Huston Piner's Blog - Posts Tagged "coming-of-age"
Can You Take Me Back
http://www.youtube.com/embed/_uYQMRay...
Come experience 1969 high school life for a gay teenager as Nick confronts bullies, callous teachers, and a growing reputation he never wanted. Oh, and then there's Bobby Warren.
My Life as a Myth - available now from Prizm Books!
Come experience 1969 high school life for a gay teenager as Nick confronts bullies, callous teachers, and a growing reputation he never wanted. Oh, and then there's Bobby Warren.
My Life as a Myth - available now from Prizm Books!
On the Introduction of My Life as a Myth... The Real Story
Recently, I was asked by an admirer of My Life as a Myth about the blog entry "My Life as a Myth, Introduced by the Author" from back in May. With some minor changes, this entry has found its way to the Amazon listing for the book.
The question was whether the story recounted in the blog entry is in fact how My Life as a Myth came about. Frankly, I had never considered the possibility that anyone would think of it as anything other than a fictional account of the origin of a piece of fiction. Therefore, let me clarify the matter here: No, the blog entry "My Life as a Myth, Introduced by the Author" is not a factual account; it is itself a piece of fiction thought up for publication day.
The actual story of Myth's origin has been mentioned in several interviews and I'll recount it here. On a Monday morning in the autumn of last year I was getting ready to leave for an appointment. Suddenly, the phrase "my life is a myth" crept through my mind and it just seemed important to jot it down. When I returned later in the day, I sat down and wrote what became the opening scene, Nick waiting for the bus on his first day of high school. That scene read fairly closely to what was eventually published, and with it the story was underway.
As I initially coneived it, the book would be about a poor schlemiel who kept getting into trouble through no fault of his own. Therefore, I thought Myth would just be a comical story. But I wrote a scene where Nick meets a group of guys, including Bobby Warren and at that moment, I realized the story had to be about Nick and Bobby's flowering relationship. Then certain themes began to bubble to the surface and as I've noted before, some scenes/sections left me as startled as anyone. In short, I was at the mercy of the Muses (they're quite the bullies, you know) to write the story they wanted. Thus, six or seven months from that Monday morning when a phrase popped into my head I received an offer, and five months or so after that the book was published.
Since that day in May, I've been astonished by the positive response to Myth and deeply humbled by the generous compliments I've received by so many readers, reviewers, and other authors. I want to thank everyone for their support and say how much I appreciate your kind words.
Thank you each and all!
But no, "My Life as a Myth, Introduced by the Author" is just another myth.
Maybe a future edition will include it as a prologue.
The question was whether the story recounted in the blog entry is in fact how My Life as a Myth came about. Frankly, I had never considered the possibility that anyone would think of it as anything other than a fictional account of the origin of a piece of fiction. Therefore, let me clarify the matter here: No, the blog entry "My Life as a Myth, Introduced by the Author" is not a factual account; it is itself a piece of fiction thought up for publication day.
The actual story of Myth's origin has been mentioned in several interviews and I'll recount it here. On a Monday morning in the autumn of last year I was getting ready to leave for an appointment. Suddenly, the phrase "my life is a myth" crept through my mind and it just seemed important to jot it down. When I returned later in the day, I sat down and wrote what became the opening scene, Nick waiting for the bus on his first day of high school. That scene read fairly closely to what was eventually published, and with it the story was underway.
As I initially coneived it, the book would be about a poor schlemiel who kept getting into trouble through no fault of his own. Therefore, I thought Myth would just be a comical story. But I wrote a scene where Nick meets a group of guys, including Bobby Warren and at that moment, I realized the story had to be about Nick and Bobby's flowering relationship. Then certain themes began to bubble to the surface and as I've noted before, some scenes/sections left me as startled as anyone. In short, I was at the mercy of the Muses (they're quite the bullies, you know) to write the story they wanted. Thus, six or seven months from that Monday morning when a phrase popped into my head I received an offer, and five months or so after that the book was published.
Since that day in May, I've been astonished by the positive response to Myth and deeply humbled by the generous compliments I've received by so many readers, reviewers, and other authors. I want to thank everyone for their support and say how much I appreciate your kind words.
Thank you each and all!
But no, "My Life as a Myth, Introduced by the Author" is just another myth.
Maybe a future edition will include it as a prologue.
A most flattering review of My Life as a Myth
All I can say is, "Wow! Thanks for a most flattering and complimentary review of My Life as a Myth over at Insight Out!" If you aren't familiar with it, Insight Out! is an amazing review site by bookworm BJ Shephhard, who also writes for
Impact Magazine
and
The Novel Approach
. All three sites are well worth bookmarking!
