Tag Archives: Contemporary Fiction

Jennifer Lesher, Author of Raising John: On Tour

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This post was most recently updated on April 25th, 2014

Raising JohnPublisher: Paperback: Cavu Press (Jan. 18, 2014)
Category: Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Tour Dates: March, 2014
Available in: Print & Kindle, 322 pages

How do you go on living when you have done the unforgivable? How do you love a mother you barely remember? John is an orphan who misses the mother he hardly knew. Robert is the drunk driver who killed her. As the story opens we meet 4-year-old John, who wonders why his mother had to die. Robert wakes up in lockup, expecting to sleep off a blackout and go home, until he learns of the accident he caused.

John grows up under the care of his devoted maternal grandmother, who grapples with guilt over her daughter’s past. Just as John is on the cusp of manhood, he must confront his mother’s death anew and question everything he has come to believe about himself and the people he loves.

Robert is sentenced to 4 years in state prison. His incarceration begins a journey that will have a profound effect on not only himself, but on the life of the boy he orphaned, and on the legacy of the young mother who died.

Raising John was a semi-finalist in the Whidbey Writers Workshop MFA Alumni Association Emerging Writers Contest.

Praise for Hungry For Love by Jennifer Lesher:

“Great story and wonderfully created characters!  I truly enjoyed Hungry for Love and am eager for the next story. The character development was great. I was surprised by how I much I liked and disliked Christina in such a short time; one minute I felt bad for her and the next I thought she got what she deserved. This is a really fun and entertaining read.”– Kristin W, Amazon Reviewer

“Fun + Substance.  Funny and frothy in a “chick lit” kind of way, but with heart, and genuine insight into the main character’s emotional life and journey to self-respect. Well written – I look forward to reading this author’s upcoming work.”– Acorn, Amazon Reviewer

“Hungry for Love was tightly plotted and well-written, an easy but satisfying read.“-Twark Main, Amazon Reviewer

“Captivating Read!  I loved how the author introduces the characters and their histories. Great descriptions of feelings and situations. Can’t wait to read more of this series.”-Sara, Amazon Reviewer

About Jennifer Lesher:JennLeHeadshot

Jennifer Lesher is an author, mountain biker, travel junkie, non-sufferer of fools, and graduate of the School of Hard Knocks. Recently Jennifer left her job in the high-tech industry to pursue certification as an airplane mechanic. She will complete her schooling in the spring of 2015 and, FAA willing, will be certified shortly thereafter. She lives in Seattle, Washington.

Website: http://jenniferlesherauthor.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferLesher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennlesher
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7579266.Jennifer_Lesher

Buy Raising John: 

Amazon

Follow the Tour:

So Many Precious Books Mar 14 Review & Giveaway
Crystal’s Many Reviewers Mar 17 Review
Teena in Toronto Mar 18 Review
Bookalicious Traveladdict Mar 19 Guest Post & Giveaway
Manic Mama of 2 Mar 21 Review
SincerelyStacie Mar 25 Review
Deal Sharing Aunt Mar 26 Review|
Every Free Chance Mar 26 Guest Post & Giveaway
Mom in Love with Fiction Mar 27 Review
Heck Of A Bunch Apr 9 Review & Giveaway
Carole Rae’s Random Ramblings Apr 14 Review & Giveaway
Deal Sharing Aunt Apr 16 Guest Post & Giveaway
Luxury Reading Apr 18 Review
Sweeps 4 Bloggers Apr 25 Review & Giveaway

Vera Jane Cook, Author of Where the Wildflowers Grow: On Tour

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This post was most recently updated on February 21st, 2014

Publisher: Musa Publishing (March 8, 2013)
Genres: Womens Fiction, Southern Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
Tour Dates: January, 2013
Available in: ebook only 312 pages

The Story of Sassy Sweetwater was the Finalist for the ForeWord Book of the Year Awards for 2012! Won the Eric Hoffer Award for Sassy Sweetwater for 2013 – Honorable Mention Best ebook Fiction!

Sexual confusion and dysfunction cause the unraveling of the perfect American family in small town Georgia in 1960.

Rose Cassidy’s fantasy life is a haunting reminder that she’s living a lie. So when she has the opportunity to act on those fantasies, she dives in without any thought to consequences.

Rose’s husband, Ryan, has fantasies of his own, and his actions cause unimaginable pain to the very children he tries so hard to protect.

When the happiness each member of the Cassidy family seeks so desperately to find is shattered by shame, guilt, and ultimately murder, they must each face the truth that lies deep within their souls.

