As Life Goes: The Reunion (a work in progress)

“I have trusted… loved, only two women in my life. I expected one of you to hurt me. I didn’t think it would be you. I guess all I need do now is wait for that other shoe to drop.” – Matthew Sanford

As Life Goes The Reunion - FINAL

Book one of the series: As Life Goes: Elementary

Book two of the series: As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence

The LEAP YEAR 2016 – RAFFLECOPTER AUTHOR GIVEAWAY has ended!

I want to extend my thanks to everyone for the nearly 900 entrants received in the LEAP YEAR 2016 – RAFFLECOPTER AUTHOR GIVEAWAY.

I also wanted to extend an extra special thank you to the  eight other authors that helped me make this an awesome giveaway. Without them adding to the prize pool, 19 prizes in total, this would have not been the event that it was.

I will be drawing the winners this evening with my four kids. When people enter a RaffleCopter giveaway they are given an entry number, I print out the numbers and I let the kids pull them from a bucket. As soon as I have that all settled I will be back tomorrow to list the winners.

Those 19 awesome prizes are laid out below – thank you again for taking part in the LEAP YEAR 2016 – RAFFLECOPTER AUTHOR GIVEAWAY.


1) GRAND PRIZE – 7 Night Stay Star Island Kissimmee, Florida
Seven Night Stay

GRAND PRIZE – SEVEN NIGHT STAY – Star Island Resort

  • 2 Bedroom Lock-off
  • 1,500 square feet of space (combined units)
  • Sleeps 8 in total; 6 privately
  • King, 2 double beds, Queen Sleeper sofa
  • A side has a partial kitchen
  • B side has full kitchen / Jetted Tub / Balcony / Deck

CHECK IN SATURDAY APRIL 9, 2016 after 4PM
CHECK OUT SATURDAY APRIL 16, 2016 before 10AM
2) Life Poetry by C. M. Krishack (e-book)
Life Poetry

3) Unhinged Fences by Susan Bird (e-book)
Unhinged Fences

4) Splinters by Susan Bird (e-book)
Splinters

5) Marie’s Diary – The Introduction by G. R. Stone (e-book)
Marie

6) Unsevered by Traci Sanders (e-book)
Unsevered

7) Tracking A Shadow: A Jarvis Mann Detective Novel by R Weir (e-book)
tracking

8) Twice as Fatal: A Jarvis Mann Detective Novel by R Weir (e-book)
twice

9) Blood Brothers: A Jarvis Mann Detective Novel by R Weir (e-book)
blood

10) Infinity (Xandrian Circle Book 1) by Allaina Daniels (e-book)
Infinity

11) The Outlaw River Wilde: Sometimes a Man Needs to Journal (The Outlaw River Wilde Series Book 1) by Mike Walters (e-book)
Outlaw

12) The Best Girls Series – five books in total – by Tamie Dearen (e-books)
Tamie

13) Before Another Sunset – Second Edition by Jason Zandri (e-book)
Before

14) Another Sunset by Jason Zandri (e-book)
Another

15) I Hero: The Beginning by Jason Zandri (e-book)
Beginning

16) I Hero: Nathan Returns by Jason Zandri (e-book)
returns

17) As Life Goes: Elementary by Jason Zandri (e-book)
elementary

18) As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence by Jason Zandri (e-book)
Innocence

19) All six e-books from Jason Zandri
All covers new second edition no Phases smaller

CHECK BACK TOMORROW FOR THE LIST OF PRIZE WINNERS!

Vicki Drane Speaks – Guest Authors Jason Zandri and Susan Bird

Hey gang – this is DAY FIVE of the LEAP YEAR 2016 RAFFLECOPTER‬ ‪AUTHOR‬ GIVEAWAY‬ and today’s post is about Vicki Drane Promotions and her Radio Show – Vicki Drane Speaks.

Before we get to it, I want to take a moment to remind you to check out our original blog post regarding the contest and encourage you to enter for one of 19 great prizes!

