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The Kirkus Review is in for my book. The consensus is…
While I was out wandering the mountains of Georgia, someone was typing up and submitting their review of Not Waving, Drowning for the inimitable Kirkus Review. I am pleased to report, I do NOT suck. I did not star, but neither did I crash and burn. For those of you that have purchased and read Not Waving, Drowning. Thank you, and I hope you agree with all the most wonderful parts of this review, and that you stuck through the complicated parts… because I write for a smart, yet complicated reader, and let’s face it, life is damn messy.
Not Waving, Drowning earns a Kirkus Review!
What Kirkus had to say:
Sands, Linda NOT WAVING, DROWNING CreateSpace (224 pp.) $14.99 Paperback $2.99 e-book September 26, 2011 ISBN: 978-1466409736
The lives of three women, separated by time and connected by loss, are woven together in unexpected ways in Sands’ debut novel. The seductive Southern charms of Savannah, Ga., provide the backdrop for Sands’ tapestry of a novel that interweaves the lives of three women from starkly different eras.
In August 2011, photographer and grieving widow Maggie Morris arrives in Savannah after her husband’s sudden death in a boating accident. While investigating his mysterious drowning, Maggie becomes entangled in the lives of several local residents. One of these is a handsome, young lighthouse restorer who recounts the story of the famous Waving Girl—Savannah’s own maritime legend who greeted ships for over 40 years from the island home she shared with her brother.
In alternating chapters, the novel flashes back to the 1890s, when a feisty newspaper reporter named Bobbie Denton, who also happens to be Maggie’s great-grandmother, meets the actual Waving Girl, née Florence Martus, while on assignment in Savannah. Flora’s story, told from an intimate point of view, centers on one day in 1940 when the 72-year-old woman lays to rest her dead brother, George, while recalling her life’s dark secrets.
If this all sounds a bit complicated, it is. Sands writes with graceful lyricism about the longings and regrets that bind these disparate women, and the images of lonely lighthouses and windswept shores are often stunning. As a whole, however, the novel suffers from narrative interruptions, with the chapters alternating rapidly and often abruptly, and many threads becoming tangled as a result.
On their own, each woman’s story is rich and engrossing. In an ambitious novel spanning more than a century, Sands creates tension in small moments and haunting questions—many of which are not answered until the final pages.
Despite the awkward narrative structure, there is plenty of Southern charm to keep readers hooked until the end. Strong female characters and an evocative setting make this an enjoyable read.
What Bookwenches had to say:
Title: Not Waving, DrowningAuthor: Linda Sands
Author’s website: http://linda-sands.com/
Publisher: BookBaby
Release Date: September 26, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-61842-1715 Length:
Novel Format: Electronic
Genre: Fiction
Language/Violence Level: 2 Sensuality Level: 3 Rating: 5+ Keeper
Reviewed by: Clea 
The stories of three women, spanning a century, interlink with one another in beautifully haunting ways. Flora, a feisty elderly woman, chooses to reveal a lifetime full of secrets to a complete stranger on the day of her beloved brother’s death. Bobbie, a turn of the century reporter, travels for her job but is actually running from the trauma of her past, sacrificing her soul for scraps of love. Maggie, a woman who finds it increasingly difficult to express her emotions, goes to Savannah to look into her husband’s mysterious disappearance. ******** Savannah, Georgia, with all its quirks and traditions serves as a back drop to a multigenerational story of three unconventional women who struggle to survive the paths their lives have taken. Their stories are linked by beautiful poetry filled with love, hurt, death, grief, and life. The poetry serves not only as a tool to link the women and their experiences, but it also enhances the feelings behind each scene and draws the reader into the lives of these characters even more. Flora, Bobbie and Maggie are three unique characters that will haunt you long after you’ve finished reading their stories. They are strong, independent women full of heartache who struggle to survive and move forward with their lives the best ways they know how. Often that means making unwise choices in life which can lead to little bits of insanity, but sometimes that’s the key to survival. This book is overflowing with emotion and a lot of it is often sadness and loneliness, but the author manages to interject mild touches of humor even in the darkest moments of sadness. This may move you from tears to giggles in the blink of an eye, but the author does it in a way that is tasteful and serves to remind you that life goes on. One thing about this book that kept me turning the pages is how the story leaps from different points in time and takes us on a timetable throughout the history of the world from the late 1800’s, to the 1940’s then jumps to modern times. I loved how the author uses this technique to show how the things we do, think and feel will affect people of generations to come. Not Waving, Drowning isn’t a happy-go-lucky story that will perk you up and make you feel good about life; instead it is a beautifully written, sad story that will leave a lasting imprint on your soul.
Paint, write, cook, garden. It all means you are a creative soul.
I read a sentence that synopsized this thought from Mary Morris’s book, Revenge. The novelist character shares this thought with her painter friend when she admits ashamedly that she can’t cook. This follows a recent scene where the painter’s gay brother created a bountiful meal from scraps, for the novelist’s family.
