After her parents divorced in 1986, Lindsey Hale moved to Visalia, California from Hawaii with her mother. Lindsey’s timeline mostly takes place in 1989. She starts making a video diary to help her find some direction in life.
Keith Nolan lives in New Jersey in 2019. His main goal is to finish his father’s comic book collection. While at a flea market, he comes across a VHS-C tape like the kind used in camcorders. It turns out to be the tapes that Lindsey made in 1989.
Keith and Lindsey are somehow able to talk to each other on the tapes. So Keith takes a trip to California to find Lindsey in real life. He knows that she will be much older but he wants to meet her. Keith believes that is will be worth the risk.
Honestly, I wish the book was longer. Maybe I’ll read it again someday. It’s worthy of a second reading.
If you like romances that transcend time, then you will enjoy A Different Time. If you have something against love or comic books, then there’s no help for you.
The Write Reads on Tour is also doing a book tour for A Different Time. Check out some of the other book reviews.
In hindsight, I should have had my youngest kid ask the questions for an interview with Ben Galley. They are both interested in dragons and fantasy novels to a greater extent than most people. I didn’t ask one question about dragons. Shameful.
However, you will discover some interesting things about Ben Galley in the following interview.
What was the first thing that you wrote?
The first thing I ever wrote was a terrible, hand-drawn comic I wrote when I was about six or seven. After that, I decided to try a novel, and finished that before I hit my teens. It was called The Kanandapur Gang – a story featuring anthropomorphised monkeys in a medieval, magical society in southern India. It, nor its sequel, will never see the light of day, but those books gave me a solid foundation for future projects.
Are you a boxing fan?
I don’t follow the sport, but do enjoy it when I catch it. I admire the dedication it takes, as well as the strength, mental aptitude and tenacity. I occasionally box whenever I get the chance, more for fitness than anything else.
Do you have a favorite superhero? Favorite villain?
I have both! If I were to pick my favourite superhero, it would be a tough choice between Iron Man or Doctor Manhattan. As for villain, the Joker for complexity of character, or Carnage, for absolute… well, carnage.
Do audiobooks count as reading?
I’d say so. As audiobooks are derived from the written word, you’re still absorbing the same prose, just in a different medium. Audiobooks are also great for readers who have trouble with text, so I’m a big fan of the rise of the audiobook.
Has it been a smooth transition from living in England to living in Canada?
It’s been a lot smoother than I was expecting. It’s not a huge culture shock, especially seeing as I’m living in British Columbia. I still see the UK flag half a dozen times a day! The immigration side of things has been a huge amount of work, but worth it to remain in this beautiful, forward-thinking country. I’ve found that my wordcount and work ethic has also improved since moving here, and what I’ve experienced since being in Canada has given me bundles of inspiration. I’ve already got a BC-inspired series waiting to be written.
What are your feelings about hockey?
I got stuck into hockey as soon as I got here. It’s brutal, fast and exciting, and I’ve enjoyed learning the rules and teams. I wouldn’t say I’m an aficionado by any means, but I’m becoming more and more of a fan with every season.
Will the anthropomorphic monkeys ever make an appearance in your novels?
Perhaps one day, there might be a little nod to Kanandapur in my books. Perhaps a race of primate-human hybrids smuggled in somewhere. For now, they’re staying firmly on my hard-drive.
What music are you listening to right now?
Right now, I’m channeling some Picturesque, a band I’ve recently got into.
What do you want people to know about Ben Galley?
Aside from the fact you can get the first book in each of my series for 99c at the moment, I can be found in all the usual places! I’ve got vlogs and info over at my site www.bengalley.com, or I’m usually getting up to mischief on Twitter @BenGalley or Facebook @BenGalleyAuthor.
