A terrific Middle Grade Blog called The Privateers from England interviewed me regarding my time travel series. The link is here.
Thank you Privateers! I had a blast!
Peace,
J. Lee Graham
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
THE PROMISE OF LIVING REVIEW!
Many thanks to Mrs. Condit Reads Books blog for reviewing my YA coming of age novel, THE PROMISE OF LIVING. I was very moved.
Here it is:
BLURB: THE PROMISE OF LIVING is a heart-rending coming of age novel of sixteen-year-old Ryan Colton and his quest for his own authenticity. Ryan’s mother died when he was young, and he and his father carve out a tenuous but trusting relationship. Ryan works on Lee Hemmer’s farm with his best friend Dave in Wilson’s Ferry, New Hampshire, a stifling, small town where, in 1975, everyone, it seems, has something to hide. Ryan has a mysterious series of premonitions and visions that reveal the darker secrets of the townspeople. His gift becomes overwhelming when he visions a murky murder at the high school and cannot prevent its occurrence. Ryan seeks the help of a Boston transfer student and a famous psychic to not only focus his gifts to solve the murder but to finally accept his own personal feelings for Dave. Ryan struggles with his own power of being different in the world and knows that the true resolution lies within him.
Here it is:
Posted by Pattycake on June 29, 2013
“Ryan took a breath. “You have a code of honor, Dad, about what it means to be a man and even though I must have grown up watching it, I never even noticed it until this year. I think about that a lot. How valuable that is, and how much I admire that in you.”
GENRE: M/M, coming of age, YA
RATING: 4 Sweet Peas!
GENRE: M/M, coming of age, YA
RATING: 4 Sweet Peas!
BLURB: THE PROMISE OF LIVING is a heart-rending coming of age novel of sixteen-year-old Ryan Colton and his quest for his own authenticity. Ryan’s mother died when he was young, and he and his father carve out a tenuous but trusting relationship. Ryan works on Lee Hemmer’s farm with his best friend Dave in Wilson’s Ferry, New Hampshire, a stifling, small town where, in 1975, everyone, it seems, has something to hide. Ryan has a mysterious series of premonitions and visions that reveal the darker secrets of the townspeople. His gift becomes overwhelming when he visions a murky murder at the high school and cannot prevent its occurrence. Ryan seeks the help of a Boston transfer student and a famous psychic to not only focus his gifts to solve the murder but to finally accept his own personal feelings for Dave. Ryan struggles with his own power of being different in the world and knows that the true resolution lies within him.
TRISH’S OPINION: J. Lee Graham has written a powerful and moving coming-of’age story in The Promise of Living. The blurb lays out the bare bones of the story, but you really need to read this wonderful tale to really appreciate the rich feast laid out by the author. Ryan Colton and his best friend Dave Calderwood are your typical teens growing up in your typical small town until events start to happen that shake them and the rest of the town to their very core. Suicide,murder, feelings that don’t fit what small town society decrees to be normal, and other deep secrets are brought out into the light of day, and things will never be the same again.
This is a brilliantly character driven story with a plot that starts out with a smooth flow, then grabs ahold of you and doesn’t let go until the very end. The characters are solid, credible, and face the same triumphs and tragedies that shape the lives of people in the real world. The backstory is rich with details that lay a solid foundation for the storyline without too much trivia. The writing style of the author is eloquently precise, crisp, clear, and so wonderfully down-to-earth. There is no real sex in the story, but it doesn’t detract ftom the book at all. The author displays a solid and well-researched knowledge of what life was like in that time and place with no jarring errors. There are bittersweet moments when tragedy strikes some of the secondary characters, but the book itself has a HEA ending. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this beautiful book and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fascinating coming-of-age tale.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Another fan's response!
A great response to IN THE NICK OF TIME from a reader on Goodreads.com. Made me smile. Thank you reader!
"Thanks so much goodreads for this book I won! It was fantastic. My only complaint was it was a bit short for me at 100 pages and I wanted it to last a bit longer but it was truly great. You could read this in one sitting easily because it's that interesting. Andy Mackpeace, a 13 year old boy is upset when his eccentric grandmother passes away. While going through her stuff he finds magical incense sticks that when lit takes him to another time period. He travels to the 18th century to Boston and then soon after his return he then with his two best friends goes to the 19 century to Georgia. Soon they realize they do not have the incense stick to get them back home. Together they use their 21 century knowledge to get them back home. Friendships are tested through this journey and a young boy comes into his own while facing some of the most horrific historical moments of America's past. Really loved this book and want to read the sequel now!"
