Book Spotlight: I Buried Paul by Bruce Ferber

 

Title: I BURIED PAUL

Author: Bruce Ferber 

Publisher: The Story Plant

Pages: 304

Genre: Adult Literary Fiction

​

Jimmy Kozlowski has a regular gig playing Paul McCartney in the Beatles tribute band, Help!. The band is part of a cottage industry built around mimicry, where each group strives to be the ultimate Fake Fab Four. And none strives harder than Help!, thanks to Gene Klein, its John Lennon and leader. Gene's just gotten his Medicare card and spends much of his time caring for his ailing mother. But he hasn't lost a step on guitar or vocals, and is determined to take Help! to the top, his goal being to perform in Liverpool one day. Though the notion of the UK clamoring for a group of Long Islanders with fake British accents seems far-fetched, Gene has a plan.

Unlike his boss, Jimmy has limited bandwidth for high-quality Beatle wigs or bespoke Nehru jackets. He works a straight job, entertains at a nursing home, and yearns to connect with the daughter he's never met. He also wants a shot at recording and performing his own original compositions. No matter the odds, Jimmy is determined to realize his creative dreams, even if it means "burying Paul" in the process.

 

I Buried Paul is a love letter to the power of music, a humorous yet moving exploration of the sacrifices its disciples are willing to make in service to its magic.

"Funny, heartfelt, and unafraid... A book for anyone who loves music or has ever tried to keep a dream alive." -- Ben Loory, author of Tales of Falling and Flying

"First, the good news: Paul isn't dead, and this isn't an autopsy. Rather it's a funny, moving novel about trying to find your way home from the Abbey Road of your teenage fantasy life, while simultaneously escaping the shadows cast by your father, your older brother, many failed relationships, and a world that doesn't like to see people doing what they love – such as making their own music. Reminiscent of Anne Tyler and Richard Russo (if either could keep a steady bass beat), Bruce Ferber writes humorous fiction for grown ups." -- Scott Bradfield, author of The History of Luminous Motion

"In his touching and funny novel, Bruce Ferber comes not to bury Paul McCartney but to celebrate his true believers, the dreamers who carry the torch of their youthful rock dreams well into pension age, and who refuse to sacrifice their passion despite high cholesterol counts and the possibility of embarrassing themselves. I Buried Paul is a tender paean to the music that changed us all, its revivifying and enduring power." -- Marc Weingarten, author of The Gang that Wouldn't Write Straight: Wolfe, Thompson, Didion, Capote, and the New Journalism Revolution

“Funny, deep, and compulsive, I Buried Paul is a tribute to family, lifelong friends, and the Beatles tunes that unite them. Told with Ferber's trademark wit, literary verve and big-heartedness, it's a veritable magical mystery tour of growing up and finding love and meaning in a complex world.” -- Michaela Carter, author of Leonora in the Morning Light

“Reading Bruce Ferber's latest novel is like being told a great tale from your favorite and funniest pal ― the one who really seems to know stuff―the one you trust―the one who gets you when nobody else does. Long live Paul.” -- Jason Alexander

“Bruce Ferber's prose is music to my ears. I Buried Paul is very funny, and very insightful.” -- John Densmore

“Bruce Ferber has captured lightning in a bottle, chronicling a generation's obsessive attachment to The Beatles. His love for their music and legacy is evident on every page. And as the poets said, ‘With a love like that you know it can't be bad.' (Yeah-yeah-yeah.)” -- Bob Spitz, New York Times bestselling author of The Beatles

Soft Cover: 978-1611883282; 329 pages; $16.95; E-Book, $7.49, Audiobook, Free with Audible Trial

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3zeFK68

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-buried-paul-bruce-ferber/1140012044 

Chapters: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/i-buried-paul-a-novel/9781611883282-item.html

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/i-buried-paul 

Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/I-Buried-Paul-Bruce-Ferber/9781611883282

Book Excerpt:

Milestones are seldom what they’re cracked up to be, unless you’re a charmed preppie who inherits the Hallmark gene. My first time kissing a girl turned out to be a mercy stunt, engineered by some douchey linebacker on the junior varsity. The most memorable thing about getting my driver’s license was that I had no car, and my parents’ station wagon was never available. When I put on the cap and gown for high school graduation, it felt like I was going to a Halloween party, dressed as a fraud.
 

