Huston Piner's Blog, page 6
February 20, 2014
A brief excerpt from "Joined at the Soul"
What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.
Aristotle
Chapter 1
Of Mirrors and Locker Rooms
The bus stops and Blake Rogers stumbles on; it’s running three minutes late. (I hate being late!) Blake is my best friend. He’s exhausted this morning because he put off doing his homework again and had to stay up late last night. Today is going to be one of those days.
“Good morning,” I say in sarcastic cheeriness.
“Mumm-ning, Randy,” he yawns. He’s already dozing before his butt even hits the seat. I’m guaranteed a quiet, peaceful ride to Chadham High. Good! I need the time to think. See, today, September 17, 1979, is a day of historic importance. This morning, I woke up and discovered I am gay.
I know I know I know; it’s not supposed to work like that, but that’s just what happened. I was brushing my teeth, spit out, and looked in the mirror. A pointy-nosed sixteen year old with mousy brown hair stared back at me.
“Randy Clark,” he said. “You, young man, are gay.”
I should probably explain. I didn’t just go to bed last night as the straight Randy Clark only to have the gay pixie come and sprinkle fairy dust all over me; it’s not that simple. The truth is it’s something I’ve kind of seen coming for a couple of years now. It’s like a process: one day you start adding up all the times in your life you caught yourself looking at guys or couldn’t stop thinking about a particular guy, and then it just hits you -- you’re gay.
It’s funny, but now that I’ve admitted it, I feel more at ease than I ever have in my life; it feels natural. But it’s also kind of scary too. I mean being gay isn’t exactly the kind of thing you can just announce to the world. Some people would instantly hate you; others would express their feelings with a few punches (and I get more than my share of those already). It’s enough to make a guy a little nervous.
And then there’s the problem, the real problem; something’s missing in my life, something important, very important. See, a straight guy can look forward to the possibility of getting married. But what about me? Is there someone out there waiting for me? I mean sure, friends are important in life, but they’re not enough -- what I need is a boyfriend, that special someone to turn me on and send me into sexual orbit. That’s what it’s all about, right?
Blake won’t be the first person I tell I’m gay. It’s not that he’d stop being my friend or anything, it’s just more urgent to find someone I can go to for advice about guys first. Blake likes girls too much to be any help on that issue.
For that job, I know exactly who I need: Annie Brock and Jeremy Smith. They’re in my Art class. If there are any two people on earth who will be able to help me find a boyfriend, its Annie and Jeremy.
"Joined at the Soul" - coming in February 2015 from Prizm Books.
Aristotle
Chapter 1
Of Mirrors and Locker Rooms
The bus stops and Blake Rogers stumbles on; it’s running three minutes late. (I hate being late!) Blake is my best friend. He’s exhausted this morning because he put off doing his homework again and had to stay up late last night. Today is going to be one of those days.
“Good morning,” I say in sarcastic cheeriness.
“Mumm-ning, Randy,” he yawns. He’s already dozing before his butt even hits the seat. I’m guaranteed a quiet, peaceful ride to Chadham High. Good! I need the time to think. See, today, September 17, 1979, is a day of historic importance. This morning, I woke up and discovered I am gay.
I know I know I know; it’s not supposed to work like that, but that’s just what happened. I was brushing my teeth, spit out, and looked in the mirror. A pointy-nosed sixteen year old with mousy brown hair stared back at me.
“Randy Clark,” he said. “You, young man, are gay.”
I should probably explain. I didn’t just go to bed last night as the straight Randy Clark only to have the gay pixie come and sprinkle fairy dust all over me; it’s not that simple. The truth is it’s something I’ve kind of seen coming for a couple of years now. It’s like a process: one day you start adding up all the times in your life you caught yourself looking at guys or couldn’t stop thinking about a particular guy, and then it just hits you -- you’re gay.
It’s funny, but now that I’ve admitted it, I feel more at ease than I ever have in my life; it feels natural. But it’s also kind of scary too. I mean being gay isn’t exactly the kind of thing you can just announce to the world. Some people would instantly hate you; others would express their feelings with a few punches (and I get more than my share of those already). It’s enough to make a guy a little nervous.
And then there’s the problem, the real problem; something’s missing in my life, something important, very important. See, a straight guy can look forward to the possibility of getting married. But what about me? Is there someone out there waiting for me? I mean sure, friends are important in life, but they’re not enough -- what I need is a boyfriend, that special someone to turn me on and send me into sexual orbit. That’s what it’s all about, right?
Blake won’t be the first person I tell I’m gay. It’s not that he’d stop being my friend or anything, it’s just more urgent to find someone I can go to for advice about guys first. Blake likes girls too much to be any help on that issue.
For that job, I know exactly who I need: Annie Brock and Jeremy Smith. They’re in my Art class. If there are any two people on earth who will be able to help me find a boyfriend, its Annie and Jeremy.
"Joined at the Soul" - coming in February 2015 from Prizm Books.
February 17, 2014
Rainbow Book Reviews Interview
Hop over to Rainbow Book Reviews which today features a new interview with yours truly. In it, we discuss My Life as a Myth and I reveal a bit about next year's "Joined at the Soul" as well as this year's Halloween season novella release "Light in Endless Darkness," two works I'm sure you'll love! (Poke around and you'll also find a review of Myth.)
