Big thank you to Craig Hansen for his generous review of Swallow at Amazon.com. Us fledgling authors appreciate feedback, good or bad, as it helps to know how our books are being received by you, the readers!
A bad review is useful for showing us where we went wrong, what we could have done better, etc, so we can apply the newly-learned information in our next project. A good review cheers and motivates us, especially when – like me now – we’re at that midway point in writing a large piece that feels like the finish line keeps running further away.
I shall remain steadfast! Headliner will be available for publication in autumn.
Anyway, here it is. Thanks, Craig! Oh, I do like your actor suggestions 🙂
Ilyria x
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“It took me a long time to finish SWALLOW by Ilyria Moon, but I read a lot of things at once, and with a longish book like this, that was to be expected.
The most important thing to point out here is that Moon’s confidence and skill as a writer permeate the book from the opening chapter to the closing one. Although her book is longish, rare are the passages that feel stretched out or lacking in that “moving the story forward” synergy that all good reads possess.
Her tale of a rehabbing British rocker and the unexpected romance he finds on his way to sobriety is entertaining on both the romantic and comedic levels it is striving for. Wolf and Luna appeal and transfix, even in their odder moments.
Clocking in at around 140,000 words or so, Swallow might seem a bit longish for a rom-com; but that’s before you begin to read it and get swept up in the journey of the characters, and the lean skill of Moon’s prose. Despite the time it took me, the book never feels like it’s dragging things out that much, and instead casts its scope around a slightly broader cast than the average rom-com.
By the time SWALLOW concludes, the read ends up feeling satisfying and complete, rather than a thin slice of life. While some readers may prefer a slimmer tome for light reading, SWALLOW delivers a generous tale, told well. While not without the odd niggling flaw, SWALLOW ended up being a better read than I ever anticipated. And I challenge anyone who’s seen GET HIM TO THE GREEK and the remake of ARTHUR not to envision Russell Brand fitting into this role quite nicely, should it ever become a movie. Not sure who to peg for Luna… Karen Gillan, perhaps? Or maybe even Evanna Lynch, already well familiar to roles involving characters named Luna.
In any event, count SWALLOW as an unexpectedly good read. Then swallow your aversion to longer books and get to reading. Well done.”
– Craig Hansen
Tags: arthur, get him to the greek, karen gillan, novel, rom-com, romantic comedy, russell brand, screenplay, swallow
, I’ve had a little more time to devote to reading and watching other writers’ rockin’ contributions to the world of entertainment.
. I enjoyed it immensely (if mainly for the soundtrack to my freakin’ life) and was surprised Tom Cruise actually managed to pull off his role as rock god Stacee Jaxx. I’m all about rock being REAL, going right to the core and so I didn’t hold much hope of him trashing it. I was wrong. In fact, the main story centres round two other characters anyway, but when Cruise is on-screen, he does well.
Ilyria's Moods 
