VBT - Touched by Death by Dale Mayer

Today I'm pleased to offer a review of Dale Mayer's "Touched by Death", a romantic suspense novel.  Please be sure to leave a comment and enter the Rafflecopter form below as Dale will be awarding a copy of the ebook to 15 lucky entrants during her tour.

Title: Touched by Death

Author: Dale Mayer

Publisher: Valley Publishing

Length: 90,000 words

Genre: Romance

Sub-Genre Romantic Suspense

Sub-Categories: Mystery/Thriller

Heat Level: Steamy (Hot sex scenes/language, but not explicit.)

Available at:

Amazon

Blurb:

Death had touched anthropologist Jade Hansen in Haiti once before, costing her an unborn child and perhaps her very sanity. A year later, determined to face her own issues, she returns to Haiti with a mortuary team to recover the bodies of an American family from a mass grave.

Visiting his brother after the quake, independent contractor Dane Carter puts his life on hold to help the sleepy town of Jacmel rebuild. But he finds it hard to like his brother's pregnant wife or her family. He wants to go home, until he meets Jade - and realizes what's missing in his own life.

When the mortuary team begins work, it's as if malevolence has been released from the earth. Instead of laying her ghosts to rest, Jade finds herself confronting death and terror again. And the man who unexpectedly awakens her heart - is right in the middle of it all.

Excerpt:

The women headed to the Iron Market and the few shops open along the way. The elegant mansions and town homes spoke of days gone by. Once glorious in their regal bearing and bright colors, these buildings had taken a major knock from Mother Nature. Still, even with the damage from the earthquake, Jacmel was a tourist destination like no other. At least here, there were obvious revitalization attempts happening to get the city back on its feet.

The afternoon zipped by at a rapid pace – full of shopping, laughter and fun as the women ran from shop to shop and stall to stall buying a few items to make their job a little brighter and more comfortable. Jade was delighted to find several brightly colored t-shirts and cotton pants in a beige-khaki color. They would withstand a lot of wear and tear. At one brightly festooned stall, she found several hair clips big enough to hold her heavy blond hair off her neck.

If she'd had a little longer to prepare and pack, she'd have gotten a haircut. As it was, the clips would do for now. She could always get it cut here if she couldn't stand the heat. Meg's short curls looked perfect. And Susan's fine black bob that stopped at her chin also looked comfortable.

"Now that has to feel better." Meg patted Jade's hair clip. "Nice. Now I almost wish I had long hair myself. Almost." She grinned and picked up several clips. "I bet my sister would love a couple."

"Later, when it's time to go home. Too much to pack this early."

"You're right." Meg put it back with a sigh. "Too bad though."

As they headed back to the SUV Susan stopped at another brightly colored stall, one festooned with odd-looking handmade dolls. An old short and squat women – wearing so many necklaces, they almost obliterated the sight of her red blouse underneath – worked at the booth. The woman's black gaze latched onto Jade and never let go.

Jade moved to the other side of Susan in an effort to get away from that piercing stare. And came too close to the weird-looking straw and cloth dolls. She noticed the papier-mâché looking ones painted in black with weird markings…and many other items she couldn't begin to recognize. "What are these things?"

"Vodou paraphernalia."

Jade shuddered and took several steps back. "Not for me, thanks."

Susan shook her head vigorously. "No. You don't get it. This stuff is for good luck. Used to ward off bad spirits."

With a second shudder, Jade moved several steps back, shaking her hands in front of her. "I still don't want one."

Susan grinned and reached to pluck her choice off the top of the stall. "Well I do. Just what we need for the grave work."

The transaction was done in silence. The old woman accepting the money never took her eyes off Jade. Unsettled, Jade did everything to avoid her. She wished Susan would hurry.

Finally they were done. Jade turned to leave when the old women moved off her stool so quickly, Jade never would have believed it possible if she hadn't seen it herself. Before Jade could back away the old woman grabbed her by the arm.

"Danger stalks you. You see it but you don't understand it. Careful. Or you will join those that have gone before." She dropped Jade's arm and returned to her stool beside her cart.

