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Sample Of Abnormal








Abnormal




Part One - The Truth






He's with me when I jump through the window.
 

I later wonder if he told me to do it. I'm fast asleep when I jump. I fall the single storey and hit the Watsons' trampoline, which is wedged inside their tiny back yard.
 

As I bounce, I awaken.
 

I almost scream but swallow it. It's dark but for the glow of the streetlight wavering down the lane. My long hair whips me like a sheet in the wind and I lose what little balance I have, slamming into the wood-panelled fence and smashing my face. Stars explode before my eyes in dazzling streaks of blue. I shake myself, tripping and slipping like soap between the trampoline and the fence, pooling onto the scratchy surface of the Watsons' guinea-pig hutch. I’m orientated once I hear the scuffled horror of Boblet racing to his bedding compartment beneath me. But it aint quite over yet. I slide finally to the unforgiving ground like a sack of beet, like some meagre sacrifice, slumped before the cage.

 
Well, bugger me, I think.

 
I stare back up at my flat window. Except for Boblet, I’m alone down here. What happened? Where are you, Noah? I think I see him coiled around a rope of shadow, but I’m confused, in shock still? The dream, of course, is mashed to pieces, flattened like tarmac inside my head. I think of my bed above me; its warmth already evaporating. Moments ago I swear I felt his palms pressing hard upon mine, his frisky kisses streaking down my neck. I still feel the breath he left behind...
 

When I lick my lips I taste blood; my cheeks are wet with tears. I pull a splinter from my forehead and it frees another fragment of my dream. I’m skewered like a kebab below his slippery smile.
 

I can’t do this on my own, Noah. I can’t stay here without you.

 
When the lights don’t come on, I remember that the Watsons have gone away for the weekend, to Skeg. Has this fallingepisode been engineered by my subconscious mind just to remind me to feed the neighbour’s pet? I whisper to the terrified guinea pig but he doesn’t answer back, nor does he shift behind his bedroom wall, but I fancy I hear his heart beat, thrumming its torment, not far from mine. And if I really, really strain, I’m sure I see his outline too, the pulsing black twitch of his nose.

 
I remember that the Watsons keep Boblet’s hay in bin-bags beneath the trampoline, and I crawl towards it to see if I can make myself a bed. I might as well, after all. It seems to be the middle of the night.

                                                                         

   





Copyright © July 2012 Sara J Sheikh. All rights reserved














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66 comments:

  1. This is good gripping stuff and now you've left me hanging....Can't wait to see how this pans out. Well done - a great read.

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    1. Thanks, Heather. Very encouraging to hear! Have a great weekend.

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  2. Oh my, loads of intrigue to try and sort out in this instalment, will have to read again, more than gripping and that last paragraph... again another fabulous read and oh so many things I need to find out. Like Heather can't wait to see how this pans out. And please dont shave your head xx

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    1. Thanks, Chrissie. Another encouraging comment; they really do inspire me. If I do shave my head i'll be sure to post a picture on facebook ;) Have a great weekend! S

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  3. The plot thickens, as they say. Really enjoyed the read and await the next instalment.

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    1. This chapter was a little short - sorry to you or anyone else who may enjoy the immersion of a longer read; but, equally, it might make a nice time-saving change?!) Thanks, again, Heather. You are reliably supportive of me and I so appreciate it. As a possibly-typical writer, I really do need reassurance that I'm on the right track, that people are enjoying abnormal; and although yours is just one view, I can only hope that's it's vaguely representative of the masses! ;) All the best, S x

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  4. omg she did it,wiped out that little shit. This is so gripping Sara and it's really hotting up. I am annoyed with myslef that I never found the time two days ago to read this. LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOve it xx
    ps your intro when I got the email cracked me up:) so funny.

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    1. Hahahahahaha, this so made me laugh, Chrissie. Thanks so much. LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO U. Have a good week! XXX

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  5. Now then what is going on here! I would love to read her dos and donts whilst travelling abroad:) and even snorted (sorry) when Watson asked if she had seen his lad, but more to the point I can't wait to find out where the hell she is from? Guess I will just have to be patient on that one. Thank you Sarah for the 19th instalment and each and every one in my opinion excellent. Happy weekend xx

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    1. Thank you, C. Sorry for this really tardy acknowledgement too! Have a gr8 w/e (albeit a completely different one!!) xx

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  6. Loved the dos and don'ts. I'm pretty good at avoiding the writing process myself! Interesting instalment and I wonder where it's going next. I guess I'll just have to wait.

