Those of you who are reading this are my family and friends. (Some of you I met 50 years ago and will remember Brooks, mentioned later.)

We have related as colleagues, students, parents of students, and members of the same church or special interest group. You have supported me in one way or another. By agreeing to receive weekly notice of my blog posts, you support me. As in the past, I trust your interest in me. Therefore, this week I offer an apology, an explanation, and an appeal.

Two weeks ago I posted “First Chapter,” introducing you to my current writing project, Dual of Weddenskeep.

This week a regular reader of my posts gave me honest feedback that I recognize as truth. Here, I share it here with you:

“My biggest issue is that I have no idea what this is about.

Generally, when I go to check out a book, I have some description of the point of the book and the genre.

Here, I haven’t the foggiest what I’m reading. 

Is it fantasy, sci-fi, horror, historical fiction, dystopian future, the present, sometime in history (medieval or bronze age perhaps)?

Is it even on Earth or is it a made-up world?

Is their fighting the point of the book or a McGuffin? 

I don’t read books unless it serves a purpose or it sounds interesting to me.

There’s nothing for me to go on, except you wrote it a long time ago, so I wouldn’t voluntarily read a book I knew nothing about if I hadn’t been asked to.”

I truly appreciate the forthright honesty of this reader. If you share these opinions, I sincerely apologize for not giving more background on what I am writing. Here is the background story, the reason for my past and current writing, and my response to my reader:

“Of all the students from around the world who have lived with us, Brooks had the greatest impact on our family. Like Roesall, he was well built and athletic. Learning how to deal with his sexual tension often triggered his quick temper. But like Halbaer, he could be philosophical and thought-filled. He loved Jesus, but his human nature ruled him most of the time.

I have not known anyone before or after him with such a passionate dichotomy of mind and body. It impressed me so much that I began writing about twins who formed one person in the womb but at birth became two very different individuals. The story goes on to a climax when the two are immersed in the pool of Pneuma (or Neuma, Greek for Spirit) and they emerge as one.                                                                                                                                                 

Being greatly influenced by Tolkien and Lewis, I have made an allegory of Halbaer and Roesall and their eventual melding into Robaer.  Perhaps the classification of this story is allegorical fantasy (maybe fantastical allegory?). And the intended audience is young adults. (Another of Ed’s former sixth graders (and now one of my blog readers) recently help me come to that decision by responding to a post.)”

So, I invite you to be a special reader of my evolving manuscript. As such, you should give candid comments, and I will give careful consideration to them. In the above case, the first chapter is now the third chapter. A prologue is now part of the manuscript; it sets the place and names two minor, important characters, including the villain and his curse.

A special reader will receive an installment every week or so. I think that a third of the book is now in place. I hope to present the manuscript to BookBaby, my publisher by the beginning of September.

I know how busy life is. I know that most of you will not have the time nor the interest to be a special reader. That’s okay.

Still, for the few, the invitation is offered.