On Cara Weaver’s first day at her new high school—merely the next in a long line of new schools—she meets two senior boys: James Sable and Crispin Calaway. They’re new too; they’ve been at the school just longer than she has, and they’ve never made an effort to reach out to anyone. Until she comes. When her friends find out, they’re awed. But Cara can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to James and Crispin than the two are telling.
As the days go on, everything at her new home seems to be going better than it has in any of the previous cities she’s lived in. She loves her friends, gets a job at a bookstore, and even starts to spend more time with Crispin and James. She’s happy. But all that begins to change when she comes to realize that the two boys she’s becoming close to are hiding something. It’s then that she knows her unexplainable wariness of them has been justified all along. But she keeps it a secret.
Days later, when a stranger accosts her outside a small shopping center, Crispin and James arrive just in time to help her. But they seem know the attacker. And instead of running him off, Crispin and James take Cara away, for her own protection.
With little explanation, Cara is told that she’s important and that she can’t go home until the boys have sorted some things out. In the meantime, Cara’s world is being turned upside down as she finds out that there is more to her life than she possibly imagined.
Excerpt:
Thaddeus gazed down into the eager face of the young girl in front of him. Her long brown hair was curling out of its two braids, and her cheeks were rosy from the excitement of the day. It was her seventh birthday and, as far as she knew, no day would ever be bigger.
Her brown eyes were wide as she stared at the ring he’d just placed in the palm of her hand. “What’s it for?” she asked in wonder, unable to tear her eyes away from the diamond-surrounded emerald.
Thaddeus chuckled. “It’s for you, my dear.”
“How come?” she asked curiously.
“Because it’s your birthday,” he told her.
That was the perfect answer for her seven-year-old mind. What other possible reason could she need to accept a present?
Amos could only assure that her parents were engaged in other conversations for so long, so Thaddeus knew he had to make this quick. Quicker than he’d like. Quicker than the situation truly called for.
The child in front of him was running a hesitant finger over the gemstones that were set in the golden band. He smiled, knowing she would not be able to read the sadness in the expression. “Those are real, you know,” he said, causing her to look back up and match his smile with one of her own. “That emerald, those diamonds, they’re very real.”
She blinked a few times in disbelief before trying to slide the ring on her finger. It was at least two sizes too big, and he chuckled at her confused face.
“You will grow into it, dear one. Sooner than you think.”
She left it on her finger anyway and held her hand up between them to examine the way the ring caught the light. He repositioned his body so the ring was hidden from her parents.
“Your mommy and daddy probably wouldn’t like it if they knew I was giving this to you. Let’s keep it a secret, okay?” he said. He needed her to agree. He was a stranger to their daughter, giving her an elaborate gift; no parent would be quite comfortable with that.
That’s all the young girl really needed to hear to be convinced to keep quiet. She nodded vigorously, but he needed to be sure. When her gaze was drawn to her new ring once more, Thaddeus took a chance and murmured a small cast under his breath as he stepped away from her. Her eyes grew cloudy for a single moment, and the light bulb in the lamp next to her popped quietly. Not a soul in the room noticed.
Thaddeus made his way across the room, toward the front door to stand next to Amos. “It’s done,” he said softly. Amos did no more than nod. The two of them shook hands with Mr. and Mrs. Weaver who were thanking the guests as they left, and then Thaddeus took one long, last look at the brown-eyed birthday girl. The ring was gone from her hand, hidden away in a pocket, no doubt.
Thaddeus dipped his head to her. “Goodbye, Cara,” he said under his breath. “I wish your life would take you down a different path.” Then he and Amos were out the door and away.
They walked for a time without speaking, as Thaddeus was uncomfortable with Earth’s modes of transportation. Amos finally looked over at his companion. “My niece, Thaddeus?”
This was not the first time Amos had asked the question. “I cannot help the way things are, or the way they are going to be. You know that by now.”
He did, but Thaddeus knew Amos hoped for a different answer. “My niece,” he murmured. It was not a question this time.
“Someday her destiny will make sense,” Thaddeus promised. “She does have magic in her; it is strong, even now. And it will only grow stronger in time. She will have plenty of people to help her along the way. She will never be alone, Amos.”
“You can’t promise that,” Amos said sharply.
“I’ve seen it,” Thaddeus answered calmly.
After everything, Amos was still skeptical of magic. The powers Thaddeus claimed were beyond Amos’ understanding sometimes, but he didn’t refute Thaddeus’ claim. He simply sighed heavily.
“When do you go back?” Amos asked instead.
“Where do you think we’re walking? I’ve done what I came to do. And I must return before questions arise,” Thaddeus told him. “Amos, watch over the girl. She has great things in store, and she won’t know what to do with all she learns. Do not leave her to discover it all alone.”
Thaddeus waited until Amos agreed before he drew to a halt. “Your help was indispensable, my friend. None of this could have been done without you. You’ve played an integral part in the future of my world. And for that I can never thank you enough.”
Amos didn’t have the time to form a response before Thaddeus had bowed to him, backed up two swift steps, and disappeared.
