Review: Maybe next time.....
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 04 19, 2014
According to a too brief bio Florida author Tawnya Sutherland is a computer programmer by day and an aspiring writer by night. It would appear this is her first outing as a writer an she has chosen one of the more difficult forms of her aspiring career to debut - the short story, a nemesis for even the most seasoned practitioners.THE NUMBER OF THE HOUSE IS 13 is only partially successful. But that is the reason for seeking reviews - for constructive criticism that will hopefully assist the writer on the next outing. The tale is a `ghost story' - two cousins spending an evening in a reputed haunted house. The intro paragraphs should be a prologue as the narrator is not present - simply a description of a neighborhood and a reputation with no involvement of either character. There is very little in the way of character development - some, but far too scant to make us care about either. The story is predictable with no new variations of an old idea to merit re-telling it. The language is awkward - the author has a severe case of semi-colonitis and bumpy dialogue and clunky sentence structure. But one of the most significant problems is the placement of the words on the page - single-spaced, no space between paragraphs for the eye to pause or the mind to breathe. The uses of the `number 13' loses momentum from repetition. And on and on.Does Tawnya Sutherland have talent? Probably so, though that can only be a guess from this piece. She needs some classes or seminars (many are readily available on the Internet) and she needs a conscientious editor. But she deserves credit for putting a piece of her writing out in public for feedback - it is a terrific way to learn...scary, but rewarding in the end. This reader hopes she keeps trying until she finds her niche. Grady Harp, April 14