June 2021 Group Read with Guest Author, Tim Meyer

[Kenneth]

This is the thread for the June 2021 Group Read with Guest Author, Tim Meyer. This month, we’ll be reading Tim’s magnum opus, coming-of-age epic, MALIGNANT SUMMER. Grab yourself a copy by clicking on the link below, and please help me welcome to HA.... Tim Meyer!

https://geni.us/CwkK

[Latasha]

Welcome and thanks for joining us!

[Tim]

Yay! Hi, everyone! Excited to be here!

[Precious]

Hello all!

[Kimberly]

I can't wait to start this one!

[Marc]

I just pre-ordered and it will be delivered to my Kindle on June 1st. Looking forward to this read.

[M]

I preordered too! It downloaded last night and I’ve started it

[Scott]

Started this last night not very far into it yet, but plan on digging in today.

[A.S.]

Looks like a good summer read to take on our camping trip. Eager to start.

[Kenneth]

Tim, can you tell us a little how this story came about?

[Tim]

Kenneth wrote: "Tim, can you tell us a little how this story came about?"

Sure! This was a combination of wanting to write about a town-wide scavenger hunt we used to have in high school and a chemical plant that was illegally dumping chemicals, causing people (kids, mostly) to get sick. Both are things that took place in my hometown and I thought, "This is the perfect backdrop for a coming-of-age novel set in the 90s."

[Scott]

Tim wrote: "Kenneth wrote: "Tim, can you tell us a little how this story came about?"

Sure! This was a combination of wanting to write about a town-wide scavenger hunt we used to have in high school and a che..."

When I got to the chapters with Joe and Lenny and what they were doing for the chemical plant, really pissed me off and got me hotter as the story continued (A testament to your writing and story telling, bravo! ). A shame that happened in your hometown, here we only have the dipshits who leave and or dump garbage at the beach or in the ocean. Great book so far.

[Kimberly]

I'm hoping to start this story over the weekend!

[Tim]

Scott wrote: "Tim wrote: "Kenneth wrote: "Tim, can you tell us a little how this story came about?"

Sure! This was a combination of wanting to write about a town-wide scavenger hunt we used to have in high scho..."

Thanks, Scott! Glad you're enjoying it! It's an infuriating situation, for sure. If you really want to get angry, I recommend checking out the nonfiction book, TOMS RIVER by Dan Fagin. It's the true story of what happened and the book won a Pulitzer. Just make sure you have a few walls in your home that you don't care about - you'll want to punch them while reading it.

[M]

I finished! I like when books don’t finish in a nice little bow perfectly the writing was great I felt like if it were a movie it would definitely be like all the 80’s coming of age movies (except set in the late 90’s)

[Kenneth]

Hey Tim, just stopping by to show my support. Congrats on the book release. You all are in for a treat.

[Tim]

Kenneth wrote: "Hey Tim, just stopping by to show my support. Congrats on the book release. You all are in for a treat."

Thank you!

[Kimberly]

This book is amazing so far! I really feel the "Boy's Life" vibes already.

[Lisa]

I might be having a harder time reading the story of Jewel than about the mayhem befalling the town...

[Scott]

Lisa wrote: "I might be having a harder time reading the story of Jewel than about the mayhem befalling the town..."

I agree she is my daughters age and it just tore at my soul when they forced her back to her parents. I just wanted to take her in as a Foster and let her know that all people don't suck and life really isn't that bad and when it is with a proper support system you can get through it. Tim's character development and writing is just fantastic, because he made me feel this way and it's not often when an author does.

[Char]

I am so angry at myself for not working this in yet. I hope you all are enjoying it!

[Lisa]

Scott wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I might be having a harder time reading the story of Jewel than about the mayhem befalling the town..."

I agree she is my daughters age and it just tore at my soul when they forced he..."

I know! And Fritz's wife seems pretty unsympathetic. He kept saying that she'd divorce him if he took Jewel in. WTH.

[Scott]

Lisa wrote: "Scott wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I might be having a harder time reading the story of Jewel than about the mayhem befalling the town..."

I agree she is my daughters age and it just tore at my soul when ..."

Exactly, he should of called her bluff.

[Janine]

I just wanted to stop by and show my support for Tim and this book which is my Top Read of 2021 so far. Congrats on the epic storytelling yet again, Tim.

[Kimberly]

Char wrote: "I am so angry at myself for not working this in yet. I hope you all are enjoying it!"

Still reading it myself (slowest reading month all year for me), but I am enjoying every bit of it!