Sandra C. Lopez's Blog, page 21

Blog Tour: AMERICAN ODYSSEY by Michael De Stefano

 

AMERICAN ODYSSEY

Michael De Stefano

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GENRE:  Coming-of-Age

 

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BLURB:

 

Set in Philadelphia in the mid-1970s, American Odyssey chronicles the coming-of-age journey of Addison Caldwell, Cillian James, and Joey Brosco. In their quest for independence, our trio encounters the recently widowed Leila Bennett, a former prostitute turned farm owner. For Leila, a sultry summer blossoms into an odyssey of hope and healing; for the boys, work and awakening. Leila—a girl discarded and rescued—teaches the threesome that virtue does not lie in the struggle for independence or what one must sacrifice for its behalf but in love that reinforces enduring friendship.

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ExcerptTwo:

 

Joey emerged from the fields and Cillian from the kitchen.We tossed our bags in the bed of Leila’s behemoth pickup, and off we drove.Skipping the bus ride, we headed straight for Pittsburgh and the train station,blasting rockabilly music with the windows rolled down and enjoying our finaltime of what Leila called “hellraisin’.” As the train chugged west to eastthrough Pennsylvania, I repeatedly asked myself: Who was Leila Bennett? Couldshe have been just a girl, any girl? Was Leila as common as any one of amillion buttercups clustered in an open field and just as forgettable, or wasshe a four-leaf clover, a rare specimen who, over and over, would compel me tosearch for her in every crowd everywhere? Was she a young girl in a grown-upgirl’s body or a grown-up girl as lost as any child would be when set to wanderthe vastness of the universe? Air and space: they can prove fickle entities.Not enough of each can kill you, and too much can kill you even faster. Butwhether we blossom in a vast field or cottage garden, in a way, we all want thesame thing: the opportunity to strive for independence while enjoying thestrength and comfort of unity. Leila had experienced that aspect of humandesire for a time with Aunt Pearl, then later on, for a much briefer spell,with Uncle Dave. I hope, sooner than later, she finds just the right amount ofair and space that allows her to bask in the beauty of youth while flourishingas a woman.

 

 

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Topic: What 3 things do you hope readers will walk away withfrom this story?

 

1:  Many years ago,The Beatles wrote a lyric that said: I get by with a little help from myfriends. Friends are not people we collect and follow on social media. True friendshipis a much deeper and richer concept; it transcends faith and politics; it’swhat we rely upon when all else fails.

 

2:  Each of us haswritten their own coming-of-age story. Who we were in those tender times, whena summer’s day seemed like an eternity but the summer itself seemed too short,never fully leaves us.

 

3: Air and space are fickle entities. Not enough of each cankill us, and too much can kill us even faster. It’s a tricky exercise,maintaining our equilibrium on the path of self-discovery. Striving forindependence but wanting the strength and comfort of unity is a curious irony.I imagine it always shall be.

    

Thank you for your question. I appreciate the opportunity topost. I hope "American Odyssey" brings you many hours of enjoyment,

 

Kindest regards,

Michael DeStefano

 

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

MichaelDeStefano runs a hairstyling salon, where he has spent the past four decadesbeautifying the super people of Philadelphia. His past titles include thehistorical family saga The Gunslinger’s Companion, the comedy/tragedy Waitingfor Grandfather, and The Bohemian. You can find these novels and other writingssuch as his love essays and perspective pieces at his blog site Michael’sCorner.

 

Blog:http://www.michaelscorner.blog

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/michael.destefano.1654

Twitter:https://x.com/xMichaelsCorner

 

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/American-Odyssey-Michael-Stefano/dp/1937769895/ref=sr_1_4

Barnesand Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/american-odyssey-michael-de-stefano/1147324924

 

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GIVEAWAY 

Nightto Dawn Magazine & Books will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to arandomly drawn winner.

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Review: THE BABYSITTER’S CLUB: STACY’S MISTAKE by Ellen Crenshaw

 

All the girls in the Babysitter’sClub were visiting Stacy in New York. Wow, New York! But for girls fromConnecticut, the Big City was like another planet—a scary, disgusting planet.But despite the fear and anxiety, the girls ended up enjoying the New Yorkscene and having a good time. But what happens when Stacy’s BSC friends meether NY friends? A clash of the Titans! Fights between all the girls!

 

Regardless, the BSC still had ajob to do—babysitting 10 kids.

 

With colorful and funillustrations, this was a hilariously wacky adventure! Goes to show that girlscan have fun no matter what. A good read!

 

Rating:4 stars

Review: IT’S ALIVE, IT’S ALIVE by R.L. Stine

 

The Robotics competition can getpretty fierce. Could Livvy have wanted to win so bad that she made her robotcome to life? No way! How would she have done that? She gets some pretty scaryimages of this robot in this story. But the weirdest part of all was herparents acting like…robots. What was going on here?

 

A wild robot adventure! A goodread!

