Contest results

The GoodReads contest for copies of Die Trying and other stories has resulted in three winners. Anna, Annika, and Pamela, your autographed copies are on the way.

If you missed out on that contest, don't worry. January 2013 will bring a new contest, and a chance to win copies of Being God. 

Page 12 for 12-12-12

First, I admit to being a copycat. I saw another blogger doing a page twelve for 12-12-12, and thought, hey, why not.  So, for your entertainment, page 12 of Being God, due out January, 2013 from AllTheColorsOfLove press. It's YA, contemporary, gritty, and the sequel to Pull.

On this page, seventeen-year-old Malik Kaplan and his best (only) friend Cesare Russo, are at a party.  Only they are not having much fun:

“Down, Jekyll, it was an accident,” Cesare says. “Not the first tonight and probably not the last.”

“I thought Spencer said I was Hyde,” I growl as the kid rushes back into the crowd.

“Whatever. He’s not known for having all lights lit. I still think he was talking ‘bout himself. Sometimes that crazy dude plays both roles.” Cesare shrugs. “This whole thing sucks. I mean, chips and dip, what does Spencer think we are, eighth-graders? We should leave.”

“You just want to leave because Giselle didn’t come. At least there’s plenty of booze.” I finish off my second beer, or maybe it’s my third. Who’s really counting? I toss the bottle toward an already overflowing garbage can. The bottles inside rattle as I connect.

“Two points,” Cesare says.

I laugh and head for the basement. Cesare follows me. There’s a second beer stash in a wooden tub filled with ice down there. I need another beer and don’t want to face the kitchen mayhem again. There are only a few people in the basement. Unfortunately, Spencer is one of them.

I walk down the creaking staircase and see Spencer standing with a small group of guys. His AstroTurf-green shirt barely covers his stomach rolls.

He laughs and says, “Seriously, the Barn-girl had Malik shaking.”

“Oh no.” Cesare tries to grab my arm. “Let’s go back upstairs.”

“Like anyone cares what comes out of the big mouth attached to the useless hands,” I say loudly and step forward.

Spencer’s head snaps up. “Don’t go there”

“Like you didn’t go where you were supposed to on the football field?” I say. The tub filled with beer bottles sits in the middle of the room. I dig through the freezing cold, grab a bottle from the bottom, and twist off the cap. One chug sends fire streaming down my throat. I wipe moisture from my mouth with the back of my hand and wait for his next move.

“At least I play on a team where people aren’t afraid to hit,” Spencer says.

“Do you have a problem with the basketball team?”

“Not the team,” Spencer says. “Just the self-appointed god of the court calling himself the captain.” He sniffs and runs his hand under his nose, as if wiping away sweat. Or a booger.

 

 

 

Don't forget my contest to win autographed copies of my second book, Die Trying. Find out more HERE!

Contest Giveaway!!

You have a chance to win one of three free copies of Die Trying, my volume of short stories for adults and young adults, showing the sometimes humorous, and sometimes tragic facts of life. The stories include:

A GENUINE ORIGIONAL: See how Pull's David and Yolanda fall in love while surrounded by a nursery filled with toddlers.


BEGGAR BOY: She’s African-American from Indiana. He’s Iranian-African from Illinois. Kate Mason and Sayeed Hosseni meet in Jamaica where their lives are changed by a native boy too proud to beg and too ashamed to admit a painful past.

FATHERS AND SONS The age-old epic battle between fourteen-year-old Deondre and his father as they play the “my way or the highway” game and then wait to see who blinks.

AND IN THE END: An adult Deondre still has problems with his father, until the 2012 apocalypse approaches and his former "school buddy" helps him see the light, and show that she is more than just a friend .
 
WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE ME? A generation gap story about a woman designated by her family to talk Grandfather into leaving the past behind and moving into assisted living. In the process she learns that the past can hold unexpected value.

ABOMINATION Life is good for sixteen year old Neill Mallory, until the day his boyfriend dumps him.  Carl’s parents have prayed over him, and neither boy wants to keep fighting people invoking the God thing and calling their relationship an abomination.

DIE TRYING Juvon was the pride of his inner-city neighborhood with only one goal, bringing home Olympic gold for his parents. Now, with the the "Terminator Cancer" attached his brain and experimental treatments failing, he makes the decision to take his future into his own hands.

There are seven more stories, plus a sneak peek at Being God, coming in 2013, a sequel to Pull.

The contest is hosted on GoodReads.com. On December 20, three lucky people will be chosen as winners to receive autographed copies.  Enter for free, just click here to visit the Goodreads contest site. and click the Enter To Win button

Good luck, and good reading.

And don't forget to LIKE my publishing press, AllTheColorsOfLove at Facebook.com/allthecolorsoflove