WORK IN PROGRESS – CONDITIONED – CALL FOR BETA READERS

I’m delighted to announce that I’m finished with the first draft for CONDITIONED – which is the sequel to CONDITIONS.

Of all my books none has triggered as many requests for a sequel as CONDITIONS did.
I am naturally very flattered and pleased about that interest. I am also surprised. Instead of giving a fairytale or Hollywood ending to every subplot and character in CONDITIONS I had deliberately taken only a snapshot approach in the book.

Part of me felt that going back might compromise the underlying message that life is an ongoing process. Pretending that there is a single solution or (right) answer to problems can be simplifying and wrong.

However, I have taken the challenge on, thanks to several encouraging comments, especially  from Jo Robinson, John Barker and Fabio Genuiardi.

We’re diving back into the world of gardener Charles, his mental health problems and his friends: loner Simon and his battle with the outside world, co-dependent Martha and her abusive husband, neurotic poet Catherine on the verge of getting married, psychic Elaine looking for a new direction in life and quirky widow Sarah Roseberg who has a go at sorting out all of their problems.

This is the first time that I’m writing a direct sequel and I have quickly learned how difficult such an undertaking is: The continuity, the danger of becoming predictable and the need to let the characters have their own say without falling over existing boundaries.

It has proven a lot of fun though and another catharctic experience for me.

If you have read Conditions or are new to the series and would like to become a beta reader please contact me. I hope to have the story polished enough in due course.

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