i loved it. The fact you have a Mini Cooper in it just makes it better. As soon as you mentioned granny nickers it made me smile and think of a certain film.Be keeping this on my list and be back to read more when i have the time. Terence

Hi Iman, I’m finally here for our read swap. I sat down for a quick read and ended up reading all five chapters – and thoroughly enjoying the read. You’ve created an engaging and witty story with entertaining characters and an intriguing plot. I’ve noted down just a few things for you below. Ch 3 Paragraph beginning, ‘But now that I had been fired’ I can’t quite follow this. She and Tara had been paying £300/month up until now, so we know Tara can afford that. So really, it’s just Felicity who can’t pay £300/month (presumably). It might be a good idea to say that the rent was due in a few days or something. If they just paid it two days ago, then Felicity (if she moves in that day) just needs to pay them both approx. £100 each and they’re all square for the month – and Anna has a month’s lee-way to find a job. ( I see that you mention when it’s due later, but I did find it confusing at this point). I’m glad she doesn’t know what polemic means. I didn’t either. I looked it up in the dictionary, just before I read her comment! ‘hovering over my head.’ Is this meant to be the end of a paragraph? Ch 5 You have the rent here as £850/month, yet in Ch 3 it was £600/month. This was a really enjoyable read. Your characters jump of the page and Anna’s exploits are endlessly entertaining. I’ll pop you on my watchlist for a spot on my shelf. Sue

Not a fan of chick lit, Iman, but...Your story is well told, has fine attention to detail, quality writing and professional presentation. I also like balance of narration and dialogue. Good work.

Iman, I read until there was nothing else to read, like going on a road that breaks off for construction. The pull of "Miss Manners" is irresistible once you're in it, you find scenes segued into each other seamlessly. Your humour is nicely doled out, not overdone, allowing the punch lines breathing room to sink in. The first person POV makes your protagonist's exploits up close and personal, cranking up the volume, so to speak. Thank you so much for the fun ride. Kenneth Edward Lim The North Korean

Ziggy Stardust, I haven't heard that name in awhile, good old David Bowie, nice.

"There was an awkward silence." Now for me I laughed, there should be more reaction. The list of what she wanted, not sure if you need, think about it, It works but... maybe a quick joke to get the reader laughing. The style is fast and doesn't drag, its up beat and the thought of being a late addition and performing, priceless. The main character SHOULD pinch her for extra measure, get that jump, might add more feelings too. These are my comments only, please feel free to ignore, its your story and good luck. Now to rate it, thanks.

Hey just finished Chapter One. This is really good. Actually awesome! You pull the reader in with a protagonist (Anna) that deals with the stresses and downs of city life. And I just love your descriptions. The cabbie was especially a hoot! The couple too, I like Anna's rather realistic sense of humor. Combined with her (likely) low self-esteem, she is a sympathetic character you can relate to. She seems like a nice enough girl whose unfortunate to deal with a society of not-so-nice people. I feel so bad for poor Anna! But I got a real picture of (London I believe?), and as an American, it's a nice little taste of a culture I've never experienced. Only thing is you may want to avoid some of the run-on sentences (the first paragraph comes to mind here), but otherwise I'm liking this! ;-) Will definitely comment more as I read on! And I read so fast because it pulled me in! That's a good thing! Regards, ViViAsh

Rated 6 stars

I've added Miss Manners to my WL and hope to read it soon!

This is not my first visit to Miss Manners, and it will not be my last. I love the fluid style - great comic timing, and a fabulous first-person voice that makes me feel close and affection toward dear Miss Manners. Although I've had the book on my shelf in the past, I'm very happy to place it there again to watch a truly professional book make it to the top. Lizzi God of Wine

What an amazing book! Brilliantly written and darkly witty from the start, this novel is right up my street from the beginning. You instantly warm to the character and can picture her at ease. Well done and good luck!

I liked it! You have an energetic way of writing. I saw no errors, or typo's or any of that sort of jazz. I can seriously see this in a bookstore, fresh for the picking! It was easy to read, flowed effortlessly, was...in every way...flawless. I can see how you climbed up the Authonomite ladder so quick. Your story rocks! Kerrin Krainis (Alaska)

Backed!

I will put Miss Manners back onto my shelf in another few hours and leave there, I am new to this so just getting to know how everything works. Blessings Love and Light Clare x

Brilliant! Such etiquette, ease and panache, brilliant reading, well done...first chapter read with ten books held to the top of my head, your language walks with grace. If you could could you read my first little pocket book, be the human sunshine and back it if you like it. Blessings Clare :)

Was at work when I checked out the link, work took a back seat, this story captured me, I can relate to Anna in so many ways as I am sure many other women will, thoroughly enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing. Good luck with it.

Hey Iman, This book is absolutely fantastic! A brilliant read. :) I especially like the character of Tara, who likes lycra! haha. I will recommend this book to everyone I know! x

I have now read this beginning and love it, quick easy read, funny and well done ! I will check back to read more. Just wonderful! Saerawrites The Wizard of Crescent Keep

I have now read this beginning and love it, quick easy read, funny and well done ! I will check back to read more. Just wonderful! Saerawrites The Wizard of Crescent Keep

I have now read this beginning and love it, quick easy read, funny and well done ! I will check back to read more. Just wonderful! Saerawrites The Wizard of Crescent Keep

I love this book! You write very well. I can tell that you had fun writing it and that your character comes to life in your head as much as it does on paper. Bravo! Backed and highly rated. Let's get it up to the Editors and have it published! Permac "The Eyes of Tokorel"

Fresh and fun reading. The character description is well written. It kept me interested and wanting to read more! A must add to all bookshelves! Best of luck! Heather

I haven't read it all - but I love what I've read! You write extremely well, Iman. Very entertaining. I shall be backing this book! Natalie (Diary of John Crow)

I love the comedy in this book. The heronine's voice is authentic and original. Very entertaining. Best of luck with it! Melissa Lessons in the Dark

Dear Iman I first looked at this book ages ago. Seeing that Bill Carrigan had left a comment - I think he is worth listening to - I decided to revisit, and I am glad I did. At first glance, this feels a lot of this feels like Bridget Jones: the hapless, disorganised singleton in a piss poor job, owning a tiny clapped out car and harbouring Bollywood-style dreams. But more importantly, you made me laugh. Your writing is very funny, rather quirky. Funny covers all manner of sins, but you find humour in unexpected places. And that is something special. Your humour comes out of left field, as it were, and just hits the spot. That is not so easy to get right. And you do. Please persist with this. Keep polishing, so that it shines by the time it gets to the ed's desk. Take care, and have fun. I have upped my rating. Fran Macilvey :-))

I really like this. The characters are compelling, the pace is fast, the writing is excellent and you really capture that fun, chick-lit feel. I would agree with previous comments that it feels like a book I should be reading in print rather than on here - if I saw it in waterstones I would happily buy it! 6 stars and backed! Best of luck with it. Oktober

Iman, Hi. Read the first few chapters. I'm normally not really into this genre, but I really liked your writing. Your words really painted a picture for me. I like the incisive narrative which all comes together to paint a rich landscape. Regards Rob ps - If you could read a few chapters of my book in return, I'd be grateful.

This is great! It is upbeat and funny. The characters are realistic and easy to relate to. And it has that satisfying punch! I look forward to reading more! Mindy The Wishing Place

bahaha dolphin noises :)

Iman, you asked me last week to take a look at Miss Manners, and I've finally gotten around to it. I've read through chapter 4. I think you have a good premise for a story here, though I have to say that I haven't read much chick lit before. Anna is a relatable MC and I like her attitude. There is a lot you could do to tighten up your writing. Often you introduce a character through dialogue, then launch into a description of the person after the dialogue is finished. It ends up being a dump of info about what that particular character looks like. A better way to do this would be sprinkled throughout the dialogue. Give us facial expressions or body language as the person is speaking, and subtly add the physical characteristic with that. By doing this, you not only give us an idea of what the character looks like, but we can see what their attitude is toward either Anna or the subject being discussed, etc. It give the reader an idea of who this character is, which to me is more important than what they look like. If a character who we haven't met yet is mentioned in dialogue, i.e. the landlady (we can gather who Minky is through context clues without you telling us she's the landlady), you may want to save this kind of character sketch for later, when we actually meet the character. You do a similar thing with your descriptions of the setting. We get a chunk of dialogue, then a chunk of setting description. Again, spread it around a little, or give us the setting first so the dialogue isn't happening in a void. I found the scene with Pinkie a little hard to follow. It seemed like Anna went from changing in the bathroom to the cafe where the book signing was without any movement. You threw out a lot of names of Pinkie's assistants and publicist, etc, and I was confused as to who everyone was and why it was important that we knew their names. Are these character just passing through, or will we meet them again later? I even wondered how Anna seemed to know their names, since she didn't even know who Pinkie was. It seemed like there was something missing between her conversation with Felicity at the department store and their phone conversation where Anna asks if she wants to be their flatmate. They didn't even discuss their flats while they were at work, and they had just met. I thought there should be more there to pull that together a little. I noticed an inconsistency when Anna and Felicity go to the Barfly. When they are discussing which club to go to, Anna names one band that is going to play at the Barfly at 9, then when they get there it is the Quintos who are playing at nine and going to be late, etc. The constant time telling started to bother me after chapter 2. It became a little redundant, and wasn't really necessary. You also use a lot of similes, which could be pared down. Like I said, I don't read chick lit, so I'm not sure what is accepted in that genre. These are just suggestions, and I hope you can find something helpful.

good book. good flowing style...effective story,,,should do well... backed... read SEASONS...

this is a bright and fast-passed, fun read. j

I'm really enjoying your style, your words seem to bounce like a little jack terrier behind a fence (had to put a dog in here, to keep your "constipated bulldog" company... hahaha that made me laugh) There's so much lightness in your writing. The story is fast-paced, funny, I will read on!

Miss Manners. Iman Sid. A book to brighten up the darkest day. Your humour shines throughout the book, such a pleasure to read and very well written. No need to say anymore! Great stuff! Many stars. Regards, Neville. The Secrets of the Forest - The Time Zone.

Love the quirkyness of the story. You've captured Anna very well and her dilemmas she finds herself in. Great beginning and am looking forward to reading more. Such a pleasure to read something that puts a smile on your face. Well done. Backed and rated. If you're interested in reading historical sagas at all, then you might be interested in my novel - To Dream Again Ruth2904

Hello This was a funny and great read. I enjoyed it. You have a great voice and this is entertaining. I love how you placed the poor character in such turmoil, but yet made it interesting to read. The reader sympathizes with her instantly. We've all been there and have probably thought the same things, but may not admit them :-) Anyhow, great work with this and I wish you the best of luck. Thanks for sharing Jennifer

Hi Mademoiselle Nobel, I've added your book to my watch list and hope you'll be able to get over to read a bit of Stopped Cold and back it.

