The Before. During. After(math)
One month since the launch of my fourth book of fiction.
Hey there.
Thanks to everyone who attended the online launch of my latest book, and a special shout out to Paul Duke for hosting the event.
If you missed it, what the hell were you doing instead??? Just kidding, click the image to check out the replay.
After a crazy month of moving house, starting three new writing projects, and promoting Before. During. After., the dust is beginning to settle.
A couple of weeks ago, I hosted my live event with two other authors in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Jeannie van Rompaey read from her latest novel set in Gran Canaria, and Bente Clod read a translated excerpt from her Emily Dickinson novel.
We chatted with our host at a local art cafe, and (even though it doesn’t look like it) about 40 literature fans came along to hear about why some tall British dude in Spain was writing about America.
I was so inspired by interacting with real live people (and beautiful paper books), that I’ve decided to set up a book club for residents.
We’ll discuss the books in English, but we can read them in Spanish, English or Swahili. What matters is the message, right?
Praise for Before. During. After.
Here are a few snippets from the early reviews of my powerful little book.
“The stories interweave seamlessly to bring you a diverse cast of characters who are each tangentially related to the person directly before and directly after them” - Hannah Wolfram, Goodreads
“I read the whole book in one sitting!” - Marguerite Angelari, Amazon
“There is so much food for thought and so many parts of it are worth stopping by and thinking through.” - Flogerta Lesi, Goodreads
“I loved the construction of the narrative and the host of characters.” My mum, via WhatsApp. (This is genuinely the first book I’ve written that my mum approved of, LOL).
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Read the book already?
Please post a review on Amazon or Goodreads.
Before. During. After. is a novella-in-flash which presents a sequence of life-changing moments for a cast of twenty interconnected characters. The book is set in a small town in the USA, and focuses on the lives of students, teachers and parents of the local high school.
The action begins at the end-of-year ceremony in the sport halls, with Coach Primley set to address the students. Each character's story connects to the next moment of change before the action returns to the gymnasium. The event is marred by tragedy, as Primley suffers a heart attack on one of his last days at work. Other characters struggle with unjust legal cases, loan repayments and a fatal shootout at a local cafe.
Before. During. After. explores the themes of family, inequality and loss in modern American society.
The book is available now via Amazon, Pelekinesis, and many other outlets.
If you live outside the UK or US, and you would like a signed copy, please get in touch with me via email. I will post you a copy and will even lick the stamp all over!
For Americans and Brits it’s best to get a copy from a California or online bookstore.
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Thanks again for all your support.
Phil
Sound like the type of event I 'd have loved to attend