Maria Savva's Blog - Posts Tagged "zed"
New Release: Zed, by Jason McIntyre
One of my favourite authors has a new release! Jason McIntyre, author of the Dovetail Cove series of books, has released the latest title in that series.
About the book:
It’s the waning dog days of August, 1975 and Tom Mason’s in Dovetail Cove for the last few weeks of his summer job at the group home. His boss and the home’s owner is Karen Banatyne, one of the wealthiest folks in town. It seems like she’s got it in for Tom; she's the only one standing in his way as he scrimps for a new camera.
But Karen has her own problems. A regulatory agency might cut off her funding, plus her hubby hasn’t been seen in a few weeks, and she’s not saying why. Most ominous of all, it seems as though something’s hiding in the hot spring north of the main beach and one of Karen’s ‘houseguests’ is about to come face to face with evil. Tom is too.
Buy links:
Amazon (Worldwide)
US: http://amzn.com/B012PB6W44
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B012PB6W44
AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B012PB6W44
CA: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B012PB6W44
Barnes & Noble
http://tinyurl.com/ptxjvx9
iTunes
http://tinyurl.com/pvmbsry
Follow the link to Jason McIntyre's website to find out more about his books: http://www.thefarthestreaches.com/
About the book:
It’s the waning dog days of August, 1975 and Tom Mason’s in Dovetail Cove for the last few weeks of his summer job at the group home. His boss and the home’s owner is Karen Banatyne, one of the wealthiest folks in town. It seems like she’s got it in for Tom; she's the only one standing in his way as he scrimps for a new camera.
But Karen has her own problems. A regulatory agency might cut off her funding, plus her hubby hasn’t been seen in a few weeks, and she’s not saying why. Most ominous of all, it seems as though something’s hiding in the hot spring north of the main beach and one of Karen’s ‘houseguests’ is about to come face to face with evil. Tom is too.
Buy links:
Amazon (Worldwide)
US: http://amzn.com/B012PB6W44
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B012PB6W44
AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B012PB6W44
CA: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B012PB6W44
Barnes & Noble
http://tinyurl.com/ptxjvx9
iTunes
http://tinyurl.com/pvmbsry
Follow the link to Jason McIntyre's website to find out more about his books: http://www.thefarthestreaches.com/
Guest post: Jason McIntyre, author of ZED
Today I have a guest post from one of my favourite writers, Jason McIntyre.
He recently released his novel, Zed, which is part of the Dovetail Cove series of books.
Here's Jason to tell us a bit more about the book, and if you scroll down you'll find a fun interview with one of the characters from the novel :)
***************************************
Writing my latest novel, ZED, was profound and scary and fulfilling all at once. Why scary? Believe it or not, I always try to scare myself as I approach a new piece of work. It makes the story better and more urgent and, truth be told, it pushes me further—as a writer and a person.
Often, those scares come from writing about a topic or in a style that is completely new for me. In the case of ZED, the story worked out in a way that I was able to incorporate special-needs patients living in a care home, something I had some experience with but had never brought to the page. Some of characters have developmental challenges. Others, physical disabilities. The period of the novel is the 1970s, a time when understanding and acceptance of such things was very different than it is today.
One of them, Zeke, turned into a main character and one I’m extremely proud of. His disability becomes central to the book but never was it approached with negativity. In fact, for the most part, Zeke’s honesty and earnest approach to life is a breath of fresh air. He acts as a counterpoint to many of the characters who don’t have learning disabilities — those who act greedily or take their situations for granted.
Apparently, when Marcel Proust was fourteen years old, his friend Antoinette asked him this list of questions. While these questions were originally intended for his personal use and self-enlightenment, I find them to be helpful questions to ask my characters as I try to understand them more deeply. Oh, and by the way, this is very serious. Only the most serious writers talk to their fictional characters. Out loud. At the dinner table.