Dear Iman, An excellent book. I like the immediate style tinged with humour and a good sense of reality. A very enjoyable read. I do hope it all works out for you. Regards, J

Cute, Funny, Great Read! I look forward to reading the rest. I would love to hear your opinion on my Suzi Homemaker book, HOME IS WHERE YOUR HANG YOUR HANDCUFFS. Your writing is wonderful! Kristin

This is a fun book. I've read the first two chapters and am anxious to see what's going to happen to Miss Manners.

hi I have enjoyed what I have read so far. I was able to relate to it with surprising connection. It actually reminded me, of me! I have backed it, I can actually see this as a good film! Well done, Lee

GREAT

Hi! I've finally gotten over to comment on your book. I've read all four chapters and really liked it! What happens next????? I didn't notice any grammatical problems at all. The only problem with it is that there isn't enough of it. I love the style of writing; the beginning is perfect, and I loved the Pinkie Mortimer stuff. Keep on with this! :) ~Hannah

Miss Manners is a very enjoyable read. It quickly grabs its reader with witty prose and a personable narrator. Thanks for sharing and I really hope to see this in print soon! -Kay

Very unquie work. This was fast-paced and to the point. Liked it alot. Backed. Best regards, Chipper Newman

Have backed this before, but happy to do it again. Good Luck. Hope you have a chance to take a look at Dark Side by CC Brown. Sue50

A very funny, fast-paced read. One immediately empathizes with Anna and her predicaments. How many times have each of us told ourselves, "Breathe in, breathe out"? I hope this effort garners the success it deserves. - Gao Zuojia When you have the opportunity, please, read my offering, Kailai and the Dragon Prince, and provide constructive criticism.

I love this! It's funny, imaginative, convincing, and it should be published. I especially loved the way you likened Bill's face to 'Plastecine squashed by something angry'! The whole extract was full of these humorous little images and I adored it! I'm going to add it to my bookshelf and I'll be recommending it. Best wishes, Isabel.

Terrific. Very charming and cute. I like the hook, a really winsome character. Made me think of El Woods more than Bridgit Jones. Read without pause these first four. Please post more. fledglingowl

Four chapters! Only four? One can only imagine what the remaining 70,000 words have in store! Really reading this, the humour is very good and the characters endearing. Well written, well done! Johanna

This is a clean, lighthearted, funny story, keep on writing! Looking forward to seeing what happens next. The only things I would suggest are 1) to make Felicity someone who is already known to Anna, or introduce some link between the chapters. She is a perfect stranger who doesn't get to finish her conversation in one chapter and the next she is calling Anna to catch up. 2) Tara being an Aussie wouldn't call her friend 'chick' (when Anna comes home after being fired) - Australian girls would say 'chicken' (but only for someone who is really close, like a sister) 'mate', or even leave it off altogether and just say 'what's up? Good luck with it.

Fun chapter! Liked the MC's voice and inner thoughts and musings. Cleverly written. Will back when I have a spot on my shelf. :) Dyane The Purple Morrow

Please say that you plan on uploading more :O I've read right through the current four chapters, and I'm on the edge of the seat, curious to find out what will happen next to Anna (I'm really rooting for her ^-^ She's awesome)! I've gotta say, I agree with juliaus: this reads like a published book. It seems like several pages taken straight out of life itself (not that I've encountered the many problems that Anna has, but I can relate to a few - cough cough).

Hi I really enjoyed your first chapters. It's funny, wry and a bit quirky. The character of Anna is very well-developed and the reader really gets a sense of her personality and situation. The writing is very fast-paced and portrays events a lot of readers would identify with (ok, maybe not being humiliated in a bunny costume, well not me anyway!). I think it is a great read and worthy of all the positive comments it has received. All the best with your writing. Julia Shadow Jumper

A wonderful work, highly highly rated. Adeel

Funny and east to relate to. I felt absorbed in her life immediately and felt ready to read on. The world about her is vividly told. Good pace and good characterisations. Would you care to take a look at COSIMO'S ROOM or THIEVES' GATE, both murder mysteries set in southern England. I wish you well with Miss Manners and hope it climbs; a pleasure to read ... Tony Clark

Hi! Sorry it's taken me so long to follow up my last chapter review. Here are my comments on chapter 4 (which is the last one you have available.) If you'd like me to review later chapters in your work, and you don't feel ready to post them on AUTHONOMY, e-mail me some of the document and I'll get back to you with another detailed analysis. Very much enjoying what I'm reading! (And I don't consider myself a fan of "chick-lit.") Overall, very good, the story has plenty of pace and there's virtually no flab at all to your writing. I think actually it would benefit in places from a little more description ,a little more "scene-setting", but that's just me - remember I took two whole chapters to "set the scene" in Tamria with hardly any dialogue and then decided to axe it. Every writer's different. A lot of people will enjoy the "easy-read" quality of your writing. If I have any specific compliant, it's to do with your wanton over-use of adverbs, which reared its ugly head very plainly halfway through this chapter. I do say wanton, because almost every other line seems to have an adverb, where dialogue is concerned. In this area, you need to introduce more variety to your writing. However, it's a problem easily remedied. I have, as always, suggested alternatives. Looking forward (hopefully) to reading your next chapter and I'm anxiously awaiting your next review of Tamria. James ***** "chilled out" - I feel this should be hyphenated: "chilled-out." "Felicity grinnely inanely at Tara, like a bizzare mix of the Joker and the Cheshire Cat" - I like this phrase! Great visual image and a brilliant pop culture reference (your works seems to be full of these.) I think should be "looking like a bizarre mix" "I nodded in agreement. 'Agreed.'" - Isn't that single word of dialogue just repeating what was already stated - that she was in agreement? Unnecessary. Just "I nodded. 'Agreed.'" "encouragingly" - another adverb. You used "despairingly' a few lines before, "instantly" a couple lines before that and "inanely" just before that. I feel you're using too many adverbs where your work would be better without them, a crime I am guilty of myself sometimes, but I generally endeavour to keep them in check. How about, "I encouraged." It means the same thing, and it's one word less. "assured Tara" - think this could be reversed: "Tara assured." Also, don't know if 'assured" is the right word for this context. How about "Tara declared"? "Boris, Tara's tall, gangly panic-stricken boss, who looked he was in his late-twenties" - another tall skinny 20-year-old? Mix it up a bit - I recall in a previous chapter who had two men juxtaposed who were short, fat and in their fifties. Vary your physical attributes! "Boris interrupted, impatiently" - I feel this sentence doesn't need that. You've established the character's impatience, and Boris interrupting Tara's dialogue makes that clear for us. Cut to "'Listen, no time. Can you cover them for thirty minutes?'" "'Are they not coming at all then?' Tara wondered with wide eyes." - Lose the "Tara wondered." "Tara's eyes were wide.' Think that flows better. "'Thanks, Tara. You're a star,' said Boris, turning to leave" - again, lose the "said." "Boris turned to leave." This speeds up the exchange and adds rhythm to the proceedings. "'9.00 p.m.'" - there's that number cropping up again! I don't honestly think people give times like that in normal conversation. "Nine o'clock. P.m." sounds more natural - note the use of the dialogue-breaking full-stop. Or "nine o'clock, evening." "checked his watch" - how about "consulted his watch" ? "'It's 8.04 mow'" - do people in a hurry (especially the panic-stricken sort!) honestly give exact-minute times? "'It's five past eight now" is more natural. Even "It's nearly five past eight." But stating the time to the minute seems odd. Unless you've previously established that the character is a neurotic or very precise sort who feels the need to do this sort of thing. "Boris walked off towards the front of the stage" - maybe a different verb, to give a sense of his anxiety? Your use of "stampeded" was brilliant before; how about something more colourful. "hurried off" is showing slightly more; "hastened towards" is another improvement. "strode" or "strolled" wouldn't be in line with his "panicky" temperament. Check a thesaurus, see what alternatives are there. "Tara blinked beadily" - you made it clear in the last sentence who was speaking (Tara); so you lose the second "Tara" and replace it with 'she." Also, I'm a little unclear how you blink "beadily." Maybe lose this adverb. "she blinked in amazement" seems more sensible. "Tara leered, playfully" - there's another adverb! You want to keep an eye on these, they crop up a lot around dialogue! I'm not saying adverbs are bad - I use them liberally myself, sometimes - but you want to avoid every second dialogue segment having an adverb attached. "said Felicity dreamily" - another adverb! "said Felicity in a dreamy tone". That's better. "I smiled excitedly" - yet another adverb, hot on the heels of a few! You should do a check through your characters of all words containing "ly", you might be shocked at the regularity with which they appear! "She had spent months in preparation" - how about "months preparing" ? That's zippier and more to the point. "preparing all her show outfits" - since you used the word "preparing" (preparation) before, how about something different? "readying" "said Tara excitedly before I left" - another adverb! And you used the same phrase "said Tara excitedly" just a little while ago. "Tara said before I left" is all you need. "forty minutes all together" - "forty minutes altogether" "he said, gruffly" - I keep seeing adverbs! How about "he said, in his gruff tone." Wherever possible, please try to avoid words that end "ly." At least don't use them all the time. "pokerfaced" - I feel this should be hyphenated, "poker-faced" "Tara rushed over to me" - you used the verb "rushed" in the previous sentence. Try an alternative. How about "Tara scuttled over to me." "'Sorry,' I apologized" - don't think you need the verb "apologize" after the word 'Sorry." Sorry is what people say to apologize. Change to: "'Sorry.' I handed her the pink bag. 'Slight delay.'" "'Did you get everything on the list?' Tara asked" - don't think you need the "Tara asked." There are only two people in this conversation - Tara and your main character - and it's obvious who's speaking. This is a dialogue flow-interrupter. "billowing blowsily" - I like the use of alliteration here, but I've never even seen the word "blowsily" before (I think) and I'm a bit bewildered as to what it means. Maybe this should be clear from the context, but I recommend either a different adverb or just cutting to "billowing" "200 unsettled people" - don't use numbers in prose! "two hundred settled people" is how most authors would write. Unless applied to door-numbers or floor-numbers, or similar uses, numbers stick out! "Tara walked over to the CD player" - there's that use of "walked" again. Please try a different verb. "Boris panted" - lose this. Or insert it earlier in the dialogue, so it doesn't seem out of place. "'Quinto! They're here,' Boris panted."They just arrived. They're at the backstage entrance.'" "I walked through" - walked again! Different verb "Instruments being unpacked..." - I think a better rendering of this sentence would be "Instruments were being unpacked, coats flung about, legs and vocal chords stretched out' "blushing like a sun ripened tomato" - I like this! "'Don't worry,' I said with a smile" - I seem to recall you using "said with a smile" a little earlier in this chapter. Use a different phrase. "I comforted her", "I consoled her", "I reassured her" - these are just suggestions

I only had time to check out the first two chapters, but I will definately be back for more. I love the unique opening and the voice of your character as her day unfolds. I like the descriptions of everyone and everything, just watch that they don't get too bogged down and wordy, sometimes I kind of felt lost in a dump of information and characters I hardly knew. But that was realitively easy to overlook and get a feel for as I kept reading. I found myself laughing out loud at bits and picturing everything going on, and the ridiculousness but hilarity of it all.It's paced rather quickly (despite how much real time has gone by), but I think that hooks a reader in all the more.Love your style. Great job. I'll be back to read more when I can spare some time. Natalie (Drunk on Love)

Miss Manners is instantly enjoyable. I was laughing out loud within the first few lines. Anna is a terrific character and I cannot wait to see what happens next! Nessa

Sweet story, easy read, fast pace. Very nice, Good luck De (The Destiny of our making)

I've been meaning to read this for a long time, and I am so glad I finally got around to it. Miss Manners was an easy read because it's so fast paced. hilarious, and just amazing so far! I can't help but just love Anna and I can really sympathize with her at times. I've seen such high praise, so I expected a completed novel here, but you only have four chapters. After reading, I could see why everyone loves it so much. Please, please, please post more! I've read so little, but I already love it.