Jade froze. So shocked and horrified by the crone's touch, she hardly understood what the old woman said.

Meg grabbed her arm. "Come on," she hissed. "Forget about her. Let's get back to the SUV."

Susan snagged her other arm so the three walked back linked together.

"That was too weird," Meg said. "I'm glad you got a doll, Susan. Good luck is just what we need."

 

About the Author:

Dale Mayer is a prolific multi-published writer. She's best known for Tuesday's Child, Hide'n Go Seek, her romantic suspense novels that was one of the final four in the Kensington Brava/Romantic Times contest this last year. Besides her romantic suspense/thrillers, Dale also writes paranormal romance and crossover young adult books in several different genres.  To go with her fiction, she also writes nonfiction in many different fields with books available on resume writing, companion gardening and the US mortgage system. She has recently published her Career Essentials Series . All her books are available in print format as well.

To find out more about Dale and her books, visit her at http://www.dalemayer.com. Or connect with her online with Twitter at www.twitter.com/dalemayer and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dalemayer.author.

 

BOOKS BY DALE MAYER:

Psychic Vision Series

Tuesday's Child

Hide'n Go Seek

Maddy's Floor

Single Title Romantic Suspense/Thrillers

Touched by Death – out now!

Novellas

It's a Dog's Life- romantic comedy

Young Adult Books

Dangerous Designs – Book I

Deadly Designs – Book 2 – out soon!

Vampire in Denial – Book I of Blood Ties

Vampire in Distress – Book 2 out soon!

Gem Stone Mystery Series- out soon!

In Cassie's Corner- soon

Non-Fiction Books

Career Essentials: The Resume

Career Essentials: The Cover Letter

Career Essentials: The Interview

Career Essentials: 3 in 1

MY Review:  



This is the first time I've read a Dale Mayer book and I'm glad I started with a romantic suspense, one of my favorite genres.  The pacing of this book was excellent and there were plenty of plot twists and turns which kept me glued to the pages.  The romance between Jade and Dane, the two main characters, was believable and spicy sweet; their chemistry was fantastic.  


I found the setting in Haiti to be an interesting choice, most of the books I've read set in that small island haven't really focused on the beauty of the island and Ms. Mayer managed to blend the beauty of the island and the people, even as they are going through the devastation of a horrific earthquake.  Living in an area which has the occasional earthquake, I understood the fears of the people perfectly.  I also liked how Ms. Mayer briefly references voodoo and the impact it has on the local population, but doesn't focus on it a subplot in solving the mystery as some other books I've read have done.  


The only thing I was sorry to see with this book was the end.  I enjoyed the mystery and suspense, and as a good mystery should do, I was kept guessing until the very end.  I look forward to reading more of Ms. Mayer's work in the future and have already added several more of her books to my kindle.  Overall, this is a very well written and enjoyable book.


My Rating:  4 out of 5 Crowns

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spotlight & Giveaway - Summer Nights & All Summer Long by Susan Mallery

Spotlight - Summer Nights and All Summer Long by Susan Mallery

So far my summer reading has only been so-so, I haven't gotten to read as much as I've wanted to read but what I have read has been very enjoyable.  Anyone who follows my blog, pretty much knows I'm a huge fan of Susan Mallery and her books and what can be a better way to celebrate a new release than with a spotlight and giveaway.


Today I'm spotlighting the two newest books in her "Fool's Gold" series set in a small fictional town in Southern California.  

Summer Nights by Susan Mallery 

Wild hearts cannot be tamed…

Horse whisperer Shane Stryker is done with passion. This time around, he’s determined to meet someone who will be content with the quiet life of a rancher’s wife. And the fiery, pint-size redhead who dazzles him at the local bar definitely does not fit the bill.

Small-town librarian Annabelle Weiss has always seen herself as more of a sweetheart than a siren, so she can’t understand why Shane keeps pushing her away. Shane has formed the totally wrong impression of her but only he can help her with a special event for the next Fool’s Gold festival. And maybe while he’s at it, she can convince him to teach her a few things about kissing on hot summer nights, too—some lessons, a girl shouldn’t learn from reading a book!

