Henry Melton's "Small Towns, Big Ideas" series couldn't seem to find a home with conventional publishers, so Henry created Wire Rim Books to publish his novels. I know some people aren't too keen on self-published books, but Henry's are well worth your time. I've recently read the #1 best-selling YA novel, and Henry's is much better written. It's also better paced and has a better story and better-realized characters. Trust me.
Deena Brooke, and overweight high school student with a smothering mother, is hit a glancing blow by a falling tree. Something she thinks is tree sap gets into her hair, and she begins to undergo startling changes. She gets involved with another student called Luther, which turns out not to be his real name. Luther (or, as we find out, Luke) has problems of his own, though they're very different from Deena's.
The way Luke's story and Deena's become one and the same takes up much of the book. Their growing affection for one another and their desire to help one another lead them to take some desperate chances, and along the way they discover that Deena's condition is a part of a much larger and more dangerous plot than either of them had ever dreamed.
You'll notice I've been pretty vague about the plot elements. That's so you can discover them for yourself. The book reads quickly, and it's a lot of fun. Don't let any prejudice against self-publishing keep your from having a good time with it.
2 comments:
As you know, I've been self-publishing for years--probably for quite different reasons than Henry, and certainly with a much lower calibre of writing than his, but perhaps this level of product will raise the opinion of some who have formerly poo-poohed the SP industry.
That said, I agree with you, Bill this is one of the best YA novels I've read in a while (I'm currently reading the next in the Small Towns series, and so far, I prefer Extreme Makeover).
Everyone needs to order up a copy or three of this book and boost Henry's sales.
There should be a site that only reviews self published books. I bet it would be hilarious. I'm surprised that Dark and Stormy Night guy, Rice, hasn't gotten himself involved in this great adventure. Most of them are probably so heinoous that they would become mega-sellers with the proper lambasting from "the only authentic review site for self publishing horrors and monstrosities and live birth nightmares of literature." I'm laughin' already!!!
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