As I went on to achieve my own versions of milestones, none of them would adhere to society’s definitions or timetable. Instead, they appeared out of the blue like stealth jack-in-the-boxes. How was I to know that the fourth kiss from my third girlfriend would be the portal to life-changing sex? Or that on my first solo plane trip at eighteen, I’d be moved to First Class and treated like a VIP, despite having accomplished nothing? Or that shortly after the plane touched down, I would never again look at the world the same way.

It’s not that I’m against the element of surprise. I’m just convinced it would be a lot less stressful to be the Hallmark guy.

​

Bruce Ferber built a long and successful career as a television comedy writer and producer. A multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominee, his credits include Bosom Buddies, Growing Pains, Sabrina, The Teenage Witch, Coach, and Home Improvement, where he served as Executive Producer and showrunner. In addition to being recognized by the Television Academy, Ferber's work has received the People's Choice, Kid's Choice, and Environmental Media Awards. He is the author of two previous novels, Elevating Overman and Cascade Falls, along with the nonfiction book, The Way We Work. He lives in Los Angeles, CA with his wife, large dog, and assorted musical instruments.

Visit his website at www.Bruceferber.net or connect with him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Coming in February!: The Changing Season by Steven Manchester

This was supposed to be a simple summer for Billy: one more lazy expanse of time before college began. He'd fill the hours playing with Jimmy – his canine best buddy – going camping and doing all the things he promised Jimmy they'd do before Billy left. But that was before the accident that shook the entire town. It was before the summer job that turned into something so much more than a way to get a paycheck. And it was before Vicki. This summer was destined to be many things to Billy, things he didn't truly understand until now. But it was definitely not going to be simple. An enormously touching, richly textured, deeply moving novel of new adulthood, THE CHANGING SEASON is an experience to savor.

“THE CHANGING SEASON is a story that will bring you back to that awkward period of time between childhood and adult life. I highly recommend this book.” - Richard Paul Evans, #1 NYT Bestselling Author, THE CHRISTMAS BOX and THE MISTLETOE PROMISE.

“THE CHANGING SEASON is a thought provoking coming of age tale that explores the complicated themes of love, faith, family, and above all, loyalty. Mr. Manchester's portrayal of a boy at the cusp of manhood is evocative and sympathetic.” - Susan Wilson, NYT Bestselling Author, ONE GOOD DOG.

Hardcover
Publisher: Story Plant (February 16, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1611882265
ISBN-13: 978-1611882261

Pre-order here!

New Release: Gooseberry Island by Steven Manchester

They met at the worst possible moment...or maybe it was just in time. David McClain was about to go to war and Lindsey Wood was there at his going-away party, capturing his heart when falling for a woman was the last thing on his mind. While David was serving his country, he stayed in close contact with Lindsey. But war changes a person, and when he came home very little had the same meaning that it had before – including the romance that had sustained him. Was love truly unconquerable, or would it prove to be just another battlefield casualty?

Gooseberry Island is the most nuanced, dramatic, and romantic novel yet from a writer whose ability to plumb the depths of human emotion knows few peers.

Excerpt:

David had been home for six weeks when he pulled into the market, preparing to locate everything on his mother’s grocery list. As he approached the store, he spotted a young teenage boy walking out; he was holding a brown bag. An older man approached the boy and reached out his hand. David gasped and his dizzy mind immediately raced back to Afghanistan and the horrific beating of the young Afghani boy:

There was movement three hundred yards out on the street below. Unusual, David thought. It was a teenage boy, maybe fourteen, carrying a burlap bag and hurrying home before dark. Never seen him before, David thought.

In a flash, a man—a Taliban fighter—jumped out of the shadows and grabbed the boy’s arm, pulling him to the street and spilling the contents of his sack. As the teenager yelled for help, another Taliban soldier emerged from the darkness. The boy screamed louder, but not a single soul came to his aid…

It only took a few seconds, but the whole scene played out in sequence in his mind—both men yelling and slapping the boy as he screamed for help; the slaps turning to a vicious beating until finally the boy was dead. He could almost hear Command say “Negative” again after he asked if he could intervene. He felt the anguish in his soul threatening to overwhelm him, but it was quickly replaced by a burning rage.