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    1. Thanks, Heather!! New instalment coming up soon... x

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  7. Oh thank goodness she didn't jump and bless Marshall's timing. I am still left not knowing where this is going Sara:) but looking forward to another wee bit. Complaint!!!! this was not long enough and all because you wanted to take pics of nooking ladybirds I bet!!!:)

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    1. Am late again replying. Can I use my holiday as an excuse? Sorry the instalment was short last time! The feet-up-by-the-pond moment didn't help but i was having to write ahead because of going away, so I sneakily split the instalment in two, kind of. Won't happen again! Well, not until I go away again! xxx

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  8. Oooo! So good. I do hope this has a happy ending. Really loved this (will she, won't she) and now I'm hanging on AGAIN for the next part.Lots of stuff hinted at still to come out. Shaping up good.

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    1. Thanks, H! I hope it has a happy ending too! Next instalment is up now; I so appreciate that you are still reading and commenting! Have a good w/e. xx

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  9. I think I am in love with Marshall :) this is brilliant Sara just loving it and why is this not been found and published yet. One day I want to hold this book in my hand and have your autograph scrawled right across the page. Have a great weekend xx

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    1. Thanks,C.You're lovely. Hope you had a gr8 w/e too! xx

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  10. Yea, I like Marshall too. My great, great granddad was a Marshall, though this has nothing to do with anything! Another good read and I can picture the scenes easily in my head. Ooo!

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    1. Hey, Heather, that's so cool that your G.Granddad being a Marshall; it has everything to do with everything! Chrissie is also a Marshall so the 3 of us are connected through Marshall, kind of! I like the name as a 1st name too but it was a random choice like many of mine. Glad u like this character too. Have a great week! xx

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  11. Argh!!! I scrolled down looking for more and almost wept when nothing appeared. I am going to be in agony now waiting for the door to be opened. I think Marshall has got himself a mermaid!!! I still have some coffee left in my cup and could have read lots more :) Ok will be patient and wait for the next installment,like I have a choice!!! still loving it. xx

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    1. Sorry, again, for being so late replying. I always really appreciate and love your comments, even if i'm slow to respond. You always make my day :) A Mermaid, that's a good idea! ;) Door-opening coming up soon. xx

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  12. How can you leave it there? Well, a good writer should. Keeps us coming back for more....and I will. Love it. Can't wait for the next instalment.

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    1. Thanks loads, Heather! Thought an Eastenders-style cliffhanger wouldn't go amiss. (Do they still do that in Eastenders, who knows?) Have a brilliant weekend storm-dodging. S x

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  13. I wanted more! That's greedy of me, but I did. Now I have to wait.....again.

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    1. Am prepping the next instalment, hopefully it will be longer! Hope you are okay, :)

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  14. What!!! nobody there.... Dam your good at keeping us dangling. Ok not a mermaid then :) I think I fancy Marshall, so if I dream about him, and call out his name I wont get into trouble hee hee... Ok I will just have to wait patiently till The Tyde comes in :)x

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    1. If this comment comes out as gobbledegook it's because my computer is acting weird & deleting what i write! Grgggghhhhhhh. Glad M is working his magic on u though, & thanks for still commenting! Oh yeah & sorry to have missed you in France!!! Next instalment coming soon. xx

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  15. The plot thickens, who is Renee? (sorry no accute)so her mum knew Len eh!!!! Marshall mmh there's more to him than meets the eye. I can't believe this is a year old!!!! I am still loving it and yes what a pity we never got to meet, one day though I hope. Maybe Tyde is messing with your computer trying to get you to notice him again. xxx

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    1. Another late reply, sorry! Len called Rainbow Renee right at the start of the book, but there's a reminder on this in the next instalment (coming soon). That's the problem with reading a book over a long period of time, i guess. I can't believe it's been a year either! Thanks again for your thoughts! :) x

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  16. Congrats on a year - can't believe it. Nice to have a longer read. Enjoyed it and another good ending to draw me back. This chapter seems to be moving things forward, slowly unraveling the story yet keeping us all on the edge!

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    1. Thanks again, Heather, for your comments. I'm glad Abno's keeping you coming back, even after a year! I so appreciate your input. I think it's a fine balance between keeping folks on tenterhooks and skewering them to death (with frustration). Don't jump off the edge! :) x

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  17. Ah, just getting going and then....oh it's gone again. Good piece of writing.

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    1. Thanks, H. I'm trying to make the Instalments slightly longer each time. Just hard to do in the timescale! Hope you are ok :)

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  18. omg I saw that smile on Tydes face, and well I can feel a showdown coming on any time soon. I will have to wait even longer now for the next instalment as we are heading to India on the 30th. Another gripping instalment Sara. Noah/Tyde and Rainbow are from what planet? ok ok I will bide my time. Happy weekend xx

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    1. Thanks, C! At least there might be more to read when you get back... Am jealous, hope you have a brilliant time. If your weather is anything like ours right now, it's good timing too. Have fun! xx

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  19. Finally Rainbow and Marshall got it together! Good instalment, again. Can't wait to see what happens next with Tyde and Rainbow. Good for Marshall landing one on Tyde! He sounds a nasty piece of work.Great writing.

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    1. Thanks again, Heather. Encouraging words! You're a star :) Have a gr8 w/e x

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  20. Sorry it's taken me so long to get round to reading this. I keep getting sidetracked when I'm on my laptop. Anyway, nice disposal of body! It seems ages since we were last in the Happy Badger - great to catch up. Enjoyed the read and looking forward to next instalment.

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    1. Thanks again, H! I totally understand all about distractions and getting side-tracked! Next instalment is up though now! Hope you are okay. Have a great weekend :) x

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  21. Like the banter in the pub, good fun. Indeed, what is she going to do now! She must get back with Marshall...please?

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    1. Hahahaha. Thanks for your continuing comments and support, H. Next instalment almost up... Take care! :) x

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  22. Wow! enjoyed that. Nice writing. The adventure continues....looking forward to seeing what happens next.

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    1. Thanks again, H. That's a really super nice comment! Sorry for the delay in replying (yet again). Been going mental over blog problems, as well as writing. Happy New Year xx

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  23. blooming heck Sara I am on the edge of my seat. For a horrid moment I thought the instalment stopped after she vomited into the basket and I cried out Nooooooooo, whew what a relief there was more. Has her bodied changed or has Marshall not noticed or have I missed something? Not rushing you for the next instalment but then again. Great story Sara xxx

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    1. Ahhhh, thanks, Chrissie. Regarding your Q's, I nearly just answered here but it should get clearer very soon! Thanks for staying with me on this long, long journey. It's surely not the best way to read a book nor probably to write one. But it's great that we're still here at this point! I so appreciate the support. Have a great week! xx

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  24. I seem to be getting behind with reading again but this last episode was brilliant. Do hope you can bring this out in book form so I can read it again lounging in the garden! It must be quite difficult keeping tabs on the writing when putting up on a website. I have to have everything in hard copy or get myself into all sorts of trouble. I wonder what sort of preparation you had before you started. Do you already know how this will end or are you winging it! Either way, it's great.

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    1. Thanks, Heather, that's really boosting to hear. I'm writing it all on a Word Doc, as I would normally write a book, and printing out each instalment because I do need to read a hard copy aloud to myself during editing. I've been compiling notes, & I did have the ending, right from the beginning, but many of the better aspects have come along the way! The hardest part is having to polish & post each instalment when I'm not positive it''s in the right place! But that's the joy of writing a book in this bizarre way, I suppose. Also, I haven't had time to read back over what's gone before, so I created a spreadsheet of what's in each chapter (plus my notes) so I have an idea. I expect there will be inconsistences as a result of this. But I can iron them out, hopefully, when i finish the book and trawl back over it. I too hope that it will end up as a proper book. It's been extremely hard work! Thanks so much for staying with me; I'm so grateful. it's been a long old haul. And sorry this reply is massive. :) x

