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Dearest Devised Darling: Anthology
Dearest Devised Anthology is a dedication to the brave heroes and enchanting heroines who have touched our hearts and taught us valuable lessons through their struggles and adventures — and to the authors who created these cherished characters.
The contributors to this anthology, who wrote letters to their favorite fictional figures, are — in alphabetical order :
Jay Armstrong, Wendy Bayne, S. S. Bazinet, Gail Boenning, Jane Cornwell, Holly Dobbie, Humzah Farrukh, Umiemah Farrukh, Marni Graff, H. C. Helfand, Ewan Lawrie, Trish MacEnulty, J. G. MacLeod, Sallie Moffitt, Natasha Morningstarr, Chris Palmore, Afarin Rava, Diane Riley, Nina Romano, Carolyn Ruffles, Edward Selender, Denis Shaughnessy, Wendy E. Slater, Paul Spalding-Mulcock, Diana Stevan, Vicky Whedbee, Gerry Wilson, Wanda L. Worley, and George Yuhasz.
The contributors to this anthology, who wrote letters to their favorite fictional figures, are — in alphabetical order :
Jay Armstrong, Wendy Bayne, S. S. Bazinet, Gail Boenning, Jane Cornwell, Holly Dobbie, Humzah Farrukh, Umiemah Farrukh, Marni Graff, H. C. Helfand, Ewan Lawrie, Trish MacEnulty, J. G. MacLeod, Sallie Moffitt, Natasha Morningstarr, Chris Palmore, Afarin Rava, Diane Riley, Nina Romano, Carolyn Ruffles, Edward Selender, Denis Shaughnessy, Wendy E. Slater, Paul Spalding-Mulcock, Diana Stevan, Vicky Whedbee, Gerry Wilson, Wanda L. Worley, and George Yuhasz.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 29, 2023
The memoirs I’ve read written by Afarin Rava and the anthologies she has edited and published are ingenious and original. It’s a pleasure reading any book with her name attached to it because I know I’m in for a most satisfying experience.
What I have come to expect picking up one of Rava’s books, is excellent writing and perfectly edited prose. This latest anthology, Dearest Devised Darling, is true to form.
It also enforces what I already know—that many teachers, professors, authors, poets, memoirists, and nonfiction creative writers learn from the execution of their own work. Also, I must mention that reading and writing are art forms, as surely as any painted oil on canvas, pastel watercolor, pen and ink or charcoal sketch, for they inspire, educate, and elucidate in myriad ways.
In every letter, I felt the exhilaration and exuberance of each of the letter-writers expressing gratitude to fictive personalities for a wide variety of reasons. My sincerest congratulations to all the contributors for affording me the unique experience of reading these articulate letters written with emotion, grace, and appreciation.
Kudos to all! I’m thrilled and honored to be included in this epistolary collection!
What I have come to expect picking up one of Rava’s books, is excellent writing and perfectly edited prose. This latest anthology, Dearest Devised Darling, is true to form.
It also enforces what I already know—that many teachers, professors, authors, poets, memoirists, and nonfiction creative writers learn from the execution of their own work. Also, I must mention that reading and writing are art forms, as surely as any painted oil on canvas, pastel watercolor, pen and ink or charcoal sketch, for they inspire, educate, and elucidate in myriad ways.
In every letter, I felt the exhilaration and exuberance of each of the letter-writers expressing gratitude to fictive personalities for a wide variety of reasons. My sincerest congratulations to all the contributors for affording me the unique experience of reading these articulate letters written with emotion, grace, and appreciation.
Kudos to all! I’m thrilled and honored to be included in this epistolary collection!
October 14, 2023
When asked to participate in this Anthology, I had no idea how vast and diverse the letters to our favourite characters would be.
It is a humbling experience to read the thoughts of others and how they have been affected by characters that have influenced their lives and writing. Not only that but how the letters are written gives you a window into the writer's style so that it piques your interest in the characters from the books they had read and the books they have written.
As I read this Anthology, I discovered I was fond of many of the books mentioned. Seeing the characters through someone else eyes provided perspectives I had never considered and how, as authors, our own stories can impact others.
As authors, we are caretakers of our words, but we are also caretakers of those who have gone before us and paved the way, saying it is okay to write from the heart and soul to provide an experience like no other for our readers. Words have power, and you will never know how they will touch an individual.
I want to thank Afarin Rava for the opportunity to have my thoughts and words added to this book. Well done, my friend! And to all the others who contributed, you have touched my heart and mind. Thank you.
It is a humbling experience to read the thoughts of others and how they have been affected by characters that have influenced their lives and writing. Not only that but how the letters are written gives you a window into the writer's style so that it piques your interest in the characters from the books they had read and the books they have written.
