Who IS JR Stone?

I hate that question.  I bet if you were to interview as many authors as you could (me included), you would find that one of those authors absolutely HATES interviews.  And, if you haven't figured it out by now, I am that author.

Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't want to get the word out about my latest novel.  I do.  I'm just not sure that I have enough charisma to tempt the potential reader into reading my book.  Every author feels like they have written the best novel in the market and I'm no different.  I want to read feedback from readers and see it reviewed in the newspapers and magazines.  The only problem is that in order to do that, the author has to put him or herself "out there" along with their book for literary consumption.

Believe me, it's not a marketing scheme to claim the personality of being a recluse.  I am what I am.  In fact, I had a reporter from the Beaumont Enterprise approach me about an interview for the paper.  I had to level with her; I don't do face to face interviews.  I've been a writer for alot of years so it's not the fact that I'm a newbie.  I can't make myself do them anymore.  I prefer to let my writing do the talking for me.  That's why when I found authonomy.com (Harper Collins's U.K. sister site) I was so pleased to find fellow authors praising my work.  Writers are basically supportive of each other, but I was even surprised at the glowing reviews and references.

"...The scars you can't see are the hardest to heal." A book well worth reading from beginning to end. How many people can carry an unspoken burden for 23 years? Nick is a very sympathetic MC, with the brooding personality that suits his looks. I know some such . . . quite a few. Is all of this fiction? You manage to portray your characters in such a real way, I have to wonder. Very talented writer with the ability to sustain interest in the reader. Happy to have backed it and best with it."  

The written word is powerful.  Much more so than an author telling you that fact.  So, Beaumont Enterprise, if you are still interested...allow me to stay in the shadows while you expose my words to your readers.

JRS

The Long Road from Perdition - Almost Set to PRINT

Days like today is always a proud day for an author.  The manuscript you've been laboring over, staying up until all hours of the night rewriting, thinking about, wondering about it's success...is finally done.

Having said that, the easy part is over.  What?  The easy part?  Hell yes.  Now the marketing, promotion and social networking must be in full throttle.  What I've been doing with this blog was only a warm up.  So, now that the novel will soon be out, you'll be hearing alot more from me.

I dare say, I think this is the only novel ever to take place in the GT (Golden Triangle of SE Texas).  You know, Groves, Port Arthur, Beaumont and the like.  It's about time, really.  I've always felt this area deserved some notariety for something other than the rich musical heritage.

I worked hard on this novel.  Now it's YOUR turn to tell me if you like it.  Here's a short synopsis on the back book cover:

Young Nicholas witnesses a horrifying scene leaving him emotionally broken only to discover, “The scars you can't see are the hardest to heal.”

Nicholas Fontenot is a precocious yet sensitive teenager who lives in an abusive home with his family. After witnessing a horrifying scene, his world is torn apart and leaves him emotionally broken. As the only witness of a grizzly crime, he is shuffled through the Foster Care system until he escapes his life of misery and abuse. Through his journey, Nicholas meets a kindred spirit in Charley, a drag queen and owner of an off the beaten path gay bar in New Orleans.  A host of colorful characters within this bar become Nicholas’ extended family.   Yet, his troubled past continues to haunt him until he is forced to leave the only happy home he has ever known .   His struggles give new meaning and insight to the thought; “The scars you can't see are the hardest to heal.” His journey is a long one, but his travels to find peace is even longer. It is through his journey that he discovers "The Long Road from Perdition." 

Well?

Authonomy

For those of you not familiar with the website "Authonomy," it's a novelist's delight.  Imagine wordsmiths from all over the world reading your novel and offering useful and valuable critiques in order to polish your book to it's best.  That is what authonomy does.  It's also a U.K. sister site of Harper Collins Publishers with the highest ranked books via the critquers submitted to the editor for possible publication!

I've been blessed to receive some incredible comments and thought I would whet your appetite for "The Long Road to Extradition" :
"Once Nick went into solitary, your text became claustrophobic, paranoid, and you weren't afraid of brevity, which I think helped keep your pacing up. I usually like to give feedback, but I think you accomplished exactly what you set out to do."

"Is all of this fiction? You manage to portray your characters in such a real way, I have to wonder. Very talented writer with the ability to sustain interest in the reader. Happy to have backed it and best with it. "

"Your protagonist Nick tells us of the hell he found himself in and his journey from the lowest point in his life. The events of his thirteenth birthday are unfolded slowly, experienced and understood by the reader as if we were psychiatrists teasing out the back story of a young man suffering from extreme post traumatic stress disorder. Your pitch readies us for this disturbing, dark read full of misery and abuse. The way Nick is dealt with by the authorities/system is reminiscient of Ken Keseys brilliant 'One flew over the cuckoos nest' where the main protagonist is more sane than the world and the system around him."                                                                   

"Wow. I'm four chapters in and I really feel for Nick. You've paid a lot of attention to the dialogue so far and it shows - there's a lot of it here but it's really well done and flows perfectly with Nick's thoughts and the actions of those around him. This is a great book so far. "

The novel should be published soon.  When it is, YOU will be the first to know!  Feel free to drop me a line at JRStone@aol.com .  DON'T FORGET TO "LIKE" ME on my FACEBOOK PAGE!