I’ve read so many that I don’t recall the first one. But the last one that made me look at the world in an entirely different way is from someone I met here on Tumblr. I have never read a book so slowly before, because I not only wanted to read every word, I wanted to taste the colors they produced. I know that makes no sense, but seriously, read this book.
-redicupidity.tumblr.com
Lyrical and beautiful expression of love between a father and a son. Perfectly captures my sentiments of words, and feeling a natural calling, a pull to words, experienced by writers and editors and others who work with and toy with language as a way of life.
The storyline is witty, smart, funny, entertaining, warm, deep, and heartfelt. It is completely accessible, and the story is told effortlessly, transitioning with flashbacks and from one point of view to another with characters’ voices distinct and clear. This is rare for any book, but especially for a new writer, I think.
By page 5, I was hooked. By Chapter 3, I was in love. By the end, I had decided to recommend the book to every reader I knew.
Somewhere Over the Sun sales figures are almost the same as all Stieg Larsson novels combined, give or take 27 million copies.
Ah! Another reader’s endorsement. See, you guys should buy my book. And then send me lovely messages.
Thank you.
Find out what book she’s talking about.
In the extremely unlikely case that some of you still have money left over from Black Friday and you are/know someone who enjoys reading, please consider givingSomewhere Over the Sun as a Christmas/Hannukah/Just Because gift. Here’s some encouragement from a customer review on Amazon:
Reading this book is like making a new friend, one that gives you a delightfully fresh perspective on the world around you. I found myself not only underlining specific snippets I liked, but also jotting down observations about the quirky, and somehow more literary, world around me.
If you’re a reader, you’ll love the adventure you’re taken on. If you’re a writer, you’ll appreciate the playful love of language the author shares through his main character. If you’re an artist of any kind, you’ll enjoy seeing the world through the eyes of the different characters, and holding on to that new sight as a precious, inspirational relic.
And the sex scene is hands-down the best I have read, ever.
The next few weeks are going to feature some hardcore marketing skills at work to try to get people to give Somewhere Over the Sun as a gift to all their friends and loved ones (all of them).
Namely, the marketing tactics involved will be to let the book and its fans speak for themselves.
Find more reviews and the option to buy by clicking this sentence.
Dear Adi Alsaid,
Congratulations! Your book, Somewhere Over the Sun, was chosen as an Honorable Mention in the Mainstream/Literary Fiction category of the 19th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards.
Competition was particularly fierce this year, your accomplishment is truly impressive. All winners have been notified, and will be formally announced in the April 2012 issue of Writer’s Digest and on our Web site, www.writersdigest.com.
We’re extremely pleased at the quality of the winning books, and indeed, at the level of self-publishing quality evidenced by a great many of our entrants. We wish you continued success in the publishing and marketing of your writing, and hope we’ll see you among the entrants in our 20th annual competition.
Your certificate and brief judge’s commentary will mail later in the year, and a Coupon Code worth $50 towards Writer’s Digest Books will be emailed to you in the next few weeks.
Thanks again for your participation and for proving how self-publishing can be a vital and successful option for today’s writers.
Sincerely,
Jessica Strawser
Editor
Writer’s Digest
There comes a time in every writer’s life when he starts a sentence like I just did. Aside from that we all have pretty different experiences, probably.
In other news, congratulations to Jenna, who just won an autographed copy of Somewhere Over the Sun for being an enthused participant of my contest/giveaway. There were two other copies available for winning, but, as far as I can tell, no one else tried. Don’t worry, that’s not a sad sentence. This one was. And these other ones are lovely.
That’s all I can think of for now! Feel free to send any questions you may have about me or my opinions/advice on writing. Or, if you’d like to see some more short stories, feel free to send me a writing prompt.
Now go have yourself a fantastic day.