Praise for Where the Wildflowers Grow:

“A Riveting Plot from the 60’s—Secrets, Shame, Murder—Sexual Confusion Unravels A Perfect American Southern Family!”– Jo-Anne Vandermeulen, Goodreads Reviewer

” Love her books, a great author. Nice to read something that is not the same old stuff. Can’t wait for her next book to come out.”– Sharon, Amazon Reviewer

Praise for The Story of Sassy Sweetwater:

“This story was as sweet and sassy as its narrator and title character. But not the sweet of syrup, no, more like the pucker-power sweet of a persimmon.  The sweetness is in the delicious prose, the pucker in the dark plot and the sassy in its protagonist’s stance towards her life.”– Joy Renee Davis, Joystory

“As you read the story there are times you feel like shaking Sassy so she can get a grip on herself but also times when you feel her heartache a tear trickle down your face in compassion for what she had endured. The story is well written and I cannot emphasized enough the real life dramas that was brought forth. A lot of eye openers especially for people who are very quick to judge.  If you into southern history stories this is one is for you, definitely a must read.”– Lynelle Clark, Romance & Inspiration

“I love southern fiction and the easy style of storytelling that Vera Jane Cook uses in “The Story of Sassy Sweetwater” made this a page turner for me. A richly woven tale where Ms. Cook makes the characters seem so real, that they literally step off of the pages and make you feel as if you’re viewing the goings on in their lives! Sassy was such a unique voice, at the age of thirteen she is more than a bit feisty,and well Sassy! She sees the world in such a down to earth way. Really wise beyond her years, but not always doing the right thing, she was totally understandable and really likeable. The author does a wonderful job of allowing Sassy to grow and change as the story progresses. The  way that she clashed with her Grandma Edna was sometimes funny, it seemed often to be a test of will, but as the story progresses we see that relationship change, and truthfully Edna and Sassy were a lot alike. With more than a few twists, I was actually surprised at what sort of family that Violet actually came from. There were several secondary characters that propelled the plot right along and added interesting layers to the overall telling of the story. Overall a story that easily pulled me right in making me care about what happened to the characters. Fans of southern fiction that pull you back in time and revolve around family drama will certainly enjoy this read, I know that I did!“-Brenda Casto, WV Stitcher

“Vera Jane Cook joins the illustrious ranks of Faulkner, O’Connor, and Capote with The Story of Sassy Sweetwater.  The novel contains the necessary elements for good Southern gothic:  flawed and eccentric characters, racism, violence, and incest.  Her depiction of rural South Carolina in the 1960s is so clear that the reader can almost hear the cicadas in the background.  Clear a day on your calendar before you start reading, because after you start, you won’t be able to put down this book until the end.”– Tammy Cuevas, The Self-Taught Cook

About Vera Jane Cook:

Vera Jane Cook, writer of Award Winning Women’s Fiction, is the author of The Story of Sassy Sweetwater, Lies a River Deep, Where the Wildflowers Grow, Dancing Backward in Paradise and Annabel Horton, Lost Witch of Salem.

Jane, as she is known to family and friends, was born in New York City and grew up amid the eccentricity of her southern and glamorous mother on the Upper West and Upper East Side of Manhattan.

An only child, Jane turned to reading novels at an early age and was deeply influenced by an eclectic group of authors. Some of her favorite authors today are Nelson DeMille, Calib Carr, Wally Lamb, Anne Rice, Sue Monk Kidd, Anita Shreve, Jodi Picoult, Alice Walker and Toni Morrison. Her favorite novels are too long to list but include The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, Cheri and The Last of Cheri, The Picture of Dorian Grey, Wuthering Heights, Look at Me, Dogs of Babel, The Bluest Eye, The Art of Racing in the Rain, Body Surfing, Lolita, The Brothers Karamazov, She’s Come Undone, Tale of Two Cities, etc., etc., etc.,

The Story of Sassy Sweetwater, Vera’s second published southern novel, was a finalist for the ForeWord Book of the Year Award for 2012! The novel also won the Eric Hoffer Award for 2012 – Honorable Mention Best ebook Fiction! Vera’s first published southern novel, Dancing Backward in Paradise, won the Indie Excellence Award for notable new fiction in 2007 and the Eric Hoffer Award for publishing excellence, also in 2007. Both books earned five star ForeWord Clarion reviews!

