Hello everyone! Today I am pleased to welcome author John Amory to the blog. John is here to talk to us more about his new short story, A Christmas Caroler. John has also brought a copy to give away to one lucky reader. Please join me in giving him a big welcome!
As much as we may hate to admit it, many of us equate the holidays with gifts. It’s okay; it doesn’t make you a bad person to admit that when you think about Christmas, you think about all the wonderful presents you’ve received and/or will hopefully receive this year. We’re told constantly by holiday songs, the Rankin/Bass TV specials, bell ringers, seemingly just about everyone and everything, that the holidays are about more than just gifts… but that doesn’t make them any less fun to give and receive, right?
So that’s what I want to talk about today: gifts. As much as we like to say that Christmas is about love, cheer, faith, or whatever, it’s the gifting that seems to freak us out the most every year. Black Friday shopping will soon be starting on Good Friday if they push the start times back any further. It’s all about finding the perfect gift to show each person in our lives how much we care about them. Of course, sometimes the most perfect gift can’t be bought in a store, as any host of Hallmark Channel films can tell you. The best gift I ever got was last Christmas when my partner commissioned a painting for me. Months earlier we had gone to a gallery opening for a local artist in New Hope, PA, and I fell in love with his fun, colorful, cartoonish point of view. Three months later, my partner gave me a one-of-a-kind, irreplaceable gift of a painting from this artist depicting myself in New York City, where I had just enjoyed a short run of a new play I’d written; over the head of the figure mean to be me was a marquee with my play’s title on it. The painting is now one of my favorite possessions and hands-down the best, most thoughtful, most unique gift I’ve ever received.
Now, as my gift to you, I’m going to be giving away a copy of my new young adult novelette A Christmas Caroler. You can find out more about the release below, and you can even pick up a copy for yourself if you don’t feel like waiting for the contest to end (don’t forget you can also gift ebooks via Amazon and Nook!) at any of the buy links listed. But to get yourself a free copy, just leave a comment telling me what the best gift you’ve ever received is. Good luck, and happy holidays!
Blurb
Jeremy Walsh is a high school senior who’s got big plans for his future — namely, to perform at Carnegie Hall. But before he can get there, he needs to secure the solo in his renowned high school choir’s Christmas concert and get into college. Everything seems to be on track until a cute new student, Zach Brooks, shows up and ruins all of Jeremy’s plans by snatching the solo out from under him. With his college auditions looming and the Christmas concert fast approaching, Jeremy has more on his plate than he can handle. Can the magic of the Christmas season bring Jeremy and Zach together?
Author Bio
John Amory is from New Jersey, yet is somehow not involved in the mob. He is part Italian, though. He has BA and MA degrees in English and can sometimes be found teaching composition to college students. If you don’t find him there, check Starbucks. A Christmas Caroler is his first YA publication, though he has several adult short stories available. Connect with him on Twitter @JohnAmory or visit him on GoodReads at www.goodreads.com/JohnAmory.
Buy Links:
- http://www.prizmbooks.com/
zencart/index.php?main_page= product_info&cPath=2_27& products_id=81 - http://www.torquerebooks.com/
index.php?main_page=product_ info&products_id=4082 - http://www.amazon.com/A-
Christmas-Caroler-John-Amory- ebook/dp/B00H3QHP7U/ref=sr_1_ 2?ie=UTF8&qid=1386610753&sr=8- 2 - https://www.allromanceebooks.
com/product-achristmascaroler- 1366300-176.html - http://www.barnesandnoble.
com/w/a-christmas-caroler- john-amory/1117652990?ean= 9781610406208
Giveway
John is offering up a copy of A Christmas Caroler to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment for your chance to enter. The contest closes on Thursday, December 19th at 11:59 pm EST.
- By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
- Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
- If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. Please make sure that your spam filter allows email from Joyfully Jay.
- Winners may be announced on the blog following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner by Joyfully Jay.
- Prizes will be distributed following the giveaway either by Joyfully Jay or the person/organization donating the prize.
- By entering you are agreeing to hold Joyfully Jay harmless if the prize or giveaway in some way negatively impacts the winner.
- Readers may only enter once for each contest. Duplicate entries for the same giveaway will be ignored. In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries.
- Void where prohibited by law.
Sounds like a good short read! Always looking for a fellow NJ author!
Thanks for the giveaway!
This sounds really fun and from a new to me author, too! I can’t wait to see how Jeremy reacts after Zach walks away with the solo. One of the best gifts I received was a scrapbook photo album of all my babies. It is truly priceless and never fails to make me smile. Thank you for this giveaway.
Oh, the angst of college applications. I remember my daughter’s ordeal but then she was offered scholarships from 3 colleges and got to pick her favorite. The same happened with grad-school and she ended up with a doctorate and no student loans to pay off. I think that could easily count as my best gift ever.
Love to read holiday stories and this one sounds so right for the holidays.
I love Holiday stories. Please count me in 🙂
Love holiday stories. I clearly remember all the stress when applying for college. I think my parents were relieved when I got early acceptances and made a decision before xmas. I was too! Thanks for the giveaway.
I think the best gift I ever received was a Gibson Epiphone electric guitar on my 18th birthday, but my favorite Christmas gift was a Scott Hannan San Jose Sharks jersey (I wear it more often now that he’s back on the team)…
I love the sound of this story. I hope to read it.
Best gift I ever received? It’s hard to say really since my family hasn’t been celebrating Christmas for very long. I think the best gift I ever received was a Nook, followed by mp3 player.
Sounds like a good book, thanks for the giveaway!