Providence Book Tours: "Goodnight, Brian" by Steven Manchester Book Tour

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I want to begin by apologizing yet again.  I can only imagine how old it gets to continue to ask forgiveness for not having a book reviewed on time.  I am getting over my illness from the weekend that took up countless hours where I felt horrible and could not do anything.  I am currently reading this  book, and I can hardly wait to have a review up.  It is my priority at present, so if all goes well, it will be up tomorrow night, and a giveaway will be forthcoming as well.  I like to do book giveaways in conjunction with blog hops, and one is coming up.

Here is my 5-star review!

So without further ado, here is today's post!

Book Details
Genre: Fiction
Published by: The Story Plant
Publication Date: January 8, 2013
Number of Pages: 308
Purchase Links:   Amazon   B&N
Synopsis:

Fate was working against little Brian Mauretti. The food that was meant to nourish him was poisoning him instead, and the doctors said the damage was devastating and absolute. Fate had written off Brian. But fate didn’t count on a woman as determined as Brian’s grandmother, Angela DiMartino – who everyone knew as Mama. Loving her grandson with everything she had, Mama endeavored to battle fate. Fate had no idea what it was in for.

An emotional tale about the strength of family bonds, unconditional love, and the perseverance to do our best with the challenging gifts we receive, GOODNIGHT, BRIAN is an uplifting tribute to what happens when giving up is not an option.

Excerpt

Enough time had passed for the shock of Brian’s condition to wear off. Joan had stumbled beyond the grieving process and had given up negotiating with God. She was now at a place called rage. Mama sat with her daughter at the kitchen table, trying to help her make sense of it all. “Maybe Brian’s a test from God?” Mama suggested.

“Why would God test a little baby who’s never done a thing wrong? Why would He test an innocent child?” Joan snapped back.
Mama shook her head. “I didn’t say God was testing Brian,” she said evenly. There was a thoughtful pause. “Maybe He’s testing everyone around Brian?”
“I don’t want to hear that!” Joan roared. “My son will never be able to enjoy the life of other people who don’t…”
Mama slapped her hand on the Formica table, stopping Joan in mid-sentence and turning her face into that of a seven-year-old girl’s. “Not another negative word, do you hear me?” she yelled back, quickly grabbing her daughter’s hands and holding them tightly. “Positive, Joan – everything must be positive! Negative calls for negative and positive brings forth positive. Brian’s already facing some unfair challenges. We have to be positive, Joan. We just have to be!”
Joan wiped her eyes. “But what if the doctor’s right, Ma?” she muttered in a tortured voice. “What
if…”
Without letting Joan’s hands go, Mama took a deep breath and started in on her own tirade. “The doctors don’t know what the hell they’re talking about! I had a grandmother who lived her whole life as a brittle diabetic, but she ate anything she wanted. She died three days before her eighty-fifth birthday. Your grandfather supposedly had cirrhosis of the liver, but lived with his bottle for forty more years until old age took him. They don’t know beans! Besides, we need to have faith in a higher source.” She pulled her crucifix away from her neck and kissed it. “You have to believe, Joan. Before any of the healing can take place, you have to believe that it will.” She nodded and lowered her tone. “Only God knows how… and that’s enough.”

Joan placed her face in her hands and began to cry. She was now completely removed from her rage and safely returned to the stage of grief. “I’m…just… so…scared,” she stuttered, sobbing.

Mama stroked her hair. “Don’t you worry, love. They say that children are raised by a village.” She nodded her gray, curly head. “I think it’s about time we had a village meeting.”

Author Bio:

Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestseller TWELVE MONTHS and PRESSED PENNIES, THE UNEXPECTED STORM: The Gulf War Legacy, and JACOB EVANS, as well as several books under the pseudonym, Steven Herberts. His work has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CBS’s The Early Show, CNN’s American Morning and BET’s Nightly N ews. Recently, three of Steven’s short stories were selected “101 Best” for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. When not spending time with his beautiful wife, Paula, or his four children, this Massachusetts author is promoting his works or writing.

   Visit Steven at:

 http://www.StevenManchester.com  

or

   

Visit The Story Plant
 

Author Interview for My Devotional Thoughts

1. Please tell our readers about your current book.

Fate was working against little Brian Mauretti. The food that was meant to nourish him was poisoning him instead, and the doctors said the damage was devastating and absolute. Fate had written off Brian. But fate didn’t count on a woman as determined as Brian’s grandmother, Angela DiMartino – who everyone knew as Mama. Loving her grandson with everything she had, Mama endeavored to battle fate. Fate had no idea what it was in for.

An emotional tale about the strength of family bonds, unconditional love, and the perseverance to do our best with the challenging gifts we receive, Goodnight, Brian is an uplifting tribute to what happens when giving up is not an option.

2. Who or what inspires your writing?

My wife and children—always.

3. When did you know you would be a writer?

I’d just returned home from Operation Desert Storm, and was working as a prison investigator in Massachusetts . Needless to say, there was great negativity in my life at that time. I decided to return to college to finish my degree in Criminal Justice. During one of the classes, the professor talked about police work but nothing else. I finally raised my hand and asked, “The criminal justice system is vast. What about the courts, probation, parole – corrections?” He smiled and told me to see him after class. I thought I’d finally done it! In his office, he explained, “There’s no written material out there on corrections or prisons, except from the slanted perspective of inmates.” He smiled again and dropped the bomb. “If you’re so smart,” he said, “why don’t you write it?” Nine months later, I dropped the first draft of 6-5; A Different Shade of Blue on his desk. From then on, I was hooked. I was a writer.

4. How long did it take you to write your first novel?

Nine months—the closest I’ll ever come to giving birth.

5. What is the hardest part of writing for you?

The greatest challenge for me has been time. First and foremost, I am a Dad and my children come first. After that, there are other responsibilities that need my attention. Yet, my passion to write has constantly gnawed at my soul.

To overcome the obstacle of time, I made writing a priority over watching TV and sometimes even sleeping. Once my family is taken care of and the world closes its eyes, I’m up for a few more hours each day – chasing my dreams on paper.

6. Do you have any writing rituals?

I play the same CD in a loop, which drowns out all distractions.

7. Have you written any thing else?

I am the published author of Twelve Months (#1 best seller, Amazon Kindle), as well as A Christmas Wish (the holiday prequel to Goodnight, Brian). I am also the author of Pressed Pennies, The Unexpected Storm: The Gulf War Legacy and Jacob Evans, as well as several books under the pseudonym, Steven Herberts. My work has appeared on NBC's Today Show, CBS's The Early Show, CNN’s American Morning and BET’s Nightly News. Recently, three of my short stories were selected "101 Best" for Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

8. Any advice to aspiring writers?

Be true to yourself, always.

Write constantly.

Keep the faith!!!

And NEVER, EVER, EVER quit. Most people in this industry would agree that more than talent or skill or even luck, perseverance is the one trait that will always get the job done.

Knock on every door you can, and keep knocking. I promise that eventually someone will open and the warmth you feel on your face will more than validate every hour spent alone in the darkness.

9. Who are your favorite Authors?

The classics: Harper Lee, Hemingway, Steinbeck. Modern authors include Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, Mitch Albom

10. What are your favorite books, or which book has impacted you the most?

To Kill a Mockingbird is my favorite—literary perfection.

11. What are you currently reading?

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

12. How do readers find out more about you?

http://www.StevenManchester.com 
http://www.facebook.com/#!/AuthorStevenManchester

Follow the entire tour here.