In Between The Gaps
I was lucky enough to receive an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this new novel by T.L. Dyer. These ARC’s feature towards the end of the writing process, shortly before the novel is due for publication. They act as a final sanity-check for the author before the public at large can purchase a copy. To all intents and purposes the novel is finished by this point, and feedback should centre around their impressions of the story. Of course, any minor tweaks the ARC reader feels could be necessary is welcome. An author does not expect to hear of major plot holes triggering a rewrite and although privately worrying that may happen, it’s very unlikely at this stage. Rather, the odd spelling error that has been missed, perhaps a character name change, the inclusion of a particular landmark in a scene, the addition of dialogue to bolster up a crucial exchange, is the sort of thing that may arise. In short, nothing that is going to take more than an hour or so to assess and remedy. The ARC is more about gathering feedback and reviews to be used at the point of publication, with ARC readers posting their thoughts to encourage other potential readers to pick up the novel. That’s the real focus of this part of the writing process.
This is the third ARC I’ve been involved with in the last six months and I find it an enjoyable part of the writing life. I have heard of authors never hearing back from folk who have said they would read. I appreciate that life can get in the way and sometimes things happen that can derail people from finishing what they start. But it is far from ideal. It’s a commitment that needs to be followed through usually within a certain timeframe, with a deadline to meet. An author does not want to put back the publication date, given the time and effort already spent in preparing for it. No feedback can leave the author wondering if anyone did read and whether it was good, bad or indifferent. No author needs this right before making the leap to publication. There are enough worries and self-doubts without ARC readers failing to respond. If this does happen, then please let the author know time was against you, as that simple communication will make all the difference.
Here’s my review of In Between The Gaps. I loved this book and can thoroughly recommend it.
Entertaining, intriguing and thought-provoking
In Between The Gaps is a new novel from T.L. Dyer, which moves away from the detective/crime genre the author has previously worked in. Having read their earlier novels, I was intrigued by the blurb and excited to read. I was not disappointed. The story switches back and forth between the meeting of four friends to commemorate the death of one of their group thirty-two years ago, to detailing the events that led up to that tragic incident. Inevitably the passing of time and the life challenges that are part of growing older, alters perspective of their own past and how they view their friends in the present. The author expertly handles the change from one timeline to the other, from different perspectives, while maintaining the intrigue and tension throughout. This is by no means an easy feat to achieve, yet the author has done so while unpacking the various threads of the plot with a clarity and focus which makes this novel such a satisfying read. I could not second-guess the outcome and was more than delighted I had invested time in a story that was not only entertaining and intriguing, but incredibly thought-provoking. The characters are beautifully drawn out, scene descriptions have the right amount of detail, and the style of writing is simply wonderful. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more from the author in future.
The Fiction Factory 