Marcia Maidana

Marcia is the award-winning novelist of AWAKEN: SHADOWS OF A FORGOTTEN PAST and ALIVE: SHADOWS OF A LIVING PAST. Her latest novel, THE GHOSTS OF LEWIS MANOR was published in September. And THE HAUNTING OF BLACKWATER is scheduled to be released in October of 2023. Marcia was born and raised in Argentina. She is an International Family History Researcher and writer. She is also a soccer fan and loves anything with sugar, especially pastries.

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Award Category
Book Award 2023
Book Award Sub-Category
2023 Best Book Genre
This submission is private and only visible to judges.

Comments

Stuart Wakefield Thu, 31/08/2023 - 14:53

To me, the theme was resilience in the face of adversity. The protagonist is being forced to leave a place of danger and destruction, and is traveling to a place that is full of life and beauty. Despite the war and all that has been lost, the protagonist finds hope in the resilience of the people and nature, and her own strength in the face of challenging times.

I loved the imagery used to describe the environment. You did an excellent job of setting the scene and creating a vivid picture for the reader. The details such as the thatched-roof cottages, the trees of every shape and sort, the meadowland flowing through the ancient yews, and the black-and-red clouds of smoke in the sky all contribute to this vivid imagery. You also did a great job of conveying a sense of hope and resilience in the face of war, demonstrated by the protagonist’s realisation that the world is still beautiful and that the war will end.

Katja Kane Mon, 04/09/2023 - 15:27

I thought this was very skilfully written, building tension and worry in the reader without having to lay it on with a spade.

Pramudith Rupasinghe Wed, 13/09/2023 - 09:57

Well written. The writer uses imagery very skillfully. The intrigue is built on the tension that is being built as the reading progresses; it gules the reader to the book.

Nadine Matheson Wed, 13/09/2023 - 14:52

This was a well written and intriguing opening. You did a very good job and introducing the reader into the world and then leading us on a journey where we had to question the reliability of the protagonist before introducing the first twist.

Jennifer Bisbing Wed, 13/09/2023 - 21:41

I could almost feel the crowds racing around me to get to the Underground. A nice twist with the element of ghosts lingering in the chaos and horrors of World War II.

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