Yes, the sequel, THE TIME OF HIS LIFE is available in book form from Createspace or Amazon (Kindle too), and the various e-versions are on Smashwords.com
"Thanks so much goodreads for this book I won! It was fantastic. My only complaint was it was a bit short for me at 100 pages and I wanted it to last a bit longer but it was truly great. You could read this in one sitting easily because it's that interesting. Andy Mackpeace, a 13 year old boy is upset when his eccentric grandmother passes away. While going through her stuff he finds magical incense sticks that when lit takes him to another time period. He travels to the 18th century to Boston and then soon after his return he then with his two best friends goes to the 19 century to Georgia. Soon they realize they do not have the incense stick to get them back home. Together they use their 21 century knowledge to get them back home. Friendships are tested through this journey and a young boy comes into his own while facing some of the most horrific historical moments of America's past. Really loved this book and want to read the sequel now!"
Yes, the sequel, THE TIME OF HIS LIFE is available in book form from Createspace or Amazon (Kindle too), and the various e-versions are on Smashwords.com
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
A Surprise Review on Amazon
A great review suddenly appeared on Amazon regarding my time travel novel IN THE NICK OF TIME. Mahalo! It was a nice surprise!
"Andy's a strong, brave kid. I like him, and I kept turning the pages of In the Nick of Time until the book was done. The adventures Andy has in this book could only happen to someone who's brave enough to risk not knowing all the answers. He's also a boy whose grandmother isn't like other grandmothers. Yay for Andy, and for J. Lee Graham! Is there a sequel out there somewhere?"
Yes, Reviewer, there is! It's called THE TIME OF HIS LIFE.
"Andy's a strong, brave kid. I like him, and I kept turning the pages of In the Nick of Time until the book was done. The adventures Andy has in this book could only happen to someone who's brave enough to risk not knowing all the answers. He's also a boy whose grandmother isn't like other grandmothers. Yay for Andy, and for J. Lee Graham! Is there a sequel out there somewhere?"
Yes, Reviewer, there is! It's called THE TIME OF HIS LIFE.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Middle Grade Mania Blog and a call to other MG Authors!
I just joined the Middle Grade Mania Blog, and it is a brilliant source of all things Middle Grade (and then some!) What an excellent place to browse and interact. I love talking about my Time Travel MG novels IN THE NICK OF TIME and THE TIME OF HIS LIFE, but enough about me!
Any writer of MG who wants to be interviewed by me, feel free to contact me! It would be a pleasure!
Peace,
J. Lee Graham
Any writer of MG who wants to be interviewed by me, feel free to contact me! It would be a pleasure!
Peace,
J. Lee Graham
Monday, March 4, 2013
Indie Stores on the Decline?
A great article from Raleigh, North Carolina regarding the fate of our beloved Indie Stores. I love them. The article focuses primarily on its Quail Ridge Books and Music Store and the age old fight for Independent book stores and how important it is to patronize them.
Sadly, not all indie stores will carry my books (due to their being self-published), but most of them will put my books on the shelf for a commission. That's fine with me!
Support your local businesses and avoid the big box. More money from Local Businesses goes back into the community compared to Corporate Chains... Think about that..
Peace,
J. Lee Graham
Sadly, not all indie stores will carry my books (due to their being self-published), but most of them will put my books on the shelf for a commission. That's fine with me!
Support your local businesses and avoid the big box. More money from Local Businesses goes back into the community compared to Corporate Chains... Think about that..
Peace,
J. Lee Graham
Friday, February 22, 2013
Q&A with Jamie Deacon
I had a great time being interviewed by Jamie Deacon from England about my YA novel THE PROMISE OF LIVING. You can read the entire interview here.
You can read her review of the novel on her blog as well as read an excerpt from the book. You can also sign up for a free give away for THE PROMISE OF LIVING too.
You can read her review of the novel on her blog as well as read an excerpt from the book. You can also sign up for a free give away for THE PROMISE OF LIVING too.
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