Excerpt: Chapter One - Part One

Shane Stryker was determined enough to never walk away from a fight and smart enough to know when he'd been beat. The beautiful redhead dancing on the bar might be everything he wanted, but she the worst thing he could have.


Her eyes were closed, her long, wavy hair swayed in rhythm with her body. The sensual beat of the music hit Shane square in the gut. He shook his head. Okay, it hit him lower than that, but he ignored it and the draw he felt. The need. Women who danced on bars were trouble. Exciting, tempting, but not for him.


He might never have met her, but he knew the type. Attention-seeking. Deadly—at least for a guy who had assumed marriage meant commitment and monogamy. Women like the one on the bar needed to be wanted by every man in the room. A ride he wasn't willing to take again.


Slowly, regretfully, he turned away from the woman and headed for the exit. He'd come into town for a beer and a burger. He'd thought he could catch the game, maybe hang with the guys. What he'd found instead was a barefoot goddess who made a man want to forget all his hopes and dreams in exchange for a single smile. His dreams were worth more, he reminded himself, glancing over his shoulder one last time before stepping out into the warm summer night.

All Summer Long by Susan Mallery

Can a summer fling turn into love that lasts a lifetime?

Former underwear model turned entrepreneur Clay Stryker has loved, tragically lost and vowed that he’ll never risk his heart again. After making his fortune, the youngest of the rugged Stryker brothers returns to Fool’s Gold, California, to put down roots on a ranch of his own. But he’s frustrated to discover that even in his hometown, people see him only for his world-famous…assets.

Firefighter Chantal (Charlie) Dixon grew up an ugly duckling beside her delicately beautiful mother, a feeling reinforced long ago by a man who left soul-deep scars. Now she has good friends, a solid job and the itch to start a family—yet she can’t move toward the future while she’s haunted by painful memories.

Clay finds an unexpected ally, and unexpected temptation, in tomboyish Charlie, the only person who sees beyond his dazzling good looks to the real man beneath. But when Charlie comes to him with an indecent proposal, will they be able to overcome their pasts and find a love that lasts beyond one incredible summer?

Excerpt : Chapter One - Part One

"Don't take this wrong, but seriously, a cat of your size needs to keep all four paws firmly on the ground."

Charlie Dixon continued up the ladder, aware that Daytona was watching her with serious contempt in his large, green feline eyes. The black and white cat was about twenty-six pounds of attitude. His climbing skills might be excellent, but his ability to get down the tree left much to be desired. At least once a month he got his big furry butt to the top of Mrs. Coverson's sycamore and yowled to be rescued. About an hour later, the old lady panicked and called the fire department. Daytona, named for Mrs. Coverson's love of all things NASCAR, glared and hissed and threatened, but in the end, he submitted to be safely carried to the ground.

"Come on, you," Charlie said, climbing the last two rungs of the ladder. "You know you're getting hungry and I'm your ride down to your food bowl."

On cue, the cat flattened his ears and gave an impressive growl.

"Cheap talk, big guy," Charlie said, then reached for the cat. Daytona took a swipe at the back of her hand, but the movement was half-hearted at best. He was already moving toward her, allowing himself to be picked up and held against her.

"Don't worry," someone called from the sidewalk. "I've got your ladder."

Charlie sighed heavily. "Civilians," she muttered. "How do they always find me?"

Daytona didn't offer a response.

Charlie looked down and saw some guy hovering by the base of her ladder. "I'm fine," she yelled. "Step back."

"Someone needs to hold the ladder," the dark-haired man insisted.

"Not really."

Charlie tucked Daytona securely under one arm and started her descent. She went quickly, aware that Daytona's attention span was often shorter than the trip to safety. When he started squirming, they were both in danger of tumbling. This time she cut it a little too close.

Daytona pushed all four paws against her, then twisted in an attempt to climb down the rest of the way by himself. Charlie hung on, knowing the cat's delusions of grandeur would not have a happy ending. Not only didn't she want to fall herself, there was no way she was going to face old lady Coverson with a less than perfect Daytona beside her.

