Hilary Custance

This is the opening of the novel I published last November. Four years ago I posted a much earlier version of this and the comments helped to sort many things. I am trying to feel ready to put up the beginning of the one I am working on now, so this is just to get back into the habit again. Hilary 

Normally I'd have sat on this for another couple of years, it is more thought than poetry, but I don't want to lose my place in the group so here we go. 

I looked at a page of notes for a new research project and this, with very few alterations, is what I saw. 

Anna, I think I have pasted Ch 1 here. (NB this come after the Prologue.) It's a long haul unless you are planning to read the book. Dip perhaps? (There should be italics in the childs conversation, but will have to leave that).  

I am posting this raw first draft of a poem as a testimony to the power of encouragement (thank you James). Any suggested alterations very welcome, including a better title. 

In a sense this is cheating as it is the opening of the only piece of work that has already been published (in a very small way). I am still unsure about it and even less sure about my more experimental writing. I am hoping that courage will come with exposure.