Charley

When I decided to write my novel, there were a few characters that I had in my head that I wanted to bring to life.  One of those characters was a guy named Charley.  Granted, he is a fictional character, but he is based on someone I used to know some years ago.

The only similarities between the character in my book and the guy I used to know was the number of years that it took to completely harness his hopefulness about life in general.  You see, there was a time when "Charley" felt like he could make a difference.  There was a time when he fell in love and didn't worry about getting hurt in return.  It was just before the latter years that I wrote about Charley.

To me, he was a pure spirit.  He had his faults as we all do, but he really tried to love better than he was loved, work harder than others worked for him and sometimes, people took advantage.  It was during these times that I saw him help those down and out even though he couldn't see they were dragging him down with them.

Never mind trying to help him or warn him.  People see what they want to see.  While those who took advantage of Charley took on an ugly reflection, somehow, Charley was still able to see the beauty that had been lost long ago on these souls.  It is then that I imagined Nicholas meeting Charley.  Full of emotional baggage but able to love someone who felt totally unlovable without taking advantage.

Sometimes watching life happen is a cruel vision while being a writer can give solace to the weary.

Read about Charley in my novel.  You'll be glad you did.

JRS

Now Begins the Marketing Process...

They say the easy part is writing the book.  (I might beg to differ with that) Now, post novel, the author must bring out every nuance of their book to make it absolutely impossible to resist to their potential customers.

Easier said than done, my friends.  I've held this story close to my chest for at least 3 years.  I know the characters as if they were breathing, living human beings.  I see this book as a movie because I can see expressions of my characters, the horror of discovering the death of a loved one, living through what seems to be hell, to live and re-live trauma until you're sick of it, questioning faith, questioning sexuality, not knowing where "home" really is and finally, going through the emotional work it takes to find your way back.

The book starts with a jolt and the main character, Nicholas becomes our guide into living within a dysfunctional family and trying to find some semblance of happiness.  Sometimes we make it, sometimes we don't.  That's our challenge.

For some reason, the actor Adrien Grenier reminds me of my MC, Nicholas.  I guess he was my honorary muse.  Who knows what will happen with this novel?  The last word was written to the story, so I twittered Grenier to let him know.  I've kept him apprised of my progress all along and offered links to my work along the way.  I'm happy to say that the links were used.  Now we'll have to see where this goes.

Next post, I'll talk about "Charley", the owner of a small drag bar in New Orleans and how he revealed himself to me.

JR

Purchase YOUR copy of My Novel HERE with a 30% discount while they last!

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Well without further adieu; You can now purchase a pre-sale book right here:   Coming to Amazon & other retailers soon.

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Do me a favor will ya?  Post a review for me.  Or, just write me here and let me know what you thought of it.  Be looking for more news about my novel soon!

JR

Discovering another Groves, Texas author

The other day, just for the hell of it, I googled "authors from Groves, Texas."  I was expecting to see authors close to Groves, but no cigar.  Well, I was wrong.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered Mary Karr's name staring back at me.  I guess there was a pompous side of me that was convinced that no one from this little town boasted literary credentials.  Now, if you're talking musicians, the Golden Triangle is bursting at the seams with such notables as Janis Joplin, The Winter brothers, George Jones, Percy Sledge, Jerry LaCroix, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and the list goes on and on.

I have to be honest though, while it is a well-known fact that musical pioneers are plentiful in southeast Texas, I find it intriguing to find another author who knows my town like I do.  Granted, she lives in the New York area now, but now literary types have someone to look up to from our area now.  They know the stifling heat, the oil refinery as the employment of choice and that life stops for the Pecan Festival each year.  I remember picking up pecans in my family's yard so that we could sell them to pay for our taxes.  Groves is a way of life.  It just is.  I can't say that I was always happy with the type of life it presented, but my main character in my new novel knows it as well as anyone.

I'd like to get Mary Karr to review my book before it goes to print.  Maybe she'll be reminded of how it is to be from Groves and offer to do it for me.

Synopsis

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." 

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?

So, What was it like growing up in Groves? (The City on the Grow)

I can tell you that I'm old enough that my generation grew up very different than the Gen Y'ers of today.  I know it's hard to believe Virginia; but there weren't computers in every home.  The only phones around were landlines.  No cell phones, smart phones, Droids, texting are anything else.

It was a much quieter time in Groves back in the early 60's and 70's.  Sometimes I think that's why more people in small towns branched out and moved to larger cities.  While technology wasn't exactly exploding back then, there was nightlife, clubs, restaurants and a host of other places and circumstances where you could pick your poison.

Meanwhile, kids rode their bikes or walked as a means of transportation.  There were basketball or football games in the park or someone's yard.  Once you left home in the mornings, your time was your own until reporting back to dinner at the end of the day.  If your Mom wanted to call you home, she simply stepped outside and yodeled your name which almost broke the sound barrier. There was more freedom without the technology.

It wasn't unusual to see kids reading a book on the front porch or just talking to friends that stopped by to say hello after riding their bikes to Jefferson City and back.

Today, I go to restaurants and notice people waiting in line, texting, phoning, Facebooking, Twittering and glancing at their watches impatiently.  It amazes me that their children are completely mesmerized by video games and can text without even looking at the number pad on their phones.  Why are we so fixated with technology all of the time?  I can tell you this; Swamp Witch, Sarah Jane Road and other tall tales would never be discovered if everyone had their nose buried in their Ipads, cells or other media device 100% of the time.

It was a slower time, back then.  But, it was also a better time too.

Glory Days on Gulfway Drive

My apologies for my extended absence from my blog.  I fell prey to the John Lennon adage, "Life happens while you're planning it."  I wonder if he realized his wisdom while he was alive? 

One thing I have noticed in my absence is that I discovered a group page on Facebook that has reunited the youth of the mid 70's in my neck of the woods.  Yes, there were teenagers galore that drove up and down Gulfway Drive in Port Arthur relentlessly in search of girls, guys, friends and any remnants of excitement they could discover.

I was one of those teenagers who "rode the drag" with my brother or with my friends searching for our next girlfriend.  At first, I wasn't impressed with the monotony of the endless back and forth cruising.  But, then again, we tuned into channel 5 on the CB radio.  Yes, the CB in those days was our mode of communication.  Think of CB's as the old "internet."

As I read the posts, I relived some of my glory days as I was catapulted back into 1976.  All of the old haunts were reminisced.  Lists of roamer of this road are listed to let others know who has left this world.  CB handles were displayed along side of their owners, revealing the person behind the persona.

I tell you, I've had the best time with this page.  Speaking of pages,  why not like mine?  Here's the link:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-JR-Stone/143787462351082.  In the meantime, I think I'll drink a Bud and listen to Boston's "More than a Feeling". 

Sigh, the good ole days.