Taking a Small Summer Break! Be Back Soon.
Happy Reading!
...I still think of him from time to time.
Hi All,
Stopping by to share a few titles that I have gotten early access to. Thank you immensely to the publishers for the opportunity!
Happy Reading!
Author: Jenna Voris
Summary from Goodreads:
Dumplin' meets Daisy Jones & the Six in this split-POV love song to country idols, romantic road trips, and queer love.
They say to never meet your idols. But they never said anything about upending your life for a quest designed by one.
Seventeen-year-old aspiring journalist Darren Purchase has been a lifelong fan of country music legend Decklee Cassel, who’s as famous for her classic hits as she is for her partnership with songwriter Mickenlee Hooper. The same Mickenlee who mysteriously backed out of the limelight at the height of their careers, never to be heard from again. Now, Decklee’s televised funeral marks the unveiling of her long-awaited time capsule. But when it’s revealed to be empty, a long trail of scavenger hunt clues unfolds, leading to a whopping cash prize for whoever finds the real capsule. Darren knows there’s a story there—and she’s going to be the one to break it. Even if it means a spontaneous road trip with her coworker, Kendall.
Flashback to 1963, where a young, runaway Decklee has her sights set on fame and glory. As she claws her way to the top over the years that follow, it’s Mickenlee’s lyrics that help rocket her to stardom. But as their relationship evolves beyond the professional, it threatens everything Decklee has worked for. What else will she sacrifice to hold on to her dreams?
Told in alternating perspectives, Every Time You Hear That Song is a queer coming-of-age story celebrating country music, complicated women, and living authentically. There’s more to Decklee’s story than Darren ever could have guessed, but the real story she has to tell is her own.
Happy Reading!
Hi All,
Excited to bring you a guest post by Ruby Matenko today. Be sure to check out her book Cheese Puffs and the following on what inspired it!
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Happy Reading!
My inspiration for my
novella, Six Days in Detox, was my living through this horrendous experience
and being able to share it with others.
While having my education
and life experience, I could observe, document, and bring to fruition this
novella. What had happened to me being institutionalized in a state hospital
after twenty-six years of sobriety. Everything gone. The only way back was
through the trenches of withdrawal from alcohol and coming to terms with my
past. The withdrawal was as bad as it could get. My organs were failing, and I
was on death’s door. I am not the only individual that has experienced such
devastation. I wanted to bring this devastation to the forefront and present it
in a layered, complex, and almost unbelievable way. But it happened. It was a
hard look at not just internally but within the system. It was the Perfect
Storm. Where all things came to the surface in my most vulnerable state and
having had the will to survive even if death seemed like a better answer at the
time.
My pain was my inspiration
as well. This pain brought about growth which in turn brought about great
healing. It is necessary to share this experience with others with the hope of
forming connections. These connections are vital for the growth of the human
spirit. At least, this is how it works for me in the present moment.
The backstories are woven
throughout the book which adds another element that leads to a better
understanding of what was happening internally with my process. Additionally,
the emotional turmoil had reached its capacity.
I wanted to share my
horrific experience with others to understand this was a singular experience
and this single hospital, not anywhere else. I was not out to persecute anyone;
I just told my story. My truth.
The book talks about my
experiences, hoping this experience can benefit others. Whether
institutionalized, free, or trapped in some mental health cycle, the feeling of
aloneness is outstanding. The shame and isolation of addiction and mental
health issues can be extremely isolating. I wanted to connect on a human level
and hope to succeed.
The novella adds a
caretaker, Alexander, to my life. It shows the trying time my friend endured
while being my advocate. The advocates are the lifesavers. They are the link
that connects the patients to their doctors when they cannot advocate for
themselves. It was imperative I showed his caring as a true friend and a
stellar advocate. The importance of this dynamic is vital to the patient. The
advocate’s family members, friends, or loved ones are all to be recognized, for
it takes a village sometimes.
With all the story’s
twists and turns, there are humorous moments, as there are in life. Learning to
make humorous outlooks on otherwise a devastating experience helped me process
what was going on.
It has been a gift, my
experience, and I believe one person’s experience could help another.
Through my personal
experience, I connect with others, learn, and grow.
Through connection and
sharing each other’s experiences, we can grow into the human beings we were
meant to be.
Happy Reading!