Here is Proust’s Questionnaire, with answers by Zeke, one of the main characters the novel, ZED. To note, Zeke suffered a serious brain injury as a boy. He’s in his sixties now, but developmentally, he’s very much been ‘left behind’.
1. What is your idea of perfect happiness? My truck.
2. What is your greatest fear? Something happening to my truck.
3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Sometimes I’m not as strong as I want to be. Try as I might, I can’t lift the heaviest things anymore. Mr. Tom says I’m just getting older…but I feel like, I dunno, I feel like I’m only about six. Seven, tops. I should be able to lift stuff.
4. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Lying. You’re not gonn lie, are you?
5. Which living person do you most admire? It used to be Mr. Tom but no I ain’t so sure. I like Police Chief Birkhead. Him’s a good man and he has a real nice car and a good haircut. Hard to get a good haircut here in town. My daddy used to cut mine but…huh? Oh, Okay. I’ll answer the next one.
6. What is your greatest extravagance? What’s a ‘extra-ga-vants’? Huh? Oh, well, I put the premium gas in m’gas tank. It’s a penny more, don’t you know, but it’s worth it. Daddy says we gotts ta take care of the things we work hard for. Or we might lose em.
7. What is your current state of mind? Um. Hungry. Mostly. Is it almost lunch time? Karen says we gots ta eat three squares a day. Fidela makes bad lunches. If’n you ask me, her lunches taste like square blocks o’ wood. Sorry, that was mean. I like Fidela, she’s a nice lady. Even if she can’t cook worth sawdust.
8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Don’t know what a virtue is. Huh? Oh, I guess…em…Honest-ness. I like it when I don’t have to work really hard to know what someone wants me to do. Just tell me. I’ll do it.
9. On what occasion do you lie? Uh-uh. Nooo waaaay. Zeke, he NEVER lies. Daddy says we always gots to tell the truth. I found out the hard way when I told a fib long time ago. But I don’t really remember doing that. Daddy has to remind me.
10. What do you most dislike about your appearance? My truck.
11. Which living person do you most despise? It’s not nice to say out loud. But if’n you come a little closer, I’ll whisper it in your ear.
12. What or who is the greatest love of your life? Aren’t you paying attention? My truck.
13. When and where were you happiest? At that there hot spring. North of town. And with Mary. When we was out there together, that was the best time of…ever.
14. Which talent would you most like to have? Counting. And remembering. I got a broken glass thinker bottle, that’s what Daddy says.
15. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? You gotts a bad thinker too! I just told you!
16. What do you consider your greatest achievement? You don’t know by now? My truck!
17. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? A smarter man than even my Daddy.
18. Where would you most like to live? Oh I couldna live anywhere but the Cove. It’s my home. Good and proper.
19. What is your most treasured possession? Not gonna answer this one anymore! Daddy always says you gotts ta pay attention.
20. Who are your favorite writers? I never learned to read more than a hundred words. Maybe less. Maybe fifty.
21. Which historical figure do you most identify with? What’s a ‘istorigul’ figgur?
22. Who are your heroes in real life? Most people are pretty good, if ya let ‘em be.
23. What are your favorite names? Tom. I really liked Mr. Tom but then he…oh nevermind. I still like Mr. Tom.
24. What is it that you most dislike? Olives. Oh. And raisins. I like raisins from a box but not in stuff. Raisins ruin a cookie and a muffin.
25. What is your greatest regret? That I didn’t eat more breakfast. Fidela’s breakfast is better than her lunch. I shoulda filled up this mornin.
26. How would you like to die? I don’t want to talk about bad stuff, kay? But I guess if you made me answer…I’d want to die helping. I’m good at helping. I try harder than anybody I know.
27. What is your motto? C-O-O-G-E-R-Z! Go, Cougars!
About the book…
ZED by Jason McIntyre Booktrope Editions, 2015
There are two kinds of people in the tiny island town of Dovetail Cove: those who shop at the Foodway on Broad and those who shop at Harlow's on Main. Nineteen year old Tom Mason is neither.
