The Ambler Warning

Video of a reading of Motherless Soul.

I was at an art opening about a month ago, talking to someone about books we've read and enjoyed. She mentioned that she was a fan of Robert Ludlum. I haven't read any of his books, so I thought I might try him. I searched for an audio version to fill my commuting time and found The Ambler Warning. I was a couple of chapters into it before I discovered online that Robert Ludlum had not completed the manuscript for this book when he died in 2001. His estate hired a ghost writer to complete the work then published it as a novel by the well known author.

I'm not sure what credits are on the book jacket. I downloaded it from the NC Digital Library and only saw an image of the front. But my understanding is that the hired writer is not allowed to publicize his connection to this project. I see two problems with that. First of all there are readers, such as me, who are receiving something that's different from what they expect. Secondly, the ghost writer isn't going to take the same level of pride in the final work that he would take if his name was on it.

The other question that came to mind when I discovered the way this book was written was What would I like done with my manuscripts if I were to die? It's an interesting question. The idea of a ghost writer sounds horrible to me, but I would like whatever ideas I was working on to find a life of their own. There are excellent writers in my writers group and I've met some great ones through my publisher, All Things That Matter Press. I wonder how many writers leave instructions for their work in their wills.

I am about halfway through The Ambler Warning now and so far the beginning of the book is its strongest part. But it still has been an interesting read (listen) and well worth finishing. I intend to wait awhile then try another Ludlum book. Next time it will be one he actually wrote.

Motherless Soul and the subject of Loss

Last Sunday my book, Motherless Soul, was a topic of a discussion at Fellowship Presbyterian Church in Greensboro. I was to lead that talk, which was held after the Sunday service in the fellowship room. It's a group that meets once a week to talk about subjects as varied as astronomy, local politics or art. So there was no trouble having a book that covers reincarnation fit in, even if it isn't normally considered a Christian subject. Almost anything of interest suits the group.

I knew I would read from the book, then lead a discussion about it. But I was a little concerned because I would be talking to a group that contained people who had read my book and people who had not. So I decided to focus on the subject of loss. The book is about an elderly woman who lost her mother when she was two. She approaches a hypnotist to help her pull out memories from those early years, so she can get to know the woman who gave her life.

I read a section from Chapter Two where the woman, Emily Vinson, is reflecting back on her life as a young child. I showed how she dealt with her loss by throwing herself into her chores and by rejecting relationships with friends. Then I talked about the qualities that made her believable. Her father had thrown himself into his work after her mother had died. Emily both resented and copied those actions. She also had dolls whom she had made into friends. She spent long periods of time talking to those dolls, mostly about how wonderful her mother was.

After the reading, the talk turned the way I had hoped it would. Loss is something we all go through, so the subject became about both my book and their real life experiences. There were a number of suggestions about how I can get more people to read Motherless Soul. There was one that struck a chord with me. We had talked about how I had discovered that people who are going through very hard times seem to find comfort in its theme. This friend suggested that I donate a copy to our local hospice. I've contacted them and I plan to mail it this week. Perhaps my book has found a new purpose.