Okay, I'd buy this book after reading the first page. In fact, I burst out laughing at the first SENTENCE. This book is going someplace. And I haven't got a single crit. Good luck with it, Carolyn Brown Heinz Mage at Midnight

As a very grown up male, this is hardly the sort of thing I would choose to read, but what can I say? The sole purpose of producing a piece of writing is to create something that people want to lose them selves in and to drag them away from the banality of real life. You have done this in spades and well done. If time were not such a precious commodity at the moment I might well abandon all intellectial pretentions and sit down to read it to the end. Is it great literature? Of course not , but does that matter? When someone dealt heavy duty critisism to The Importance of Being Ernest, either Oscar Wilde himself or one of his supporters said that it was like taking a sledge hammer to a souffle. My case rests. Does it have every cliche in the book? Oh yes! Ditzy (sp?) heroine always wrong footing herself, aggressive unattractive males to hate, and of course, a celebrity who is vain stupid and talentlesss (Ok, this might be dangerously close to what I think about them but there we go.) Never mind all that, my highly intelligent adolescent daughter reads books like this by the shed load and can't get enough of them so I suspect that you have a highly marketable product on your hands . Hope it does well for you. Tinsley Colins

Red turn back to Green!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is too good of a book to be in red! :( *Reader*

Hi Iman Loving 'Miss Manners' still. Highly starred and back on my shelf so that dreaded arrow goes green again. Melanie x La Vie en Rosé

Wonderful fun. I laughed out loud. Very well written, fast-paced David Sedaris style chick lit. Watchlisted and I can't wait to get back to it. Ann

This was funny, exciting, fresh, new, and a pleasure to read! Your voice is perfect--easy to get to know and sympathize with. I couldn't put it down. Now I know why people have been talking about Miss Manners so much! Noelle

This was funny, exciting, fresh, new, and a pleasure to read! Your voice is perfect--easy to get to know and sympathize with. I couldn't put it down. Now I know why people have been talking about Miss Manners so much! Noelle

I had to read this book over once again. It is a good story line. Good luck with it! Bria Heart <3

I like the fast pace and witty story. I was confused that despite everything she doesn't even get a telling off when arriving late - any boss would surely still squeeze that in there? Just a personal opinion. Otherwise i thought it was well written. Good luck in the future :-)

Iman, Finally got around to your book. I am not widely read in Chick Lit, my reading taste seems to sit more comfortably with fantasy and young adult - escapism is my reading preference! The book is fast paced and lively. The scenes are vivid and the characters believable to an extent. I can imagine that the main character is easy to relate to in the current climate. I do think the writing needs some tightening up. The basis of the story is there but there were a couple of things that put me off - all fixable and in some cases might be more my preference. FIrstly, I think the autocorrect has done you an injustice as it says 'Harrolds' throughout and I imagine you mean 'Harrods'. I had a little trouble with the extent of similes. I prefer when they are used sparingly and I don't really notice them because they are familiar. For example 'models backstage at fashion week' - I can't really place this, having never been backstage at fashion week. I can imagine but a more familiar 'sardines' analogy would interupt my reading less. Also, 'drunken peguin'? Surely a penguin waddles without being drunk. 'Bill Weisman, known as Bill...' this is not a surprise so no need to point it out. 'running smoothly according to schedule', if it's running to schedule it is running smoothly. Red Queen reference. Here I would just say ''Pink' Queen', either people will get that it's a reference to the Queen in Alice and Wonderland or they won't but they won't be distracted by wondering what it is. I've done this a lot in my writing, I use a reference and then when I re-read it I realise that isn't quite what I meant. I find a large gap of time before I edit helps me to look at it with fresh eyes and pick these things up. There were a couple of things which I found difficult to believe: If her boss is such a stickler why is she still 10 stops away from work at 9.05 and not remotely stressed until her car breaks down? Why would Pinkie throw such a vile tantrum in front of all her fans? Surely she would show a nice side to them or she wouldn't exactly be liked by anyone? I think you have the basis for an excellent story that people will relate to and I felt myself wanting to see where she ended up. I liked her sassy outlook, I thought she was funny and real but I felt that the writing needed to be tightened up and a reality check done. There were also a lot of references I didn't get - Jerry Hall for example - this might be because I don't read a lot of celebrity magazines but it is something to bear in mind if you want to broaden your readership. I hope you take this as constructive. I think your book has promise. Danielle

Miss Manners is too fun, from the beginning where she fears dying in holey granny knickers and no-shows at her funeral, to the humiliation of the bunny suit, then the fantasy of the Miss Manners contest. Bravo! Backed. Rosalind Barden American Witch

Hi there. Fun, fast, well written; I'm enjoying it. Will write more when I've read more. Mel Brown (The Wedding Cake Tree)

I really enjoyed reading this-it's just so much fun! Anna is a great main character: very outspoken with a wicked sense of humour who just hasn't had her big break yet. I think the group dynamic between the flatmates is perfect and flows really well. The scenes when Anna's car breaks down and the fight between #Anna and pinkie were hilarious and i loved the way you wrote Anna's oppinions on public transport. The only points i have to make are relatively minor and it is just that in Chapter 4 we are told the old man's name before Anna even knows it and Anna appears to give Tara her bag twice. However, this is something which is easily fixed. I just want to read more! 5 stars and backed. Amy :)

Thank you for inviting me to read this, but I'm sorry to say that it's not one for me. Despite this I am objective enough to see that this will appeal to people who can relate to the character, which is probably a lot of people these days. I have rated it on a combination of these factors and sincerely wish you the best of luck in finding your audience, and gaining success on here. Hopefully you can give my work a chance too, and thank you again for sharing yours. Steven

Hi Iman, sorry it took a while to get to your book. I found Miss Manners delightfully sassy and you drew me right in with your fast-paced first chapter. Talking about her knickers in the first page? I like Miss Manners already. It made me laugh a lot and you got her character across perfectly with perfect show-not-tell. She's a frightful Madam on the tube and I want to stick my heel out in front of her already... the Easter Bunny scene at work is a hoot. I like your use of simile in 'drivers like petulant children faced with broken toys pounded their dashboards...' You are well on your way to ED but know that I have very well starred you and will follow your progress with interest and admiration. Small point - in Chapter 3, I think 'Me and Tara' should read 'Tara and I' - meant in the spirit of editing helpfulness :) Sarah - Sit, Stay, Leave!

Hi Iman, sorry it took a while to get to your book. I found Miss Manners delightfully sassy and you drew me right in with your fast-paced first chapter. Talking about her knickers in the first page? I like Miss Manners already. It made me laugh a lot and you got her character across perfectly with perfect show-not-tell. She's a frightful Madam on the tube and I want to stick my heel out in front of her already... the Easter Bunny scene at work is a hoot. I like your use of simile in 'drivers like petulant children faced with broken toys pounded their dashboards...' You are well on your way to ED but know that I have very well starred you and will follow your progress with interest and admiration. Small point - in Chapter 3, I think 'Me and Tara' should read 'Tara and I' - meant in the spirit of editing helpfulness :) Sarah - Sit, Stay, Leave!

Reading your work reminds me of that age, when life is fast moving and exciting. Frustrating at times though. Where will it lead I wonder. Look forward to that. Mary Flood (Shades of Green) can you plesase have a look and maybe back it. Thanks.

I wasn't sure I'd like this but it was well written and I really got into it. Camden, too close to home for comfort - haven't broken down in the High St but near! Some stereotyping, sure, but this is funny. It's tight snappy writing with plenty of action, good dialogue and some excruciating moments. Love the Barfly! Yes, I'm going to read more of this. Great fun! Candy.

Was only going to read the first 2 chapters but really enjoyed this (although not my usual genre!) and read all 4. This would be very appealing to the young, female audience it is intended for. The writing is humerous and insightful so could easily imagine this becoming very popular. As pointed out previously, some parts do need a little tidying up. Well done.

I wasn't sure I'd like this but it was well written and I really got into it. Camden, too close to home for comfort - haven't broken down in the High St but near! Some stereotyping, sure, but this is funny. It's tight snappy writing with plenty of action, good dialogue and some excruciating moments. Love the Barfly! Yes, I'm going to read more of this. Great fun! Candy.

Hi Iman ... Just read your novel and I must admit Pinkie reminds me of someone, but I cannot think who. This is quite a stylish read with good characters and good dialogue. The premise is good and the plot is developing well. Not my style as I could hardly be described as a chick. I wont go into what has been said before, but try and lose some of the unnecessary words. 'I thought to myself'. 'I thought' and: 'I said to myself'. instead try 'I muttered'. Also try and re-write your first line, starting with 'It', is frowned upon. These apart, this is a very humourous novel. Backed and rated. regards ... Duncan.

Read Chapter one, though I had a very hard time to get past the first three paragraphs. Honestly, the word "I" was used so many times to start a sentence or begin the subject of action, I almost could not read it. I loved your dialogue and found some parts to be amusing. The simple word choice and uncomplicated sentences made the reading feel like a fast paced speech. I will read more simply because I enjoyed it after I got use to your style of writing. Some parts can be cleaned up while others are perfect. Though I must admit, I "held my breath and braced myself" while reading this, not my typical genre.

Read Chapter one, though I had a very hard time to get past the first three paragraphs. Honestly, the word "I" was used so many times to start a sentence or begin the subject of action, I almost could not read it. I loved your dialogue and found some parts to be amusing. The simple word choice and uncomplicated sentences made the reading feel like a fast paced speech. I will read more simply because I enjoyed it after I got use to your style of writing. Some parts can be cleaned up while others are perfect. Though I must admit, I "held my breath and braced myself" while reading this, not my typical genre.

Personally, I'm not one to usually read chick lit, but this--this is the exception. It's been a while since I've seen a character quite like Anna and even though I'm only about two chapters in so far, I can't wait to read the rest of it. I mean, it's fast-paced, funny, and the jabs at empty celebrities are just the icing on the cake. I can't wait to read more, Iman.

Just read chapter 2 and 3 and have to say, loved it! Fewer things to point out this time, but I have still put up a few suggestions below. I like how Pinkie Mortimer is basically an undisguised riff on Paris Hilton (who ELSE could it be?!) and I have to say I agree with your opinions on celebrities in general, in today's celeb-obsessed world. I have nothing but respect for celebrities who have earned their status, but there are so many who are just "famous for being famous" - and this book seems to be a good polemic on that issue. Seems like it could make a great screenplay for a Hollywood chick movie. Oh! and in the greatest of ironies if it *was* adapted they'd probably enlist Paris Hilton to play Pinkie Mortimer... no acting required! She'd just be playing herself! Things I found really funny: "transfixed to stone by Medusa" - I loved this line "The crowds parted with the ease of the Red Sea before Moses" - fantastic visual image Groundhog Day - good pop culture reference "pondered like a ponderer" and "skipped off like Skippy" - funny, clever word use * Here are things I've found and suggestions I've made: "hearts content" - "heart's content" "hoard of paparazzi" - "horde" Pinkie's publicist - I wouldn't use the same description for two men; your main character's boss is also short and fat and fifty. Give him some different physical attributes. "It was lying luringly on the table..." - change to "alluringly" "It was now10.46 a.m." - need a space here "although a little too late" - just "a little too late"; or even better "a little late." "...'you know, an opportunity,'" Tara reassured. - you used "assured" a few sentences before; try "suggested" "She, then, asked her minions" - doesn't flow; use "Then she", that's simpler "... said Felicity, excitedly" - you used "excitedly" a few sentences ago (squealed), try something different - i.e. "... said Felicity, unable to contain her excitement." "hence forth" - surely should be "henceforth" (one word) "I thought to myself, disappointedly" - "I thought to myself, disappointed" (or, "with some disappointment") "...'I've got to set up early for tonight," said Tara." - change "said Tara" to "she said" - you mentioned in the previous line whose watch it is "'Depends on what music you're into." - better: "'Depends. What kind of music you like?'" "whilst I got to work..." - use "while"; "whilst" is an archaic word "salmon and cream cheese bagel" - I think this should be hyphenated: how about "salmon-and-cream-cheese bagel" "I worked hypnotically for an hour" - I like your use of this adverb but I think you use too many adverbs generally; maybe instead: "For an hour I worked in a trance, hypnotised by the thrill of writing." - just a rough suggestion "I finally finished" - I would say "it was finished" "attached both my CV and article" - "attached my CV and the article" **** Hope this was helpful! James

I just read the first two chapters and they are fantastic. You do a great job of putting the reader into the characters head. I love the line retina burning pink cover. It made me laugh. I sure feel for the poor woman in her bunny costume. She screams the woes of the world through your words. I will definitely be back to read the other two when I have more time. Thanks!

