Presenting ~ That Sadie Thing with Annalisa Crawford
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| LIBBON Magazine, 2006 |
I've reached the last day of the tour! If you've been following me around the blogosphere over the past couple of weeks, thank you so much – I hope this tour has helped to give some insight into the stories, or made you want to read them for the first time.
Thanks for hosting me today Michelle.
I've saved That Sadie Thing for today, a nice little psychological story that has given more than one person a few palpitations. Oh, how I love that I did that.
It's the story of a stalker, with a couple of surprises along the way, and slightly different from the stories I'd written up to that point. I'd wanted to write a story in second person (yes, yet another experiment), but then the narrator started talking about this woman called Sadie, the stalkee, and I realised it wouldn't be. The narrator talks to the reader quite a lot, though, and I think – I hope that's what makes it a more unnerving read.
Unusually for me, I didn't know how I was going to end this story. It only became clear to me once I realised that it was the narrator's story, not Sadie's, that I was telling. What I was a bit miffed about, when I saw the story in the magazine, was that the final sentence had been put at the top of a completely new column. It's only five words, I know, but they finish off the story, like a hem of a dress. If readers didn't realise it was there – and even I had to search for it – the story isn't complete, it doesn't quite have the same impact.
At least that sentence is very much part of the story now!
About Annalisa
I live in Cornwall, with a good supply of beaches and moorland right on my doorstep. I live with my husband, two boys, a dog and a cat. Despite my location. I neither surf nor sail, and have never had any inclination to try. I much prefer walking along the beach and listening to the waves crashing over rocks. For this reason, I really love the beach in the winter!
Buy That Sadie Thing here (this link should take you direct to your local Amazon)
Follow Annalisa here, or Like her here
Read her blog here
It's been a real pleasure to have Annalisa at my place today, on the final stop of her blog tour, to promote her collection of short stories That Sadie Thing. If you haven't read the collection yet, I encourage you to do so. You won't be sorry!
Thanks so much for being the final stop on my tour 🙂
My pleasure. 🙂
I'm currently reading Annalisa's book. This was the first story I read. Talk about setting your bar high, it was excellent 🙂
Ooh, I get so nervous when I know people are actually reading it. I'm glad you liked the first story 🙂
Congrats on finishing your blog tour and on your new release, Annalisa! I'll have to check this one out.
Thank you Emily 🙂
Congrats on a successful blog tour, Annalisa. Sadie sounds awesome.
Waves to Michelle 🙂
Thanks Carol 🙂
Congrats, Annalisa, for your short story collection! And I'm glad that last line is more evident now than it was when it was published in that magazine.
Thanks Cherie. Yes, I'm pleased that line has been reunited at last.
How frustrating is that- with the magazine I mean- the whole story, especially in a short story, is a build up for that last line.
It was a new publication, I was published in the second – and last – edition. I'm not so sure they knew what they were doing!
I keep seeing this book all over the place. I must add it to my TBR pile.
Love your blog, Michelle!
Thanks Ellie!
Bummer they separated the story, but it's complete now!
It only took me 7 years to get it sorted 🙂
This story properly creeped me out! I had to have a break before I carried on reading!
And that is the best compliment I could have (in the nicest possible way, of course!)
Sounds creepy. Second person would've been tough to do.
Tough, but really interesting. I keep meaning to revisit the POV, to see if I can do it.
Goodness, not something to read late at night, eh? Going to have to check this one out. –I did actually read one book written in 2nd person that really pulled it off, (and I'm not talking a choose your own adventure story). It was amazing! If I get brave, it's something I'd like to try one day.
A second person novel? Now that would be tough to achieve, but awesome. Good luck 🙂
Congrats on the great blog tour!
Thanks Dana 🙂
Congratulations for making it all the way to the end of the tour. I'm impressed with any writer who can do this so well.
Good luck with your book. I truly loved it, and hope a bazillion people buy it.
Thank you so much Susan… a bazillion would be lovely 🙂
Loved Annalisa here today, Michelle! You are both wonderful!
Thanks Morgan, it was lovely to be here 🙂
Giving people palpatations is a good thing!!! Well, it is if you're an author! 🙂
Oh definitely, Jemi. It wouldn't be too bad in real life either 😉
Congrats on finishing the tour, Annalisa!
Thanks Beverly 🙂
Go Annalisa! It's been fun hearing about your book. I definitely want to check out these stories 🙂
Awesome, thanks for following the tour Meradeth!
OK, that sounds completely fascinating, Annalisa. It's been fun following you around.
Happy Tuesday, Michelle!
Thanks Mary – I'm glad I was interesting enough to be followed 🙂
I love writing short stories because you are free to experiment in ways that are too daunting to commit to for an entire novel. Sounds like that experimentation really worked out for you – congrats!
Hi Jocelyn, thanks for reading. Yes, that's precisely why I love short stories too – and the fact that nothing needs to be explained, not in the way a novel demands.
Congratulations on your short stories! That's a pretty cool cover!
Thanks Sherry 🙂
It sounds wonderful, Annalisa! But — oh! — how aggravating about that "missing" last line in the magazine. I'm glad the story is as it was intended now. 🙂
Very aggravating. I remember stomping around the house for a while, but there was nothing I could do except cross my fingers and hope people looked up at the top of the page…
Interesting premise. I just had a training class at my job regarding stalkers. It would be interesting to see your take on the subject. Will check it out.
I bet that was an interesting class. Sometimes I like the idea of studying psychology to get into the head of the strange people I create, but then I just make it up 🙂
It's amazing how a few words can change a whole story!
In a short story every word counts!
Wow, that cover is totally creepy.
Congrats on the release!
Thanks S.P 🙂
Congratulations on finishing your blog tour and on your new release, Annalisa! I'll have to check this one out.
Thanks Nas 🙂
Congrats on the book and the successful blog tour, Annalisa. 😀
Great cover! *shivers*
Thanks Stina 🙂
The story sounds very intriguing. I understand how you must have felt seeing your last line–the line with the punch you wanted delivered–in another column and not with the story.
I think, at first, I knew something was wrong but couldn't put my finger on it – a strange feeling when it's your own work!
second person eludes me, cant wait to see how you tackle it! but i scare so. easily, i'll have to read at the beach in the sun!
congrats annalisa!
I watch some films at lunchtime because I'm too creeped out to watch it in the dark. But I'm really happy to creep other people out the same way 🙂
This was my favorite story in the collection. And it does make it creepier that the narrator talks to the reader. Bravo!
Thanks Christine 🙂
How very cool! And Annalisa is def making her rounds. Big congrats!!!! 😀
I loved that particular story.
Annalisa had a great tour.
Congrats on your successful blog tour! Sounds like a captivating collection of short stories. Hi Michelle!