Paperback & Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Gooseberry-Island-Steven-Manchester-ebook/dp/B00OPAFIDK/

Nook & Paperback: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gooseberry-island-steven-manchester/1118939772

Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestsellers, Twelve Months and The Rockin' Chair. He is also the author of the award-winning novel, Goodnight, Brian, as well as the critically-acclaimed novel, Pressed Pennies, A Christmas Wish (Kindle exclusive), Wilbur Avenue (novelette), Just in Time (novelette), The Thursday Night Club (novella) and Gooseberry Island. His work has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS's The Early Show, CNN's American Morning and BET's Nightly News. Three of Steven's short stories were selected "101 Best" for Chicken Soup for the Soul series. When not spending time with his beautiful wife, Paula, or their four children, this Massachusetts author is promoting his works or writing. Visit: www.StevenManchester.com

http://www.StevenManchester.com 
http://www.facebook.com/#!/AuthorStevenManchester

Pre-Order Gooseberry Island by Steven Manchester & Support the Wounded Warrior Project

Steven Manchester's next book will be out on January 6, 2015. Voted one of the Must Read Books of 2015 by Cyrus Webb Presents, Gooseberry Island is sure to be the next hit from one of our #1 bestselling authors. The book looks at the budding relationship between Lindsay and David, who have to deal with David's deployment overseas and his recovery from the trauma he witnessed in the service of his country.

PTSD is one of the biggest problems facing soldiers as they return from war. As an experienced veteran himself, Steven Manchester understands that. That's why, during the promotion of this book, Steven and The Story Plant are going to be working toward helping returning veterans. And we need your help to do that.

From now until January 31, 2015, we will donate $1 to the Wounded Warrior Project for every copy of Gooseberry Island that is pre-ordered and sold. All you have to do is email us a copy of your receipt and we will make the donation. In addition to that, we will also donate a copy of the e-book to returning soldiers, one donation for each copy sold.

Here's the really important part - we need your help to spread the word about this campaign! Tell your neighbors, tell your family members, tell the person working the checkout line in the grocery story. Just tell as many people as you can and ask them to help spread the word too. We want this campaign to go viral! Let's do something good this holiday season and celebrate those who protect and serve our country!

You can read more about Gooseberry Island at our website. It is available for sale at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, and IndieBound.

Curious about Wounded Warrior or want to make your own donation? Visit their website here.

"Mr. Manchester handles [PTSD] with great compassion.  He brings to life the hardships that are suffered by our returning servicemen.  His characters have depth and the story is compelling.  It is not only a novel, it helps to inform the reader of the difficulties experienced and the silent life and death struggle that goes on every day around us." -From Book Bug Blog

"I’ve said it before – Steven Manchester has a very definite style of his own. His books all display beautiful descriptive writing, poignancy, and include an inspirational message, and this one will simply warm your heart." -From And The Story Unfolds

"This author did a wonderful job with this novel showing how war can change a person and how so many of these military people die of suicide and bringing to life the many hardships along with disorders(PTSD) that are suffered by many of our returning military men and women." -From Arlena, Goodreads member

“Steven Manchester has a gift for expressing through his writing the complicated and transcendent beauty of the human experience with poignant clarity,” says Yolanda King, eldest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King. “Steven Manchester writes about life as it really is and really could be,” adds Crystal Book Reviews. Steven Manchester’s work has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CBS’s The Early Show, CNN’s American Morning and BET’s Nightly News. Recently, three of Manchester’s short stories were selected “101 Best” for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Manchester writes deeply moving, intensely relatable novels that readers tend to remember and discuss for a long time.

Book Review: Pressed Pennies by Steven Manchester

Pressed Pennies by Steven Manchester is a story of starting over and second chances.

Rick and Abby grew up and fell in love, but when Rick's family moved away they were lost to each other for years. When they reunite unexpectedly at a friend's party, sparks fly. But things are very different now. Rick has just ended a loveless marriage and Abby has fled with her eight-year-old daughter, Paige, from an abusive marriage. Abby needs time to focus on rebuilding her life and making better memories for her young daughter. How does Rick fit into that life, if at all?

Pressed Pennies is a sweet, romantic tale of two people reconnecting after many years apart. They meet again after their failed marriages and try to spend time reconnecting. The problem is Abby's daughter, Paige, whose acting out threatens their relationship.

