Author Guest Post
Ideally, I like to have all my 'must do's' out of the way. That way, I don't feel a time constraint or something hanging over my head. Now, my children have been known to throw a wrench in that plan. They will need a ride here, or be picked up there. Or I will receive phone calls from the kids who have already left the nest. I probably shouldn't admit to this, but occasionally, when I am really in a good writing zone, I will ignore those phone calls and return them later....sorry kids.
Some people have asked how I write, as in do I use an outline, do I know the end right from the start. I seldom use an outline. I tend to write in a linear fashion - I start at the beginning and go to the end. On rare occasions I will skip to a scene that's pressing on my mind and then go back to fill in from point A to point B. And I do usually have an idea of how the story will end. The fun part about writing, however, is sometimes characters will surprise me. They will say something or do something that I totally did not anticipate and then I have to adjust. When that happens, I know I have well defined characters.
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David's Song by A.R. Talley ~ Virtual Book Tour Page: I Am A Reader Not A Writer
Book Review
David's Song by A.R. Talley
1st Book in a Trilogy
Publisher: Author House
Publication Date: November 23, 2010
Format: Hardcover & Paperback - 304 pages / Kindle - 539 KB / Nook - 383 KB
ISBN: 1456700219
ASIN: B004FGMW1A
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Women's Fiction
BUY THE BOOK: David's Song
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer.
Book Description:
A psychologically subtle, yet compelling tale about how the instinct and need for love overcomes self-doubt and personal inadequacy.
Book Excerpt:
“Thank you for dancing with me,” he said.
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. I was a mix of relief and surprise and elation. I tried smiling without looking too thrilled. This was not a declaration of love, but it was as close as I would ever get.
“It’s my pleasure,” I replied, feeling flushed.
“I should get you home,” he said and slowly pulled his hand away. “It’s late, even if we don’t have to dance in the morning.”
When we finally stepped outside again I looked to the sky. The lights from the neon signs had dimmed the stars, but I couldn’t help thinking that those same stars were on my side. I watched David as he zipped his jacket, and when he started to walk I fell in step beside him. He reached down and took my hand again. I looked to make sure that really was my hand in his.
“Next time I want to go to a concert, I’m calling you,” he told me as we waited for the light to cross the street. “Then we can go out again and really share the music.” He was nodding to himself as if he thought it a brilliant idea. He wouldn’t have to convince me.
“I’d like that,” I replied. We walked along quietly, hand in hand until we reached Glenwood Apartments. An orange glow rested over the parking lot from the street lights, and each building was highlighted by a brighter yellow light coming from the glass entryway at the doors.
“That’s my building over there.” I pointed to the third building in line. “Thanks for walking me home.” I reluctantly pulled my hand away as we approached the entrance.
“I always take my date home. It’s rude to make them walk home alone,” he said with a smile.
“Date?” I repeated.
“Well, we did go to a concert together. Isn’t that a date?”
I laughed. “We didn’t exactly go together.”
“Close enough,” he said. He took a step closer and looked down at me, his blue eyes looking almost black in the light. “You’re not like the other girls, Annie.” He was quiet and more sober than before.
“Is that a good thing or not?” I asked, feeling a little dizzy being so close to him.
“No, not like them at all,” he repeated.
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. I was a mix of relief and surprise and elation. I tried smiling without looking too thrilled. This was not a declaration of love, but it was as close as I would ever get.
“It’s my pleasure,” I replied, feeling flushed.
“I should get you home,” he said and slowly pulled his hand away. “It’s late, even if we don’t have to dance in the morning.”
When we finally stepped outside again I looked to the sky. The lights from the neon signs had dimmed the stars, but I couldn’t help thinking that those same stars were on my side. I watched David as he zipped his jacket, and when he started to walk I fell in step beside him. He reached down and took my hand again. I looked to make sure that really was my hand in his.
“Next time I want to go to a concert, I’m calling you,” he told me as we waited for the light to cross the street. “Then we can go out again and really share the music.” He was nodding to himself as if he thought it a brilliant idea. He wouldn’t have to convince me.
“I’d like that,” I replied. We walked along quietly, hand in hand until we reached Glenwood Apartments. An orange glow rested over the parking lot from the street lights, and each building was highlighted by a brighter yellow light coming from the glass entryway at the doors.
“That’s my building over there.” I pointed to the third building in line. “Thanks for walking me home.” I reluctantly pulled my hand away as we approached the entrance.
“I always take my date home. It’s rude to make them walk home alone,” he said with a smile.
“Date?” I repeated.
“Well, we did go to a concert together. Isn’t that a date?”
I laughed. “We didn’t exactly go together.”
“Close enough,” he said. He took a step closer and looked down at me, his blue eyes looking almost black in the light. “You’re not like the other girls, Annie.” He was quiet and more sober than before.
“Is that a good thing or not?” I asked, feeling a little dizzy being so close to him.
“No, not like them at all,” he repeated.
My Book Review:
After fifteen years of marriage Annie and Jeremy are having serious problems in their marriage. Annie heads off to Las Vegas for a week long BYU college reunion with her girlfriends. While at the hotel, Annie runs into David Andrews, her ex-college boyfriend who broke her heart. David is now a famous pianist, whose concert they will be attending while in Vegas. Seeing David after fifteen years stirs up old emotional feelings in Annie, leaving her with two choices to consider: whether to stay in her marriage to Jeremy, or possibly have a second chance with David, her lost college love.
In David's Song, the first book in a trilogy, author A.R. Talley weaves a compelling tale that deals with realistic emotions, temptations, choices and decisions made in relationships. Written in the first person narrative that starts with the backstory of Annie, Jeremy and David attending BYU, which proceeds fifteen years later to the present time in Las Vegas, the reader follows Annie's journey as she works through her indecision on what to do with her troubled marriage, and the opportunity to have a second chance with her first love.
This is a LDS story that packs a powerful and emotional punch, it captivates the reader's attention and draws them into Annie's story. As Annie reminisces about the past, contemplates the issues in her marriage to Jeremy, and the temptation of starting a relationship with David, the story can't help but evoke the full range of emotions in the reader. I found myself pondering what would I do if I was in Annie shoes. Would I be able to give up a marriage to a man who truly loves me, even if the marriage isn't perfect and has very normal and real issues, for a chance of having a relationship with my lost love who had broken my heart?
Sometimes affairs of the heart can cause complications that may lead a person to consider choices and make decisions that they normally wouldn't make. Would you choose to remaining living in a relationship that was built on love, trust, commitment and experience ... or would you throw caution to the wind and follow your heart filled with unfulfilled dreams into an unknown relationship? Hmmm ... David's Song is definitely an emotional story that makes you sit up and ponder your own relationships, choices and decisions that you have made in your life.
David's Song is a true-to-life story that depicts a realistic portrayal of the complexities and dynamics of relationships, and the variety of issues, choices and decisions that come with them.
David's Song is the first book in a trilogy.
RATING: 4 STARS ****
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