Since my last posting, I have gotten enough feedback to know that there are several trends among readers of Condemned to Freedom. I think I can share some of them without giving away any of the elements of the mystery.
First the good: Readers have been enjoying the mystery itself--so far, no one has said they solved it, but all have agreed that the clues were there for them to do so; they just didn't grasp their relevance at the time. In discussions with reading clubs, while many have enjoyed the mystery elements, the majority of discussion has centered on the problems teachers and teen face in schools today. Many have enjoyed batting around the moral dilemmas and professional issues the characters encounter, and it's nice to hear that readers feel I let them make up their own minds rather than preach to them. Teachers have pointed out the authenticity and real-time feel the book has. All have been particularly interested in discussing and debating what choice the protagonist makes in the end. On a lighter note, some readers have picked up on the games I played with characters' names, but it's usually with only one or two of the characters.
Now the bad: Some readers feel that I used some vocabulary that was too complex and deep (one termed them "uptown words") especially in the early chapters. On a related note, some felt that the first several chapters were difficult, but once they got into the school subplot, the story moved at a fast pace. This may explain why I had such difficulty with agents. Agents generally read only the first ten to fifty pages and judge the whole book based on that. Interesting. I will have to remember that for the sequel. And I promise not to send you running for the dictionary!
I'd like to end this entry with a fond remembrance of my father-in-law, Pete Syrylo, who passed away six years ago today. Pete was an Army veteran of World War II, survived the D-Day invasion, and then came home to build the good life in DuBois PA with his sweetheart, Virginia. Together, they had three daughters, to whom he gave love, security, and an example of what a husband, father, friend, and citizen ought to be. Pete, we love you and miss you.
Take care until next time. John
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