The author works by day for an education publishing company as an account manager and lives on the Upper West side of Manhattan with her long term partner, her Pomeranian, Daisy, her Basenji/Chihuahua mix, Roxie, her Chihuahua, Peanut and her two pussy cats, Sassy and Sweetie Pie.

Vera Jane Cook’s Website: http://www.verajanecook.com/

Vera Jane Cook on Twitter: https://twitter.com/verajanecook
Vera Jane Cook on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vera.j.cook

Buy Where the Wildflowers Grow:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Follow The Tour:

So Many Precious Books Jan 20 Review & Giveaway
Joy Story Jan 21 Review & Giveaway
Carole Rae’s Ramblings Jan 23 Review
Romance & Inspiration Jan 27 Interview
Wall to Wall Books Jan 28 Review & Giveaway
Romance & Inspiration Jan 31 Review
From Isi Jan 31 Review & Giveaway
The Book Review Feb 5 Review
VW Stitcher Feb 7 Review
I Feel So Unnecessary Feb 10 Review & Interview
Back Porch Reservations Feb 17 Review
Manic Mama of 2  Feb 21 Review
Indie Reviews Behind the Scenes Mar 29 12 pm cst Interview- Live on Blog Talk Radio

 

 

 

Robert Steven Williams, Author of My Year As a Clown: On Tour # 2

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This post was most recently updated on November 19th, 2013

How does a man really feel after the break-up of a 20-year marriage?

Publisher: Against the Grain Press  (Dec. 26, 2012)
Category: Contemporary Fiction/Literary Fiction/Humor/Relationships
Tour Date: November 4-19, 2013
Available in: eBook,  325 pages

With MY YEAR AS A CLOWN, Robert Steven Williams introduces us to Chuck Morgan, a new kind of male hero—imperfect and uncertain—fumbling his way forward in the aftermath of the abrupt collapse of his 20-year marriage.

Initially, Chuck worries he’ll never have a relationship again, that he could stand in the lobby of a brothel with a hundred dollar bill plastered to his forehead and still not get laid. But as the emotionally raw, 365-day odyssey unfolds, Chuck gradually relearns to live on his own, navigating the minefield of issues faced by being suddenly single—new routines, awkward dates, and even more awkward sex.

With My Year As a Clown, Robert Steven Williams will attract fans of the new breed of novelists that includes Nick Hornby, Jonathan Tropper, Lolly Winston, and Tom Perrotta, delivering painfully honest glimpses into the modern male psyche while writing about both sexes with equal ease and grace in a way that’s hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time.

Robert Steven Williams is the recipient of the Silver Medal for popular fiction in the 2013 Independent Publisher Book Awards for My Year as a Clown.

Watch the Video:

Praise for Robert Steven Williams and My Year As a Clown:

“Realism, humor and insight are mostly the order of the day in My Year as a Clown: a fairly complex novel whose epilogue drives home the notion that, while Chuck’s life may have some things that go well, it does not have a Hollywood-type happy ending.“- Charles Baker, IndieReader

“Williams’ characters give us the real-deal: a gut wrenching and often humorous look, showing us the everyday horrors of what it’s like to start all over again as one approaches middle age.”–Suzan-Lori Parks, novelist, playwright and screenwriter. Winner, 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Topdog/Underdog“Merits aplenty it had.  Topping them was the humor sometimes gentle and subtle but that reached ROFL proportions at times.  There were a number of eccentric characters that stay with me months later as memories that get confused with memories of someone I once knew.  Not that I’m confusing the characters with someone I ever knew but when something triggers a vague memory of them, I’m at first searching my memories of real people from my past before it dawns on me they were characters in a novel.  Which is high marks for the author. The journal like format for the story gave it an easy flow and worked well to allow us to follow Chuck through the morass of the first months and the slog towards happy that followed.” Joy Renee, Joyful Story
“Chuck is an interesting character, but in the end he is just the guy next door. An average Joe of sorts. I really enjoyed reading the book in the guys view. There are a scarce amount of books following the man’s POV after a divorce or break-up (or just in general). I also loved how it seemed that Chuck was writing some sort of journal to keep his sanity throughout Claudia leaving him.
I really enjoyed the array of characters the author gave us. Chuck met some rather interesting people along the way.
I enjoyed the journey and it really made me think about myself and what I would do in a similar situation. Even though I’m a chicka and he is a male, I still found myself connecting to him.”–Carole Rae, Carole Rae’s Random Ramblings
 
“My Year As A Clown is an honest portrayal of both heartbreak and healing. When Chuck finds his wife’s betrayal I really felt his pain. Yet through the humor, humility and honesty, Williams was able to lead us into the depths of an emotional male. All of the doubts, insecurities, and even the fears have all been revealed. I enjoyed the true honesty of My Year As A Clown and highly recommend Williams novel to anyone that needs a pick me up or even words of encouragement.”– Brianna, A Book & a Lattee

About Robert Steven Williams:

Robert Steven Williams is an author, singer-songwriter, and musician. His debut novel, My Year as a Clown (Against the Grain Press), was released in January 2013.