"Stop it!" she told the cat.

"Need me to come up?" the guy asked.

Charlie briefly wondered how much trouble she would be in for kicking him with her steel-toed boots and if it would be worth it. Some of her best friends were civilians, but honest to God, there were people who totally lacked common sense.

"Stay back," she yelled. "Step away from the ladder and don't interfere."

"I'm not interfering. I'm helping."

Before Charlie could respond, several things happened at once. Daytona gave one final push for freedom. Charlie leaned over to make sure she kept a grip on the squirming cat. The ladder lurched, the idiot below started up and everyone had a moment to rediscover the power of gravity.

Daytona fared the best. He used his claws to dig in to the side of the tree, then scurry down. Charlie came in second. She was maybe six or seven feet from the ground. It came up fast, but instead of hitting the sidewalk or even the grass at the base of the tree, she slammed into the guy who'd been trying to "help."

As she lay on top of the idiot and sucked in air, Charlie watched Daytona stroll over and give a last annoyed hiss. The cat stalked away, his tail high. Charlie rolled off the guy, aware that at five-ten and well-muscled, she weighed a whole lot more than was considered fashionable. No doubt he'd had the wind knocked out of him. With luck, only his pride was hurt and then she could lecture him on why it was never good to be stupid. At worst, she was about to have to call for an ambulance.

"You okay?" she asked, shifting into a kneeling position and glancing at the man for the first time. "Did you hit your head and—"

Crap and double crap. This wasn't some random stupid person, she thought, taking in the perfectly shaped jaw, the firm, full mouth and, when his lids slowly opened, the dark eyes fringed by long lashes. This was possibly the best looking man on the planet.

Clay Stryker, model, movie butt double. His ass had been flashed in magazine ads, calendars and on the big screen. He had a killer body and his face was even better. He was the kind of man for whom, on the promise of a smile, the earth would change its rotation.

To win a paperback copy of both books - just enter the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday - A Dangerous Liaison With Detective Lewis by Jillian Stone

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine which highlights upcoming release we are eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is A Dangerous Liaison with Detective Lewis by Jillian Stone.

A Dangerous Liaison with Detective Lewis (The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard, Book 2) 

by Jillian Stone

Release Date: August 28, 2012

The fates had been perversely mischievous of late—case in point, Raphael Lewis. . . .

When Fanny Greyville-Nugent’s father suffers a gruesome death in the clutches of his own machine, mourning his loss is not the beautiful heiress’s only heartbreak. Scotland Yard is convinced he was targeted in a plot to halt the rise of industry, and Fanny’s former fiancé, dashing and dubious detective Raphael “Rafe” Lewis, has been assigned to the case.

For the estranged ex-lovers, bringing the notorious assassins to justice proves as tumultuous as quelling pent-up desires. Fighting peril and passion at every turn of a dangerous journey from Edinburgh to London, they are pursued by an anarchist group hell-bent on destroying her father’s mysterious entry into the London Industrial Exposition.

When an astonishing discovery about the couple’s failed engagement surfaces, the sleuthing duo realize they can trust no one. Rafe confesses new details about his infidelity and Fanny risks all to avenge her father’s murder. But will Rafe and Fanny triumph over the pain of their past?

Why I'm waiting on this release:

I really enjoyed the first book in the series, An Affair with Mr. Kennedy, and this is another interesting venture into steampunk romance.  Plus, I really like the cover.

What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Want to play along?  Just post your Wow entry on your blog and leave your link at Breaking the Spine and below.

Want to order your copy?  

Book Beginnings and Friday 56 - The Eden Prophecy by Graham Brown

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Gilion at Rose City Reader. To play along, please do the following:

• Share the first line (or two) of the book you are currently reading on your blog or in the comments below.
• Be sure to share the name of the book and the author so we know what you are currently reading.
• Feel free to share your first impressions with us based on the first line.
• Link your post at Rose City Reader, or if you don't have a blog, leave it in the comments below. 

