Hey Kathleen, this is weird…I just started a reply and then it disappeared (the same thing happened yesterday to reply I was writing to the fab @antoniamalchik)…
I really like this. Apart from what you say about words and about translation, I felt taken into the story so immediately which was a lovely way to start the day. The combination of interesting thoughts per se, and that sense of wonder that storytelling brings, is always what - I think - we all love when we read.
I envy your economy with words to create something already quite layered and dramatic.
Thank you so much, Nicolas, as well as for sharing this post. I appreciate all this feedback about my opening. When you start a long-run serialisation, this is exactly what you want to hear!
Hey, you’re more than welcome. I’m looking forward to continuing to read it. Maybe, some of your economy with words and narrative push will work its way from the screen, through my eyes, and down into my own hands as I endeavour not to lean into my, almost fatal, predilection for overwriting and risking losing the story in my own stack serialisation, The Tarnished Gloriole.
Oh, yes, I totally meant to also comment on the fact that Ishmael is suuuch a good name. Cat, I assumed when reading. Great nod to Melville. If I ever get another cat, I'm going with Ishmael.
I’m very intrigued by this. Form-wise, it’s something I’ve never seem before on here. And I love cerebral, literary thrillers. Really looking forward to the rest.
It's been fun to use the epistolary form here, and really useful when it comes to playing with trust and layers of characters. Thanks for the great comment and the share!
Gosh, amazing, I love epistolary tales (is that the correct term?) and you know I love anything first person, so this ticks all the boxes right off the bat. Plus, the narrator is a translator, so I know there's going to be some exploration of words etc, as you already hint at here. Lovely stuff, Kate.
I also love you just dropping this in: "Maybe one day you can read this and understand why I had to kill this man." Like, no big deal, I'll just put this key plot development in the middle of a paragraph. 👏
Yes, epistolary! Me too. I teach Frankenstein often and was thinking about how this can add a different element to the narration, including the intended reader.
Appreciate this comment so much, Nathan. Thank you ☺️
If you are reading this comment then either I have read all there is to read about Marie or I have also restacked what is easily one of my new favourite Serials on Substack! Marie also rhymes with Elodie, which is but a coincidence ;)
I’m finally having the chance to read this and I can see that this is going to be intriguing reading. It will take time, yet believe it will be worth it!
Interesting distinction, as a former analyst of policy formulation and a "reader" of policy impact, an important distinction that may go unnoticed by most, which is a huge misunderstanding.
Over all in the function where my unique skills were required was my skill as a "reader"... And to elaborate so as to make clear my meaning on the important distinction. I do not speak any other language than the King's English (and a bit of broken Romanesque). As a "reader" it is one who understands the meaning in "non-verbal" communications. Though not exactly esp... It is still considered an extraordinary skill in the arena "perceptions" which came as a bit of a surprise as I thought everyone could see what I saw as fairly obvious.
Hey Kathleen, this is weird…I just started a reply and then it disappeared (the same thing happened yesterday to reply I was writing to the fab @antoniamalchik)…
I really like this. Apart from what you say about words and about translation, I felt taken into the story so immediately which was a lovely way to start the day. The combination of interesting thoughts per se, and that sense of wonder that storytelling brings, is always what - I think - we all love when we read.
I envy your economy with words to create something already quite layered and dramatic.
Great stuff. Thanks!
Thank you so much, Nicolas, as well as for sharing this post. I appreciate all this feedback about my opening. When you start a long-run serialisation, this is exactly what you want to hear!
Hey, you’re more than welcome. I’m looking forward to continuing to read it. Maybe, some of your economy with words and narrative push will work its way from the screen, through my eyes, and down into my own hands as I endeavour not to lean into my, almost fatal, predilection for overwriting and risking losing the story in my own stack serialisation, The Tarnished Gloriole.
And…I forgot to say that the photo is cool.
Thanks - Vienna is highly photogenic!
Your work looks interesting as well. Great to have the community here to look at styles and bounce ideas.
Ishmael! Melville? ☺️
What a brilliant start (and the pic of Vienna is gorgeous!)!
Melville, correct. Obsessed haha.
Thanks Jules! Vienna is quite photogenic. ☺️
I thought as much. I thought you liked Moby-Dick 😀
Oh, yes, I totally meant to also comment on the fact that Ishmael is suuuch a good name. Cat, I assumed when reading. Great nod to Melville. If I ever get another cat, I'm going with Ishmael.
Kate - you have me intrigued which is a good place for a reader to be. I look forward to the next installment. Thanks.
Thank you, Matthew!
Murder eh? I'm in.
Ha, nice.
If you’re here for murder, I’ve probably got to make it scarier. Working on it!
Nah, I don’t like scary or horror as much. More thriller/mystery. This has a mystery vibe, I think.
I’m very intrigued by this. Form-wise, it’s something I’ve never seem before on here. And I love cerebral, literary thrillers. Really looking forward to the rest.
It's been fun to use the epistolary form here, and really useful when it comes to playing with trust and layers of characters. Thanks for the great comment and the share!
Gosh, amazing, I love epistolary tales (is that the correct term?) and you know I love anything first person, so this ticks all the boxes right off the bat. Plus, the narrator is a translator, so I know there's going to be some exploration of words etc, as you already hint at here. Lovely stuff, Kate.
I also love you just dropping this in: "Maybe one day you can read this and understand why I had to kill this man." Like, no big deal, I'll just put this key plot development in the middle of a paragraph. 👏
I'm strapped in, ready to continue!
Yes, epistolary! Me too. I teach Frankenstein often and was thinking about how this can add a different element to the narration, including the intended reader.
Appreciate this comment so much, Nathan. Thank you ☺️
😊🤗
Yay.
Another I love is parts of Cloud Atlas. He pulled of the letters in that so so well. I keep meaning to go back to that book and reread.
If you are reading this comment then either I have read all there is to read about Marie or I have also restacked what is easily one of my new favourite Serials on Substack! Marie also rhymes with Elodie, which is but a coincidence ;)
Thanks Alexander 🤩
Getting into the spy game, I see… :)
Always! Maybe Elodie can learn something! ;)
Ditto on these thoughts. This is such a fantastic start to the serial.
Is Elodie ever in Vienna? Maybe they bump into each other ;)
Wouldn't that be the thing, the third woman!
A great start, Kate! A really good pace and I definitely want to know what happens next. I'm looking forward to more!
Thanks a lot, Jeffrey!
Cool that you mention pace. I moved into new genre territory here and am certainly playing with it. Cheers.
I’m finally having the chance to read this and I can see that this is going to be intriguing reading. It will take time, yet believe it will be worth it!
Great to have you here, Angel! Thanks so much!
Great start Kate! Can't wait for the "strange and uncanny"...! :)
It's the something else.
Interesting distinction, as a former analyst of policy formulation and a "reader" of policy impact, an important distinction that may go unnoticed by most, which is a huge misunderstanding.
Over all in the function where my unique skills were required was my skill as a "reader"... And to elaborate so as to make clear my meaning on the important distinction. I do not speak any other language than the King's English (and a bit of broken Romanesque). As a "reader" it is one who understands the meaning in "non-verbal" communications. Though not exactly esp... It is still considered an extraordinary skill in the arena "perceptions" which came as a bit of a surprise as I thought everyone could see what I saw as fairly obvious.
Thanks for reading and your comment, DB!
Do you meant the distinction between interpreter and translator? Or something else?
I'll have to read this in May, for sure, Kathleen.
Thank you, Mike!
Thanks Nadia! Lovely to see you back.💜