It's the waning dog days of August, 1975 and Tom's only here for his summer job at the group home so he can afford a new camera and impress his professors back home. His boss, Karen Banatyne, cuts corners on the food bills and dopes her handicapped 'houseguests' so she can re-up her financial grant income. The Banatynes are the wealthiest couple in town but Karen's hubby, Chris, hasn't been seen in a few weeks and Karen isn't saying why. Something’s hiding in the hot springs north of the beach, just off the main road. And the local handyman is seeing things that may or may not be real.
Tom may learn what friendship is from his lovable charges at the care home, might just come to understand the real value of a dollar, and may yet piece together the weird goings-on in the tourist town that he couldn't wait to leave but now realizes he's going to miss. Even if it conspires to kill him.
ZED is part of a group of books and stories about the citizens of Dovetail Cove. But it's not a series. Each book stands on its own while sharing the same universe and telling a much larger tale. Enter at your own risk.
Find Jason McIntyre:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Jason%20McIntyr...
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/"...
Apple iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/author/jason...
Social Media
Website: http://www.thefarthestreaches.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJasonMc...
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jasoncmcintyre
He recently released his novel, Zed, which is part of the Dovetail Cove series of books.
Here's Jason to tell us a bit more about the book, and if you scroll down you'll find a fun interview with one of the characters from the novel :)
***************************************
Writing my latest novel, ZED, was profound and scary and fulfilling all at once. Why scary? Believe it or not, I always try to scare myself as I approach a new piece of work. It makes the story better and more urgent and, truth be told, it pushes me further—as a writer and a person.
Often, those scares come from writing about a topic or in a style that is completely new for me. In the case of ZED, the story worked out in a way that I was able to incorporate special-needs patients living in a care home, something I had some experience with but had never brought to the page. Some of characters have developmental challenges. Others, physical disabilities. The period of the novel is the 1970s, a time when understanding and acceptance of such things was very different than it is today.
One of them, Zeke, turned into a main character and one I’m extremely proud of. His disability becomes central to the book but never was it approached with negativity. In fact, for the most part, Zeke’s honesty and earnest approach to life is a breath of fresh air. He acts as a counterpoint to many of the characters who don’t have learning disabilities — those who act greedily or take their situations for granted.
Apparently, when Marcel Proust was fourteen years old, his friend Antoinette asked him this list of questions. While these questions were originally intended for his personal use and self-enlightenment, I find them to be helpful questions to ask my characters as I try to understand them more deeply. Oh, and by the way, this is very serious. Only the most serious writers talk to their fictional characters. Out loud. At the dinner table.
Here is Proust’s Questionnaire, with answers by Zeke, one of the main characters the novel, ZED. To note, Zeke suffered a serious brain injury as a boy. He’s in his sixties now, but developmentally, he’s very much been ‘left behind’.
1. What is your idea of perfect happiness? My truck.
2. What is your greatest fear? Something happening to my truck.
3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? Sometimes I’m not as strong as I want to be. Try as I might, I can’t lift the heaviest things anymore. Mr. Tom says I’m just getting older…but I feel like, I dunno, I feel like I’m only about six. Seven, tops. I should be able to lift stuff.
4. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Lying. You’re not gonn lie, are you?
5. Which living person do you most admire? It used to be Mr. Tom but no I ain’t so sure. I like Police Chief Birkhead. Him’s a good man and he has a real nice car and a good haircut. Hard to get a good haircut here in town. My daddy used to cut mine but…huh? Oh, Okay. I’ll answer the next one.
6. What is your greatest extravagance? What’s a ‘extra-ga-vants’? Huh? Oh, well, I put the premium gas in m’gas tank. It’s a penny more, don’t you know, but it’s worth it. Daddy says we gotts ta take care of the things we work hard for. Or we might lose em.