As I read this Anthology, I discovered I was fond of many of the books mentioned. Seeing the characters through someone else eyes provided perspectives I had never considered and how, as authors, our own stories can impact others.
As authors, we are caretakers of our words, but we are also caretakers of those who have gone before us and paved the way, saying it is okay to write from the heart and soul to provide an experience like no other for our readers. Words have power, and you will never know how they will touch an individual.
I want to thank Afarin Rava for the opportunity to have my thoughts and words added to this book. Well done, my friend! And to all the others who contributed, you have touched my heart and mind. Thank you.
October 16, 2023
I know I’m biased but Dearest Devised Darling has such a cool concept. I love Afarin’s editorial touch and think all the contributors are so wonderful and talented. Everyone should read this book because who doesn’t want to revisit the world of their favourite characters though the eyes of another reader?!
October 17, 2023
Afarin Rava is to be congratulated for the intriguing concept and beautiful design of this excellent anthology of letters written to favourite characters. A huge variety of approaches to this brief are on display in this wonderful book. Readers to characters, writers to characters, writers of characters to their own characters and more. Authors famous and not so are in evidence.
All of the letters are interesting, but particularly appealing to me were: Paul Spalding-Muldock’s missive to Margaret Schlegel (Howard’s End), Carolyn Ruffles’s letter to Tess Durbeyfield (Tess Of The D’Urbervilles) and Jay Armstrong’s to Holden Caulfield (The Catcher In The Rye).
A special mention to Denis Shaughnessy’s letter to Myles na Copaleen (The Best Of Myles) which made me want to dig out my aged copy of At Swim-Two-Birds, because as Denis reminded me, Flann, under his pseudonym Myles N C, wrote the very fine advice:
“Never allow the serious to suppress the entertaining.”
A book to dip in and out of, or to read at one sitting. One to read twice, perhaps. One to recommend to your friends, definitely.
[NB – I am a contributor to this book]
All of the letters are interesting, but particularly appealing to me were: Paul Spalding-Muldock’s missive to Margaret Schlegel (Howard’s End), Carolyn Ruffles’s letter to Tess Durbeyfield (Tess Of The D’Urbervilles) and Jay Armstrong’s to Holden Caulfield (The Catcher In The Rye).
A special mention to Denis Shaughnessy’s letter to Myles na Copaleen (The Best Of Myles) which made me want to dig out my aged copy of At Swim-Two-Birds, because as Denis reminded me, Flann, under his pseudonym Myles N C, wrote the very fine advice:
“Never allow the serious to suppress the entertaining.”
A book to dip in and out of, or to read at one sitting. One to read twice, perhaps. One to recommend to your friends, definitely.
[NB – I am a contributor to this book]
May 18, 2024
This is an anthology of letters of gratitude to varied fictional characters from readers. All serious fiction readers have those loved and cherished books that they have revisited many times. Usually such books are marked with fingerprints, tea stains, and loose pages due to the many revisits to the novel or book. It is these sorts of books that contain the inspiring characters that permeate one's life with inspiration.
The anthology is comprised of letters from various readers to their favorite fictional character. The characters range from sleuths, to the farcical, the vilified, the silly, the iconic, and the stoic. My favorite contribution was a letter to Snoopy.
The editor has arranged the letters beautifully so that there is a cadence and flow from one letter to the next. Each letter of gratitude is followed by a quote by the author who created the fictional character. This is a wonderful way to reinforce the preceding letter of gratitude.
The anthology is comprised of letters from various readers to their favorite fictional character. The characters range from sleuths, to the farcical, the vilified, the silly, the iconic, and the stoic. My favorite contribution was a letter to Snoopy.
The editor has arranged the letters beautifully so that there is a cadence and flow from one letter to the next. Each letter of gratitude is followed by a quote by the author who created the fictional character. This is a wonderful way to reinforce the preceding letter of gratitude.
October 14, 2023
The simple but inspired idea behind this book is to invite a diverse set of authors to compose one-page letters to characters from fiction who have found a special place in their hearts. The result is much more interesting than you could imagine. For a start, there is huge variety on three levels: the choice of characters (a mix of the famous and the not so), the reasons for choosing them, and the writing styles. I found it really stimulating to see how each of the authors had approached their subjects, with many of the letters prompting me to want to read the books in which the characters appear. If you are a writer, or you're interested in the art of writing, or you just fancy an unusual and though-provoking read, buy this book.
July 12, 2024
Dearest Devised Darling: Anthology amazed me! This anthology isn't just about our fave heroes and heroines; it's a big shout-out to the creative geniuses who made them up. First and foremost, the editor, creator, and driving force behind this work deserve my deepest gratitude for putting these letters together, keeping us all captivated. And the idea behind this book? Genius! It makes you think about how these characters become a part of our lives and the lessons we learn from them.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews