It’s been a stellar novel week in these parts, some might even say celestial. Not only did two of my author friends and word-sparring partners soar into publication, with another short-listed for the Fish Flash, but the moon also took on a rare role and eclipsed the sun.
Stuck in Nova Scotia, I was unable to attend the launch of Lucy O’Callaghan’s debut novel The Lies Beneath in Ireland last Friday, and I won’t make it to the launch of Anne Hamilton’s second novel The Almost Truth in Scotland next Friday, either. I know Mary Butler’s Flash Newborn Mother will be accessible but I’ve had to comfort myself for missing the first two with my close enough proximity to a total eclipse.
As members of the same online writers’ group Writers Ink, I have watched the two novels grow from early-stage drafts to polished manuscripts. I know the blood, sweat, and occasional hair tears that went into crafting all three efforts, not to mention the bucketloads of talent behind them. The first novel is a dark tale of twisted relationships and betrayals, the second, a rich story that crosses oceans, painting scenes of family secrets and intrigue in Scotland, Ireland, and Bangladesh. They are such enjoyable reads that it is easy to write reams about them but I will hold back for the moment.