Praise for Rising Calm:
“This was a great read! It’s geared toward young adults but even as an old adult I loved the story and found the characters smart and engaging. I am very much looking forward to the next installment!” – Midge (Amazon)
“Haley Fisher does an amazing job of really bringing the story to life with her words. She is a very talented young author. I can’t wait to read the sequel to this book”. – Patriot (Amazon)
About Haley Fisher:
I’m Haley Fisher, a college student in Kansas, and I’ve just signed a contract with a company called Silver Tongue Press to publish my first book!
For as long as I can remember I’ve been an avid reader and an aspiring writer, but the step toward actually getting a book published is an enormous one for me. This is a big deal. And, as I’ve been told, the next step to being successful is getting the word out that my book exists.
So, though it’s not in print yet—it’s coming out February 14th—I’d love for people to keep an eye out for Rising Calm. It’ll be the first in a series of books about a young girl who finds out her life and her fate are far bigger than she ever realized. At the risk of giving too much away, the most I can tell you for now is that there is magic, prophecy, new worlds, and a cast of characters who I love to write.
Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.
Today kicks off the book tour for John Daly and his novel From A Dead Sleep. Thanks to Julie Breedlove of BQB Publishing and the author, John Daly, I am giving away one copy of From a Dead Sleep.
Book Description:
Publisher: BQB Publishing (June 25, 2013) Category: Thriller/Suspense Tour Date: June 24th-July 19th Available in: Print and eBook, 398 pages
Few residents in the small, secluded mountain town of Winston, Colorado, have kind words to say about Sean Coleman. He’s a bully, a drunk, and a crime‐show–addicted, armchair detective with an overactive imagination. After a night of poor judgment, Sean finds himself the sole witness to the unusual suicide of a mysterious stranger.
With the body whisked away in the chilling rapids of a raging river, no one believes Sean’s account. Tormented over the doubts and mockery of the people of Winston, Sean embarks on a far‐reaching crusade that takes him across the country in search of the dead man’s identity and personal vindication. At the end, he hopes to find redemption and the truth—but sometimes the truth is better left unknown. There are times when the truth invites evil. There are times when the truth can get you killed.
“Some writers are thoughtful. Some have style. John Daly has both. When I read his work, it’s time well spent.” – Bernard Goldberg, New York Times bestselling author of ‘Bias‘.
View the Trailer:
About John Daly:
A lifelong Coloradoan, John Daly graduated from the University of Northern Colorado
with a degree in business administration and computer information systems. He spent the next fifteen years developing accounting software and Internet-based workflow collaboration solutions.
With a thirst for creative expression that went beyond the logic and absolutes of computer programming, John developed an interest in writing. His early work included newspaper editorials and film and television reviews for entertainment websites. He later became drawn toward more substantive commentary on world events. He currently writes political, cultural, and media analysis columns for the website of Bernard Goldberg, former CBSNews journalist and The New York Times bestselling author.
John felt compelled to take his writing to the next level after watching a television interview with former NFL football player, Tim Green. Inspired by Green’s career transition from a professional athlete to an accomplished author, John found the motivation to begin work on his first novel, From a Dead Sleep.
From a Dead Sleep is the story of a profoundly flawed man who witnesses a tragic event that no one else believes, and that man’s quest for the truth and redemption. The mystery novel unfolds in the dense mountain ranges of Colorado where John has spent much time camping, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors.
This giveaway is open internationally. Those that live in the U.S. and Canada will received a sign print copy. A International winner will receive an ebook, either pdf or epub. This giveaway ends on July 18, 2013. Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.
Today kicks off the book tour for Robert Seven Williams and his novel My Year As a Clown.
Book Description:
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.
Publisher: Against the Grain Press (Dec. 26, 2012) Category: Contemporary Fiction/Literary Fiction/Humor/Relationships Tour Date: June 24th Through July, 2013 (Dates may vary) 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.
My Thoughts:
At first glimpse, some readers may mistake My Year As a Clown as a book that would appeal to men only. Let me reassure you, that is far from true! Sure, there is some football in it but as a symbol of loyalty and commitment.
Chuck Morgan is devastated when his wife leaves him for another man. Like many women or men often do when a long term relationship ends he digs himself in a rut. He is emotionally spent and doesn’t know how to deal with the situation or his loss.
Friend and relatives who mean well give him phone numbers of women to call for dates but it is clear that isn’t what he needs.
The book is written in journal style, starting at day one since his wife left him, through day 365. This style works perfectly for this novel. It reads smoothly unlike some books that are written in this way.
My Year As a Clown is like a memoir, as the story and characters ring true to me. As Chuck begins to try to dig himself out of the rut, we share his triumphs and failures. We can tell he is a good person but has human failings, just like all of us.
Robert Steven Williams takes the reader on an emotional roller-coaster as we follow Chuck for a year. His writing is raw and at times profound. At times there is biting humor. I would have loved to have follow Chuck through another year or two of his life however, I think that it would have made for too much of a pat ending. There are some loose ends that are tied up by the end, but true to life, not all of them.
I highly recommend My Year As a Clown!
4.5/5
View the Trailer:
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.
Thanks the author, Robert Steven Williams, I am giving away one copy of My Year As a Clown. This giveaway is for the ebook and ends on July 5, 2013. Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.
