The Official Website for the author who wrote The Magic and the Mayhem
Review by S Pradia
November 2, 2008
The debut novel of Julie Miliner, The Magic and the Mayhem is a tale of a 30-something man reaping all the benefits of a single life. Selfish as ever, John Drake doesn?t eat much because he?s cheap. Drake doesn?t form relationships solid enough with the bevy of women he beds as he?d rather continually play the field. The?protagonist?of Magic?also does not have protected sex and subsequently learns the value of following this teenage lesson.
The early chapters of Magic detail the quickly uncovered newfound fatherhood Drake finds himself inheriting. A first knock on his door comes from Tiny. The little boy nearly identical to a younger version of Drake is a result of his army days as a youth. The second knock reveals Tomeka, the lone child he was aware of yet opted to avoid for over a decade. At a point when Drake playing Dad to two children in a spotless one bedroom apartment seems like plenty of fodder for the remainder of the novel, a third knock comes along. This bundle of joy is just that, a set of twins and a toddler are amongst his newest order of responsibilities. As if overnight, Drake is ?sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss where all single men who don?t wear protection one day fall.?
Dodging the threat of eviction from his condo, nasty stares from neighbors and fellow shoppers while in public, Drake makes due if for no other reason than that?he doesn?t have a choice. An inevitable coming of age story is developed. The need to protect Italian leather, Japanese stereos and premium box springs is shelved in the name of nurturing a newly discovered gaggle of heirs. While yet a 4th knock comes to the door, a comical run in with a lady friend of Drake?s he?s been avoiding occurs, the general trials of single fatherhood take place and Drake?s growth ensue it is the latter that amounts to the backbone of the novel. I found the outstanding?achievement?of the story to be the way Miliner gradually develops Drake. The womanizer initially introduced is molded into a selfless loving father who in the end hardly resembles the Drake of old.? **
April 28, 2008
The new novel, The Magic and the Mayhem, explores an age old problem that threatens to disintegrate the core of what gives us strength. When fathers are not present in the lives of their children those very children are left with a void that reverberates throughout their lives. In this story John Drake, the main character, believes he is God’s gift to women. He’s presented as a meticulous womanizer who vainly plays games with their feelings, expectations, and ultimately the most vulnerable product of many of his fly-by-night unions. He finds out as the story unwinds that the game he’s been playing can’t be won. He’s forced to play a different game, one that jolts him into realty, and forward to what may be his greatest success.
An interesting point made by this author is what happens to men when they don’t grow up to face the reality of fatherhood. Her story suggests that their growth is somehow stunted just as the child’s is when they don’t step up to do the right thing. Her writing is crisp and seamless and puts you right in the middle of the action. There are some very funny moments and if you’re a parent you’ll remember when you were where he is. For a first try, its brilliant. I look forward to future works by the author.
This blog is dedicated to my writing and will hopefully give other first time novelists an opportunity to learn from my journey. I try to write every day. My first (writer's) draft is written without any thoughts as to where the story is going. After the initial twenty pages or so I put together an outline because the characters really do take on a life of their own, and it takes a certain measure of discipline to remind these "made up characters" that you're the boss. Following an outline allows your story to have a fluid beginning, middle, and end. Without an outline and a dedicated resolve to follow it the story will be scattered and may never find its end. I usually read through a chapter ten or more times before I'm satisfied enough to move on to the next one. I never let anyone read my novel until its ready to go to the editor. I chose to self publish The Magic and the Mayhem using www.lulu.com. Self publishing gives authors a tangible product so they can introduce their work to the world, get feedback, and strengthen their skills. Some people think its cheating and that it somehow invalidates an author's work but the more traditional publishing houses are virtually impossible to gain admittance to. It's obviously not impossible but getting into the game is like hitting the lottery. I recommend self publishing along with routinely submitting your work to reputable publishers but while you're waiting, keep writing!
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