I'm currently reading The Eden Prophecy by Graham Brown.  This is from the beginning:

Southern Iran, 1979

The desert wind cried like a beast in mortal pain. Ahmad Bashir listened to it as he crouched in the shelter of a hastily erected tent. As the wind howled outside, the tent’s thin walls flapped and strained against the poles and stakes that held them in place. The storm was getting worse, not better.

My Thoughts:

Already this doesn't sound like a place I want to visit and I sure as heck would not want to be stuck in the middle of a sand storm.  I don't know if I would be able to last in this kind of environment - even for national security.

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda at Freda's Voice. To play along:

• Grab the book closest to you, any book will do.
• Turn to page 56.
• Choose the fifth (5th) sentence or a few more (just don't spoil it too much).
• Post it on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, post it in the comments below.
• Link your post to Freda's Voice.

My Friday 56 is also from The Eden Prophecy:

     He would do all that the Master requested, because it was his purpose.  

     Today he waited at the end of the boulevard in a dilapidated shelter that had once been a bus stop and watched as a young man in ratty jeans, boots, and an oversized hoodie walked the trash-littered sidewalk toward him.

My thoughts:  I don't think the Master is a benevolent leader and I can already tell by this person's attitude that he's not one of the good guys.  


About The Eden Prophecy:


The wisdom of faith. The power of science. The evil of man.
In the U.N. building in New York City, a U.S. Ambassador contracts an unknown virus after opening a threatening letter. In a slum near Paris, a rogue geneticist is found dead, tortured and defiled. His last message, a desperate plea for help, was sent to an old friend and fellow outcast, the ex-CIA agent and former mercenary named Hawker. His final legacy appears to be the fingerprints he left all over the letter to the Ambassador.

Consumed by thoughts of revenge but fighting to see the truth, Hawker teams up with NRI operative Danielle Laidlaw on a quest to find the killers and track down the secrets his dead friend may have lost or sold.

From the streets of Paris to an underground auction in the catacombs of Beirut to the merciless deserts of Iran, Hawker and Danielle find themselves hunting a murderous cult leader whose scientific arsenal could lead humanity to a new Eden—or unleash hell on the Earth itself.

So what are you Friday Book Beginnings and Friday 56? Please play along and if you decide to follow my blog, let me know in the comments and I'll return the favor.

Waiting on Wednesday - The Inn At Rose Harbor by Debbie Macomber

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine which highlights upcoming release we are eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is The Inn at Rose Harbor (Rose Harbor Inn #1)  by Debbie Macomber.

Title: The Inn At Rose Harbor 

Author: Debbie Macomber

Expected Release Date: August 14, 2012

About The Inn at Rose Harbor:

Jo Marie Rose first arrives in Cedar Cove seeking a sense of peace and a fresh start. Coping with the death of her husband, she purchases a local bed-and-breakfast—the newly christened Rose Harbor Inn—ready to begin her life anew. Yet the inn holds more surprises than Jo Marie can imagine.

Her first guest is Joshua Weaver, who has come home to care for his ailing stepfather. The two have never seen eye to eye, and Joshua has little hope that they can reconcile their differences. But a long-lost acquaintance from Joshua’s high school days proves to him that forgiveness is never out of reach and love can bloom even where it’s least expected.

The other guest is Abby Kincaid, who has returned to Cedar Cove to attend her brother’s wedding. Back for the first time in twenty years, she almost wishes she hadn’t come, the picturesque town harboring painful memories from her past. And while Abby reconnects with family and old friends, she realizes she can only move on if she truly allows herself to let go. 

Why I'm waiting for this book:  

Debbie Macomber is a tried and true author who I consider a "comfort read".  I always know I'm going to get a story which involves family, some kind of trouble and usually a second chance at love.  There is always a happy ending and the secondary characters help ensure that.  Her books evoke a feeling of "community" which I think most people no longer get to experience and which I consider lost in most suburban and large cities - which is why I'm drawn to stories about small town life.

What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Want to play along? Just post your WoW entry on your blog and leave your link at Breaking the Spine and below.