I just read the first two chapters and they are fantastic. You do a great job of putting the reader into the characters head. I love the line retina burning pink cover. It made me laugh. I sure feel for the poor woman in her bunny costume. She screams the woes of the world through your words. I will definitely be back to read the other two when I have more time. Thanks!

I just read the first two chapters and they are fantastic. You do a great job of putting the reader into the characters head. I love the line retina burning pink cover. It made me laugh. I sure feel for the poor woman in her bunny costume. She screams the woes of the world through your words. I will definitely be back to read the other two when I have more time. Thanks!

I've read the four chapters and looking forward to more! I love books like this. Very easy to read, fast paced and flows beautifully. The story itself-what a great idea, I really can't wait to find out what happens. And it's true, you can relate to Anna, as we've all been in those disastrous situations! I bet Anna and Brian Fairfax get together, am I right? (I think that's his name?) It's very humorous too, which I feel all Chick Lit books need to be. Well done! Holly (The Lady in White)

I really like this! Shelved!

Several days ago, Iman, I promised to read Miss Manners and comment. Now that I've read the available chapters, I can best describe them as unstoppable. You have a dazzling talent for humor, well suited to chick lit. I don't think your other commentators have given sufficient credit for pacing, characterization, description and, above all, the ability to advance the plot while describing hilarious incidents. My only suggestions at this point are to keep pushing ahead and be selective in accepting advice. Critics have mentioned the cliches, and they're right. Economy of language is important too. But don't let such criticisms inhibit you. The spirit and energy of your writing, if sustained, will result in a fine novel. So keep going and fix the nits later. Your talent and mastery of the basics are impressive and carry you a long way. I hope you enjoy The Doctor of Summitville (and the change of pace), though I often stress that it's a realistic love story rather than a romance. I'd love to hear your reactions and, of course, gain your support. Meanwhile, Miss Manners is on my list of books to back as I creep toward the Desk. --Best of luck with your exciting novel, Bill

This is very funny and very enjoyable.

This is just so fun and it really speaks to me. The opening - "quarter-life crisis" - is brilliantly witty and attention-grabbing, and I like many people can empathise with the main character. Believe it or not, I'm 25, single, living in London, with my parents, flat broke, graduated with a BA History three years ago, which apparently is worthless now, and working for M&S, at low wage! Part-time. And wondering where the hell I'm going in life. Yep, so I was with this girl from the get-go. I felt like she was living *my* life, and that's exactly the connection you want to have with a reader. The only real difference between us: I don't have a car, or know how to drive. Plus, I'm a guy. :-) Some parts of it could be tidied up, and there are places where you could cut words out, excise phrases, shorten and split up sentences, to quicken the flow. Plus there are a few cliches like "went into overdrive" and "bite the bullet" which are red flags. When you state the time, you don't always need the "a.m." or "p.m." and sometimes instead of 9.14 you should just say quarter past nine. More than once, it sticks out. Plus a few other minor nit-picks. So, here is a lengthy list of (just a few) recommended alterations. I enjoyed reading this immensely so I would be happy to collaborate with you on it if you like. I think I have the eye of the editor. ***** bleated loudly. - remove loudly; bleated implies loudness. Or even blared. confirmed my worst fear: it was Him. - change to: "Confirmed my worst fear. It was Him." My heart skipped a beat - cliche - change to: "My heart skipped." It's economical and more effective. he said brusquely, cutting me off midsentence - change to - "he snapped, cutting me off." - again, economy of words. "Midsentence" is unnecessary and any interruption doesn't need the "brusque" appendage, that is implied. "Snapped" is better. The burly cab-man that looked like a wife-beater rapped on my car window - remove "like a wife-beater." Or even how about: "The burly cab-man, the model of a wife-beater, rapped on my window." I suddenly realised my window was closed the whole time... - change to: "Suddenly I realized..." The cabbie scrunched up his face looking like a constipated bulldog... - how about: "The cabbie scrunched up his face, his expression vaguely reminiscent of a constipated bulldog. He folded his arms, thick and strong as Pop-eye's, then huffed: 'Dead and dumb.'" **** From here are my altered phrasings **** I ignored his comment. Picked up my phone, made a call to the RAC "Hi, yeah. My car's just broken down. Camden High Street. I hit the brake pedal and it just stopped. Been sitting here ten minutes now, I'm running late. How long's it gonna be? Forty minutes? What, are you serious?! Jesus Christ, I can't wait that long! Look, I need to be moving ASAP. Who am I speaking to? Sharon? All right, Sharon. Shaz? Can I call you Shaz? Yeah, I'll call you back in five. I need to call my boss, let him know I'll be late." [think that dialogue runs better.] Be calm. Be confident, I coached myself. - change to: "Be calm, I coached myself. Be confident." The cabbie stared at me. I held his gaze, stared right back. "The RAC'll be here in five minutes, mate!" I shouted at him, hoping that would get him to move. The cabbie shook his head angrily... - how about: "The cabbbie shook his head, gave a small snort of disgust, thumped back to his cab." I checked my watch. 9.14 a.m. - change to: "9.14. Dammit, I thought. It's gonna be skid's-row for sure." I turned the key in the ignition twice. No reaction. The car choked, coughed, spluttered, but that was it. My breath was quickening. [remove "my brain went into overdrive" - that's cliche] Solutions, solutions... I needed one. Fast. Anything. A tunnel in the earth, a ladder to the sky. Fairy-dust. A spaceship. Anything that would get me outta this hell-hole. In a moment of passion, I leapt out of my car. Slammed the door. Threading my way through the tangle of traffic, I angled for the nearest tube station. I hated public transport. I mean, come on, it's smelly, claustrophobic and you can never look a person in the eye. London's full of all sorts of weirdos. They take offence, some of them, if you look at them. And at rush hour, the commuters are packed together like chickens in a battery cage. The RSPCA would have something to say about this kind of treatment; why the hell is there no human protection agency?! Plus, there's always some bloody latecomer who bounds onto the train just at the last second, and you end up getting an horrible whiff of his armpit as he shoves it into your face. Take out "bite the bullet" - cliche - replace with: "But I had no choice, in this case. It was this, or join the only expanding area of the UK workforce: the unemployed." If only nose pegs were socially acceptable, I told myself. As I dropped into the train car, I saw all the seats were taken. Only one space left. But another person had spotted it at the same time: a short, rotund woman, middle-aged, florid-faced. Our eyes met; there was an invisible contest of wills. I briefly toyed with the thought of fighting her for it, beating her down if that's what it took. But the moment dissolved; the fantasy flashed by. Instead, I hurried across and plumped down. A man to my right was sitting reading The Telegraph, fifty, grey-haired, squat. The broadsheet which was famed for its massiveness flapped across my face. It stayed there the whole journey. To the left, a hefty-looking younger man was nodding on my shoulder. At the door a romantic couple was huddled up, whispering sweet "I Love You"s. Then their eyes fell on mine, silently communicating a look of: It's none of your business. Obviously they were at the Honeymoon stage, that fleeting epoch of joy and innocence. It wouldn't last. A cloud of BO, cheap deodorant and morning breath enveloped me, a melange of flavours. ******* That's it for now. There will be more! I will be back, with more suggestions! Hope you'll find the time to read and review "Tamria"! James

This is just so fun and it really speaks to me. The opening - "quarter-life crisis" - is brilliantly witty and attention-grabbing, and I like many people can empathise with the main character. Believe it or not, I'm 25, single, living in London, with my parents, flat broke, graduated with a BA History three years ago, which apparently is worthless now, and working for M&S, at low wage! Part-time. And wondering where the hell I'm going in life. Yep, so I was with this girl from the get-go. I felt like she was living *my* life, and that's exactly the connection you want to have with a reader. The only real difference between us: I don't have a car, or know how to drive. Plus, I'm a guy. :-) Some parts of it could be tidied up, and there are places where you could cut words out, excise phrases, shorten and split up sentences, to quicken the flow. Plus there are a few cliches like "went into overdrive" and "bite the bullet" which are red flags. When you state the time, you don't always need the "a.m." or "p.m." and sometimes instead of 9.14 you should just say quarter past nine. More than once, it sticks out. Plus a few other minor nit-picks. So, here is a lengthy list of (just a few) recommended alterations. I enjoyed reading this immensely so I would be happy to collaborate with you on it if you like. I think I have the eye of the editor. ***** bleated loudly. - remove loudly; bleated implies loudness. Or even blared. confirmed my worst fear: it was Him. - change to: "Confirmed my worst fear. It was Him." My heart skipped a beat - cliche - change to: "My heart skipped." It's economical and more effective. he said brusquely, cutting me off midsentence - change to - "he snapped, cutting me off." - again, economy of words. "Midsentence" is unnecessary and any interruption doesn't need the "brusque" appendage, that is implied. "Snapped" is better. The burly cab-man that looked like a wife-beater rapped on my car window - remove "like a wife-beater." Or even how about: "The burly cab-man, the model of a wife-beater, rapped on my window." I suddenly realised my window was closed the whole time... - change to: "Suddenly I realized..." The cabbie scrunched up his face looking like a constipated bulldog... - how about: "The cabbie scrunched up his face, his expression vaguely reminiscent of a constipated bulldog. He folded his arms, thick and strong as Pop-eye's, then huffed: 'Dead and dumb.'" **** From here are my altered phrasings **** I ignored his comment. Picked up my phone, made a call to the RAC "Hi, yeah. My car's just broken down. Camden High Street. I hit the brake pedal and it just stopped. Been sitting here ten minutes now, I'm running late. How long's it gonna be? Forty minutes? What, are you serious?! Jesus Christ, I can't wait that long! Look, I need to be moving ASAP. Who am I speaking to? Sharon? All right, Sharon. Shaz? Can I call you Shaz? Yeah, I'll call you back in five. I need to call my boss, let him know I'll be late." [think that dialogue runs better.] Be calm. Be confident, I coached myself. - change to: "Be calm, I coached myself. Be confident." The cabbie stared at me. I held his gaze, stared right back. "The RAC'll be here in five minutes, mate!" I shouted at him, hoping that would get him to move. The cabbie shook his head angrily... - how about: "The cabbbie shook his head, gave a small snort of disgust, thumped back to his cab." I checked my watch. 9.14 a.m. - change to: "9.14. Dammit, I thought. It's gonna be skid's-row for sure." I turned the key in the ignition twice. No reaction. The car choked, coughed, spluttered, but that was it. My breath was quickening. [remove "my brain went into overdrive" - that's cliche] Solutions, solutions... I needed one. Fast. Anything. A tunnel in the earth, a ladder to the sky. Fairy-dust. A spaceship. Anything that would get me outta this hell-hole. In a moment of passion, I leapt out of my car. Slammed the door. Threading my way through the tangle of traffic, I angled for the nearest tube station. I hated public transport. I mean, come on, it's smelly, claustrophobic and you can never look a person in the eye. London's full of all sorts of weirdos. They take offence, some of them, if you look at them. And at rush hour, the commuters are packed together like chickens in a battery cage. The RSPCA would have something to say about this kind of treatment; why the hell is there no human protection agency?! Plus, there's always some bloody latecomer who bounds onto the train just at the last second, and you end up getting an horrible whiff of his armpit as he shoves it into your face. Take out "bite the bullet" - cliche - replace with: "But I had no choice, in this case. It was this, or join the only expanding area of the UK workforce: the unemployed." If only nose pegs were socially acceptable, I told myself. As I dropped into the train car, I saw all the seats were taken. Only one space left. But another person had spotted it at the same time: a short, rotund woman, middle-aged, florid-faced. Our eyes met; there was an invisible contest of wills. I briefly toyed with the thought of fighting her for it, beating her down if that's what it took. But the moment dissolved; the fantasy flashed by. Instead, I hurried across and plumped down. A man to my right was sitting reading The Telegraph, fifty, grey-haired, squat. The broadsheet which was famed for its massiveness flapped across my face. It stayed there the whole journey. To the left, a hefty-looking younger man was nodding on my shoulder. At the door a romantic couple was huddled up, whispering sweet "I Love You"s. Then their eyes fell on mine, silently communicating a look of: It's none of your business. Obviously they were at the Honeymoon stage, that fleeting epoch of joy and innocence. It wouldn't last. A cloud of BO, cheap deodorant and morning breath enveloped me, a melange of flavours. ******* That's it for now. There will be more! I will be back, with more suggestions! Hope you'll find the time to read and review "Tamria"! James

