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• Seem to be reading several books lately set in 2 timelines. I like the idea of labeling them in your situation, as there wouldn't be any obvious clues that they were different, given both would be modern day, so no language or other differences. Clear as mud? ;-) (NT) -- PeggyB, 19:18:51 04/03/11 Sun

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• In my opinion for me, no it wouldn't be confusing. If you are going to put the date in each Part, then I think it will be ok for other readers. I think peopleshould pay attention to details in a book and not expect to be told everything plus a few books I can think dealt with more than one time line- look at The Time Travellers Wife- and readers enjoyed it. (NT) -- Tracy, 19:38:14 04/03/11 Sun

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• Are the timelines close, as in within months or years? If they are very different, giving a date at the beginning of each chapter works well (as in our recent read 'Juliet'), but if the chapters are close, but not quite parallel it might get a little confusing to keep the timelines straight in one's head. Separating the book into parts may be a better plan, not expect the reader to hopscotch as much with each new chapter. (NT) -- Denise, 20:34:24 04/03/11 Sun
  • That's why I did it in parts, otherwise I would have to intersperse the chapters from both storylines and it would be a mess, frankly. There is only one part where the storylines touch each other. So here's an example- Part 4 starts in early winter 1973 and ends in December of '73 and Part Five where the action switches to Russia starts in February 1973, so we're backtracking ten months to catch up with all that has occured with Jamie in that time. Because, as I said, the two storylines don't touch each other, except once, I don't think it ought to be too confusing, but I could be wrong. (NT) -- celtgirl (), 21:13:38 04/03/11 Sun
    • If the dates are clear at the beginning of each part, then I think it should be fine. As soon as the reader sees the new location for a part, then a shift in the timeline to 'catch up' is expected, I think. No worries - the reader will figure it out! (NT) -- Denise, 21:39:11 04/03/11 Sun

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• Guess I'm the exception 'cause I got confused reading the question :) If I'm deciphering correctly each chapter or section has a different time and place so I would label it where it starts such as ...Jauary 1973 - Ireland or February 1973 - Russia. I think it'll help keep us ADD types on track. So nice of you to ask for our opinion - I'm kind of tickled you asked. (NT) -- CindyS, 10:55:11 04/04/11 Mon
  • Your not the only one, I had to re-read the queston several times and I'm still not sure how to answer. (NT) -- LadyDuBois (), 11:34:41 04/04/11 Mon
  • Ok, here is the spot where I fall. I had to read the question several times and I'm not sure I've still got it. Though I do think I had ADD, as well, plus a bit of a scatter brain. So if it's clearly marked on each chapter I do believe I wouldn't have trouble following the story. In all honesty, though, I didn't like 'Time Traveler's Wife' because I couldn't follow wtf was going on and at what age they both were and at what point. But that's the only book, I can say, that did that to me. (NT) -- Noelle, 12:16:41 04/04/11 Mon
    • 'TTW' had me discombobulated at times too! I started to get the idea maybe halfway through as to what was happening, but not only did time hop around, but his age altered all the time too which was the major headache. (NT) -- Denise, 13:22:56 04/04/11 Mon
      • Oh, that's true, it was jumping around to different times and all different ages. I did get the hang of it but spent a bunch of time flipping back and forth. It was easier to watch the movie!! (NT) -- Noelle, 15:27:09 04/04/11 Mon

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• Here, I'll try to explain myself better. It's not jumping around in time or anything, just that the storylines are separate, except where the times have to meet up at one point. I'll go inside to explain>>> -- celtgirl, 12:54:30 04/04/11 Mon
  • I thought I understood better than I did! Part One and Part Four seem to both be in Ireland and occuring at the same time, and Part Three and Part Five are in Russia, occuring at the same time. I thought the book would switch back and forth between locations with a relatively continuous timeframe, but there is overlap even at one location and time? Is there a new perspective with different characters within the same time and location?? OK, now I'm confused! (NT) -- Denise, 13:20:28 04/04/11 Mon
  • Part one ends in the autumn of '73- so when I say 'early winter' I mean November of '73 through to possibly Christmas time for Part Four. So it is a continuous time flow in each storyline. There's just a great deal that happens in the space of a few months at the end of '73. (NT) -- celtgirl (), 13:25:31 04/04/11 Mon
    • That explains Ireland better, the 'winter' and 'early winter' descriptions were throwing me off. For Part Three, only January or so in Russia, then Part Five continues in February? (NT) -- Denise, 13:33:23 04/04/11 Mon
      • Yes, because it only consists of a couple of days and a flashback and that's the entire part. I think I may have made it sound overly complicated because Pat has read through to the end of Part Four and says it's all flowing fine and not confusing in the least. Poor man I have been grilling him throughout the reading process. (NT) -- celtgirl, 13:39:26 04/04/11 Mon
        • I'm sure Pat is right, and it all flows together and is easily understood. Yeah, I think the description was more complicated than the potential problem! (NT) -- Denise, 14:16:03 04/04/11 Mon
  • Oh, cg, that seems totally easy enough to follow!! (NT) -- Noelle, 15:42:14 04/04/11 Mon

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• Cindy S. and everyone who frequents here- when you said you were tickled I asked, I was thinking 'they don't know how much I rely on feedback from them.' I see you all as my testing ground in a small way, how things work or don't work with the story/the writing etc. I work in a vacuum for the most part, so it's important to me to get some feedback along the way. Because sometimes it's overwhelming to think of so many readers (I only have thousands, not tens or hundreds of thousands or millions, but it's still enough to kinda overwhelm me if I really think about it) so I think of writing to a small group, even to one person, as though I am telling you the story in a wee cottage (like this one) around a fire at night. It brings the story clearer in my own head to do so. So what happens here on the Cottage is important to me on a variety of levels. So you all matter, just so you know. :) (NT) -- celtgirl (), 13:22:02 04/04/11 Mon

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• It's not an issue for me girl!! As long as I have an idea of the 'when' of what I'm currently reading, then I'm ok. I might still get confused sometimes LOL, but I'll eventually figure it out :-) (NT) -- Mahri, 14:53:23 04/04/11 Mon

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• Just getting over here....and I think as long as the timeline is labeled its okay for me. I can usually keep up, or like I do with some of DD's books, go back and double check if I get confused. I'm excited to see how this turns out!! (NT) -- Lil, 16:20:43 04/05/11 Tue
  • I'm a little late too, but I was going to say the same thing as Lil, as long as it is labeled I can follow timelines. I DO read the dates of each section as I want to make sure I am aware of where and when I am while reading. This is my first time giving my opinion to an author and it is very exciting Cindy, I have to say. Yeah! (NT) -- LisaW, 19:12:32 04/06/11 Wed