I read your YA novel, "Crossing the Line", and despite my hairy knuckles, I kinda liked it. As a writer, I'm envious of your ability to plot such a clean story. I tend to meander, but your storytelling is dead-on with every paragraph.
I got lazy a few times, like we all do when we read, and I skimmed a few paragraphs only to find myself lost because something happened and I missed it. I can skim pages and pages of other authors, but you broke me quick of that bad habit.
See, I had to go back, slow down and read every word, because you didn't waste syllables clucking about someone's sock drawer and their pretty dresses and how they plan to wear their hair tonight. Lean and mean. Well played. Keep that voice.
And then you wove parallel now-and-then plot lines about two groups of teens into a seamless story that on paper must have appeared redundant. I bet it did, if you plotted on story cards or such, because there were overt similarities between the past v. present characters that bordered on cut-and-paste. Still, I somehow had to read every word of both stories, because there were nugget differences buried beneath the sand that when overturned, turned over everything.
I was pleasantly surprised on several occasions. It's like a jack-in-the-box. The book is predictably unexpectable, but even though you know it's coming, you jump anyway.
Oh, and on the ghost part, I have to admit you got me good. Seriously, and this is not a joke or an exaggeration, you got me. I was reading the end of the novel in Chic Fila, letting my toddler, strike that, young son (he's four, not a toddler by God!) play while I found some peace in the chaos to finish your book. Ah, the end.
The end. The sweet, sweet ending.
I won't spoil it, but it triggered me, because we, too, lost a toddler back in 2012, and when I read your afterward, and realized you are an angel parent as well, the ending of your novel made a bit more sense to me. I felt your heart in that scene, and I bet you did, too.
But back to Chic Fila. I had to step into the restroom and cry. True story. That's not a common thing after six years for a man who's emotionally constipated. Again, well-played.
Enough about that, let's move into technical considerations. The editing was fabulous. I can tell you and your editors worked hard on getting it just right. Pace. Structure. Grammar. Plot. Story. Characters. All first-rate, and what I would expect from a professional author.
And as for the story itself, it was interesting and consuming, and I had no trouble suspending my disbelief and settling into your story. The supernatural elements felt a little rushed at times, but that's the pace of a YA novel, and again it comes down to skipping paragraphs. You did not waste time beating bushes. Maybe that's what I mean to say. I'm not complaining about the rush, but I sorta feel like the book was written at high speed with the windows down.
Sure, like that, and on a smooth, straight road. That there's the definition of a fast read, my friend.
Anyway, I enjoyed "Crossing the Line", and I hope other readers will enjoy it as much as I did. Good luck on the shelf, and here's to making a good run of it.
Your friend and newest fan,
- Eric
Ellen Valladares
WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING TOUR
OF
Crossing the Line
Paperback: 300 pages
Genre: Fiction
/ Young Adult Novel
Publisher: WiDO (March 2018)
ISBN-13: 978-1-937178-99-4
Publisher: WiDO (March 2018)
ISBN-13: 978-1-937178-99-4
Amazon Link:
Laura, who died thirty years ago, enlists the help of a tenacious
high school reporter named Rebecca, who is very much alive. Rebecca, although
skeptical and conflicted by her supposed encounters with a spirit, determines
to learn the truth about Laura’s tragic death. As the clues unravel and their
worlds collide, Rebecca finds herself at a dangerous crossroads.
Laura, now pulled back into everything she left
behind when she died – her old high school and memories of her life and
death—has been in training for this exact moment. And nothing means more to her
than succeeding at her assignment.
It is her one chance to make sure that what happened
to her does not happen to anyone else, and especially not to her new friend,
Rebecca.
About the Author:
Ellen Wolfson Valladares is an award-winning
writer/author, workshop facilitator, community volunteer, and mother. A native
Floridian, she grew up in St. Petersburg and graduated with a bachelor’s degree
in Journalism from the University of Florida. She has worked as an editor,
public relations professional, and freelance writer. Her first book, a
children’s novel entitled Jonathan's Journey to Mount Miapu, received several
awards, including a Mom’s Choice Gold Award and the 2009 Coalition of Visionary
Resources Visionary Awards Book of the Year award. She also has a meditation
CD, entitled "Healing and Manifestation with the Archangels."
Today, Valladares continues to work as a freelance
writer. She also enjoys coaching high school students working on their college
essays and helping other writers realize their dreams. She has been married to
her husband, Manny, for 30 years and they have two sons, Gabriel and Michael,
two dogs, Flash and Chili Pepper, and a crazy cat named Zelda. They live in
Weston, Fla.
Find Ellen Online:
website: http://www.ellenvalladares.com
Twitter: @ValladaresEllen
WoW! Women On Writing Blog Tour Dates
Monday, April 16th @ The Muffin
Join us at the Muffin for an author
interview and book giveaway for the fictional young adult novel by Ellen Valladares, Crossing
the Line.