As a writer, Williams was a finalist in the Raymond Carver Short Story Contest and was awarded a Squaw Valley Writers Community Thayer Scholarship. He attended Bread Loaf, Sewanee and the Squaw Valley Writers’ Conferences, and worked closely with the esteemed fiction writer, Barry Hannah. His short fiction has appeared in Carve Magazine, The Orange Coast Review, and the anthology Tall Tales and Short Stories Volume II. Additionally, he was the executive producer of the critically acclaimed BOOM! Studios CBGB Comic series, nominated in 2011 for a Harvey Award for Best Anthology. Robert’s work has also appeared in Poets & Writers Magazine, Billboard, USA Today  and LetterPress, a newsletter for writers. He is also co-author of the best-selling business book, The World’s Largest Market.

As a musician, Williams studied songwriting with Rosanne Cash, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and other top country writers. In 2005, he released the critically acclaimed CD “I Am Not My Job,” featuring Rachel Z (Peter Gabriel, Wayne Shorter) and Sloan Wainwright.

Robert’s Website: http://www.robertstevenwilliams.com/
Robert on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Robert-Steven-Williams/151139431616038
Robert on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RSWwriter
Robert on Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/111002605881778815727/posts
Robert on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/robertstevenw/
Robert on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/user/rocknovel

Buy My Year As a Clown:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iTunes

Follow the Tour:

So Many Precious Books Nov 4 Interview & Giveaway
Teena in Toronto Nov 6 Review
Bookalicious Travel Addict Nov 6 Guest Post
From Isi Nov 7 Spotlight
Roses & Beps Nov 8 Excerpt
Every Free Chance Nov 13 Review, Guest Post & Giveaway
Giveaways & Glitter Nov 14 Review
Sweeps4Bloggers Nov 18 Review & Giveaway
Paperback Writer Nov 19 Guest Post


 

Deborah Schwartz, Author of Woman On Top: On Tour

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This post was most recently updated on November 27th, 2013

Publisher: Laudan Press (May 30, 2013)
Genres: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Literary Fiction
Tour Dates: November 2013
Available in: Print & ebook, 346 pages

A Woman’s Struggle To Find Herself After Losing Everything She Believed Was Important.

We hear a great deal in the media about women who become victims of wealthy and powerful men. Like a breath of fresh air, the heroine in Deborah Schwartz’s inspiring book, Woman on Top, does escape becoming yet another casualty… literally…all the way to the top of a mountain!

New York, NY, September 4, 2013 – One has to wonder has anything changed since Nora slammed the door over a hundred years ago in Ibsen’s iconic play A Doll’s House? Deborah Schwartz made sure that they did in her timely novel, Woman on Top (Laudan Press).  Like a breath of fresh air, the heroine in Deborah Schwartz’s inspiring book, Woman on Top shows the way things have changed…all the way to the top of a mountain!

Book Description:

Falling prey to Len, a very wealthy Wall Street banker who is hell-bent on acquiring her as his next deal, Kate struggles after the death of her husband to keep control amidst the detours of a tempestuous New York romance. As witness to a world of power and greed that life in New York offers to a vulnerable woman, can Kate ultimately rescue herself from the lure that is Len’s world?

Throughout this compelling story, which is inspired by actualevents from the author’s own life, Schwartz cleverly weaves self-empowering thoughts into her heroine’s exploits, making it less the ‘damsel in distress’ and more the infinitely successful ‘woman on top!’ In this amazing look at a woman’s journey to finding herself, readers will both laugh and cry as they relate to Kate and her decisions, emotions and experiences.

While following her quest for a reaffirmation of life and love, including a surprising adventure, Kate’s story touches on the unexpected pleasures and decisions we face throughout our lives. Readers who have dreamed of, or survived, a “Len” in their lives, will recognize themselves in Kate as she searchesto find what matters most in her new life. What does a 35 year-old woman who seems to have it all do when the rug is pulled out from under her? Kate’s struggle to find inner strength on her journey down a slippery slope with a Wall Street man leaves readers wondering and rooting for her to land as the ‘woman on top.’