Virtual Blog Tour and Contest - Song in the Wrong Key by Simon Lipson

Please join me in welcoming Simon Lipson on his Virtual Book Tour for his book Song in the Wrong Key.  Simon was kind enough to answer some questions for me.  Simon's tour will feature interviews, excerpts and reviews.  You can follow it here.

Interview:



Me: Most of the writing you've done is tied to your stand-up comedic routine. What prompted you to turn to writing full length novels? Did you always plan to write fiction?

Simon: I always fancied myself as a novelist, but could never quite muster the confidence to actually plan, plot and finish a book. It seemed so daunting. Eventually, I decided to give it a go and started writing Losing It, a psychological thriller, about 18 years ago when I was only just starting out in comedy and reading a lot of heavy books. I wrote about 50 pages, realised it was rubbish and forgot about it for 10 years until I finally got round to trying again. I think the book was ok, but I knew that if I ever wrote another, it would be within my natural genre of comedy. Hence, Song In The Wrong Key. 
 

Me: You have self published both of your books, Losing It and Song in the Wrong Key. Can you tell us what prompted you to self publish? How have your experiences been with book sellers as a self published author?


Simon: I could have taken the traditional publishing route had I been more prepared to play the game. J K Rowling’s agent was very keen on representing me off the back of Losing It, but I got a little prissy about some suggested amendments – artistic integrity and all that – and walked away. What an idiot. I decided to self-publish some years later simply because it was sitting in a drawer doing nothing and I couldn’t be bothered starting again through the traditional route. It’s very time-consuming and rejections are hugely depressing. Song In The Wrong Key also earned me an agent. Sadly, he wasn’t up to the job and we parted company. A few other agents passed on it, figuring my ex-agent had covered all the bases. He hadn’t, but that’s another story. So I stuck it on Kindle to gauge reaction, rather than try again with agents. I subsequently published a paperback version through my own company and engaged a PR person. It has now been downloaded around 2000 times and been very well reviewed. This, in turn, has prompted the interest of another agent, so I may yet go traditional. That would be my preference, in all honesty.


Me: Can you tell us who or what inspired you to write "Song in the Wrong Key" and make the hero of the story, Michael Kenton, a middle aged married man whose life is literally falling apart?


Simon: I’m very drawn to stories about Ordinary Joes who, late in life, suddenly rise to prominence through the arts. Like Mike, I was a thwarted musician who might have made music my career had I been less focused on doing something ‘sensible’. I became a lawyer – sorry – but managed to break free. Mike is a plodder, though, professionally unfulfilled but unambitious with it. I was lucky to find a means of expressing my ‘creative’ side through comedy, which I only took up when I was 34. Mike’s opportunity comes about at 42 as an indirect result of his marriage crumbling. Like Mike, I have two daughters (and Mike’s are based on mine as kids) but my marriage is very happy (Note to self: don’t get too smug). So the book has some parallels with my life, but it’s certainly not a mirror. I just wanted to write something funny, something real and something with heart.


Me: In "Song in the Wrong Key" Michael is trying to revive his frustrated and discarded musical career. Do you yourself play any musical instruments?


Simon: I’m a desperately average guitarist. I’d like to say my voice is my instrument, but that would be pretentious and somewhat at odds with the sound it makes!


Me: Is the Eurovision Song Contest a real event? If so have you ever attended?


Simon: Oh yes! It’s huge. Some 200m people tune in annually. Over the years, it’s gone from being a genuine contest based on the quality of the songs to a tacky, glittery kitsch-fest dominated by the Baltic and Balkan countries who have swarmed all over it since they were granted entry after the Wall came down. I have never attended and rarely watch it on TV now. The songs are generally lowest-common-denominator rubbish and the voting has become political, which seems silly for something so frivolous.


Me: For those of us that are non-British, can you explain the term Euro-tack?


Simon: I guess I’ve answered that above.


Me: Can you tell us what you are currently reading? 
 