Manchester writers a deeply romantic, nostalgic, and richly descriptive tale. Told from various points of view--Abby's, Rich's, and Paige's--the reader gets a chance to see things from all three characters' sides, which I feel is unique. This helps the reader connect with Paige more than in a typical romance novel where the actions of the rebellious child are shared merely from an adult's point of view. It therefore, becomes, just as much Paige's story as Abby's and Rick's. Manchester does an excellent job of giving the reader a glimpse into what is going on insdie each characters' head.

The style is a blend of long passages and short snippets where the points of view change. Email exchanges between Abby and Rick give this novel a contemporary feel, while Rick's overly romantic nature comes as a pleasant surprise--both to Abby and the reader.

My one disappointment is that Paige seemed more like a teenager than the eight-year-old she is supposed to be. Even though she celebrates a birthday over the course of the story, her actions, and especially her manner of speaking come across as that of someone years older. As a person who has young girls at home and is surrounded by pre-teen girls on a regular basis, it nagged me the whole time. Definitely not enough to ruin the story, but I kept wondering how this would have altered Abby and Paige's relationship if Paige were portrayed more authentically.

If you're looking for for an intensely romantic story that touches the heart, Pressed Pennies will be for you.

Paperback: 355 pages
Publisher: Story Plant, The (May 13, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1611881358
ISBN-13: 978-1611881356

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

I read this book for the following challenge:

Interview with Reba White Williams, Author of Fatal Impressions

Reba White Williams worked for more than thirty years in business and finance—in research at McKinsey & Co., as a securities analyst on Wall Street, and as a senior executive at an investment management firm.

Williams graduated from Duke with a BA in English, earned an MBA at Harvard, a PhD in Art History at CUNY, and an MA in Writing at Antioch. She has written numerous articles for art and financial journals. She is a past president of the New York City Art Commission and served on the New York State Council for the Arts.

She and her husband built what was thought to be the largest private collection of fine art prints by American artists. They created seventeen exhibitions from their collection that circulated to more than one hundred museums worldwide, Williams writing most of the exhibition catalogues. She has been a member of the print committees of several leading museums.

Williams grew up in North Carolina, and lives in New York, Connecticut and Southern California with her husband and Maltese, Muffin. She is the author of two novels featuring Coleman and Dinah Greene, Restrike and Fatal Impressions, along with the story of Coleman and Dinah when they were children, Angels. She is currently working on her third Coleman and Dinah mystery.

Visit Reba online at http://rebawhitewilliams.com

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Mississippi, lived there and in Tennessee before moving to North Carolina where I lived with my family. I graduated from high school at St. Mary’s in Raleigh, and went on to Duke, where I majored in English

When did you begin writing?

I wrote as soon as I could write, and wrote more and more as I grew up—at St. Mary’s and Duke.

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

I write wherever I am, and whenever I can.

What is this book about?

Fatal Impressions is about two young women working in the art world in New York. Both have moved into new areas: Coleman has bought a second magazine, and Dinah is competing for a corporate contract. Both encounter serious problems and meet threatening people—and criminal activity.

What inspired you to write it?

I always intended to write a series, and planned to use a corporate setting. Many corporations have employed an art consultant to put together (and hang) a collection, but I haven’t seen a mystery written in that setting/situation.

Who is your favorite character from the book?

I like both of my protagonists, but Coleman is my favorite because she’s more active, takes more chances.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

I am a big proponent of independent bookstores, so please purchase at your local one, but it can also be purchased at chain bookstores and online.

What is up next for you?

I’ve just finished writing the 3rd book in the series, and I’ve started the 4th. I’m looking forward to a short trip to London, and a trip to Alaska later in the summer. I’m also looking forward to book parties hosted by my friends for Fatal Impressions!

Is there anything you would like to add?

Anyone who wants to write should keep writing. Don’t get discouraged; just write!

Interview with Susan Israel, Author of Over My Live Body

Susan Israel lives in Connecticut with her beloved dog, but New York City lives in her heart and mind. A graduate of Yale College, her fiction has been published in Other Voices, Hawaii Review and Vignette and she has written for magazines, websites and newspapers, including Glamour, Girls Life, Ladies Home Journal and The Washington Post. She’s currently at work on the second book in the Delilah Price series, Student Bodies.