Which got me thinking.
If the idea is that creativity is the same whether it’s cooking or painting or writing or gardening, then if you’re doing them all at the same time, will you only be giving a quarter of your talent to each one?
Maybe this is the reason that I can only do one of these well at a time.
( In my mind I see a woman at the stove stirring a pot with one hand, sketching with her right foot, planting a flower with her other hand and typing with her left foot.)
Yes, it is impossible to do them all at the exact same time. But in my every day life, I can either do one of these well, or burn a whole lot of food.
When I’m taking a break from writing a novel, I usually find some other creative outlet to feed me, like decorating a house, creating a garden, a crafting or building project, or baking something new. Sometimes I venture deep into the pantry and try my hand at an odd meal combination, where I feed another odd habit: the desire to use things up and toss empty containers.
sigh.
I am giving away all my oddities, aren’t I. But, seriously. Nothing pleases me more than to finish a tube of toothpaste and toss it out. I would never be a hoarder, or one of those pantry stocking coupon gals.
Anyway, Morris says- well, her character says, that easch of those things: cooking,painting writng, gardening take nothing and make something of it. Perhaps that’s the beginning of creativity. Seeing the possibility.
I like that.
Thinking about that led me here to read about the 9 attitudes of highly creative people, which I totally agree with.
And, no, this whole blog was not a way to avoid writing. It’s just another kind of writing. Another outlet for Linda.
Buy a real hold-in-your-hand-smell-the-paper copy of Not Waving, Drowning today.
Just click on the book cover below and you will be directed to the payment link.
Many thanks in advance.
( you can also get ebooks anywhere you like to connect or buy paperback from Amazon- see links in red HERE )
No longer TABOO. Print your own damn book, son.
If you’ve just crawled out from under a rock, brush yourself off, grab a hot mug of tea and sit down.
Because I’m here to tell you. Publishing has changed.
Not just publishing of books, newspapers and magazines… virtually everything in print is now coming at us at the speed of light- well, sort of. Maybe it’s more like the speed of me driving the sports car to Florida on that open stretch in Alabama that’s too barren for cops to hide. Yeah, like that.
See, I’ve been reading stuff like this about reader’s habits.
and this about ebooks vs traditional books
and figured out this.
which made me do this.( see the widget to the right, falling off the page.)
oh yes. you like that? Look here, so do they.
and if you comment below? I will give you a free copy. Game on, son.
Somedays, I write like a bestselling author
This is from the brilliant Lawrence Block:
“…a sign in a window caught her eye. WAITRESS WANTED. The place was unprepossessing, and none of the handful of customers struck her as a potential big tipper….She went in, unfastened the Scotch tape that held the WAITRESS WANTED sign in place, took it down and carried it to the counter, where a stocky man with a moustache raised his abundant eyebrows and watched her from beneath them. ” You must be Stavro,” she said. “You can put this away. I’m your new waitress.”
*****and this is from me, Linda Sands, when Roxie gets a job, in “3 Women Walk into a Bar” ********
“When she passed Flannigan’s and saw the sign, Help Wanted, she felt a bit of the old Don tingle return. It was a gauge she couldn’t ignore, so she opened the door and walked in. It was just another bar in just another town, but it felt like home. It felt like a hot meal on a starched placemat in a clean kitchen. It felt like a yellow room full of baby furniture. It felt like the perfect combination of a broad chest and strong arms spooning her from behind. She introduced herself to Mr. Smith.
“I’m the girl you need.”
She held out her hand and when he took it and their eyes met, she said, “Take down the sign.” “
She held out her hand and when he took it and their eyes met, she said, “Take down the sign.” “
Block’s book just came out last month- I just read it on Kindle two days ago.
I wrote the 3 Women walk into a Bar scene in Summer of 2010. Agent is shopping the manuscript in NYC right now.
Hmm. Is there hope for a little girl from Syracuse?
Cool blog about writing…because what’s better than that?
Good Reads. My new favorite place to meet people.
Like this gal, Jackie. Check out her blog, and her comeback to the Amazon vs. Traditional Publishers dispute.
New World, Old World… or the best of both?
THE BOOK IS OUT.
Sure. It isn’t the way I thought it would be. And maybe, it isn’t the way you want it to be.
But the reality is… when the mountain didn’t come to Mohammad, the fat bastard got off his lazy ass and went to the mountain.
Today, I give you all a mountain.
AND 10 free ones this week to those who write to me on my facebook page and ask- nicely- or not so nicely… after all this is a free world. Speak up.
Wondering if there’s an audience for your book?
When I open the Modern Truck Drivers Facebook page and see over 1000 friend requests waiting, I feel prettty sure I have an audience for the photo essay book of modern drivers.
Now, with the new novel nearing completion- a mystery series featuring a sassy female trucker.. well, I am all smiles on this day in Georgia.
Especially when I clicked on this video sent by a new Facebook buddy. You gotta love it.
Terry Wooley sings Big Boy’s Toy
