Across the Waters: A Story of the Migration

[Reverend Joe]

@Reverend Joe: I’m glad you felt the ending worked. I wasn’t exactly sure. Personally I’ve thought of Cadwalador as a hero all along. If you’ve ever been in some of these situations in real-life, you know staying loyal to a currently unpopular person or cause is one of the most truly heroic things you can ever do. But I wanted to end it with a dramatic last stand.
As for the second part of your comment, if you are suggesting that I should edit the “monotheism” out before I should try to get this story published, I would agree with you. With the benefit of hindsight, I can see that it just didn’t work in this story. Despite the truth of what I believe, the idea that the Aedui of 272 BC would have known of it was pushing the envelope, particularly with what Sarcasm said of their lack of written records. And, perhaps more importantly, it didn’t add much of anything to the plot. Cadwalador’s healthy skepticism of his native gods was already well established and I probably should have left it at that.
However, if you are saying that I should expunge the notion from all of my writing, then I will have to respectfully disagree. That would be to cut out a part of my character, and no writer can do that and survive with themselves, much less anyone else. Indeed, my regular writing, which is far more modern in nature, will be pitched toward the Christian publishing market. The difficulty I perceive there is that the said market has largely been taken over by pacifists and those who somehow believe a Christian is not permitted to kill in defense of his country. The Christian protagonist of the novel I’m currently working on is a paramilitary who happens to believe you can.
All the same, I appreciate your concern. As for people not being kind, well, I’ve already found that out. . .

I wasn't suggesting you eliminate it from everything, especially if you are writing for a Christian audience. I was just saying it doesn't jive with this story.

Also, I would leave out the epilogue as well when publishing. I know it provides more closure in a way, but to me it really weakens the dramatic end. Cadwalador's last brave stand just feels like a book slamming shut.

Edit: also, thanks for the excerpt, but it doesn't seem like the kind of thing I would be interested in. To be honest, a historical novel like this one seems much more original than the subject in the excerpt.