Visit Susan online at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Susan-Israel-books/1422085928004817 or https://twitter.com/Sqrlmom

When did you begin writing?

I was in grade school, I think, making up stories to cope with being
bullied. That continued into junior high school and high school. I got
some encouragement from one (just one!) teacher in high school, but my earlier efforts weren't very good. I was trying to be someone else. It wasn't until I went to college that I felt my talent was appreciated and I grew as a writer and took greater leaps. My suggestion to anyone who has been afflicted with the "writing bug" is if you are not being encouraged by the people you know, find people who will encourage you, even if it means getting a ton of criticism (as long as it's meant to build you up, not tear you down) Read as much as you can and at the same time find your own voice.

Do you write during the day, at night, or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

I used to write in a computer cluster during the day, between say, 10 a.m. and noon, after which I'd go for coffee to reboot. I wrote all of Over My Live Body that way. After the cluster was removed, I started
writing at home, after dark, when it was quieter and I still do. But I also take my work in progress and a composition notebook with me when I go out for coffee and work there, whichever cafe I happen to go to.

What is this book about?

My main character, Delilah Price, is being stalked by a stranger who is obsessed with her, a situation not uncommon to actresses and rock stars, only Delilah is an artist who happens to work as an art model to
help make ends meet, not exactly a household name (yet). She doesn't know how she happened to attract his attention and doesn't know why horrible things are happening to people close to her as a result of the
attraction. The police only get involved when a murder is committed.

What inspired you to write it?

I was modeling for art classes and in a perfectly safe environment, but I conjured a situation where somebody would not be as safe,as sheltered, I and plopped my main character, Delilah, in the center of that.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

Over My Live Body is available for purchase through:
Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Over-Live-Body-Susan-Israel/dp/1611881188
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/over-my-live-body-susan-israel/1116303576
Kobo - http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/over-my-live-body/book-VXQg7Qgvi0ee2HTgOnN02A/page1.html
iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/over-my-live-body/id755632984?mt=11
IndieBound - http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781611881189?aff=BookDivasReads

What's up next for you?

My next novel, Student Bodies, is the second in the Delilah Price saga. In this, Delilah is still modeling but also working as a substitute art teacher in a girls' middle school, dealing with teenage angst (and her own feelings of inadequacy) and the threat of a serial rapist and sexual predator posing a real danger to those she is close to - and herself. After that will be a third, yet untitled, involving a human trafficking ring and an intriguing foreign suitor with a questionable past and present.

Interview: Peter Murphy, Author of Born & Bred

Peter Murphy was born in Killarney where he spent his first three years before his family was deported to Dublin, the Strumpet City.

Growing up in the verdant braes of Templeogue, Peter was schooled by the De La Salle brothers in Churchtown where he played rugby for ‘The Wine and Gold’. He also played football (soccer) in secret!

After that, he graduated and studied the Humanities in Grogan’s under the guidance of Scot’s corner and the bar staff; Paddy, Tommy and Sean.

Murphy financed his education by working summers on the building sites of London in such places as Cricklewood, Camden Town and Kilburn.

Murphy also tramped the roads of Europe playing music and living without a care in the world. But his move to Canada changed all of that. He only came over for a while – thirty years ago. He took a day job and played music in the bars at night until the demands of family life intervened. Having raised his children and packed them off to University, Murphy answered the long ignored internal voice and began to write.

He has no plans to make plans for the future and is happy to let things unfold as they do anyway.


Visit Peter online at www.peterdamienmurphy.com

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a nice respectable suburb on the south side of Dublin, Ireland. It was the type of place you would imagine that children would be happy in but in my late teens, I wandered downtown in search of the places where my literary heroes had roamed. I found them and spent the next few years absorbing the atmosphere that still lingers.

When did you begin writing?

Growing up, I was strongly encouraged to read and write. As a lovelorn teen I wrote poetry and songs and became a bit of a troubadour for a while. Later, after I moved to Canada and became busy raising a family, I stole a few hours, here and there, to write short stories—some of which were not too bad. A few years back I got cashed-out of a job that I had grown very tired of and decided to start doing what really made me happy—writing.

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

I find the evenings are best for writing and I spend the day editing and reworking the previous day’s work. Reshaping it always gets me in the mood to take another plunge forward.

What is this book about?