MISS MANNERS Inman Sid hullo Inman. great read and I can just imagine such stuff going on. Very good. Please take a look at my non-fiction and thank you for that!. LLL

It was really funny.... Being a communication student myself, I could understand what's going on the lead's mind.. The first few lines were really gripping and held on to me..... Good work!!!! 6 stars!! Have a good day!

This genre is not usually my first choice when searching the bookshelves but I have to say, I liked it! A lovely, lighthearted and very funny read. Very well done, Iman, you certainly have talent.

This book is a lot of fun! I enjoyed every page. I have to admit I have a weakness for anything that makes fun of empty celebrities and shallow show business, but this one really delivers! It is not really chick lit in my view (I am not a fan of the genre) but more like Ab Fab, some liberating romp on the state of fashion and celebrity in the modern world! I see the manuscript is complete, and it would not surprise me if you did keep up this pace all the way through! It's going to be fun to read the whole thing :)

Miss Manners- Iman Sid's novel is smart and stylish - a fun read with a confident narrative voice. Accomplished comedy chick-lit. Hilarious! A perfect summer read while stretched out by the pool. It'll leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Star rating ****** ! Connie King x

Fresh, original, funny and entirely relatable both to men and women.

Fresh, original, funny and entirely relatable both to men and women.

You have a true talent of painting a word picture in the readers mind with your descriptions and your dialogue. Your pitch is great and it surely gave me a reason to read on. Your book itself carries your pitch along and does nothing to discourage the reader from continuing. A few small things pulled me out of the story momentarily. I don't usually read four chapters of a book unless it's extremely well done not having the time to put into the reading that I would like to. For some reason you kept my interest and I read all four. Excellent job all-in-all. Roy Belletete -In Search of a Memory--

WOO! These first few chapters were like having your breath taken away! They were thrilling and captivating; they left me wanting more! At times they were a little fast paced so that I missed some clues of what was happening. Overall though Great!

I'm impressed. You've taken a style which I would normally refuse to read at all, and made it almost enjoyable for me. It's fast, funny, witty, and I wish you every success with it! Highly starred from my view.

I read your book and want to read more. I hope you'll post additional chapters. Great writing style, funny, lighthearted, and the MC is lovable.

I love chick lit this is right up my street good luck although I don't think you will need it.

i love the MC's attitude from what i've read so far. i'll be back to read more!

Three chapters into Miss Manners, Iman, I'm impressed with your vivid descriptions and splendid character drawing. Your theme is promising and you're off to a fine start. Praise, however, will be less useful than a bit of nit-picking from this old editor. In Chapter 1, your phrase ". . . where each one . . . washes themselves . . ." needs some attention. Also, you say, ". . . studying . . . a degree . . . ," meaning, of course, "for a degree." And the paragraph beginning "My colleagues" repeats "already" three times in the first two sentences. You should consider subdividing several long paragraphs, especially for young readers. And all style manuals insist on a comma before the "and," "but," or "or" in a long series. Of course, this is fussy, but one more edit would leave readers (especially editors) with a better, much deserved impression. I look forward to more of Anna's adventures and complaints, which somehow drive me on and on. Meanwhile, I hope you're enjoying The Doctor of Summitville, which, though edited at least twenty times, surely lacks perfection. Your comments would be gratefully received. --Best wishes, Bill Your phrase "

Hi Iman, Just finished reading your book. I love chick-lit and this didn't disappoint. Would love to read the finifhed novel. Well done. Lainie :)

I don't read chick lits. I think.And here I am, rating you a six. Your voice gives me such a wonderful giddy light-giggly feeling, its such a picker-up. Professional. elegant, perky. best of luck Leelah saachi "When fear comes back to Love"

WELL DONE, Iman--good desire--you are backed! Cheers and very best of luck with 'Miss Manners', E.R.

Hi Iman, Based on four chapters this is really good. I will give it full stars because its better than some of the chick lit we often buy and then dump. I hope the rest of the book is as promising. Will probably back once I've read more. Update me if you do. ..Nice read...so far it was fun

So yeah I read a Chick-lit, so what? Lol, this was really good and at times really humorous. It's really well written, it reads really easy but you don't shy away from giving the readers sufficient details. I loved the line where she goes "I hate my life. I pictured my own funeral and wondered who would actually bother to attend the funeral of a nobody." I sort of laughed at that aloud...then I felt like a total weirdo for laughing at my laptop. Anyways, this is great sorry that is sure to appeal to more than just your target audience. Six stars, good luck! :)

I've only read a chapter and a half and I had to scroll down to comment: I LOVE your writing style. Your dialogue (inner and other) is hilarious. I re-read the line: "Eyes like a pair of bumholes" just so I could snicker out loud. It takes a LOT to get me to laugh out loud. I will definitely keep reading. We had a quick conversation recently about swapping reads. I think we have a lot in common with our styles. Yours is also very sarcastic, and not as dark as mine, but I do believe you'll appreciate my story as well. If you haven't already done so, would you take a peek? I am self-published and although i've sold about 110 copies on Amazon and out of the trunk of my car, I'm quickly realizing that I need a larger audience to market to. I really hope to get to the ED so I can pitch my second book as well (I'm just now editing the first draft). Anyway, good luck to you! I'm removing a book from my shelf to make room for yours. Cheers, Caitlin Avery; Lightning in my Wires.

A fun and flighty read. Very much a page turner - a bit like reading your way through a box of addictive chocolates. I noticed a few nits, mainly punctuation, but nothing that couldn't be sorted with a quick edit. I'm not a reader of chick-lit routinely, so my only grouse with this may be par for the course for the genre as a whole (sorry, if that's the case), but basically, I found it a litle on the wrong side of far-fetched and with loose ends already hanging - so what did happen to her car and why are there no repercussions? Maybe that comes later? For those that can suspend disbelief, though, it's undeniably fun. J.S.Watts Witchlight

Read the first and the fourth chapter. Witty, pithy, and quirky! You are very observant and even more articulate. Love the tombstone-died trying. That should mine the way I'm feeling lately. I guess it's better than died giving up. Liked the Barfly, especially the bit about the Ramones. I used to be one of those "fans" and I think I knew one song! That paragraph gave me enough information to actually see the place and the characters who hung out there. This is chick lit at it's best. Great job and highly recommended. Dina from HOTD and Bad Juju

Wonderfully well written! Happy to back your work. Hope you have a chance to take a look at Dark Side by CC Brown. Good Luck! Sue50

I enjoyed this story, and I would be interested in reading more. I did feel like this last chapter was a little bit jumpy, and somethings just suddenly happened. I was left scratchy my head going, "Where did that pop up from?" Otherwise, I felt this was a really interesting idea and a story that caught my attention. I will definitely put you on my watch list and back you book for a little while. If you are interested, I would like it if you would read my story, "In the Absence of Light" Thank you for the enjoyable read! -Anehalia

This is a fantastic story. The characters are wonderfully quirky and yet so easy to relate to. I love the fast pace and I'm very interested to see where this story is heading. Brilliantly written, excellent description and there's not a lull in sight. Hope you upload more soon. -Heather

I'm not much into chick lit but yours is really good. Its fast paced, funny, and about the average girl going about her average life. I thought it was funny how her almost-accident made her reevaluate her life, realizing she hadn't done much with it. I suppose deep down, all of us want to be somebody important or at least known by more than four people. I'm going to back your book since its written really well. It will be on my shelf the next time I rotate it. -Charmain

I loved it! I read every word. I really like the threesome: Tara, Felicity and Anna. They are so well constructed and visual to the reader. The antics they are involved in are fresh and funny. The plot just builds and builds, and I wish there was more to read. Your writing is flawless and there are no gaps in the timing, which gives the read a great flow. You have the makings of a great book here. I hope you post more! Backed gladly, Debbie Martin

Hilarious, relentless whirlwind of a romp! This is really wonderful! This should be going places! Cheers, Tod Schneider (The Lost Wink)

Hilarious, relentless whirlwind of a romp! This is really wonderful! This should be going places! Cheers, Tod Schneider (The Lost Wink)

Hilarious, relentless whirlwind of a romp! This is really wonderful! This should be going places! Cheers, Tod Schneider (The Lost Wink)

I have read the first two chapters of Miss Manners and enjoyed the read. Having just quit a horrible job, I can relate to the story. I will back your book as soon as I have space. I also plan to read the rest as soon as I can. Rich-Cool1

hey i read your first 4 chapters. I like it. The first chapter seemed a little slow, but great after that. Looking forward to reading more.

Very well written. Flows super well :) Captivating opening that draws the reader right into the story -- even for a reader outside this genre like me. Totally enjoyed it! I could envision it as a movie :) Best wishes! Donna Robison No Kiss Good-bye

Crazy story here! It is so funny. Pitch is drawing and interesting. The cover is cute! It is very well thought out and written. *Reader*

Love the first line. 'Know' should be 'knew' - next thing I knew... - otherwise carries on well as as well. I don't back unless I can read the end - ending is so much harder than beginning - but lots of luck and I'm sure you'll make it.

Hi...I just read the first four chapters. It is fast paced and a quick read which is great, however, I was left wanting more at times. For example...what ever happened to her car? Good luck with Miss Manners, it has a lot of potential!!

I’ve read all four chapters posted, and I’m loving it. The characters bounce off the page, there’s never a dull moment, and you’ve set up enough possibilities to keep the momentum going for a long time yet. Unfortunately the downside of it being so good is that the things that bothered me stuck out more than they would otherwise. For example by the end of the day, as far as we know Anna’s car is still sitting in the middle of Camden High Street. Wouldn’t she have had at least a momentary qualm about it? I’m also not sure how Felicity knew that Anna and Tara were looking for a flatmate (or how Anna knew she needed to move) and by the end, I was rather confused about Anna’s application to Couture. Presumably it was to do with the Miss Manners experience, but she hasn’t had it yet. I love your writing style. It’s wonderfully alive and full of your own quirky turns of phrase – quarter-life crisis, daymare etc. Just a few things that might need attention (sorry, blame my high school English teacher, she had gimlet eyes and never let me get away with a thing) mostly to do with sentence construction. Joy ‘was a tall, gangly woman with short, brown hair in her mid thirties...’ – it’s not the hair that’s in her mid thirties. Try ‘a tall gangly woman in her mid thirties, with short brown hair’. And in the following sentence, the ‘whose’ is in grammatical freefall, without a subject to relate to. It might be better to break the sentence... ‘Her life...’ In ch3, the sentence starting ‘So after tidying the flat...’ is a victim of the hanging phrase. Grammatically, it says the doorbell tidied the flat. Same thing with ‘Before opening the door to the stage entrance, Felicity came towards us...’ Was Felicity the one doing the door-opening? Part of me apologises profusely for being so picky, but the rest of me doesn’t. It’s a great story, written with wonderful, original flair, and the more you polish it, the more chance it has of being picked up and published, which it richly deserves. Helen Meikle http://www.authonomy.com/books/37213/six-weeks-in-summer/

Haven't we all had those days? A superb opening, and who knows what will happen to the odious Pinkie as the secrets of the diary unfold. A deligthful, funny read with a most sympathetic heroine. 5 stars - and thanks for a very enjoyable interlude. Yours, Pan.

Hey well done! Really enjoyed this - the girls are fun and charming, the kind of girls you want for friends, and it really takes me back to post-grad job seeking days with shabby flats and Camden clubs. The minor characters are lovely too - I love Minky and the old bloke who tells jokes, wonderfully eccentric but affectionately drawn. The writing style is very confidently handled, has a lovely youthful exhuberance but nicely balance with wryness and wit. I would personally watch repetition - really minor things - 'always' three times in two lines. Nothing to worry about at all, but I think writers always spot the things they're prone to themselves! As you'll probably see when you read mine... Thank you so much for backing me and for your nice words about Fool's Paradise. I hope you get around to posting more on the site. Look forward to reading more.

This is fast-paced, fresh, perky, funny and faultlessly written. It reads like a published book. Excellent work. Good luck with it. Juli (Trusting Claude)

This is fast-paced, fresh, perky, funny and faultlessly written. It reads like a published book. Excellent work. Good luck with it. Juli (Trusting Claude)

I like the flow of the writing and dialogue. It has an Oscar Wilde wit to it especially in the obituary and head stone lines of the chapter. First person perspective allows the reader to "feel" the character's life and so far it has delivered. I'll continue to read.

I've read the first two chapters, but I have to admit chicklit isn't my thing, so I'm afraid I can't really offer that much advice. There were a couple of points: The cabbie shook his head angrily, then walked back to his cab behind my mini and in front of several cars behind him. (is the half of this sentence after "cab" really necessary? The reader can probably guess that his cab's behind her car, and that there's cars behind him. Spelling it out makes the sentence seem a bit...awkward.) I'm dead, I thought to myself, even though I was still very much alive. (Again, half of this sentence seems unnecessary. Maybe consider getting rid of it? Or changing it to something like: "I'm dead, I thought to myself, even though I was still very much alive. Unfortunately." Also, how does Anna know what Pinkie's dog is called? Or was it just a good guess? If so, then maybe you could make that clearer. Anyway, technically you're writing is good and quite polished, I couldn't pick up on any typos or mistakes. I did find the characters a bit over the top, but maybe that's not such a bad thing in chicklit, as I said I don't know much about it. I will read the final two chapters. Sorry I couldn't be of more help, and good luck!

awww! poor tara! all that buildup! and what a mean place to end it! lol! totally enjoyed this. very light, easy read that doesn't skimp on either character or story. great humor bits! and FLOORDROBE! omg. I have to use that because I totally do it. ha! one minor thing? you may want to use a different name than Zak Quinto. I immediately thought of the actor, Zachary Quinto, especially since you have his brother as "Adrian" which reminded me of Adrian Pasdar, his costar on Heroes... or it could just be me. ;o) looking forward to more!

Hi Iman. Just read your first couple of chapters. This is so sharp! Great fun but clever with it. One for the top - and soon!

Hi Iman, Read all 4 and it is a wow. very Bridget jones in style. Enjoyed this very much hope it does well will star for the moment and get you on my shelf hopefully soon! :) Diane

Hello, Iman- This is a well written, polished, and well-thought-out story which is sure to hold the reader's attention beyond the posted four chapters. Not only did the story open with an attention-grabbing scene in a stalled car causing traffic grid, but soon after a delightful chapter in a toy department, the stakes are raised for the reader's interest: Anna had stolen a diary, revealing secret information. The writing is fresh: Anna was experiencing a "quarter-life crisis." She was having a "daymare." And she was furious that someone had called her "Madam," although she was only twenty-five. That had said it all (without having said it!)-- Anna felt she was getting old. A perfect example of showing, not telling. "The crowds parted with the ease of the Red Sea before Moses." Beautiful! It's excellent the way Anna's boss echoes and confirms Anna's own feelings about herself: "You're a nothing... you're a nobody." I'm wondering if you wanted to say, "Me and Tara had planned it..." instead of the gramatically correct, "Tara and I." Maybe the former is becoming more acceptable? For example, if there's a knocking on a door and someone asks, "Who's there?" inevitably the answer would be the ungrammatical, "It's me, Dan." Our forever changing language! (Not to digress too much, but in the past few years I've been hearing and reading the ungrammatical "their" to take the place of the awkward "his or her.") In any case, Iman, it was refreshing reading this. Thank you for putting so much work into it before posting. Good, clean writing! I'm giving it six stars and putting it on my bookshelf. Good luck with it. Dan Carroll SlumAuthor

I suppose the most recent “chick book” (if you would call it that) that I read and enjoyed was the Devil Wears Prada and I found it was the prose, asides and pacing that made that enjoyable – yours has the same quality. Light and enjoyable so far. At chapter 4, I feel drawn in and the pacing has been well set. I just hope that a “meaty’ bit, twist or dramatic kick in the guts is not too far off in the plot or it could lose focus a bit. Great so far. I am happy to back it

I usually don't read this genre but I thought this was pretty good, it had an especially strong opening. Congratulations and good luck!

Hi Iman I have to confess, when I first saw the title I thought t was going to be a typical chic-lit story. But I read it anyway and am I glad I did. I'm thinking that a lot of it is drawn from life, although it's hard to believe that anybody could have such an eventful existence. Good character development and very descriptive. I always say that the less imagination I have to use when reading a story, the better. You are a talented wordsmith, so keep it up. Just one suggestion. You might want to consider changing the name of Fairfax Publications. They're one of the leading Australasian media companies. Graham

Hi Iman I have to confess, when I first saw the title I thought t was going to be a typical chic-lit story. But I read it anyway and am I glad I did. I'm thinking that a lot of it is drawn from life, although it's hard to believe that anybody could have such an eventful existence. Good character development and very descriptive. I always say that the less imagination I have to use when reading a story, the better. You are a talented wordsmith, so keep it up. Just one suggestion. You might want to consider changing the name of Fairfax Publications. They're one of the leading Australasian media companies. Graham

This is excellent. It's also a lot of fun. First book to go on my bookshelf since last November.

Interesting pitch. You have great pacing with a good strong voice. The descriptions and word choice is great, and it appears you have worked out most of the minor kinks. Including the thoughts from your character are a great way to help keep the reader involved. You do a great job of adding a bit of texture in your writing presentation with the different lengths of paragraphs. "I was wrong." I really like the power this holds. it isn't necessary my favorite type of genre to read, but you make it interesting enough and give it a bit of a reality feeling. I do want to note that the last line of chapter one, didn't do it any justice. "I took one final glance at the entrance, held my breath and braced myself." It could just be me, but it felt a little off for how the rest of the chapter flowed. Chapter 2 does a good job of keeping the interest and adding even a little more realistic. And still keeping the thoughts coming in every once in a while is great for the reader to find. It seems you have done a fine job throughout the last two chapters. I wish you the best of luck. Auna June Catalaysia: The Curse of Five

I really enjoyed your book. It was funny, chaotic, addicting and well, quite awesome actually. Your MC has great voice. I live in the U.S. so a few of your words are not used here in America. So, whenever you go to get published, you will have to change quite a few words to meet American literature standard. No Biggy. I still enjoyed it.

The first two chapters of Miss Manners really drew me in, and I couldn't stop laughing at poor Anna's troubles. She is such a relatable protagonist in such a relatable predicament, and the humor is dead-on. Where witticism and good writing go, there I follow. Watchlisted and highly starred, and I will be back to find out what happens.

Good stuff. This is lots of fun and I can imagine women on the tube reading it (with someone's armpit in their faces). I don't read much chick-lit these days but there's still a big market for it. Lots of luck with Miss Manners - not that I think you'll need it. Diana Pascual's Birthday

Miss Manners - 3 chapters read I loved this book, it was fast furious fun slick sexy and fabulous!! To read it is to devour it. Connie King - Sinners and Shadows. High stars - to be backed

Can't wait to read the rest! :)

I hate first person. I hate chick-lit but this is laugh out loud funny - not to mention well written. Well worth a shot.

I shouldn't have enjoyed this but I did! Well written and humorous with a punchy style that keeps the reader's interest and engagement with the story. On my watchlist for when you upload some more and rated highly.

I read all you had posted here. This isn't my normal fare, but I do like to read Chick Lit once in awhile to change up. I really liked it and it kept me wanting more. I liked how it was fast paced and I didn't have to listen to the MC whining for a long time before she decided to do something about her situation. There a few comments I have * I think the first sentence in the Long pitch is a little confusing. I would lead with the second sentence. * What is the RAC? Is this an auto club? In America we have AAA, if you want it to be more universal you might want to just say auto club * How do you know Pinkie's PA's name. She isn't introduced before and your MC just says her name. The MC clearly doesn't know Pinkie so how would she just know the PA's name? * What happened to the car? * When the MC is talking to the new roomate she says she is going to meet her at 4p. Then later in the chapter when she is writing on the internship they say it is 2p. This was a little confusing. Overall good stuff. Good luck

I read all of your chapters and the reflection on carefree life while going to school made me have one of my own daydreams. As per another comment below I totally agree that your writing is very whitty and realistic. Your topic on socialites being famous for no reason is so relevant I found myself immediately relating to your main character. Overall an exiting few chapters that definitely made me want to keep reading.