Simon: I’ve just finished Jubilee by Shelley Harris, a brilliant account of Britain in the late 1970s as well as an intriguing mystery. I’m reading Charlotte Street by a romcom by a young British writer/comedian called Danny Wallace. I’m champing at the bit awaiting Tom Wolfe’s next book. 
 


Me: Are you currently working on another book?


Simon: I actually finished it a while back, but decided to adapt it into a TV sitcom rather than publish. A couple of production companies are currently interested, but I now intend to publish the novel anyway after I’ve done a serious edit, hopefully in the Autumn (Fall?). It’s called Standing Up and is about a lawyer who gets into stand-up comedy in order to revive his relationship with an old flame. Similar themes in many ways to Song In The Wrong Key.


Quick 5 Get to Know You:

Me: Favorite Football team (Yes the British kind we call soccer):

Simon: Tottenham Hotspur (perennial under-achievers)

Me: Favorite Color:

Simon: Green. Don’t know why and I never wear it. I think I used to say ‘green’ when I was a kid because no-one else did - and I never grew out of it.

Me: Favorite Food:

Simon: Easy! Chocolate. 

Me: Favorite Comic, who is not you:

Simon: US: Jerry Seinfeld/Larry David/Louis CK. UK: Michael McIntyre

Me: Favorite Movie


Simon: Difficult question. I see so many. Of recent films I’ve seen, The King’s Speech was pretty good. 

 

Song In The Wrong Key by Simon Lipson

Blurb:

Michael Kenton is a middle-aged man living in middle-class comfort with wife Lisa and daughters Millie and Katia. Drifting complacently towards retirement, Mike's world is turned upside-down when he is thrown unexpectedly onto the career scrapheap.

While Lisa's career sky-rockets, Mike slobs around in his track suit playing guitar, rekindling his teenage love affair with pop music. Knowing Lisa wouldn't approve, he plots a secret 'comeback' at a grimy Crouch End bistro where music executive Ben, desperate and out of time, asks if he can enter one of Mike's songs into the Eurovision Song Contest. With nothing to lose, Mike focuses on Eurovision but quickly finds himself staring down the barrel of low level fame. His crumbling marriage now page five news, he must choose between his musical dream and mending his broken family, a task complicated by the re-appearance of ex-love of his life Faye.

A laugh-out-loud comedy about love, family, friendship and Euro- tack by acclaimed stand-up and comedy writer Simon Lipson. 

 

Simon Lipson Bio:

Simon Lipson was born in London and took a law degree at the LSE. After a spell as a lawyer, he co-founded legal recruitment company Lipson Lloyd-Jones in 1987. In 1993, Simon took his first tentative steps onto the comedy circuit and has since become an in-demand stand-up and impressionist across the UK, as well as a regular TV and radio performer/writer. His broadcasting credits include Week Ending, Dead Ringers, Loose Ends and Fordham & Lipson (co-wrote and performed own 4 part sketch series) on Radio 4; Interesting...Very Interesting and Simon Lipson's Xmas Box on Radio 5 and And This Is Them on Radio 2. He is also an experienced voice artiste who has voiced hundreds of advertisements as well as cartoons and documentaries. His first novel, Losing It, a thriller, was published by Matador in 2008. Simon is a columnist for Gridlock Magazine ( www.gridlockmagazine.com).His next novel, Standing Up, will be published by Lane & Hart in Autumn 2012.

www.songinthewrongkey.com

www.simonlipson.com

www.simonlipson.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/simon.lipson.3

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Song-In-The-Wrong-Key-Simon-Lipson/140280092721031;

Twitter: @SimonLipson

www.simonlipson.blogspot.co.uk


Buy links – paperback and Kindle:


Amazon.co.uk: http://amzn.to/xaosKp

Amazon.com: http://amzn.to/yo7bpY



My show, The Accidental Impressionist, is on at the Camden Fringe 20 – 23 August @ 8pm. Everyone welcome! Details and tickets here: http://j.mp/JDPBnu

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I want to thank Simon for being my guest.  I will be giving away one (1) Kindle copy of Song in the Wrong Key to a random commenter below.  Don't forget to follow his tour here.