New Release - Jamie's Children @susanmoorejorda

Jamie’s Children

By

Susan Moore Jordan

 

“It’s more than music: it’s light. It’s love. It’s life.”

Laura and Niall Logan, children of a brilliant musician, have gifts of their own. Laura, first-born, child prodigy violinist suffers from emotional problems that haunt her well into adulthood. Niall, talented singer-song writer, is demonized by bouts of bipolar disorder. Supported by the people they love and the power of music, they seek to overcome these daunting challenges as they strive to claim their own place in the spotlight.

Book Extract 

Deep into practicing the Brahms concerto, feeling herself one with the music, Laura was annoyed when the buzzer in her apartment sounded and she almost ignored it. Her concentration broken, she went to the intercom and asked rather crisply: “Who is it?”

“It’s Niall.”

“Niall! Come on up!” She was thrilled to hear his voice. She hadn’t seen him since Bonnie had gone to Hunter Mountain and brought him back to the city. Bonnie had talked with her and with Meredith and Jamie, explaining Niall wasn’t ready to see them yet. Not at Thanksgiving. Not even at Christmas.

Another month had passed and still nothing. She knew her parents were very worried, but they were all relieved he was with Bonnie. She’d keep him safe. That was the operative word these days: they all wanted Niall safe. Bonnie assured them he hadn’t been drinking, but he was struggling with depression. And now, finally, he was at her door.

They hugged long and hard when he came in, and she saw tears in his eyes.

“What can I get you? Coffee? Tea?”

“I’m good. God, you look fantastic. I’m so glad to see you.”

 “I’ve been here,” she said, sitting on the sofa and patting the seat next to her. She looked carefully at him. He looked thin and she saw the strain in his face. He had let his hair grow and it was down to his shoulders; she smiled and touched it. “I like it. Long hair suits you, Roger.”

She was rewarded with a slight smile. “Thanks, Ruth. It’s just easier not to bother getting it cut. It seems I’m all about what’s easier these days.” He looked over at the violin lying on a chair. “You were practicing. I’m sorry I interrupted you.”

“I’d rather see you any day than practice. I do that all the time.”

He smiled again. “Yes, I know … I guess some things never change.” He sighed and shifted uncomfortably. “Laura, I need your help.”

“Anything. You know that.”

“When I ran away last summer … I’ve been doing a lot of thinking … well … maybe Mom was right,” he said. “I’ve kind of been in this black hole and I can’t seem to dig myself out of it. God knows I’ve tried.”

“Bonnie has talked to us, Niall. You must know that.” She put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it gently.

He settled back and relaxed. “Yes, I wanted her to. I hated to admit it, but there’s something wrong with me. I’ve barely left Bonnie’s apartment since I got back. I know Monty’s won’t take me back, and … I don’t want to work. I go to a meeting every couple of weeks. I play guitar a little sometimes. I don’t know why Bonnie doesn’t throw me out.”

“Tell me what I can do.” She took his hand in hers. He looked at their hands and smiled at her again.

“My sweet big sister. You used to do that all the time.”

“Hold your hand? It’s what big sisters do.”

His face twisted as he fought back tears. “I think I have to see somebody. A shrink. My head is messed up.”

 “Oh, Niall, I’ll take care of it. I’m grateful you came to me.” She thought for a moment. “Let me call Ardith. Since she’s been my therapist she may not think she should see you, but she can recommend somebody.”

She gently wiped the tears that spilled over and ran down his face. “It’s okay, Niall. I’m more than happy to do this, and I’m so glad you want help.”

“I can’t keep living like this, I know that. I’ll pay you back somehow. I promise.”

“Don’t even think about it. Just get better,” she held him and rocked him as if he were a child. He was her sweet baby brother and she would always love him and take care of him.

Where can I purchase this fabulous book?

 Amazon

Goodreads Giveaway 15th July

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30818560-jamie-s-children

About the author

When Susan Moore Jordan was a high school student in the mid nineteen-fifties in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, a close friend went through a shattering event just as she was preparing to audition for the high school’s annual musical. Decades later Jordan used that experience of tragedy to triumph to write her first novel, How I Grew Up, in 2013. Two additional novels followed:  Eli’s Heart in 2014 and You Are My Song in 2015, completing “The Carousel Trilogy.” Her fourth novel, Jamie’s Children, was just released (July, 2016). All of her novels are drawn from her life experiences as a voice teacher and stage director and are inspired by real people she has encountered. 

After attending the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, Jordan moved from Cincinnati to the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania in 1971 with her late husband, a tenor, and their three young children, and established a private voice studio in 1979. She continues to teach and students have gone on to prestigious programs and careers in musical theater, opera, and education.

Jordan began directing musical theater productions for high schools and community organizations in 1984 and directed over eighty productions. She retired from directing in 2015 and wrote about her adventures in “More Fog, Please”: Thirty-One Years Directing Community and High School Musicals, released in November, 2015. All of Jordan’s books are available on Amazon in paperback. The novels are also available on Kindle.

For more information, please visit her website at www.susanmoorejordan.com and her Amazon author page at http://ow.ly/XCjYX

 

Author Interview - LKJSlain @LKJSlain

 Author, LKJSlain is looking for readers to check out her latest book.

Hello, I’m Lisa. My pseudonym is LKJSlain. I have been writing for over twenty years now and I am not published. I need critique’, guidance and a chance.

MY: His Lisa, it is a pleasure to have you on the blog today.  Could you tell us about your writing journey so far.

 LS: Currently, I’m not published. Unless you consider my work online published. This is definitely my goal but I have been more than a little careful about doing it. My work needs editing and criticism. I know this. I need a lot of help. I’ve been doing this for over twenty years now, but I have never been to an editor or publisher. I am trying to make this the year, and this novel the book.

