The current synopsis of work: What is love? Is it just a feeling of infatuation? An obsession? Or both? Has anyone ever truly experienced it? Katie has fallen madly in love with a man, Dante, who she meets in Wisconsin. Despite her impatience with the self- righteous schizophrenic man and his family coming between them, she struggles to win his heart. But it isn’t enough. When her family sees how Dante treats Katie, they step in, and they make it impossible for them to be together. When Dante cheats on Katie with another woman, Katie fights even harder to get the answers she seeks, trying everything in her power to contact him. In the process she gets threatened by members of his family and the woman who took Dante from her. Katie wanted to make up with Dante and proves her love even when they are apart in hope that one day he will love her as he claimed to so long ago. In the process, Katie discovers that she as crazy as Dante and his family made her out to be. She dates. Katie is an accomplished writer and small time actress. She tries to forget her feelings for Dante. She struggles and the more she tries, the more she is driven to her own insanity. Odd things begin to happen, and she wonders what’s real and what isn’t. Backwards touches on family issues, mental illness, dating, and issues of the heart. Despite the sadness, the main character goes through it. The author adds humor and keeps the story going with every character, creating drama between the couple. A lot of it is narrated by the main character Katie and her perspective. She is very open and honest and seems genuine. Backwards is very detailed and nothing is left out. The story has a good rhythm and always keeps your attention in what will happen next.
The Current Length of Work (#of words):87,829
Market/ Demographic Focus: Romance/Adult Fiction
Main Characters for Backwards: Katie, thirty years of age, very pretty with a great personality. But makes many mistakes and is a struggling actress writer who displays obsessive compulsive behavior, and suffers from post traumatic stress.
Dante: Twenty-eight, not the best looking, but funny, Annoys everyone, always thinks he’s right, he displays symptoms of paranoia and has a wondering eye. Yet, Katie loves him.
Lilith: A large black bisexual, drunk in her twenties who steals Dante from Katie
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Supporting Characters:
Cleo- Dante’s clueless mother who never thinks any woman is never good enough for her son.
Felix- Dante’s older depressed Brother
Hanna- Dante’s two faced bipolar younger sister
Pixy- The youngest of all the siblings, immature and rude.
Sybil- The oldest more successful one of Dante’s siblings, is kind to make herself look good, but is actually selfish and paranoid.
Carly- Katie’s triplet sister who is noisy and gossips
Bella- Katie’s other triplet sister who makes a hobby out of breaking Katie and her boyfriends up.
Gwen- Katie’s drunken sister with a heart.
Dad- Katie’s father who is a good looking man, constantly making mistakes and trying to redeem himself.
Mom- Katie’s lesbian mother who helps her through everything.
Selma- A manish black woman in her forties.
Lyle-Katie and Dante’s old roommate in his thirties, and shows interest in Katie.
Jen- A transvestite who was Katie’s old boss/friend
Isa- An unattractive black man that was an old co- worker and friend of Katie’s
Paul- A large black man in his forties that befriends Dante and Katie
Roy- Dante’s loyal best friend
Kirk-Katie’s little nephew- Mother is Carly
Missy- Katie’s niece- Mother is Carly
Chase- Husband to Bella
Cruelelah- A fat Mexican who tries to take Dante from Katie
Sara- A young woman from India that comes between Dante and Katie
Minor Characters: Dante’s Grandma, Dante’s uncle, Bruce and Harmony-Dante’s friends, Dante’s roommates, Frank- A movie director, Alex- a young good looking movie director that Katie had an affair with when her and Dante where broken up. Katie’s cousins, police officer, security officer, Todd- Katie’s old co worker and classmate, Rick- Lyle’s brother and old roommate to Dante and Katie. Dante’s father, Dante’s step father,Crullellahs two sons, Katie’s Grandparents, The animals in Katie’s life, Cherry- Jen’s girlfriend, Kendall- Katie’s gay ex-husband, Roger- Kendall’s boyfriend, Ann,Amber,Zoi,Peter and his Brother,Betty,Tori,Rich- Katie’s friends, Katie’s internet friends, The men Katie dates.
Main characters: (the assignment) Cassy- A young college student
Oliver: Cassy’s nerdy best friend
(Supporting Characters for the assignment) A priest who is hundreds of years old
Stella: An old witch who helps Cassy and Oliver
John Nolen: A dead spirit who came back from the grave with his minims
Minor characters: Derick, Cassy’s potential love interest, Professor Frits- Cassy’s teacher Betty- Cassy’s friend
The Current Length of the work- Is it appropriate for the target market?
Yes, the word count is appropriate.
What is the power of the opening 3-5 sentences? Several sentences as they stand: I know he’s punishing me; associating with that woman! I may have had my flaws, but I was the better choice. He knows it.
It catches your attention right away; wanting you to find out more
Dialog- A lot of it is narrated. When dialog is added, it is very entertaining
Mechanics Grammar, spelling and punctuation:
It was already edited, which made things easier.
Mechanics- Formatting: It is formatted well. The screen play in the middle of the book is formatted differently then the rest of the novel. But it an entertaining story that tells you more about Katie.
Conclusion
Most of the book is narrated by the main character Katie. It is very detailed, and the author holds nothing back. The author took her own life and made it a fictional story and added a supernatural effect. By adding the screen play in between the pages, the author is taking a risk, but it works. It is very descriptive. It has many colorful characters. And it has a surprise ending. I would advise anyone to read it.
About the critic- I am a minister, and I have written several sermons. I also have a master’s degree and teach part time.