 

Rating:4 stars

Review: THE DUMMY MEETS THE MUMMY by R.L. Stine

 

Slappy, the evil dummy, has beendumped at a horror museum, where an old mummy from Egypt has arrived. What kindof chaos can a dummy and a mummy create?

 

First, the mummy comes alive,scaring everyone. Well, of course! Then the mummy goes to sleep as soon as theclass arrives to the museum for a sleepover. What made the kids think that thedummy would help them with the mummy? What a horror-filled night! A fun read!

 

Rating:4 stars

Book Blast: THE PYJAMA BOY by Steven Murphy

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Steven Murphy will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Steven Murphy spent his formative years in Sydney's Redfern.

Abandoned by his mother when only weeks old, his father left him in the care of a cruel, alcoholic stepmother while he himself was in jail. Unbelievably, the child they dubbed the "Pyjama Boy" fought his way through life to achieve his ultimate goal. His story is a poignant and haunting one that captivates its reader from the very beginning and remains long after the book has been closed.

AN INSPIRATIONAL TALE OF SUCCESS AGAINST THE ODDS

Read an Excerpt

There was something odd about the woman driving the yellow station wagon. Her eyes darted around suspiciously. Steve watched her from his patrol car. Her 1988 Sigma moved off from his right at the green lights, to enter the late-night traffic. She had a passenger, a young man witha wispy beard. As they moved, the man looked across at the police car waiting third in line at the red light and then glanced momentarily over his shoulder into the back seat. Sparks spat along the dark surface of the road as he tossed his cigarette out the window of the car.

‘Nervy little punk, ’ remarked the older police constable next to Steve.

‘There’s something odd about both of them in that Sigma...,’ said Steve.

‘Yeah, I think we should have a chat with them.’

As lights turned green and when they were clear of the intersection, Steve pulled past the two vehicles in front of them. The Sigma had increased its pace and was nearly out of view as it turned left almost without slowing. Steve’s pulse rate rose with the revs of the police car. They swung into the side street and passed the Sigma with Red and blue lights flashing, then slowed in front of it. The older policeman put his arm out his window, indicating that the Sigma should pull up at the curb.

While the woman searched a handbag for her licence, Steve noticed that there was someone lying on the back seat of the car. Shining his torch through the window, Steve realised with a jolt that the passenger was gagged, with a tee shirt twisted and pulled tightly into an open mouth. The arms were pulled back and bound at the wrists with a leather belt.

Within minutes a second patrol car had arrived at the scene and the couple were taken into custody, their bound and gagged passenger found to be dead. Steve looked at the victim, a man in his mid-thirties and recognised the face of one who had recently ‘helped him in his enquiries.’ Soon there were detectives and forensic officers examining the car and, as the body was being removed, Steve received orders to drive to an address in a nearby suburban street.

About the Author: I've never thought of myself as special-just someone who has lived through life's challenges like everyone else. But over time, I've come to see that by sharing my journey, with all its imperfections, I might offer something meaningful to others. Life moves so quickly, and the choices we make shape everything. My hope is that by being honest about my experiences, others might find encouragement or even a little clarity for their own paths.

Speaking at Schools and events across Australia has been an unexpected privilege. These moments aren't about presenting a perfect image; they're about connecting with people on a real, human level. I bring photos, videos, and documents to show the truth of my story-not to impress but to connect. When I speak openly, sharing the vulnerabilities and lessons I've learned, something powerful happens: the audience feels it, and suddenly, it's not just my story-its something they can see themselves in, too.

If you would like to have Steve speak to your School, group or organization he can be contacted through email: stevenmurphy_11@bigpond.com

You can connect with Steven Murphy through a number of platforms to learn more about his story and work.

Website: https://thepyjamaboy.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/stevenmurphyauthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/56696685.Steven_Murphy

Book Trailer" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUopXLOFQU4

Visit his website to view the one bedroom flats he uses to live in and show his living conditions as described in the book.

Feel free to reach out — Steven is always happy to connect with readers and share more about his journey.

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Blog Tour: ORDINARY PEOPLE, EXTRAORDINARY LIVES by Naguib Sami Kerba

ORDINARY PEOPLE, EXTRAORDINARY LIVES

Naguib Sami Kerba

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GENRE:  Non-fiction Photo Biographies

 

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BLURB:

 

Everyonehas a story. A picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes one needs wordsas well. ‘Ordinary people extraordinary lives,” does just that. I’ve combined aportrait with asking people four thought provoking questions about themselves.The portrait and their answers are a compelling read about life, its challengesand each individual’s journey. At the end of each chapter, each person makesone final observation learned from their journey.

 

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ExcerptThree:

 

SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION:

 

Raised as a Roman Catholic and having spent time in theseminary, I felt secure in my faith, armed with all the traditional Catholicanswers. However, during the May 24th weekend in 1976, I unexpectedly ran intoa relative on Yonge Street, someone I only knew from my grandmother's oldphotographs. Three weeks later, he came for dinner and began discussing a bookhe was passionate about. I dismissed his enthusiasm with a skeptical“Bullshit,” and the conversation ended with him leaving me a copy of the book.