MY: What does your average ‘writing day’ look like?

LS: Lots of glaring intently at the screen and screaming for it to write itself. HaHa. To be honest, when I get on a roll, I get on a roll. I finished this novel beginning to end in about six weeks.

MY: Are there any authors that you particularly admire? And if so, why?

LS: You know, there are not tons. It sounds silly, (I know) but I’m not a big reader. (Please no one throw tomatoes?) I can tell you books that I’ve read that I loved- among them are, “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers. “Altered” by Jennifer Rush. “The House of the Scorpion” by Nancy Farmer. “The Lord of the Flies” by William Golding. “The Phantom of the Opera” by Gaston Leroux.

MY: What are you currently working on?

LS: Oh goodness, I’m always working on ten, twenty things? I can’t seem to stop. Also on wattpad is “ThyaTyra” which I am actively writing. It’s a sci – fi / romance about a married couple who are guardians of their sector and their first really difficult “mission” involving an ancient man and an old book. I’m also working on a collection of short stories (also on wattpad). The book is titled “Midnight Oasis.” I could go on, but that’s where there is for the moment. 

MY: If you could give advice to an aspiring author, what would it be?

LS: Don’t write what you know. Research, reach outside the box, etc. Try not to always write      “you”.

MY: Authors are often portrayed as being cat owners who drinks a lot of coffee. Is this true for you?

LS: HAHA, guilty. I own two sweet female kitties, and I (used to) drink a TON of coffee. I no longer      do due to some pretty serious health conditions.

 MY: What does your ‘perfect’ day look like?

           
LS: Time alone to myself. Lots of “Seven Days to Die” (it’s a video game) and the computer open so I can always jump on word and write. Evening with my husband and a great movie and possibly some friends and games.

 MY: What is your biggest vice?

 LS: Eeek!

MY: If you could meet anyone from the past, who would it be and why?

           
 LS: Yeshua / Jesus Christ. Yes, I’m a believer, but I think it’d be interesting to sit and have a conversation with Him and attempt to understand what He thinks, feels, and believes about          the world today. I have a feeling He’d do/ say a lot of the same things, but I’d still be curious to   know.

MY: Where do you see yourself in five years?

LS: Hopefully published, hopefully in contact with someone trying for a film of my book. Also,    healed of my illness

                

Book excerpt -


As I lay in my daybed with lavender duvet pulled up to my neck, alone and groggy, only one thing passed through my mind; Why was it so quiet? I don’t remember it ever being so quiet.

            When I woke up, I remembered that it was October. The air had gone crisp when I last closed my eyes and all last week and the week before that, the leaves on the trees by the borders of my lawn had turned a myriad of brilliant yellows, browns and oranges. 

            I lifted my head to check the clock on my nightstand only to find it blinking that familiar 12:00… 12:00… Had the power gone out in the middle of the night? It must have. 

            Squeezing my tired eyes shut and then forcing them open again in a failing attempt to make them focus, I glanced around my room. My lamp was still on and as I turned, my open book fell from my chest and closed against the bed, revealing the title. “After Dark.” I moved it to my night stand and forced myself to sit up. My arms were shaky and felt like lead. I couldn’t understand why it seemed as if they couldn’t hold the weight of my own body. It was as if when I got to my mirror, I’d discovered that I’d gained at least seventy pounds in my sleep and when I put my feet to the floor and tried to stand, my legs felt the same way. My first step was shaky and I nearly fell over. Placing a hand on my mattress, I kept myself steady. “Get it together, Zora,” I said aloud, nearly laughing. “How much did you have to drink last night?” I turned my head to the nightstand to see the half full glass of wine. Apparently, not that much.

            I shambled over to my vanity and squinted at my reflection in the glass. I looked a complete, ghastly mess. The woman looking back at me appeared as though she’d had the worst night of her adult life. I had to chuckle as I pulled my bottom eyelid down and glared at the giant red spots around both of my peepers. My thick black hair was tussled to one side, and I was still wearing all of my clothing from yesterday. She looked like a ghost, her skin as white as paper with a hint of sickening yellow. “What did I eat?”

            I leaned over my vanity for a moment to think about it. I recalled stumbling in from my job at the office, taking phone calls from several angry people wanting to know why their insurance didn’t cover such and such, turning on the oxygen network, pouring a glass of wine, and popping in some left over chicken with rosemary butter and green beans. Then I ate alone, watched some Nora Roberts adaption that I didn’t like very much, and crawled into bed to read about Tokyo nightlife and drift off to sleep. All in all, it was a pretty boring night. 

            The night was perhaps made more boring and depressing by the fact that yesterday was my twenty eighth birthday… sad. 

            I went about my regular morning routine in the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and then came back to my room to turn off my lamp and gulp off the last of my wine, before realizing how hungry I was and going down the stairs to my small kitchen.
            Half way down the carpeted steps, something pricked my skin and caused me to freeze in my place. Again, I was struck squarely in the back of my head by how quiet it was. I stood very still for a few moments wondering why I felt this way. Are my ears plugged? Have I not registered the fact that I am awake yet? Am I sick? 

            My mind moved mercilessly over a massive amount of internal questions as I listened, barely moving, to the world around me. Where was the sound of the birds chirping? Where were my noisy neighbors saying goodbye as the husband jumped into his gray SUV and drove off to work? Where was Layla Rene’s dog barking loudly at the mail man? Or the sound of cars? Where was the sound of my corner neighbor’s kids? They almost always fought around this time of the morning for the front seat. I always heard them!

            “Relax, Zora. Maybe you just overslept,” I sighed, then forced myself to go down the rest of the way. The moment that I got to the kitchen, I knew something was wrong.

           

Where can I check out this book?

Wattpad