GUEST POST and GIVEAWAY
A Better Place To Be
by David Wind
A Better Place To Be by David Wind is currently on tour with Silver Dagger Book Tours. The tour stops here today for a guest post by the author, an excerpt, and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.
For another book by this author, please check out my blog post on Born To Magic (currently FREE).
Description
A story about life, though perhaps not the one you would choose to live.
inspired by the characters from the Harry Chapin song of the same name, A Better Place To Be is a story of love, loss, and the ability to overcome the worst that life can throw at someone and come out the other side.
Excerpt
Smiling at her from across the table, John pushed aside the niggling worry lurking at the edge of his mind, a whisper of something ‘off ’. Instead, he waited for the waiter to finish pouring the coffee. When the waiter finally walked away, he reached across the table to take her hand in his.
“You know how much I love you, yes?”
Claire held his gaze for a moment before nodding.
“And you know I always keep my promises?”
Her eyes, still locked with his, turned questioning.
“I made you a promise eleven years ago, when you said you would marry me. Do you remember it?”
The corners of her lips quirked up. “We both made a lot of promises to each other.”
He turned her hand palm up and placed the small wrapped box in her hand.
She stared at it, then back at him. “What?”
“Open it.”
She looked back down at her palm. The tip of her tongue flicked across her lips. She stared at the fancy paper covered box for a full minute before carefully unwrapping it to reveal a black velvet case. Again, her eyes flicked to him. He nodded once, she opened the top, and gasped.
He watched her, a smile on his face while she took in what lay on her palm.
“I...”
He took the box from her, and lifted the ring from it. The diamond spit shards of multi-colored light, reflected from the small candle on the table.
“Take off the band for tonight, tonight you are engaged again.”
She stared at the ring even as she slid the white gold wedding band from her finger and continued to stare when he slipped the engagement ring gently along her finger and settled it in place.
He watched a single tear slip from her eye and roll down her cheek. “I—”
She placed a finger across his lips. “—It’s more beautiful than I could ever have imagined.”
He wiped the tear away. Before he could speak, she said, “Take me home, now.”
“The coffee?”
“Now!”
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]
Praise for the Book
“Wow. That word just comes to mind over and over, in regards to this book, along with the phrase, heart-wrenching. It's good though - incredibly, in a makes-you-feel-things-and-think-things brilliantly good. […] Wind puts it all so simply and so realistically, it's like nothing I've ever read or am likely to read again.” ~ J.L. Redding, Reviewer
“This is a story about life. A message for us all. The cold reality that life does end and the living must go on living.” ~ Amazon Reviewer
“David Wind doesn't disappoint with A Better Place To Be as he brilliantly reverse engineers a Harry Chapin classic song. The story stands alone even if you've never heard the song. [Wind] has a wonderful ability to paint mental pictures with his writing.” ~ M. Kauf
“An amazingly beautiful story of love, death and depression. Hitting bottom and rebounding to a place not so terrible. The Chapin song sets our hero up for a memorable night. Put this at the top of your to be read list!” ~ A. Keeran
“A moving story that is thoughtfully composed and beautifully written. Worth reading for the poetic nature of the author's prose alone, but the story will not disappoint either.” ~ Bella
Guest Post by the Author
Switches Genres: The Danger of Writing Something Different
When a writer begins to establish himself/herself in a specific genre, it sometimes become difficult to move to another genre and keep one’s readers happy.
I can tell you how daunting this can be to a writer wanting to expand horizons. I have a lot of readers for my sci-fi/fantasy novels, and I have very loyal readers who read my suspense novels, thrillers, and mysteries. Yet, when I mention my newest novel, A Better Place To Be, which is neither in the sci-fi or thriller genres, the readers seem to hesitate. I only hope that hesitation turns to a decision to take a chance and read the book.
When I sat down to create this novel, a novel I’d wanted to write the story that called to me from the moment I’d first heard the song, more years ago than I want to admit to. But it took years until I found myself in a strange place in my life. My son had died suddenly, and it seemed that my life (I will not presume to speak for my wife) was turning dark.
Then I heard the song again, and in a three-day period heard it on two local stations and then again on SiriusXm radio, twice. I took this as a sign and sat down and began to write. When I finished the last word, I sat back and nodded slowly. I felt better, and I hoped my readers would.
I released the novel, A Better Place To Be, which is based on the Harry Chapin song, on December 1st, and I stepped into the world of contemporary fiction with a story of life, and the vagaries of that life. I believe this book has something to offer everyone. It is not a light read, nor is it a saga stretching through generations; rather, it’s a story about a man’s journey from absolute happiness with his life, to the depths of despair. A book about a person’s ability, or inability to cope with the punches life throws, and a story of how the people around the man relate to him, and perhaps give him a reason to survive.
It’s not a traditional type of story, with a great feel-good ending. However, I have been told by several readers that the end of the book made them smile and nod and think about how fortunate they are. I also decided to donate a percentage of my royalties to two organizations, Harry Chapin’s Why Hunger, and to pancreatic cancer research.
The first review that came in took me by surprise. Here is a part of that review. ”WOW! That word just comes to mind over and over, in regard to this book, along with the phrase, heart-wrenching. It’s good though - incredibly, in a makes-you-feel-things-and-think-things brilliantly good ... Wind puts it all so simply and so realistically, it’s like nothing I’ve ever read or am likely to read again.”~ JLR
Now it’s time for me to step back from being the “writer” to be the author, and to help tell the world about my new book. Since I’m doing that, perhaps you, the reader, could do the same. Take a shot, read the book, and if you like it, write a review, and then let your friends know about it. AND, if you don’t like the book, write a review, tell me in your review what you didn’t like, and why - or send me an email and tell me directly. My email address is in the back of the book.
I absolutely love reading reviews of my books. The good and the not-so-good. Why? Because it teaches me about my readers, it tells me what they like and what they don’t - reviews are a guide to help make my writing a two-way street.
About the Author
David Wind has published thirty-nine novels, including science fiction & Fantasy, mystery, thriller, noir, and suspense novels. He lives and writes in Boynton Beach, Florida, and shares his home with his wife, Bonnie, and dog Alfie, a sub-standard poodle (email David for an explanation).
His newest novel is A Better Place To Be, based on the Harry Chapin song of the same name. Not his usual genre, this is a story of love, loss and facing to the worst life can throw at you and still be standing.
Born To Magic (currently FREE), the first book of his sci-fi fantasy series, Tales Of Nevaeh, was released in 2015. All three books have reached into the Amazon Top 100 best seller rankings in several categories including Young Adult. Both the second book of the series, The Dark Masters, and the third Book, Trinity: The Battle For Nevaeh, have all received high praise.
David's fantasy, Queen Of Knights, was a #2 best seller on the Amazon bestseller lists for historical fantasy and medieval fantasy, and his sci-fi paranormal, Infinity’s Doorway, has received wide acclaim.
When David formally left traditional publishing to become an independently published writer, he published Angels In Mourning, his “homage” to the old time private detective books of the 50s and the 60s. Angels In Mourning is a modern day take on the old style hard-boiled detective. In April of that year, Angels In Mourning, won the Amazon.com Book of the Month Reader’s Choice Award.
His previous suspense thrillers are The Hyte Maneuver (a Literary guild alternate selection), The Sokova Convention, and The Morrissey Manifest. David's mystery suspense novels include: And Down Will Come Baby, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, and Out of The Shadows.
Giveaway
Enter the tour-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card.
Links