7. What is your current state of mind? Um. Hungry. Mostly. Is it almost lunch time? Karen says we gots ta eat three squares a day. Fidela makes bad lunches. If’n you ask me, her lunches taste like square blocks o’ wood. Sorry, that was mean. I like Fidela, she’s a nice lady. Even if she can’t cook worth sawdust.
8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Don’t know what a virtue is. Huh? Oh, I guess…em…Honest-ness. I like it when I don’t have to work really hard to know what someone wants me to do. Just tell me. I’ll do it.
9. On what occasion do you lie? Uh-uh. Nooo waaaay. Zeke, he NEVER lies. Daddy says we always gots to tell the truth. I found out the hard way when I told a fib long time ago. But I don’t really remember doing that. Daddy has to remind me.
10. What do you most dislike about your appearance? My truck.
11. Which living person do you most despise? It’s not nice to say out loud. But if’n you come a little closer, I’ll whisper it in your ear.
12. What or who is the greatest love of your life? Aren’t you paying attention? My truck.
13. When and where were you happiest? At that there hot spring. North of town. And with Mary. When we was out there together, that was the best time of…ever.
14. Which talent would you most like to have? Counting. And remembering. I got a broken glass thinker bottle, that’s what Daddy says.
15. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? You gotts a bad thinker too! I just told you!
16. What do you consider your greatest achievement? You don’t know by now? My truck!
17. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be? A smarter man than even my Daddy.
18. Where would you most like to live? Oh I couldna live anywhere but the Cove. It’s my home. Good and proper.
19. What is your most treasured possession? Not gonna answer this one anymore! Daddy always says you gotts ta pay attention.
20. Who are your favorite writers? I never learned to read more than a hundred words. Maybe less. Maybe fifty.
21. Which historical figure do you most identify with? What’s a ‘istorigul’ figgur?
22. Who are your heroes in real life? Most people are pretty good, if ya let ‘em be.
23. What are your favorite names? Tom. I really liked Mr. Tom but then he…oh nevermind. I still like Mr. Tom.
24. What is it that you most dislike? Olives. Oh. And raisins. I like raisins from a box but not in stuff. Raisins ruin a cookie and a muffin.
25. What is your greatest regret? That I didn’t eat more breakfast. Fidela’s breakfast is better than her lunch. I shoulda filled up this mornin.
26. How would you like to die? I don’t want to talk about bad stuff, kay? But I guess if you made me answer…I’d want to die helping. I’m good at helping. I try harder than anybody I know.
27. What is your motto? C-O-O-G-E-R-Z! Go, Cougars!
About the book…
ZED by Jason McIntyre Booktrope Editions, 2015
There are two kinds of people in the tiny island town of Dovetail Cove: those who shop at the Foodway on Broad and those who shop at Harlow's on Main. Nineteen year old Tom Mason is neither.
It's the waning dog days of August, 1975 and Tom's only here for his summer job at the group home so he can afford a new camera and impress his professors back home. His boss, Karen Banatyne, cuts corners on the food bills and dopes her handicapped 'houseguests' so she can re-up her financial grant income. The Banatynes are the wealthiest couple in town but Karen's hubby, Chris, hasn't been seen in a few weeks and Karen isn't saying why. Something’s hiding in the hot springs north of the beach, just off the main road. And the local handyman is seeing things that may or may not be real.
Tom may learn what friendship is from his lovable charges at the care home, might just come to understand the real value of a dollar, and may yet piece together the weird goings-on in the tourist town that he couldn't wait to leave but now realizes he's going to miss. Even if it conspires to kill him.
ZED is part of a group of books and stories about the citizens of Dovetail Cove. But it's not a series. Each book stands on its own while sharing the same universe and telling a much larger tale. Enter at your own risk.
Find Jason McIntyre:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Jason%20McIntyr...
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/"...
Apple iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/author/jason...
Social Media
Website: http://www.thefarthestreaches.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJasonMc...
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jasoncmcintyre