I really like your pitch! Can't wait to start reading... Beth Davis I Never Saw It coming

Only four chapters! That's cruel. I'm sitting here as happy as a kid with mom's makeup case. I'm loving it all! You've got a winner! When you get published, tell me! I mean it! I'll be loyal fan, I promise. ;D I love the joy and comedy and lightheartedness of the whole story, and the chumminess and daydreaming. Girls will rave for this book, I guarantee you. And the Pinkie assault! "Bunny Simpkins just attacked Pinkie Mortimer." Oh man, I had to burst out laughing! I did notice a couple nit-picks, but considering there was only two, I say that's pretty good. If you want to know, I'll message you! Six stars, and a backing when I can! Keep up the awesome work! Oh, will you be going with "Iman Sid" when you publish? If so, I'll have to memorize it. --Shieldmaiden

Only four chapters! That's cruel. I'm sitting here as happy as a kid with mom's makeup case. I'm loving it all! You've got a winner! When you get published, tell me! I mean it! I'll be loyal fan, I promise. ;D I love the joy and comedy and lightheartedness of the whole story, and the chumminess and daydreaming. Girls will rave for this book, I guarantee you. And the Pinkie assault! "Bunny Simpkins just attacked Pinkie Mortimer." Oh man, I had to burst out laughing! I did notice a couple nit-picks, but considering there was only two, I say that's pretty good. If you want to know, I'll message you! Six stars, and a backing when I can! Keep up the awesome work! Oh, will you be going with "Iman Sid" when you publish? If so, I'll have to memorize it. --Shieldmaiden

Hi, I think you have a good premise here. I have some ideas on how to make it better. I found several examples of "overwriting." You don't need to say "i felt disgusting." You haved nicely described her disgusting state. Ditto "it was a depressing thought" and "It was so laid back." "I'm a big beliver in the writer's maxim "show, don't tell" and that's "telling." There are other places where you could tighten up the writng: Mini cooper, which had....Also, you need to fix some tnses. It should read : ten minutes before, I had been singing....and I hadn't fallen in love.... One last thing. Unless there's some obscure Beach Boys song, the artist who recoded "Dizzy' was Tommy Roe. Good luck with this work. Andi

Really enjoying this story so far! It's so realistic and defiatly something a girl can relate too, i.e) the job after graduation that has nothing to do with your degree, feeling like your behind when your friends are all working for the top PR companies and feeling old when someone calls you 'madam' or 'lady'. A really nice read, well done! :-)

Very good writing here. The opening chapter is slow pace, but it propels the reader to continue to see how things will work out. There is creative plot here. I like how you tell the story from a first person perspective. Not too many people do it from that view, so it is really good. The cover is very cute. Press on! Bria Heart <3

I've read all four chapters, and so far I like it. I look forward to reading more soon! I think you are rushing through a lot of scenes, such as the part where Anna writes her article or goes back for Tara's things. Maybe you could add a but more detail to those sections. Also, I think she got away with the diary too easily. She should face more difficulties there. But great writing! Miss Manners is going on my watchout. -Ella Dragon Gift

Loved it! Great pace, funny, just the right balance of dialogue description. My cup of tea. The only constructive nit pick thing I can give you is write numbers, ie two instead of 2. Look forward to you posting more. Jo Lexi's Place

It seems that the Devil Doesn't Wear Prada at all, she just works in Harrods (allegedly, of course as this is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to the real Harrods is entirely coincidental as we don't want their lawyers onto us!). Your writing sparkles and fizzes like the best champagne as drunk by It Girls. Where this soars above other chick-lit offerings is the wicked humour. I won't repeat the useful copy edit advice you've received already, but as you advance your way to the desk, you might want to do a quick proof as it would be a shame to be picked up for minor, easily fixable nit picks. Highly starred. Lambert Nagle - Revolution Earth

Ordinarily, chick lit is something I fear like Nazi zombies, but this makes me so happy, with bubbles! I love it when something so depressing is so cheerful. I can't wait to read more, and I am delighted to support it with my humble little bookshelf. I hope you go all the way to the top! Hana Bathir Sea of Jasmine

sorry...my comment posted twice!

i have few books to be read...requested by other members too...sooner i am done with them will read yours... but will add you on my wacthlist...x

I love the character and an enjoyable read. A little heavy on the narrative, would have liked more dialogue at the beginning, but once you got the dialogue in there it was fantastic. Marla Bowie LePley AFTER

Iman, It’s a long shot, but if anyone can make it happen, the out-of-luck and audacious Anna Borgstrom can give Pinky Mortimer a run for her money and win the Miss Manners contest. The first four chapters of Miss Manners is an amusing and entertaining introduction to what I suspect lies ahead - even more mischievous adventure that will keep the reader laughing and cheering for Anna the underdog. I thoroughly enjoyed what I have read so far and hope more of your book will be posted. One little thing that tripped me up - In the midst of Anna’s car crisis, would she really have a long self-evaluating daydream while horns are blaring and tempers are rising around her? And wouldn‘t she try to start her car at least once before she abandoned it and left all those poor people to deal with her problem. I found that hard to believe. But the rest of your chapters seemed very well thought out. Highly starred! Dianna Lanser Nothing But The Blood

Good premise. It's lively and fun with a fabulously awful antagonist. "Pinkie" - ugh. Nice opening scene with the car breakdown, great dynamic start. My only crit with the opening paragraphs is that you use "was" an awful lot. The writing could be a little tighter and stronger (although, please remember this is only my opinion, for what that's worth!) by tweaking and removing some of the 'was'. I like your writing style - it's very similar to my own, including usage of present tense for her internal thoughts at that time ("I hate my life") - though most people on autho will tell you this doesn't work unless you put it in italics. I disagree. I find it reads quite naturally, but be prepared for flack. I can't wait to meet the eye-candy. I read the lot and will read more when you've posted it! Cx

Really enjoyed your opening chapter , popped Miss Manners on my watchlist to check out soon.

Miss Manners Exc.ellent . Melencholic start for a romantic comedy, though, the beginning is very good. well written. Jass & classical! Backed. TMNagarajan "NEVER LOSE..."

I've read 2 chapters and I will be reading more. I love your character, she seems very real - I couldn't help but laugh while reading about her worrying about granny knickers... mostly because I've thought similar things before now. I even find myself thinking about her 'your life wouldn't be so bad if you got off your ass and did something about it', and she's just fictional... The writing is good and reads well. I'm looking forward to having the time to finish this!

I like your opening sentence, the precise moment at which she is having a quarter life crisis. It draws us in. Be careful with tense - "I hated my life" is I think what it should read. I liked the "died trying" inscription - it may have more impact if you don't repeat it though, or say those two words said it all - it's best to let the reader figure that out, I think. I love that her regret is not falling in love with a French artist. (I think you can leave out "romantic" - you are showing us it's romantic by saying he's an artist painting Gothic cathedrals, etc.) (Spackman! How funny. that's my stepdad's name, and it's a really unusual surname.) Just a thought - do you really study english and writing in order to find a dream job? If so maybe you can explain what that job might be...Because the classic joke about English graduates is that they end up working in McDonald's - it doesn't tend to be what people study if a job is what they're thinking about. "My parents tried to point out that if it was a job I was after, medicine might be a better idea. but not if I was going to be in publishing," just a sentence like that might be enough. You make me chuckle with phrases like "I'm dead, I thought to myself, even though I was still very much alive." Or "I've never been an IP. I'm just a P." LIke that a lot - it's fresh and original and I wish I'd thought of it myself! Hope this does well for you!

A very powerful opening...It caught my attention. This story deserves to be published....

Dear Iman I have read a couple of chapters of "Miss Manners" which is very like Bridget Jones. I was immediately taken with the opening scene: what does a woman do, trapped on the intersection and late for work? Trying to navigate a maze of indifference Anna struggles to find understanding and meaning. Here dilemmas are very real, yet your light touch is charming. With a small edit and tidy up I see no reason why your book should not do well. My husband likes it too. All the best Fran Macilvey, "Trapped" :-)

This is good. I think you're right on with the boss. Bosses need to be kinder people.

I only managed to read chapter 1 of Miss Manners but I like what I read. I love your dry sense of humour such as the line my hair was tied back so hard I'd given myself a facelift. That made me howl out loud. This is the kind of book that I would read on a plane at the start of my holiday to get me in the mood for a good time! The only slight criticism I would make is in the dialogue between Anna and the RAC lady. I felt it was a bit longwinded. With a bit of editing to make it more concise I think it would read better. Well done. I will put your novel on my watchlist to go back to later when I have more time. Kim (Pain)

Great couple of chapters. Kept the reader interested and wanting to read on. Great characters that you can identify with each and everyone of them (maybe not Pippie - its amazing that there is actually people like that about.) Cant wait for the next chapter :) x

I like the way you emphasis a short sentence and change the style of the words. It is like a movie, and it reminds me of some other movies that I've watched. It's got a good vibe, wonderful!

I loved your opening! It held my attention and makes the reader want to continue to the next chapter. I had compassion on the main character, and could see everything clearly. Great Job! I'm adding you to my watchlist!

Hi, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Miss Manners. Great characters, good storyline and I can really identify with Anna, the main character. We've all (well most of us) had that shitty job with a crap boss and I frequently wonder at how some people with no talent, like Pinkie, get famous. I'm really interested to see how the story develops and hope you'll upload some more very soon. Miss Manners is going on my bookshelf All the best with this MJ

Have read all uploaded chapters (and hope you’re uploading more!) Some witty stylish writing here, I thought the obituary was pretty funny! (and sad, of course). And I related to her reaction to being called Madam. I’m 35 and still if someone calls me Madam or I tell them off! Really great storyline. Pinky sounds like a total cow from her diary excerpts. I didn’t see any typos or anything. Perfect chick-lit! Six stars Tammy Robinson

Have read all uploaded chapters (and hope you’re uploading more!) Some witty stylish writing here, I thought the obituary was pretty funny! (and sad, of course). And I related to her reaction to being called Madam. I’m 35 and still if someone calls me Madam or I tell them off! Really great storyline. Pinky sounds like a total cow from her diary excerpts. I didn’t see any typos or anything. Perfect chick-lit! Six stars Tammy Robinson

This is a really cute story, so far... I would love to read more. Could you, please correct the Monday (17 or 18) problem in paragraph 7, Chapter 2. I read it, it read wrong, went back and read it again, still wrong. Such a minor thing, really, but it won't let me go. Please upload more.

LOL this was making me laugh. i read the first 2 chapters and i love your main character. i think your strong point in characterization- its really well done. i dont really have any crits to offer other than your long pitch seems a little on the long side. not a big deal, since you already hooked me with your short pitch. hoping to hear your feedback on Gut Instincts, melissa :)

Hi. Stole a moment to read the first chapter of Miss Manners. You've got a gem here. It's lots of fun to read and I can't help but wonder what I'd do in Anna's shoes. Great writing. One thing caught my attention. If you are peering into a rear view mirror, you can't see your entire outfit. Just your hair and face. And using a mirror to describe a character is getting to be cliched. Best to try another method. I really will try to get back to reading more of this. Best wishes. Carol Ritten Smith -- Stubborn Hearts.

