I’ve done it! I’ve finished my novel. I started – as you know – in November 2016, and wanted to finish within the year. It’s been one year, two months and sixteen days.
With a caveat… it’s going to go to my editor, the wonderful Karen Sanders, who, I imagine, will pull it apart and come up with loads of suggestions.
But, for now. It’s done, it’s over, and I don’t have to think about it for a couple of weeks.
So, perhaps now is a good time to share some info about it:
- the original concept was devised when I was about 18. The main character and the premise have remained, but the story and setting have changed greatly
- my MC suffers from memory loss, which was a huge challenge for me as I love writing flashbacks!
- it’s called Small Forgotten Moments, at the moment
- it’s fundamentally a ghost story
- Seaton, in Cornwall, is my inspiration, though I may have altered a couple of small details about the area

Congratulations! Aren’t you always amazed when you actually FINISH??? And of course, now I have my next Annalisa Crawford book to look forward to!
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Yes, I’m amazed it’s taken me over 25 years to get some semblance of this story in reading-order! You’ve made me very happy with your excitement π
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Congrats!!!
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Thank you π
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Awesome! Hey, those stories that have been with us the longest tend to turn out really great.
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Yes, they certainly do, Alex π
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I like the title. Memory loss and a ghost story – ooo! Congrats on finishing.
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Thanks Diane π
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congrats. This is extremely exciting. Jump up and down and eat chocolate. I’m thrilled for you. (and you will survive your editor’s editing. It’s okay and for the better) Good luck!
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I’m still eating Christmas goodies – I jumped up and down, and ate stollen instead π
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I didn’t realize Karen was editing. That shows just out of touch with things I am!!!
This story will rock. Is it the one I read the rough on? It was great then, I bet it’s awesome now. Enjoy the break.
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Yes, Karen’s been editing for a while now – she’s very good! And, yes it is the one you read – I’ve been working on it ever since, moved some of the chapters around and – fingers crossed – it’s still okay π
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The premise sounds awesome! Congrats on finishing it π
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Thanks. Novel-writing is very much out of my comfort zone!
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Well done!
Your story sounds right up my alley.
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I’m glad you like the sound of it – I hope I’ve executed it well… π
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Congratulations π
I love the rocky beach setting!
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It’s a beautiful beach. There’s a lot of sand too, but I always seem to catch the rocks in my photos!
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Yeh! Good for you! π
And I can totally see how a character with memory loss would play havoc with flashbacks. π
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Yes, it was so hard to begin with – as writers, we take for granted being able to fill in the backstory when required.
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I’m reading a book about a character with amnesia right now. It’s intriguing and mysterious. It’ll be interesting to see your handling of it…and intriguing and mysterious, too, no doubt! Congrats!
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Oh, what’s the book? I’m interested to see how other people handle it π
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Jodi Picoult’s “Picture Perfect.” I’m enjoying it a lot so far. If I wasn’t such a greedy pig with books, though, I’d have gotten a lot further, instead of reading three books or more at once.
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I’ll check it out, thanks π
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Congratulations Annalisa – so well done … and the premise sounds fascinating. I love that it’s connected to Cornwall – good luck once you get the edit back – cheers Hilary
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Thank you! I feel the need to remain in Cornwall – it has so many draws, and there are no lengthy research trips, just short car/train rides π
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Hi Annalisa,
Awesome stuff and very well done, Annalisa! I love Cornwall!
Consider this great news well and truly shared.
Gary
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Thanks for sharing, Gary. Yes, Cornwall is a fantastic place. Several of the people who’ve commented agree with us, too π
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Sounds like you have been working on this story for a while, congratulations on getting to the finish even if edits follow. It’s a good feeling isn’t it?
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Yes, a long, long while. Typing ‘The End’ is really great, even if it’s only for a few days π
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I hope you dance all day and all night! Congratulations.
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I did dance, now I’m biting my nails waiting for editorial feedback!
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I’m so thrilled to hear this wonderful news! What a fabulous accomplishment, and the story sounds really good! Hugs…and Happy Tuesday! RO
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Thanks RO, I hope it’s good. I’ve cycled back round to the ‘yeah, not bad’ train of thought… it won’t last though π
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Congratulations! And you know, sometimes memory loss in a character can be a good thing. Just think of the movie Memento, where the character has short-term memory and the whole plot revolves around that.
(BTW, I can’t remember if I mentioned this, but I put an old e-mail address that I no longer use in the log in section below because whenever I put my gmail account it will directly link to my e-mail account if you click on my name; I don’t know why.)
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I love that movie! It’s one of my wish-I’d-thought-of-that stories π
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Congrats! I’m right there with you. I just “finished” mine today. Tomorrow begins the querying process for me. I hope we both meet sweet spots in the market and meet great success.
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Good luck querying π I’ve started a list of possibilities… and the synopsis!
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Wishing you a wonderful day and BIG Hugs…RO
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Thank you, and you π
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Wishing you all the best for your novel !!
stylish magazine
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