This opening chapter is gripping! Maggie's urgency, frustration, and determination leap off the page. The dialogue feels raw and real—especially her exchange with Alicia, which captures the exhaustion and resistance many feel when faced with another battle in a lifetime of them. And that ending? “Book Club.” What a perfect way to signal the beginning of something big while keeping the reader hungry for more.
New subscriber here - very encouraged to see you publishing serial fiction here, which is what I propose to do soon as well. But your story! Wow 🤯 - I so wish Maggie’s situation was not at all relatable, but of course as things are now, it’s actually difficult to remember this is fiction. I hesitated to start this, because I am already so exhausted and disheartened; but I am SO glad I read it anyway, in light of the hope I felt over the mysterious’Book Club’; looking forward to more! Thank you 🙏 for this.
Remind me--is this fiction you are writing? I have so many questions! I want to know more about Ali and Maggie and their relationship, their history. I want to know what their book club is going to be about (is this the title of your book?).
Also, this is a hard topic to write about. I appreciate that you engaged the reader with dialogue, dropping us into scene. Anything related to fertility and reproduction is always going to be tricky and triggering to some (trust me, I write about it in my memoir), but you did well here. Thanks for sharing this with me!
Yes, fiction, Jeannie although fiction and reality are rather blurred these days, aren't they? The title of the novel is Make No Mistake and I wrote it in 2019. Does the audio version work better for you than the screen? The next chapters are longer but I do plan to start recording them this week so you can continue the story. So glad you’re already curious about Maggie and Ali 😁
Great. Make No Mistake is a fantastic title. I actually read the chapter instead of listening to it, because I can handle reading stories in small increments on a screen. Otherwise, I prefer physical copies. :)
Julie, you have a wonderful narrating voice. Please continue You might want to think of doing it rather as a voice post once because those are also published as a podcast for Apple and Spotify. Let me know if you might need help with setting that up.
This opening chapter is gripping! Maggie's urgency, frustration, and determination leap off the page. The dialogue feels raw and real—especially her exchange with Alicia, which captures the exhaustion and resistance many feel when faced with another battle in a lifetime of them. And that ending? “Book Club.” What a perfect way to signal the beginning of something big while keeping the reader hungry for more.
Thanks so much, Jay. To hear you are hungry for more is all I need to hear. 😁 And in a few days, there will be more!
Love how this starts right in the meat of action and purpose. Reflection and engagement immediately triggered
Thank you, Sarah. Delighted to hear you're engaged from the start 😊
New subscriber here - very encouraged to see you publishing serial fiction here, which is what I propose to do soon as well. But your story! Wow 🤯 - I so wish Maggie’s situation was not at all relatable, but of course as things are now, it’s actually difficult to remember this is fiction. I hesitated to start this, because I am already so exhausted and disheartened; but I am SO glad I read it anyway, in light of the hope I felt over the mysterious’Book Club’; looking forward to more! Thank you 🙏 for this.
Oh how wonderful to hear that you hesitated (and I fully understand why) yet are feeling hope as the story unfolds. Yay!
Love that opening. Very compelling.
Hi Julie!
Remind me--is this fiction you are writing? I have so many questions! I want to know more about Ali and Maggie and their relationship, their history. I want to know what their book club is going to be about (is this the title of your book?).
Also, this is a hard topic to write about. I appreciate that you engaged the reader with dialogue, dropping us into scene. Anything related to fertility and reproduction is always going to be tricky and triggering to some (trust me, I write about it in my memoir), but you did well here. Thanks for sharing this with me!
Yes, fiction, Jeannie although fiction and reality are rather blurred these days, aren't they? The title of the novel is Make No Mistake and I wrote it in 2019. Does the audio version work better for you than the screen? The next chapters are longer but I do plan to start recording them this week so you can continue the story. So glad you’re already curious about Maggie and Ali 😁
Great. Make No Mistake is a fantastic title. I actually read the chapter instead of listening to it, because I can handle reading stories in small increments on a screen. Otherwise, I prefer physical copies. :)
If I decide to print the book, you’ll be the first to know 😉
Great, Julie!
Julie, you have a wonderful narrating voice. Please continue You might want to think of doing it rather as a voice post once because those are also published as a podcast for Apple and Spotify. Let me know if you might need help with setting that up.
I'm so late getting started with this, but you've hooked me already! I hope to be caught up by this weekend! So excited! 🙌❤
Yes! Another reader hooked 😉 The dream of every writer 😊
I hooked!
Great opening! And I love that "Book Club" has moved front and centre. Keep the chapters coming!
Thanks for your enthusiasm! As someone who read an early draft, you will see a few changes along the way 😁
I love this already!
Thank you, Helen. I am so happy to hear this. That's an author's dream.