My thanks to Serena and all the great people at Rainbow Book Reviews. Rainbow is a site you should bookmark for regular reference!
My thanks to Serena and all the great people at Rainbow Book Reviews. Rainbow is a site you should bookmark for regular reference!
February 7, 2014
Giveaway today at The Novel Approach
Skip over to The Novel Approach Reviews where Lisa and the team invited me to write a short piece about My Life as a Myth and a couple of my upcoming works. If you aren't familiar with The Novel Approach, you should be, so check it out now.
You also have a chance to win an e-copy of My Life as a Myth!
(And don't forget to bookmark The Novel Approach Reviews; you'll be glad you did!)
You also have a chance to win an e-copy of My Life as a Myth!
(And don't forget to bookmark The Novel Approach Reviews; you'll be glad you did!)
February 4, 2014
On The Dating Diet
No, I don't mean that I'm on a diet, or that I necessarily should be (shut up!); I'm talking about the internet talk radio program The Dating Diet hosted by the wonderful Anthony Paull. Last night, I had the great pleasure of talking with Anthony about My Life as a Myth and we had a fantastic discussion. {Disclaimer: I count Anthony as a dear friend and one of the nicest, funniest people I've ever met; and I absolutely love his two best sellers Outtakes of A Walking Mistake and Desperation Lingers, so I was thrilled to be invited!}
If you've never heard The Dating Diet, you need to go here right now and listen to an episode. It's ribald, hilarious, informative, thought-provoking, and a much needed addition to the "national conversation" people are always on about. To listen to my conversation with Anthony, click here.
Oh, and if you haven't got your copy of My Life as a Myth yet, go to Prizm Books today (February 4th) and use the coupon code MOREWINTER to get 20% off.
If you've never heard The Dating Diet, you need to go here right now and listen to an episode. It's ribald, hilarious, informative, thought-provoking, and a much needed addition to the "national conversation" people are always on about. To listen to my conversation with Anthony, click here.
Oh, and if you haven't got your copy of My Life as a Myth yet, go to Prizm Books today (February 4th) and use the coupon code MOREWINTER to get 20% off.
December 22, 2013
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!)
December 18, 2013
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!)
December 8, 2013
Congrats to all the Rainbow Award Winners!
The 2013 Rainbow Awards are in and while My Life as a Myth didn't win in the Young Adult category, I'm still honored and pleased to have been a finalist. Congratulations to all the winners of this great award!
Be sure to stop by Elisa's Reviews and Ramblings site and check out all the great books from this year's competition. You're sure to find plenty of fantastic titles to feed your bookworm!
Be sure to stop by Elisa's Reviews and Ramblings site and check out all the great books from this year's competition. You're sure to find plenty of fantastic titles to feed your bookworm!
December 1, 2013
Announcement!
I have great news! My second book Conjoined at the Soul will be published by Prizm in 2014. I'll let you know the publication details soon!
Set in the same high school as My Life as a Myth but ten years later, Conjoined at the Soul tells the story of 16 year old Randy Clark. Randy just looked in the mirror and discovered he’s gay! Now he just needs to find a boyfriend! The trouble is he's got a knack for being attracted to the wrong kind of guys – straight ones! Randy would ask his best friend for help, but even though Blake knows all the gossip, he’s too busy trying to convince him to join the drama club and dreaming about Marilyn Romer to be any help. So instead Randy turns to Jeremy Smith and the outrageous Annie Brock, but between their constant bickering and Annie’s obsession to put Michael Kowalski down every chance she gets, Randy’s not exactly feeling confident about their advice. Mix in a bigoted father, the world’s most irritating little brother, and the wannnabe bullies in PE and Randy’s tenth grade year is shaping up to be one to remember!
Set in the same high school as My Life as a Myth but ten years later, Conjoined at the Soul tells the story of 16 year old Randy Clark. Randy just looked in the mirror and discovered he’s gay! Now he just needs to find a boyfriend! The trouble is he's got a knack for being attracted to the wrong kind of guys – straight ones! Randy would ask his best friend for help, but even though Blake knows all the gossip, he’s too busy trying to convince him to join the drama club and dreaming about Marilyn Romer to be any help. So instead Randy turns to Jeremy Smith and the outrageous Annie Brock, but between their constant bickering and Annie’s obsession to put Michael Kowalski down every chance she gets, Randy’s not exactly feeling confident about their advice. Mix in a bigoted father, the world’s most irritating little brother, and the wannnabe bullies in PE and Randy’s tenth grade year is shaping up to be one to remember!
November 18, 2013
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!
November 15, 2013
Congratulations to Ashley E!
Ashley E has won a free autographed copy of My Life as a Myth. Congratulations Ashley; and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it! I'm shipping it out to you this morning.
And thanks to everyone who entered the Giveaway! (I'm kocked out that over 500 signed up.) While you may not have won a free copy, you can still get your own copy at Prizm Books, Amazon and other fine online stores!
And thanks to everyone who entered the Giveaway! (I'm kocked out that over 500 signed up.) While you may not have won a free copy, you can still get your own copy at Prizm Books, Amazon and other fine online stores!