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    2. Thanks for telling me how you work. Having notes is essential but as you say some things just come along. I haven't done a lot of story writing but the best ones are when characters develop in ways you hadn't imagined and you get right inside them, almost living their life. Sometimes you have to go with your gut instinct and forget the plans otherwise you feel you are fighting the whole time. I'm loving the way this story is developing and I know there are more surprises to come. I'm sure you will be relieved when it's finished but what an achievement. I love sci-fi so this story appeals to me so I wish you luck with placing with a publisher. I like your characters, getting to know them over the installments. I'm looking forward to seeing how you bring it all to an end.

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    3. Too true! I always thought it bizarre when writers said that their characters lead the way, but it's definitely true to an extent. Thanks again for those comments; it's really heart-warming to hear. I never really set out to write Sci-Fi, as such, (odd as that may sound!) Hopefully it'll pass as a cross-over novel because I feel that the essence of the book is literary realism and essentially about humans. In a similar way that Matt Haig's book is: http://www.matthaig.com/books/ is. Take care, next instalment coming soon... xx

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  25. I'm so glad Marshall seems to be sticking by Rainbow! There was a new guy at my badminton class this week called Marsh, short for Marshall. Firstly I thought of my ancestor of the same name and then I thought of Marshall in your story. It's interesting that you say you never set out to write sci-fi because that's what happens to me! Nearly all stories I've written have that element about them. Not all have aliens (and those that do have human forms) and the stories are very much cross-over too.

    Looking forward to see how this wraps up. Do you find endings hard? I always do.

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    1. Thanks again, Heather. I'm so glad that Marshall seems to be coming to life! Talking of Sci-fi, I wrote a short on my main website about an alien but that wasn't initially what inspired ABNORMAL. I used to write alien poems when i was young too; I'm quite fascinated by the very real possibility of them and I suppose that concept just kind of leaks out! Weird how you do the same!? You should put something you've written on your blog? As for endings. I'll let you know how bad it is when I get there! It feels like a protracted ending is going on already and I still have at least 5 instalments to go! Happy Easter. Instalment finally coming. xx

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  26. I'd not know you struggled with this! Just got into it and wham...it ended! I think Marshall's reactions seem quite normal because he knows Rainbow well.....it would be so different otherwise. There's more to come in this story....I mean more to be revealed....can't wait. You are doing a great job. It's not easy keeping up the momentum especially when life interferes with the writing process. Only 5 installments left? No pressure! Have a great Easter.

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    1. Cheers, H! So glad you thought it was okay. I'm looking forward to having the whole lump of the work finished to read properly through & improve. And a month off in the summer too!! Have a great Easter yourself, S x

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  27. Made great reading - nice to have a longer piece to drop into. It's good to see it all unfolding. Wrapping up a story is always the worst part, getting it to that point and making a good impact on readers. I'm really enjoying it and looking forward to reading the last few installments. If there are any inconsistencies I haven't spotted them but then I was well into the story. You can iron any out later. Have a good Bank Holiday. I'm off out now as the weather is lovely.

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    1. Thanks, Heather. I'm glad to see it all unfolding too!! Haha. I think this is the most exciting part for me, wrapping it up, seeing it come together & hoping that it works. I'm looking forward to, whilst dreading, reading the whole thing over. I hate that part the most. I'm always worried that I'll find I'm disillusioned and will find i've written a huge wad of rubbish. Thanks again for your supportive comments. Hope you had fun in the sun before the rain! S x

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  28. Oh this is really good - fast paced and engrossing. Didn't see the pregnancy coming but the scene at Monitor Point is great and as a sci-fi fanatic, believable. I am now looking forward to seeing how Rainbow and Marshall escape. They have to get those babies!! Everything about this kept me on the edge.

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    1. Sorry for the delayed reply again! I'm so excited to be working on the FINAL chapter now! Can't quite believe it. Thank you for your lovely encouraging comments again. It's great to know that it's coming across as believable because that's so important! The fact that you've used words like 'fast-paced and engrossing' plus 'kept me on the edge' makes me feel like i must be getting something right. Thanks loads. Btw, I sent you a f/book message but it might have gone into your 'other' folder. Take care xx

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  29. omg I will be back to comment later just realised that I skipped an instalment :( so going to read that now.

