The book tour continues and no one’s brought me the RV for a more leisurely ride. Even still, I’ve stopped at some lovely blogs and shared a variety of thoughts. Some have also been kind enough to leave me a wonderful review as well!
Before I start, my Thursday began with great news! Foreward Reviews, renown for highlighting the best titles from the independent publishing community, posted a raving 5-star review of Beneath the Stars.
Beneath the Stars, Lynn Charles’s wonderful contemporary romance novel, connects the dots between unlikely lovers Sid and Eddie as they try to mesh their lives’ eccentric orbits. Taking on serious subjects such as grief, progressive fashion, and co-parenting, this gay romance is ambitious and satisfying.
I’m simply thrilled.
Moving on, Wednesday, I stopped by Prism Book Alliance. They asked about a television show I’d love to bring back. Without question, I talked about M*A*S*H. In the midst of my reminiscing I said this:
It also taught me to love character, dialogue., and a well-timed comedic note in the midst of drama. And that Charles Emerson Winchester III was not just a stodgy, snobby Boston blue blood, but he was a man of great surgical skill and a deep, compassionate heart. Layers—it taught me layers of character.
Why should it come back? Because honestly, I think the world needs to spend some time with such characters again. With the realities of what our history did in this specific conflict and with the real, diverse, heartfelt and hilarious moments that can happen in the midst of it. We need to laugh and cry and hate and love. M*A*S*H brought it all.
Yesterday, I visited Sinfully MM Reviews where I waxed about Eddie, our fearless, often impulsive firefighter. What was it like the day, as a ten year old child, that his house burned down? Here’s a preview:
He still smelled like smoke. His clothes, his hair, his skin reeked so strongly of the sweet stench of house fire, Eddie wondered if the haze of it was visible.
While the only house he had ever known burned, his temporary home had been decided. He and his mom would stay with Maggie and her mom, Sharon. Mom promised to “be out of their hair” as soon as possible, but secretly Eddie hoped this is where they would live forever.
He was given the choice: stay in the art studio cum guest bedroom with his mom or stay in Maggie’s room. The adults didn’t hide that they preferred he stay with his mother, but he and Maggie decided differently. If given a choice, Eddie would always choose Maggie.
Her room wasn’t bad, really, for a girl’s room. It was a buttery yellow and her bed was covered with a soft green comforter and multi-colored pillows. Her lamps looked like they came from a grandmother’s living room, and the curtains were a dismal brown—they didn’t match anything about Maggie.
…
“I only have three days of clothes,” he finally said [to Maggie.]
“Mom said maybe we could go to a thrift store. They have all kinds of cool things.”
Eddie nodded. He balanced the bowl [of butterscotch pudding] on his thighs and took Maggie’s warm hand in his. The chain on the swing creaked against the hooks with each sway.
“Are you scared, Eddie?”
“No. I’m mad. I lost my Gameboy. I did dishes for two months to earn that thing.”
“Yeah, that sucks,” Maggie said. “But you’re still here. And we can get you a new Gameboy.”
“No, we can’t. Mom can’t—I’m not stupid. We won’t be able to get another one.”
“We can have a bake sale?”
Today, I’ve had two stops: Making It Happen Book Blog where she left a 5-star review and said, among other things:
I LOVED this book. This is one of those stories that I can’t wait to tell you I’ve given a 5-star, top recommendation rating to because it just needs to be said right up front. Sid and Eddie’s story is beautiful-emotional, heartwarming, sad, sweet and was just a joy to read. The characters are easy to relate to, and in the middle of it all is the incredibly precocious and intelligent Adrian who pretty much steals the show in every scene in which he appears.
Chookooloonks: Karen Walrond is a former engineer and attorney who now dedicates her life to the creative side. She focuses on thriving, on finding the light, and on shining light on every good thing. She uplifts me, as a reader, and lifts up those in her world. I’d love to have coffee with her, or to sit and watch her create her daily journal entries, or follow her as she walks through her neighborhood—or Africa where she is an active member of the One Campaign—and takes photographs. She is a true beacon of positivity and peace.
Girls Gone Child: Rebecca Woolf is a mother of four (including a set of twins), wife and writer who lives in LA. She started her blog after her son was born because she didn’t know another other women with children. She took to her strengths in writing and began what is probably the most beautiful love letter to her children, to my children, to everyone’s children, and to motherhood in general. She is politically active and teaching her children that the future is female and they are capable leaders of it.
I hope you’ll go visit these sites to see, not only what else I said, but to catch an excerpt of Beneath the Stars and to enter to win an e-book bundle and a $25 gift certificate to Interlude Press.
Beneath the Stars is available now at Interlude Press and most book retailers. See links on my side bar.
You can also win a free print copy by entering the giveaway at goodreads.
