Beta Draft of The House That Wasn't There

[naomikritzer]

I finished this book ages ago, and have been engaged in a start-and-stop revision process. Even without a deadline, I have decent self-discipline when it comes to writing. When it comes to revising, on the other hand -- yeah, anyway. HEY LOOK, A SHINY BETA DRAFT.

If anyone is interested in reading and commenting, let me know. This is a children's fantasy novel, intended for middle-grade readers, so people with kids interested in serving as target-audience beta readers should be especially sure to let me know.

Comments

[magentamn.livejournal.com]

I'm interested in reading and commenting, but I do not have kids to help me test it.

[naomikritzer]

That's fine; adults are still welcome to be beta readers.

[kuddliphish.livejournal.com]

I don't have kids of the appropriate age, but I would love the opportunity to beta read for you again.

[naomikritzer]

I attempted to send it to the e-mail address I found in your profile, and the message bounced. What's your e-mail address?

[kuddliphish.livejournal.com]

Strange. janelle underscore lohr at yahoo dot com should work. I just deleted a bunch of old emails in case it is a storage issue (though I've never encountered that before.) Please let me know if you still have trouble.

[callunav.livejournal.com]

I don't have kids (yet), but I work with them. And I would love to beta read something, if I could be of use - although you don't really know me, so perhaps not. I'm at your service, in any case.

[msagara.livejournal.com]

I have a ten year old, but he is not the world's biggest critic, and he tends to really like humor. Would that be at all useful?

[naomikritzer]

It's not a particularly funny book -- I mean, it has funny bits, but I'm no Terry Pratchett. Anyway, I added you to the recipient list, but if it's not your kid's cup of tea, don't sweat it.

[corinnethewise.livejournal.com]

I would love to beta read, but I wouldn't be able to start until after the semester is finished (May 12). It would be a welcome refresher from reading student papers. If that's too late for you, I understand.

[naomikritzer]

As I noted to another friend who had a conflict until May 15, May is a ridiculously busy month for me and it's unlikely I'll have time to make revisions again until June, anyway.

[naomikritzer]

Although funnily enough, with previous books, it's frequently the people who tell me "ohhhhh, I'd love to, but I won't be able to look at it until next month!" who get back to me FIRST.

Because the thing that they really truly OUGHT to be doing is in fact something they would very much like to procrastinate on.

[winterswitchery.livejournal.com]

I don't have children to help me test it, but I love reading any range of books, really, and I enjoy your work.

[naomikritzer]

What is your e-mail address?

[winterswitchery.livejournal.com]

c fitzner at eastlink dot ca

[winterswitchery.livejournal.com]

actually cfitzner at etc. etc.

[sylvia-rachel.livejournal.com]

I would love to beta read, and I have a six-year-old to beta-read to. Not exactly your target age group, but she really liked the last thing :)

[squigsoup.livejournal.com]

I have an eight year old who I might be able to interest in it..if her dad suggests it, anyway.

[naomikritzer]

What's your e-mail address?

[squigsoup.livejournal.com]

sfalduto@gmail.com

[imponderabilias.livejournal.com]

Based on Dan's response to Castaways, I'm sure I can get him to read it. And he's in 6th grade now, which is middle-schoolish.

Send it to me at sdunavan@verizon.net, ok?

[swords-and-pens.livejournal.com]

Not sure if I have time to Beta right now (school is done in a month, so it's crunch time for me writing-wise), but I will ask Evan if he'd like to take a read. I'm not sure how much feedback you'd get, but I suspect if you had a list of things you wanted to know what he thought about, he'd likely write a book report/review for you. :)

[adrian-turtle.livejournal.com]

I am definitely interested. The local 8 year old might be interested as well, if it's not too scary. (And not too hard...I'm not quite clear on how difficult the text itself is supposed to be for the "middle grades" classification. She bounces off Joan Aiken, and I'm not sure how much is reading level and how much is girl cooties.)

[adrian-turtle.livejournal.com]

Oh, btw, my hotmail address has an underscore between first and last names. LJ changed it to a hyphen after a few years, creating all kinds of confusion.

[(Anonymous)]

Ian would love to be a test reader, I bet. (This is Pseudo.) Shoot me an email.

[naomikritzer]

What's your e-mail address?

[servant-of-clio.livejournal.com]

I'm always happy to beta read.

[(Anonymous)]

from Yankee in Texas, not logged in and VERY late to reply.

I am always willing to beta read. My 8yo and my 6yo might be depending on their interest level. If I can read TO them a few chapters, they will definitely continue. I also am not sure what "middle-grade readers" are.