Like every writer…well, most writers…OK like those writers who have integrity, genuine ambition and respect for our Art, I want my work to make a difference. Yes, I know how pretentious that sounds but wouldn’t it be superb if everybody on this planet wanted to make a difference rather than a mess or a profit? What a world we would live in – the world that God or whatever exemplary team of creatives intended us to enjoy. Nature thrives on growth and cooperation, her fuel is imagination. Rampant destruction is always followed by resurrection. So, back to what I was saying…I want my stories to prompt inquiry and give pleasure in equal measure. I want my book to end up in someone’s library rather than a charity bin. I want my book to be lent, borrowed, talked about and treasured. And so it has been fascinating watching the reviews piling up on Amazon. True, all of them have been generous and kind but one stands out above all the others. This review from someone in New York was posted two days ago and it gave me the kind of tingle one gets upon arrival. This reviewer got every nuance of my intention and said my book would “kindle imagination in the reader”. I simply couldn’t ask for anything more. Here it is in full.
“In Catch the Moon, Mary Waters composes an extraordinary tale that intertwines a Faustian pact between a musical child-prodigy and a beguiling angel with the themes of family, love, and the transcendent powers of art. Waters’ style is lyrical, captivating, and rich, flowing melodiously through the original structure that comprises musical compositions and rhythms rather than conventional chapters. Thus, content and form complement each other in following a meandering narrative path which, for all of the novel’s magical realism, is tenaciously natural and greedily life-affirming. Indeed Jennifer, the motherly gardener, confirms this: ‘Nature travels in a cruel and twisted, but profoundly honest line.’
On the other hand, the plight of the angel as a representative of divinity enables Waters to scrutinise religion in a subtly subversive way. She fills in biblical blanks all the way back to the Genesis, and exposes, ironically, the delusions of Christian devoutness against a far different reality. Thematically, therefore, the novel is layered and complex.
The characters’ thoughts and intentions unfold clearly, while the evocative language triggers a strong synaesthetic response in both the characters and the reader. Mary’s growth from a girl to a mature woman is reminiscent of a Bildungsroman as she teeters precariously between life and death, sanity and madness. Yet, some of the other characters, such as Robert Goodman, could benefit from further development rather than being sacrificed for the sake of action. This, however, does not diminish the unique powers the novel wields in kindling and guiding the reader’s imagination.”
Catch The Moon, Mary 
Gorgeous review. It’s so satisfying when someone just gets it like that.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I want my work to make a difference, but I certainly do want it to have a life out there in the world. That;s one of the pluses of digital books- they’re never out of print!
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Yes, it is a big plus isn’t it? There is room for both print and digital I think. As long as people are reading! By difference I mean raise spirits or inspire. I despair when I see books that have absolutely no value like Shades of Grey. If anything it’s draining and exhausting (yes, I tried to read it and gave up). Just as MacDonald’s offers no real sustenance (although they have introduced salads now) compared to fresh produce that is nutritious and life-sustaining so rubbish books increase spiritual cholesterol and diabetes. But we must do our best and give our best. What else can we do? PS I watched Saint Trinian’s on DVD last night and had a good laugh. I know it’s not Molesworth but what a gift Searle gave the world. Timeless pleasure.
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