From BJ's review:
To begin with, this story, very much a YA classic, seemed to be a light-hearted romp as Napalm Nick and his new fame-hungry friend Jesse elevate his social status into the clouds. But as the story progresses, we really get to see Piner strip away the layers to reveal something far deeper beneath. The laughs become a heartfelt cry, the comedy becomes tragedy and the beginning seamlessly paves the way for a beautiful ending. Nominated for 2014’s Stonewall Book Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature, this debut release from the Stateside troubadour has undoubtedly been one of the best reads of the year.
Read the full review here.
From BJ's review:
To begin with, this story, very much a YA classic, seemed to be a light-hearted romp as Napalm Nick and his new fame-hungry friend Jesse elevate his social status into the clouds. But as the story progresses, we really get to see Piner strip away the layers to reveal something far deeper beneath. The laughs become a heartfelt cry, the comedy becomes tragedy and the beginning seamlessly paves the way for a beautiful ending. Nominated for 2014’s Stonewall Book Award for Children’s and Young Adult Literature, this debut release from the Stateside troubadour has undoubtedly been one of the best reads of the year.
Read the full review here.
A Giveaway Opportunity!
Register to get an autographed copy of My Life as a Myth to be awarded on November 15th. The winner will receive it just in time for (USA) Thanksgiving weekend.
My Life as a Myth receives honorable mention!
My Life as a Myth receives Honorable Mention 2013 Rainbow Awards!
"Cherie: This book should be required reading for every high school student, assigned of the first day of school in their freshman year. Wow. I honestly believe it could do a great deal to eradicate bullying of every sort, and might well help more than one scared, lonely and hurting kid survive long enough to understand that people aren't just mouthing platitudes when they say it will get better. Frankly, the book is so well written that even the kids on the other side of the bullying equation would be drawn in, and learn what it's like to be the kid bullied. It might well save them too."
http://reviews-and-ramblings.dreamwid...
"Cherie: This book should be required reading for every high school student, assigned of the first day of school in their freshman year. Wow. I honestly believe it could do a great deal to eradicate bullying of every sort, and might well help more than one scared, lonely and hurting kid survive long enough to understand that people aren't just mouthing platitudes when they say it will get better. Frankly, the book is so well written that even the kids on the other side of the bullying equation would be drawn in, and learn what it's like to be the kid bullied. It might well save them too."
http://reviews-and-ramblings.dreamwid...
Oops! An Interview and an E-Book Giveaway
Things have been nuts around her for the last couple of days. Consequently, I forgot to tell you about my interview and My Life as a Myth e-book giveaway at Julie's Book Reviews.
Check it out and register for the giveaway here!
Check it out and register for the giveaway here!
My Life as a Myth - Greedy Bug Review Book of the Year 2013
It's certainly been an eventful year, and as it draws to a close I discovered a great early holiday gift last night. Greedy Bug Book Reviews has chosen My Life as a Myth as one of their six Books of the Year for 2013! I now truly know what it is to be "flabbergasted." Given the excellent quality of the other five choices, I am deeply honored.
My humble thanks to Kazza K and colleagues; I'm so glad you like My Life as a Myth. (And I hope you'll like 2015's Conjoined at the Soul just as much!)
My humble thanks to Kazza K and colleagues; I'm so glad you like My Life as a Myth. (And I hope you'll like 2015's Conjoined at the Soul just as much!)
Mrs Mommy highlights My Life as a Myth
My thanks to the Booknerd Team at Mrs Mommy Booknerd's Book Reviews for highlighting My Life as a Myth. Mrs Mommy's team review and highlight some of the best in young people and children's literature. You really owe it to yourself to stop by and check them out. (And while you're there, drop a comment of thanks for the My Life as a Myth listing!)
Available Today!
My Life as a Myth is available today from
NineStar Press
. Get your copy of the fully revised and unabridged Young Adult tragic romance and take a journey with Nick from loser to High School Superstar.
Also available in ebook and paperback formats from Amazon and Barnes & Noble .
Also available in ebook and paperback formats from Amazon and Barnes & Noble .
Amazon Wakes Up - Myth is Back!
After a week of trying at least to find out why Amazon pulled distribution of the paperback edition of My Life as a Myth, my wonderful publisher Raevyn finally got to the right person, and happily, I can now say it's available again!
So those of you preferring the look and feel of a paperback when you read can find My Life as a Myth at Amazon as well as Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million.
Happy Reading!
So those of you preferring the look and feel of a paperback when you read can find My Life as a Myth at Amazon as well as Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million.
Happy Reading!