It is the story of Danny Boyle, a pious and innocent child who gets waylaid by the storms of the world around him. His granny, a formidable and influential dowager, raised him to be good but when she dies, all of her secrets come tumbling out and shatter everything Danny believed in. Lost and confused, he gets involved with the drug scene and gets duped into leaving his fingerprints on a murder weapon. But his family still has powerful friends who are prepared to move Heaven and Earth to save him, only, even that might not be enough.

What inspired you to write it?

A few years ago, I was having dinner with family in Dublin when the talk turned to the recent murder of an alleged drug-dealer. Everyone voiced reasonable and insightful opinions and it set the wheels in motion. Even the greatest villains among us begin life as babies and I wanted to explore what might have happened along the way.

Who is your favorite character from the book?

Danny Boyle’s grandmother, Nora. She seems so self-assured at first and doesn’t hesitate to put everyone in their place. She does what she believes has to be done and pays her penance forward. But, as the story unfolds, her certainty is tested and Nora is forced to look at things differently.

Was the road to publication smooth sailing or a bumpy ride?

Notwithstanding that the whole process can feel like it moves at glacial pace, I have been very fortunate. I found someone, my editor Lou Aronica, who saw something in my writing and has spared no effort to coax me along. Initially, some of his opinions ruffled my feathers but he has been proven right. Because of that I get to do my part—write—and trust that the rest will be well taken care of. Writing, publishing and reader’s reactions all make for a bit of a rollercoaster ride but what part of life isn’t?

If you knew then, what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently?

No because all of that led to this. I spent over 3 years working on my first novel, Lagan Love, and have managed to produce the first 2 books of Life & Times; Born & Bred and Wandering in Exile in 2. What I am learning along the way is to avoid filling pages with anything that is not central to the story—a practice that can only be improved by making mistakes along the way.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.ca/Born-Bred-Peter-Murphy/dp/1611881161

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/born-bred-peter-murphy/1116303578

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/born-bred/id755632981

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/born-bred

Local Bookstores: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781611881165

Chapters/Indigo: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/born-bred/9781611881165-item.html?ikwid=peter+murphy+born+%26+bred

Ben McNally Books: http://www.benmcnallybooks.com/?q=events/fine_print_presents_born_and_bred_peter_murphy

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere?

Write, write, and write. Like anything else, it gets easier with practice.

What is up next for you?

I have been working 10 to 12 hours a day for 3 years and when the 3rd book, All Roads, is done, I need to take some time to attend to the rest of my life. I need a haircut and I need to get organized for my move to Portugal. I tell myself I must take a few months off but, already, I’m playing with a few new ideas!

Is there anything you would like to add?

Yes, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to talk about my work.

Interview with David Marlett, Author of Fortunate Son

David Marlett is an attorney, artist, and self-trained historian who grew up in a storytelling Texas family. He attended Texas Tech University where he earned multiple degrees in finance, economics and accounting. Subsequently, he earned his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.

David has created and written stories and screenplays since childhood, and is particularly interested in richly textured history and the drama behind major courtroom battles, such as in his first novel, FORTUNATE SON. His second novel, AMERICAN RED, another historical courtroom drama, is due to be published in late 2014.

He is a serial entrepreneur focused primarily on the arts. (He once owned eight bookstores across the United States.) David currently speaks and lectures at conferences and universities on transmedia, storytelling, entrepreneurship in the arts, and crowdfunding. He has been a featured contributor to MovieMaker magazine, Digital Book World, and many other publications.

He has developed and sold a number of film scripts and has directed/ acted in many regional theatrical performances. David is also a photo artist whose work has appeared in several galleries across the United States, and can be also seen at www.MarlettPhotoArt.com. He lives outside Dallas, Texas, and has four children.

Visit David online at http://dmarlett.com.

Where did you grow up?

Lubbock, Texas

When did you begin writing?

I've been writing stories since I first started writing as a child. Some of my first were when I was 5 or 6. I wrote my own adventures for Stewart Little, after having falling in love with the original book. I filled a journal with further adventures for the mouse.

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

Day, night, stolen moments. I carry a small journal with me wherever I am and record notes at all times.

What is this book about?

From Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Fortunate-Son-Novel-Greatest-History/dp/1611880777

Meet James Annesley, son of 18th Century Ireland. Though you may have never heard his name before, his story has already touched you in profound ways. Now, for the first time, novelist David Marlett brings that incredible story to life. Stretching from the dirty streets of Ireland to the endless possibilities of Colonial America, from drama on the high seas with the Royal Navy to a life-and-death race across England and up the Scottish Highlands, from the prospect of a hangman’s noose to a fate decided in the halls of justice, FORTUNATE SON is a powerful, relentless epic. Here nobility, duels, love, courage, revenge, honor, and treachery among family, friends and ancient enemies abound. And at its center is the most momentous trial in Irish history – the trial of Annesley v. Anglesea from which our modern “attorney/client privilege” was forged, and our concept of a “jury of one's peers” was put to the test. Carefully researched, vividly evoked, and lovingly brought to the page, FORTUNATE SON is an unforgettable work of fiction based on fact, one that will resonate deep within you long after you finish it.

What inspired you to write it?

My incredible journey toward FORTUNATE SON began while I was in my first year of law school at the University of Texas. A portion (later proving to be a very small portion) of the plot came to my attention in a textbook on legal ethics. Near the beginning of that book, the author illustrated a point by referring to an obscure 1743 trial transcript. That excerpt featured one attorney cross-examinning another attorney, questioning the examinee's credentials and moral guidelines. Like an archeologist inspired upon finding a chip of dinosaur vertebrae, I decided to dig deeper. That evening I found the entire trial transcript in the UT Law Library (which happens to be one of the largest law libraries in the world). I was so transfixed that I was locked in the stacks overnight, reading. The next morning I was certain that someday I would tell this story. What I didn't know then, but would learn over the subsequent years of research and immersive trips to Ireland, Scotland and England, was that the transcript of the Annesley v. Anglesea trial contained but a portion of the extraordinary story of James Annesley -- a story very well known in the mid-1700's. I feel exceptionally privileged to bring James's story to the modern world in the form of FORTUNATE SON.

Who is your favorite character from the book?

Daniel Mackercher. He is such a powerful character. Imagining how he might behave was a delight. Of course the main character was enjoyable too, but Mackercher had a particular pleasure to his construction.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Fortunate-Son-Novel-Greatest-History/dp/1611880777
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fortunate-son-david-marlett/1116303573
Other sites of potential interest:
Website: http://www.dmarlett.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18406521-fortunate-son
Twitter: https://twitter.com/David_Marlett

What is the best investment you have made in promoting your book?

Facebook ads for my Author page: https://www.facebook.com/dmarlettauthor

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere?

Stick with it. Keep writing. Don't waste time commiserating with other writers, just keep your butt in front of your laptop and your fingers moving.

What is up next for you?

From Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/American-Red-David-Marlett/dp/1611881781

In his accomplished debut novel, Fortunate Son, David Marlett introduced readers to a fresh take on historical fiction, built around the transcripts of one of the most momentous legal trials in history. Now he returns with a dramatic new story and an equally dramatic trial. In 1907, deadly, one-eyed union boss "Big Bill" Haywood was accused of ordering the successful assassination-by-bombing of the governor of Idaho – the first such assassination in American history. The trial, with Haywood represented by a young Clarence Darrow, was front-page news from coast to coast and across the globe. As it played out, it would present in vivid detail America's doomed thrust toward radical socialism, a "red" revolution that was gaining traction in Russia and other parts of the world. American Red brings the story of the events leading up to this trial – and the trial itself – to dramatic life. It is a sweeping tale of murder, adultery, corruption, mountain Mafia, the Pinkertons, domestic terrorism, government-sanctioned kidnapping, the last gunslingers, mining unions, and perhaps the greatest train race ever. It is both breathless entertainment and an unforgettable portrait of a younger America at the precipice of great change.

First Chapter Review: The Rockin' Chair by Steven Manchester

The first chapter of The Rockin' Chair by Steven Manchester was sent to me by the author. This book is available for pre-order at Amazon.

BLURB:  Memories are the ultimate contradiction. They can warm us on our coldest days – or they can freeze a loved one out of our lives forever. The McCarthy family has a trove of warm memories. Of innocent first kisses. Of sumptuous family meals. Of wondrous lessons learned at the foot of a rocking chair. But they also have had their share of icy ones. Of words that can never be unsaid. Of choices that can never be unmade. Of actions that can never be undone.