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    1. I'm just replying to this to say YIPPPPEEEEEE it's nearly over!!! :) xxx

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  30. Maybe it will sort itself out in the last chapter but when I read this I felt I'd missed something. In fact I even went back to see if I'd missed a chapter. The story seemed to have jumped a fair way and there's stuff unexplained. It just left me a bit confused, but I shall wait to see how things pan out in the final chapter. However, the writing is dramatic and you feel Marshall's despair.

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    1. Hiya! I found this comment most interesting. Anything like this is EXTREMELY useful to me. I'm wondering if you felt like this because most of the instalments follow straight on from one another, without much time delay. To be honest, I haven't massively liked this aspect because i like skipping about a bit (chronologically-speaking) in novels. But it's been easier for me to keep a track of things, sticking to a kind of real-time, due to writing the book live. I hope that the things you feel are 'missing' will be explained/filled in somewhat in the final chapter. If not, please let me know, because i will look into altering things if necessary. I wondered, as well, whether your expectation of M & R/b's 'escape' - which you mentioned in your last comment (from the last instalment) - made you particularly anticipate an 'escape' scene... It's hard to gauge how best to do things in novels generally, so your further input on this will be really helpful! Final chapter coming soon-ish!! xx

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  31. Second attempt at commenting (see Facebook comment!)
    Loved the start of this chapter, the way you built up the tension with Rainbow watching Marshall. I felt for her! I was pleased to see that Marshall didn’t give up (bless him) and rescued the babies too (thank you). I do love a happy ending! It was brilliant.

    I’m sure you will work out any niggles. Just keep going until it feels right. Regarding the last chapter, yes I guess I was expecting a rescue scene. I still think it’s worth looking at again but when you come to read through the whole thing and make edits it will either become obvious or I was wrong! I’ve really enjoyed following this adventure with you. You made me care for your characters and want to know what happened to them so I had to keep reading. I liked the action, descriptions and the cliff hangers. Great story and good luck with it. I do hope you get a good book deal so I can read it all again. I’m in awe! Sharing this online is very brave and trying to sort out timelines, characters and plots even with notes can be daunting so well done, you have survived. I wish you all the best with your future writing. Keep in touch with how it is all going. Enjoy a nice rest now.

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    1. Hi Heather. So sorry you lost all your comments - that is seriously annoying - so I truly appreciate your double effort! I hope that your overall verdict will turn out to be representitive of future readers (if that makes sense), because then I think the project/book has worked. It's impossible for me to gauge the impact of the novel right now (or maybe ever) because i've been too close for too long. But an 'all-in-one-go' re-read should help me assess it as a whole, at least. I will definitely keep you posted & in touch. You could add me on facebook otherwise i'll contact you through your blog. Thanks for staying on this journey with me, for remaining consistently supportive, and for providing all your useful feedback. If/when ABNO is published I'll bring a copy down to you! Warm wishes, Sara xx

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  32. I am truly sad that this has finished Sara but delighted for you it must have been and exausting experience. I salute you for not just having the courage to do this but for writing a story online that has kept me enthralled till the last word. Good on Marshall for hanging on in there with the babies. I feel the same as Heather and await in anticipation for your book deal to happen, and to also wish you all the best. Thankyou for entertaining me for the past two years.. gulp hard to believe that last comment. Yes time for a pause and a well derserved rest. much love Chrissie

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    1. Chrissie, all I've just said to Heather also applies to you. I truly appreciate everything you've done in supporting me over the last 2 years. Neither of you have ever not commented, as far as I recall! Which has really bolstered me. Thanks for promoting ABNO on your blog and for being unrelentingly positive. I will also be bringing your copy to France if and when the damn thing gets published. Otherwise, I'll just pretend and bring something else instead! It's been an experience, exhausting, yes, as you mentioned, and never to be repeated either!! But I'm really glad I did it though. Will be in touch. Lots of love, Sara xx

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