Law1 min ago
Pixie.
31 Answers
I miss you. Please don't reply. Best wishes.
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I thought that Bill Bryson was a travel writer.
Mine is a story of an old man (the 'hero') who in a previous story falls for a young woman he chats to online. He eventually finds out that she is his granddaughter (from an old affair in his youth) and he discreetly disappears from her life, for her own good and his own self-respect.
The current novel sees them meeting by accident at her gran's (his old lover) grave. She likes him and he obviously loves her as his only descendant (he is divorced and childless); but he must protect her.
Her ex-boyfriend shows up and threatens her and him, and 'hero' accidentally kills ex, who had threatened to mutilate the couple, at gran's graveside.
Man runs away to France and meets up with his grandaughter and eventually is taken back to UK to stand trial for murder.
It sounds awful, but I'm slowly improving the pedestrian prose to make it readable.
I do like the sound of your novel, Atheist, please keep on. You may have to try several endings though - stick with it.
Bill Bryson wrote more than travel books (but they are very, very good) some of his history ones, especially the one where he analyses the history of his house, are fascinating.
I'm going to name-drop here. Bill B's elder son, David, used to train with Keighley Road-Runners and Bingley Harriers at the Keighley track when I was a coach. Bill was one of the shadowy figures hanging around the hut (clubhouse?) to collect him - this was when they lived at Malham.
When I drove round New England/Vermont with my younger daughter before she went to Uni., we called in on Cynthia and the kids. He's a good guy & a good writer.
jourdain; you seem to have had an interesting life (and still having one, I hope).
I would never expect my plot summary to appeal to anyone, but a summary means nothing to an ordinary reader and perhaps everything to a publisher who needs to earn a crust without going out on a limb. A plot like that needs - 1; A superb ending, and - 2; excellent prose (in my view, not purple but invisible).
Thank you for your post. I'm working well at the moment, and the first 16 chaps are now seeming to me to be good enough to warrant the final effort to design a finale. Happy ending? Sad ending? Literary intellectual fizzle out (I don't think so).
I'm tempted by Pagnol's "Manon des Sources" happy end; "Jean de Florette" ending would require a further two novels to resolve things and I'm too old. I think they are the only two options I would consider.
It'll happen. Every night I go to sleep trying to see the development, and one of these nights I hope to dream the right dream.
Thank you and sleep well.
Protective Reunion, Tragic Trial
ChatGPT 3.5
User
Need an follow up to this story........ story of an old man (the 'hero') who in a previous story falls for a young woman he chats to online. He eventually finds out that she is his granddaughter (from an old affair in his youth) and he discreetly disappears from her life, for her own good and his own self-respect.
The current novel sees them meeting by accident at her gran's (his old lover) grave. She likes him and he obviously loves her as his only descendant (he is divorced and childless); but he must protect her.
Her ex-boyfriend shows up and threatens her and him, and 'hero' accidentally kills ex, who had threatened to mutilate the couple, at gran's graveside.
Man runs away to France and meets up with his grandaughter and eventually is taken back to UK to stand trial for murder.
ChatGPT
In a small village in France, the old man, burdened by the weight of a tragic secret, lives a reclusive life. His granddaughter, unaware of their connection, stumbles upon him during a visit to the village. Their unexpected reunion brings joy, but the old man knows he must protect her from the shadows of his past.
As their bond grows, the specter of her threatening ex-boyfriend emerges. Fueled by rage and vengeance, he confronts the couple at her grandmother's grave, setting off a tragic chain of events. In a desperate struggle to shield his granddaughter, the old man inadvertently finds himself forced to defend her honor.
A fatal twist occurs as the confrontation escalates, leading to the accidental death of the menacing ex-boyfriend. Fearing the consequences, the old man, driven by a sense of duty and responsibility, flees to France. In the picturesque landscapes of a foreign country, he grapples with the haunting memories of that fateful day.
News of the incident reaches his granddaughter, who, torn between love and a desire for justice, decides to track him down. The two are reunited in France, and amidst the scenic backdrop, they confront the harsh reality of their shared past.
The legal implications of the accidental killing loom large, and eventually, the old man agrees to return to the UK to face trial. As the courtroom drama unfolds, the true nature of the hero's sacrifice becomes evident. The poignant tale explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the complexities of family ties, leaving readers on the edge of their seats until the final verdict is delivered.
