Review from The Historical Novel Society:

Set in the 1950s, the book begins with George travelling home on the tube and wondering how he is going to give his wife Dorothy some bad news. As a punishment for his affair with the boss’s daughter, Emma, he has been transferred to Malaya, which is at the moment experiencing upheavals with communist rebels. She does not take the news well.




The scene is set for a slow breakdown of marriage throughout the sea voyage and the heat filled days in Malaya. The couple’s only daughter, Susan, is originally left behind at boarding school but later comes over to Malaya, and we see events of overt violence but also observations of secrets and unspoken feelings through her eyes. The worlds of England and Malaysia are contrasted effectively, and there are strong evocative descriptions of Malaya. The sights, sounds, smells and the alien nature of it for Dorothy means she is increasingly unhappy.



The title was a little confusing, however, as it seems to suggest some great love affair, but I gained little sense of any overwhelming love. George misses Emma and writes her letters but still has time and some emotion left for another affair with someone else. More themes of self harm and lesbianism also appear somewhat unheralded at the end of the novel and didn’t fully coalesce with the rest of the novel for me. The plot explores states of mind and the internal life of characters rather than being action packed, and several parts of the novel were very interesting. It isn’t as cohesive as it could have been, therefore, but nevertheless offers some illuminating and engaging moments.

Review From Bookish Magpie blogspothttp://bookishmagpie.blogspot.com/2011_05_01_archive.html

The Eloquence of Desire is a provocative story set in the 1950s, about a family and how they all suffer from the consequences when the husband is unfaithful.
George, his wife Dorothy, and Susan, their twelve-year-old daughter, live a quiet life in England until they all have their lives turned upside down when George has an affair with the daughter of his boss and he is punished by being sent to work in Malaya. Dorothy has no choice but to go with him but they decide to leave Susan in a boarding school in England.
Inevitably, this forced exile puts an immense strain on the family and each of them deals with it in a different way.
George and Dorothy attempt to settle into their new life and deal with the circumstances that have altered their lives so dramatically by maintaining the pretense of a happy marriage but Dorothy becomes a frightened recluse and George becomes involved with another woman. When their daughter subsequently arrives, an incident occurs that affects all of them in a profound way.
The author creates a strong sense of time and place with the exotic setting in Malaya brought to life with vivid descriptions of the birds, the gardens, and the intense heat. The contrast between the lifestyle of the native Malay people and that of the British expats with their live-in servants is also striking.
There is a constant threat from the Communist uprising in the background of the story. That threat plus the hot, humid climate adds an extra layer of tension to the story and a sense of foreboding. Indeed, I had a strong feeling of claustrophobia while reading the story which reflects how the characters feel - trapped in an unhappy marriage and in a place far away from their safe lives in England.
All the characters are superbly drawn although it has to be said that none of them are particularly likeable characters, especially George. However, saying that, the author makes it easy to understand how each of the characters feels and why they react the way they do.
The Eloquence of Desire is about the repercussions of infidelity, and the way individuals cope when their lives start to unravel. Ultimately, it's about how desire and obsessive love can destroy relationships but also about how people can adapt and change.

The Eloquence of Desire is an atmospheric novel with thought-provoking themes,

e-book

My publishers, Sparkling Books are doing a promotional exercise with The Eloquence of Desire e-book. Hope more people become aware of it and buy it! E-book available at Waterstones and Amazon

E-Book

The Eloquence of Desire is available in hard back, paper back and e-book  (Waterstones or Amazon)

The London Book Fair

The Eloquence of Desire will be shown on Sparklin Book's stall at The London Book Fair from April 11-13th 2011. Book bloggers, book lovers, agents, publishers, media...all will be there

Short Story The Zoo Keeper has been published on Ether Books

Ether Books have just published my short story, The Zoo Keeper. Available on iPads

http://www.etherbooks.co.uk/Community/?p=393

My novel writing group

Up and running with nine very nice students - all keen to learn and writing well. Great!

New Novel Writing Course

A 10 session course led by Amanda Sington-Williams

Location: The Hanover Community Centre,

33 Southover Street

Brighton

BN2 9UD

Time 19.00 -21.00

Start Date: 2nd June 2010 and alternate Wednesdays with a break in August. Final session 3rd November 2010.

£70.00 for ten sessions. A maximum of 8 places available.

This 10 session course is designed for people who are planning or have started a novel. The course will cover characterisation, plot, tension, structure, narrative voice, location, the process of editing, and preparing a synopsis. Feedback on current writing projects will be incorporated into the sessions in order to build confidence

Amanda Sington-Williams is a published novelist and an experienced teacher. She has an MA in Creative Writing and Authorship from Sussex University

http://www.amandasingtonwilliams.co.u/
For enquiries please contact info@amandasingtonwilliams.co.uk or amandajanewilliams1@yahoo.co.uk

It's been a long time

Well, it's months since I've updated my blog. And for no reason, other than I forgot. That's no good especially when so much has happend with my new novel, The Eloquence of Desire.' I'm told it's in the printers, get my freebies soon and there's to be a book launch in  Brighton on 17th June.
Oh yes, I'm doing readings from the novel during the May Festival. All's looking good. More later...

Away we go

Off and away we go. New Zealand is calling.  Off on a big trip!

short fuse

Another enjoyable evening reading my short story 'Three Cleaners' at the Short Fuse event at the Komedia in Brighton. Brilliant venue - great audience!

Bridgehouse publishing

Just heard that one of my short stories, 'Growing Pains,' has been selected for an anthology of short stories to be published by Bridgehouse Publishing. Good news!

Short Fuse

Seems longer than a week ago that I read 'The Zoo Keeper' at The Komedia in Brighton. But there you are, it was on Sunday 5th April. Brilliant venue. Appreciative audience which is succour for any writer. It took 25 minutes to read and I enjoyed every minute of it.

book reviews

The poetry of Indigo Dreams are full of a landscape that covers all the emotions of loss, love and times long past. Poems to read when in the dreaming mood.

Also: Portrait of a Young Man as an Arsonist.
Half way through. Really enjoying it. Brilliantly written with well crafted characters. A critique that I'm sure Imogen would approve of.

Indigo Dreams review

Beautiful poetry full of nostalgia and sweet and sour dreams. Indigo Dreams is a book of poetry that evokes all kinds of emotions and landscapes.