Tuesday, April 17th @ World of My Imagination
Nicole Pyles reads and reviews "Crossing the Line" by
Ellen Valladares. This is a fun young adult novel that readers will be sure to
delight in!
Wednesday, April 18th @ Beverley Baird
Beverley Baird reviews "Crossing the Line" by
Ellen Valladares. Readers won't want to miss this fast paced young adult novel!
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/
Thursday, April 19th @ Memoir Writer’s Journey
Ellen Valladares pens today's guest
post at Kathleen Pooler's Memoir Writer's Journey. Don't miss this great post
titled "Your Writer's Purpose -- how creating your purpose/vision can keep
you on target" and learn more about Valladares' latest novel "Crossing the Line".
Thursday, April 19th @ Write Like Crazy
Mary Jo reads Ellen Valladares' "Crossing the Line"
and shares her thoughts with readers at Write Like Crazy.
Friday, April 20th @ BookWorm
Anjanette Potter delights readers at
Bookworm with her review of the YA Novel "Crossing
the Line" by Ellen Valladares.
Saturday, April 21st @ Spark the Wizard
Brandi at Spark the Wizard shares her
thoughts in a review of Ellen Valladares novel "Crossing the Line".
Monday, April 23rd @
Bring on Lemons with Cathy Hansen
Wisconsin entrepreneur and school
teacher reviews the latest novel by Ellen Valladares. Don't miss this
opportunity to find out more about the YA Novel "Crossing the Line".
Tuesday, April 24th @ Finished Pages
Today, at Finished Pages, readers have
an opportunity to learn more about "Crossing
the Line" the latest novel by Ellen Valladares. Don't miss Renee's
review of this YA Novel!
Wednesday, April 25th @ Reviews by Deb
Deborah Blanchard shares her thoughts
after reading "Crossing the Line"
by accomplished author and journalist Ellen Valladares.
Thursday, April 26th @ Digging with the Worms
Eric Trant reviews the latest novel by
Ellen Valladares. See what Eric thinks of "Crossing
the Line" and find out more about this great book and accomplished
author.
http://diggingwiththeworms.blogspot.com/
http://diggingwiththeworms.blogspot.com/
Thursday, April 26th @ Phy Tallic
Phy reviews the delightful YA Novel "Crossing the Line" by
Ellen Valladares.
Friday, April 27th @ Write Happy
Today at Write Happy, Cathy Brown will
be interviewing Ellen Valladares about her latest novel "Crossing the Line". Don't miss this opportunity
to learn more about this YA Novel as
well as hear some tips from the accomplished journalist and author Ellen
Valladares.
https://www.writehappy.net/blog
https://www.writehappy.net/blog
Monday, April 30th @ Ellen Valladares
Crystal J. Casavant-Otto from WOW!
Women on Writing reviews "Crossing
the Line" by Ellen Valladares and shares her thoughts with readers
at Valladares' blog.
http://ellenvalladares.com/ellens-blog/
http://ellenvalladares.com/ellens-blog/
Tuesday, May 1st @ I Just Want to Finish My…
Brittany shares her thoughts after
reading "Crossing the Line"
by Ellen Valladares. Don't miss this insightful blog stop for this delightful Young
Adult Novel!
Wednesday, May 2nd @ Hott Books
Don't miss today's guest post at Hott
Books! Distinguished author Ellen Valladares shares her post titled: 'The
Inspiration Behind Crossing the Line'. You'll want to learn more about this
delightful YA Novel!
Friday, May 4th @ Frasers Fun House
Melanie at Frasers Fun House reviews "Crossing the Line" by
Ellen Valladares.
Monday, May 7th @ Word Nerd Media
Elizabeth at Word Nerd reviews the
latest novel by Ellen Valladares. You won't want to miss a minute of this
captivating YA Novel "Crossing
the Line".
Eric W. Trant is a published author of several short stories and the novels WINK, STEPS and RISEN from WiDo Publishing, out now! See more of Eric's work here: Publications, or order directly from Amazon, or wherever books are sold.** BE A SUPER-HERO! BE AN ORGAN DONOR! **
Haunted by visions of a demonic angel and sold into servitude by his father, young Alberto battles to survive the horrors of a nineteenth century Sicilian sulfur mine. Suffering merciless brutality, Alberto must save not only himself but his deformed older brother, both pawns in their father's mad plan to overthrow a group of wealthy landowners.Bound by a death-debt to his hunchback master, Alberto discovers a door the miners call Porta dell'Inferno, the Door to Hell, deep within the sulfur mines. When he learns the demon-angel of his dreams stalks the caverns beyond the door, Alberto realizes a strange fate has lured him and his brother to the gates leading to the underworld.Now Alberto must face the creature from his visions and rise to become the man his father demands him to be, or remain forever trapped in a hellish world where none escape.