Praise for Woman On Top:

“Every now and then you find a book that you have difficulty putting down. Last month, I had that experience with the novel Woman on Top, released May 30, 2013 by first time author Deborah Schwartz. Readers may snicker about the title assuming this is a poorly written shallow romance novel; however, quite the opposite is true. The title is a double entendre and refers to the empowerment of a woman.”– Kristin Meekhof, Huffington Post

“The reader will go through a range of emotions but will not want to put this book down since Woman on Top is inspirational, entertaining, and heartbreaking as Kate straddles two completely different worlds.”– Elise Cooper, Working Mother

“The writer Deborah Schwartz, in her novel “Woman on Top,” demonstrates her writing chops by the way she deftly shifts between two literary genres: romance and pathography. The language she uses and the tones she creates align with the chapters covering the stormy romance of the main character and the intense and ultimately tragic illness experience of the main character’s husband.  In this way, the author makes the reader feel deep sympathy for the main character as the story concerns her husband’s plight, yet feel great frustration with the main character as the story concerns her romance. The author makes us wonder how someone who is so clear and soulful can also be so vulnerable and superficial. She’s probably telling us that we’re just stuck with these seemingly contradictory attributes and characteristics. We’re all capable of manifesting a range of behaviors that work against our self interests and that are determined by circumstances beyond our control. Thus, while Woman on Top tells the excruciatingly sad story of an untimely death and the story of a tempestuous romance with its own pathology, the novel has more to tell about us humans.”– JRT, Amazon Reviewer

“You know those great books that from the first sentence (and the cool cover art) grab your attention, and make you want to read it? Well, this is one of those. Settle in, and get ready for a great ride. Schwartz alternately made me laugh and cry out loud over and over in this funny, sad, sexy, entertaining novel. A psychotherapist, I found myself cheering for Kate, as she brings us with her on her journey , refusing to abandon her true self while rebuilding her life after tragedy. Schwartz also deftly paints a picture of the ups and downs of monied NY dating that makes us non-east coast people shake our heads in wonder in this absorbing and fun summer treat.”– littlesrink, Amazon Reviewer 

“The most life-affirming book I’ve read all year! “Woman on Top” is a testament to all women who have overcome adversity (in life and in love) through strength of character and a sheer zest for living. After losing the love of her life, Kate finds herself in the arms of a powerful New York banker who prides himself on being able to give a woman everything she could want, and more. But can he? Schwartz’s book speaks to an essential ingredient for happiness–finding your inner strength. “Woman on Top” will make you laugh and cry and laugh and cry again. If you are in danger of losing faith in true love…or in yourself, read this book now!”– lilybrat, Amazon Reviewer

 About Deborah Schwartz:

Born and raised in New York, Deborah Schwartz graduated from Tufts University and then obtained her Masters in History at Columbia University where she wrote a thesis on “Feminism in Eighteenth Century England.” She received her J.D. from Boston University School of Law. Today, Deborah’s passion is writing and she incorporated her achievement of having reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in 2011 into her debut novel. A New Yorker to the core, Deborah is most grateful to be the mother of her two grown children.  For more information, please visit: www.deborahschwartz.net.

Deborah on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Deborah-Schwartz-Author/1376332242578553
Deborah on Twitter: https://twitter.com/schwartzd18
Deborah on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7166782.Deborah_Schwartz

Buy Woman On Top:

Amazon

Follow the Tour:

So Many Precious Books Nov 7 Spotlight, Guest Post & Giveaway
From L.A. to LA Nov 8 Review
Paperback Writer Nov 8 Guest Post
Chick Lit Central Nov 11 One Week Feature
Teena In Toronto Nov 13 Spotlight
Bookalicious Travel Addict Nov 13 Spotliight
Rainy Days & Mondays Nov 14 Review
Mom in Love with Fiction Nov 18 Review
Sweeps 4 Bloggers Nov 19 Review & Giveaway
Mina’s Bookshelf Nov 21 Interview
Celtic Lady Nov 22 Review
Most Happy Reader Nov 21 Review
Most Happy Reader Nov 22 Interview & Giveaway
Saving for Six Nov 25 Review
Every Free Chance Nov 25 Guest Post  & Giveaway
Mina’s Bookshelf Nov 25 Review
Romance & Inspiration Nov 26 Review
Joy Story Nov 27 Review