 

I started reading it, initially skimming the first fiftypages, but then I called him to tell him he’d never get it back. I couldn’t putit down, devouring 200, 500, then 800 pages. The book challenged me at everyturn, and I even wondered if it was demonic. However, as I reached the laterchapters, many early references were explained in greater detail. I finishedthe 2096 pages in six months, finding it hard to set aside. Now, nearly fiftyyears later, having read it multiple times, I find myself without the religionI once practiced but with an unshakeable faith. The book transformed myunderstanding of the divine and our relationship with it, revealing how currentreligious thought often remains primitive.

 

Lynda: The year was 1966. As a teenager, I enjoyed going todances at Riverside Arena on Friday Nights. One night was extraordinary as Imet a new guy. He came into the dance after ice skating. My friend knew him andintroduced us. After the dance, my friend, her boyfriend, and this new guy andI went to Roma Pizzeria. He walked me home and asked me out. Of course, I saidyes. Bob and I still go for pizza every November 18th to celebrate that night.

 

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 Review: 

This book is a collection ofbiographies of people near and dear to the author. It includes brief bios, aQ&A section, and photos. It’s a rather sweet commemoration to these people.With each part, you kind of feel like you’re getting to know these people. Thisis really a personal memento for the author. I’m not really sure what audiencethis publication is really intended for. I almost felt like I was lookingthrough a photo album of strangers, which is probably why I couldn’t reallyconnect too well with their stories. You can tell this author is clearly proudof her family.

Very sentimental and heartfelt. Afairly nice read.

Rating:3 stars

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Whilestudying photography at Sheridan College, the gender imbalance was striking:125 male students compared to just five female students. In our small cohort ofeight, there were five men and three women. Summoning my courage, I asked oneof the female students, Shirley, out on a date. She kindly declined, saying,“I’m not the girl for you, but I know the perfect one for you!”

 

Notlong after, on May 2, 1974, I met Donna, Shirley’s neighbour. I immediatelysensed that Donna was, in fact, the one, and my dating days had ended. We weremarried on November 6, 1976. Our relationship has blended differences andcommonalities, with Donna being my harshest critic and greatest supporter.

 

Donnaand I have raised two wonderful children. Tara is a devoted mother and teacher,while Christopher is a gifted musician. Their physical appearances andintellectual abilities reflect a strange combination of Donna and me. They areexceptional individuals who positively contribute to the world.

 

Oneof my long-standing dreams has been to publish a book of my photographs. Theconcept for this project has been developing for some time. Meeting individualswho can help bring such dreams to fruition is rare, but I was fortunate toforge a close friendship with Dan Bodanis, who has an impressive network. Danconnected me with the NHL Alumni group, which set the stage for my encounterswith Paul Patskou, Graham McWaters, and Al Rose, all featured in this book. Danalso introduced me to Jude Pitman, the publisher at BWL Publishing Inc. (BWL).

 

Thisbook is a heartfelt acknowledgment of the family and friends who have enrichedmy journey as a person, photographer, and now author. If true wealth ismeasured by the family, friends, and people we meet, I am indeed the wealthiestman alive.

 

Thequestions have been refined since the first “Essence portrait,” but the conceptremains unchanged. The primary purpose is to gain a more profound understandingof the person by asking probing questions and encouraging people to share theirstories and the lessons they've gleaned from their journeys.

 

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GIVEAWAY 

NaguibSami Kerba will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawnwinner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: HOW TO DRAW A SECRET by Cindy Chang

 

Filled with cute and colorfulillustrations, this graphic novel tells the story of a young artist with theassignment of what family means to her. Some of the text was hard to read, butthe pictures told the story pretty well.

 

The death of her grandma sends herand her family to Taiwan for a funeral. Foreign whispering has Cindy wonderingabout a family secret. What secret? Finding out that your dad cheated on yourmom and had a son? Wow, no one could’ve been prepared for that one. Cindyrealized that her family was a total lie! The family arguments were prettyintense, and all her feelings were drawn in her sketchbook. Soon, Cindyrealized that families aren’t perfect and that they can be different.

 

A good read!

 

Rating:4 stars

Review: STRANGERS IN PARADISE: LOVE ME TENDER by Terry Moore

 

A look at Francine and Katchoo’spast. Loved the funny expressions. Francine gives when she’s being measured upat the gym. Guess she wanted to work out. Good illustrations! A nice ode to thefriendship.

 

Rating:3 stars

Review: STRANGERS IN PARADISE: I DREAM OF YOU by Terry Moore

 

Something’s bothering Katchoo, butwe don’t know what. I wish I could’ve understood more of what was going on.What was with all the violence? I mean, the girl’s a real a-kicker, but geez!Nice art work with good angles. A pretty nice read.

 

Rating:3 stars

Review: STRANGERS IN PARADISE: IT’S A GOOD LIFE by Terry Moore

 

Good illustrations, but not surewhat’s going on in them. We still have that confusion on love and sexuality. Anokay read.

 

Rating:3 stars