Following the death of his beloved wife, John McCarthy – Grandpa John – calls his family back home. It is time for them to face the memories they have made, both warm and cold. Only then can they move beyond them and into the future.

A rich portrait of a family at a crossroad, THE ROCKIN' CHAIR is Steven Manchester’s most heartfelt and emotionally engaging novel to date. If family matters to you, it is a story you must read.

COVER: I love it. All of the covers of Steven's books have been nice. I was looking through them at his publisher's website and see they all have a chair in them. Not sure what that's supposed to mean, but here it works well because of the title and because of the rustic feel that speaks to the setting.

FIRST CHAPTER: As Alice hides herself, her memories wander from the days of her childhood to the days when she is gray-haired and liver-spotted. But then Elle shows up and tells her it's time to go home.

KEEP READING: This is a tough one for me, because I was fairly confused through most of the first chapter. I've already read some of Manchester's work, so I know he can deliver. I feel the opening chapter is intentionally vague to relay the confusion Alice feels as she sits waiting in terror. She appears to be suffering from dementia, though that is not stated. I can only guess based upon the last paragraph of the chapter. Manchester offers the reader a lot of emotion in this opener, which is not surprising because he writes about family ties. I would definitely continue for at least another chapter, because I feel once I understand exactly what is happening, I'll be eager to continue.


Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Story Plant, The (June 18, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 161188067X
ISBN-13: 978-1611880670


I received the first chapter of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.

Publisher Lou Aronica and The Story Plant

Our special guest today is Lou Aronica. He is the Publisher for The Story Plant, a publishing house dedicated to developing commercial novelists into bestselling authors. Weʼll talk to Lou about The Story Plant, their new and upcoming titles, and what the future might hold.

Welcome to The Book Connection, Lou. It’s wonderful to have you with us. What can you tell us about The Story Plant and the men behind it?

The Story Plant is a new independent publishing house that I started with Peter Miller, a literary manager I’ve known for decades. Our focus is on commercial fiction from writers we feel we can develop over a number of books.

Why did you decide to focus solely on fiction?

We really felt that publishers weren’t developing new novelists as they once did. They’re looking for blockbusters and that puts a huge amount of pressure on both the writer and the publisher – and more importantly leaves many very good novels unpublished. Since I’ve had a great deal of experience developing novelists over the years, this seemed to be the right charter for The Story Plant.



What titles have been or will be released by The Story Plant this year?

We’re publishing two titles this year. The first is a contemporary romantic fantasy called American Quest, written by Sienna Skyy. It’s a classic quest story juxtaposed against a compelling love story with a fresh and distinctive contemporary setting. The second is a medical thriller, Capitol Reflections by Jonathan Javitt. This is a gripping story about what could go wrong with genetically modified foods if dangerous people control these products. The author is a true Washington insider with tremendous access.



What do you look for in a manuscript?

We’re looking for novels that work here, work in translation, and have the potential to work on film. The best way to bridge these three markets is with great characters. I think readers care much more about the fiction they’re reading if they have strong feelings about the characters. I know I need that to keep me interested.

Why will readers be interested in The Story Plant’s titles?

I think they’ll be interested because each book is written with a great deal of passion and energy – and of course each has interesting characters. We work very closely with the writers on our list and I think that commitment comes across on the page.

Where can readers purchase your authors’ books?

Hopefully anywhere they normally purchase books.

What are your future plans for The Story Plant?

Our goal is to publish ten books in 2009 and then expand to twelve new hardcovers and reprints of the previous year’s hardcovers in the years after that. We aren’t planning to expand beyond this because we want to be able to give each book we publish serious editorial and marketing attention.

Do you have a website where readers and authors can learn more?

We do: www.thestoryplant.com.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Just that I’m extremely interested in hearing from readers. I’ve been in the publishing business for nearly thirty years, but The Story Plant is very close to my heart and Peter’s heart. I’d love to know how people think we’re doing and we’re very open to suggestions.

Thank you for joining us today, Lou. We wish you much success with The Story Plant.


The LOU ARONICA VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR '08 will officially begin on October 1 and end on October 30. You can visit Lou's blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in October to find out more about his new publishing house!

As a special promotion, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author with a recent release or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on any of our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available. The winner will be announced on our main blog at www.pumpupyourbookpromotion.wordpress.com on October 30!