I absolutely adore this book, it's so hilarious! I'm not a massive fan of chick-lit and even less a fan of books written in 1st person but Miss Manners has definitely changed my views. Anna is a brilliant MC and I think alot of women could relate to her. The debacle that happens between her Pinkie is so relevant to the socialite culture we see splashed all over the papers today. You introduce humour so well that at times, I had to bite my tongue to stop myself from laughing out loud like an idiot. Your writing seems effortless and I was so engrossed, I didn't notice a single mistake. I know its been mentioned in other comments but the 'squashed plasticine' line was the best I've ever read. Seriously I almost cried with laughter! I'm definitely backing you, this book NEEDS to be on shelves in stores everywhere. One of the best I've read on authonomy so far. PLEASE POST MORE!!! Good luck :) Yasmin - Guileless

I absolutely adore this book, it's so hilarious! I'm not a massive fan of chick-lit and even less a fan of books written in 1st person but Miss Manners has definitely changed my views. Anna is a brilliant MC and I think alot of women could relate to her. The debacle that happens between her Pinkie is so relevant to the socialite culture we see splashed all over the papers today. You introduce humour so well that at times, I had to bite my tongue to stop myself from laughing out loud like an idiot. Your writing seems effortless and I was so engrossed, I didn't notice a single mistake. I know its been mentioned in other comments but the 'squashed plasticine' line was the best I've ever read. Seriously I almost cried with laughter! I'm definitely backing you, this book NEEDS to be on shelves in stores everywhere. One of the best I've read on authonomy so far. PLEASE POST MORE!!! Good luck :) Yasmin - Guileless

Miss Manners These are just my thoughts as I read through your work...Please use, enjoy, or disregard as you wish, mine is just another opinion in a sea of plenty... Cover – Doesn’t stand out enough for me. The image is too small to see any detail all we really see is the colour pink. It alone wouldn’t pull me towards this work. Small pitch – Yep that’s fine, tells me it’s a chick lit read. Long Pitch – Well that’s some comparison to live up to Bridget Jones etc. I would be tempted not to say it’s a mix of all 3 because already my mind is wondering if it is and you don’t really want a reader comparing your book to anything else that’s out there. Other than that, it reads ok, but I would change the shop name. While you can use names of places etc as fair usage, if the name of the store and its image plays a central part of the story id give consideration to changing it slightly or they may come after you. Chapter 1 – Nice opening, who hasn’t had a car break down on them in an unfortunate place LOL. Nice smattering of back story and thoughts as she’s drifting after her brake failure. The unsympathetic boss is a bit of a cliché because we’ve all got one of them, will be nice to see how that develops. First person is certainly different but works well and I found little evidence that this chapter isn’t and hasn’t been highly polished. The odd missing word but reads very well and flows along happily leading us from her scrape to arrival without the reader stumbling. One thing I would say is watch the larger paragraphs, sometimes when readers see a block of text like that they will skim read it and might miss something of importance, sometimes better to break up a little into 2 or 3 paras. Chapter 2 - Ok so you carry on in the same vein, and she dresses as a bunny and assaults a socialite. Well this is def chick lit gold, but you need to be careful that you’re not dating yourself and aiming only at the younger end of the market. Harrods seems to play a big part of these two chapters, it’s not just a passing thing, so I would def change it. Second chapter is well written, didn’t see much wrong, and it’s a joy to read. I will come back and read more later.

Read some of this today .. you have a great flair for the first person .. NO I am NOT jealous! This is really quite exceptional. Funny, pacey. In fact, the perfect chick-lit read. I wouldn't usually look at something like this in a book store but ... and it's a big BUT ... I like it. Well done, Ms Nobel :) Mick x

MISS MANNERS I visited London recently and shopped at Harrods so I really related to your narrator. I like the way she feels she’s getting dumber after college instead of getting smarter; I’ve had that same feeling. I also like your writing style; it’s crisp and sharp and easy to read. I’m adding this to my shelf. Wannabeawriter. Who Killed the President?

I am really intrigued into how this is going to go... I can't wait for the next chapters. I think, while I know this story is a fun and chatty, I think it could do with a little slower of a pace. I think there could be a little more inner monologue, a little more description. But I do love the fun, conversational style of your writing, so I think you should keep true to your style at the same time. Great so far. Kat The Darkness of Gold

how fun this is! i love the kind of adversity that is thrown up for the main character- really original. you certainly have got a great writing style! jen

You have got a very likeable heroine, a brisk pace, and an accessible style. I think Miss Manners has got potential. Here are a few notes on the first two chapters. Chapter One You have a strong opening sentence. That's important. Classics have strong opening sentences. "It was a dark and stormy night." "Who goes?" "The sky above the port was the color of television tuned to a dead channel." Chapter Two I'd advise you not to use Harrod's as the name of her employer. It's a real company with real lawyers who may really sue you if they feel you have disparaged them by suggesting that it is not a wonderful place to work. You could give the store another name and put it in the same neighborhood as Harrod's, though. If a character in a play says "I have a message for you, sire," then it is not a non-speaking role. Is there a lot of theater in Miss Manners' life? She makes a couple of theater references in chapter two. Felicity Diamond's section of chapter two is graceless exposition. Everything comes to a full stop so that Miss Manners can learn who Pinkie is from a convenient Pinkie expert who pops up. I suggest that Miss Manners already know who Pinkie is from magazine headlines and promotional material she's seen around the store. Also, you don't have to deliver all of Pinkie's biography in chapter two. You can always save some for later. "Since Pinkie Mortimer had gotten me sacked from Harrod's, I had seen her on the cover of "Glitterati" with her millionaire boyfriend..." If you want to establish Felicity as Miss Manners' new friend, you can have her in the scene - "Watch out for Pinkie, she's a horror", "I wish *I'd* gone for her throat!" - but not as an exposition vending machine. And like Pinkie, you can save Felicity's bio for later. It seems weird that she would stop in the middle of this hectic scene to say to a total stranger, hi, I'm 24, part time retail, part time college. I've worked here three weeks.

This is charming, funny and moves along at a nice pace. As an American, I am a little put off by words like "knickers" and "jumper" because I'm not sure I know what you mean and it gets between me and the story. This is a small point, but one that could limit the marketability of your book unless you substitute more international equivalents. The verb tenses in the first paragraph are a little odd, too. Aside from that, the piece swings along well and I love the spunky, ironic voice and feel this has tons of potential. Good luck with it! ~Gail

Hi Iman. Chic Lit is also not my most obvious choice of read, but this is great fun - well-written for the most part and I find your character engaging and funny. You may need to think what your USP is if you have ambitions to get published... (Only meaning that there's a lot of Chic Lit out there already.) A couple of small issues: beware of the obvious " packed like sardines". I'm sure you can think of your own metaphor. And I feel your big chunk of back-story at the beginning interferes too much with the action; can you feed it in more subtly or in smaller doses? Anyway, you're backe. Do please take a look at 'Jelly-Boy' - I'd be so grateful.

Yeah, I had the same deal . . . paragraphs that went on forever. Everyone is somewhat A.D.D. these days, what with all the social media being about quick snippets and comments, and with the News and TV adverts being 30 sec's., and sit-coms focusing on the snappy one-liners . . . we've all got focus problems, and time is of the essence, yada, yada, yada . . .so I decided to go through my manuscript and just forcefully break up long blocky paragraphs into shorter ones, and, you know, it really helped people be able to dive in and keep reading . . . It's crazy to think changes in formatting might be the thing that brings you a larger audience, but it's true. I even broke my original 14 chapters into 44 shorter ones, and as much as i hate to admit it, that manuever really improved the book! And got me more readers . . . As to the writing . . . smart, funny, self-depreciating (very endearing, really). I think you've got a lot going for you here.

I enjoyed all thats posted here. The writing is smooth and flowing, with just the right amount of narrative & dialogue. You can almost picture Anna's day and how it all seems to go horribly wrong. The car dying on the road, the taxi driver's rage, the idiot of a boss and then the dealing with a bunny suit and a stuck up socialite. When things go wrong, they really go wrong. I really liked the introduction of pinky and could almost picture the snotty, self righteous girl. The incessant repeating of the bunny lines was hilarious and i don't blame her for hauling off and hitting the ditz. There are many places throughout the four chapters that have you us laughing as the reader pictures the scenes. The choice of words and comments made, let you get a feel for the character and what she must endure. I think many people will relate to feeling like a nobody and putting in time in this life, wondering about how to change circumstance. The introduction of Tara and Felicity help to define Anna's world as the three meet up at the club. I was a little surprised that Tara was to perform at the Jazz club and would have liked it mentioned a little earlier in the book that this is her passion. Maybe a comment of the papers being scattered around the apartment when Felicity is visiting....something to show this is who she is. Can't wait to see what happens next and how the three manage to fair. Does Anna win the Miss Manners contest, where does the diary lead, how does she get revenge on Pinky, does Tara ever get to perform, where does she find the money for the contest...these are just a few questions i have. All in all a good read. Starred and backed for a bit! All my best, And When

This is probably going to be the shortest review I've done on Authonomy. My only gripe with this MS is that there isn't more of it to read. I'm really enjoying the chatty nature, the friendships and the manic whirlwind that Anna seems to be in. The narrative and dialogue have a good pace and are very easy to read, the characters are fun but real. I felt so much disappointment for Tara at the end of chapter four. Pinkie comes across as the sort of person who just makes me cringe so I hope this story will eventually see her downfall. A few moments that particularly shone out for me: Loved the elderly man in Y-fronts line. I wanted to die of embarrassment for Anna during the whole 'There is nothing so sweet as a bunny' moment. The minions making dolphin noises. Very enjoyable.

Read the first chapter and a little of the second chapter. It is a unique story plot. Your writing is really good and creative. Good job! Shelby Z./Driving Winds

So far I've loved what I read. This is spot on my kind of genre and i like the dry humour running through. Pinkie is a great character and I would love to see her crop up again later on. My only issue is with formatting and layout - some paragraphs are a bit big and it's a bit foreboding to read it all, but description is still nice and concise. I would love to see how the plot develops! Alex Finding My Feet

Hi Iman, read the first couple of chapters and from you synopsis it does exactly what it says on the tin, I really enjoyed the frenetic fast pace of your writing it brought the story to life. I also love your description of the Rugby players neck and boss with body of a football, both made me laugh, I would recommend your book. Good Luck ! rated and starred Congratulations on your awards but I will probably have to give the mascara a miss though.....it make my eyes water:) Steve x

Your story: I wasn't sure I liked it in chapter 1, but by chapter 2? LOVED it! And your writing got better as you introduced the character of Pinkie, the pink bunny outfit and the humiliating poem. Loved how the end of the first chapter made the reader want to turn the page. I also use the metaphor of an oompa loompa in chapter 30 of my book! (so I felt a kinship) Very funny writing! Well written chck lit comedy! Highly starred and watchlisted. I will find a place on my shelf at some point. Georgia The Woman From E.A.R.L.

Hi Iman, I have just read uploaded chapters and really enjoyed them. I think you have the beginings of a great story which is very relevant in the times we live in. It has good pace and character descriptions. You use the word Manky which I thought was an Irish slang word, but its actually scottish. I used in my book too because its a word my Granny used. I have found this site very helpful and I hope you do too. People are very generous with their time and advice. I wish you the best of luck, Your on my watch list waiting for space on my bookshelf. Olive Field Borrowed Light

Miss Manners Dear Mademoiselle, I’ve just read all that you’ve posted here. Please upload more - it’s outstanding and a pleasure to come across writing as fresh, funny and totally original as Miss Manners. Engaging characters - and the odd nasty one – I wonder who Pinkie can be based on?! Plus some wonderful descriptions. Hilary beat me to it with that reference to Bill’s ‘squashed Plasticine’ face, but I also liked Boris the comic act in the Barfly, responding ( minus his false teeth) to a question from Anna : ‘They’re in the next room,’ he whistled. Highly starred and deserves to be backed. One to watch! Katjay xx

I am in LOVE with Miss Manners! It's fast, fresh and funny - everything I've been looking for in a feel-good novel! I especially loved the observations of the London Underground ('You could never look at a person for too long in case you offended them') and descriptions of people and places ('Bill was short, round and fat, like a football with legs, whose face looked as though it had been made with Plasticine and then squashed by something angry'). Hilarious! I'll be backing you all the way to the Editor's Desk! Highly starred, backed and watchlisted! Hilary xx