And now without further ado – Vicki Drane Speaks

The current average listenership to Vicki’s “Author’s First Show” on ArtistFirst Radio is over 100,000 per show and rising!

The “Author’s First Show” airs every Every Wednesday @ 7 PM Eastern / 3 PM Pacific.

You can stream or download archived episodes of Vicki Drane’s “Author’s First Show”by following the link.

The February 17, 2016 Show featured:

Jason Zandri – best-selling author of the “I, Hero” Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Superhero series of books.

His second series of books, the “As Life Goes” series are winning him additional acclaim, marking him one the only male author showcased in the “10 Indie Chick-Lit Authors You Should Be Reading in 2016” review.

You can follow his blog, THE GUNDERSTONE REVIEW, to keep up on his latest work.

Jason lives in Wallingford, Connecticut, with his wife Renata. He is the father to four children.

——–

Susan Bird

For many years, I worked as an executive in the beauty industry. Although I consider my educational degrees important, the school of life is what I use mostly. I write simply because I love it. I write about life. To add uniqueness to my writing, all my chapters are song titles, with acknowledgment to the artist. Within every chapter, there lie two stories. My love of music is shared with you, and hopefully, you will understand the body of the chapter even more with the song title chosen. All present and future books will be designed this way. I reside in the Inland Empire with my soul mate.

Direct link to the MP3 of the show http://www.artistfirst2.com/ArtistFirst_Vicki_Drane_2016-02-16.mp3

WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT RaffleCopter Giveaway – Grand Prize – FIVE DAY / FOUR NIGHT stay over Valentine’s Day weekend

Straight from LAST DAY – RaffleCopter Giveaway from Author Jason Zandri, here are the prizes and the winners:

All covers new second edition no Phases

GRAND PRIZE – FIVE DAY / FOUR NIGHT stay over Valentine’s Day weekend – Tamie Dearen

ALL 6 KINDLE EDITIONS OF MY BOOKS (winner gets all six) – Sherri Maughan 

KINDLE VERSION OF Before Another Sunset – Second Edition Beth Minton

KINDLE VERSION OF Another Sunset – Cynthia Dawson

KINDLE VERSION OF I, Hero: The Beginning – Alan Saxon

KINDLE VERSION OF I, Hero: Nathan Returns – Anita Duvall

KINDLE VERSION OF As Life Goes: Elementary Faye Gates

KINDLE VERSION OF As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence – Melynda Bailey

Congratulations to all the winners! I will be emailing you individually to let you know you have won with the email addresses that I have from your contest entries.

I will also send out an update via my mailing list.

Keep you eye on the blog for my future book release announcements as well as future giveaways!


 

LAST DAY – RaffleCopter Giveaway from Author Jason Zandri

We are coming up on the last few hours of this Rafflecopter giveaway; it ends on Monday January 18, 2016

This time I am upping the ante on the grand prize over my last giveaway with a

FIVE DAY / FOUR NIGHT stay over Valentine’s Day weekend.

Here is the summary information on the prize (and the full details are at the end of the blog post).

Wyndham Ocean Boulevard
410 South Ocean Boulevard
North Myrtle Beach SC 29582
843-281-3300

CHECK IN – Feb 11, 2016 after 4PM
CHECK OUT – Feb 15, 2016 before 10AM

FIVE DAY / FOUR NIGHT stay over Valentine’s Day weekend.
Room Type: 3 Bedroom Deluxe with 2 Bathrooms
Unit sleeps 8 in the rooms with 10 total within the unit (based on the unit).
Beds are – KING, Two doubles, KING, and Queen Sleeper Sofa
Units are between 1,200 and 1,400 SF in size (based on the unit).

There is no cost for the stay – the prize is the unit on the given days; you simply have to arrange to get yourself there.

 

In addition to this grand prize, I am also offering the following prizes:
ALL 6 KINDLE EDITIONS OF MY BOOKS (one winner will get all six)
KINDLE VERSION OF Before Another Sunset – Second Edition
KINDLE VERSION OF Another Sunset
KINDLE VERSION OF I, Hero: The Beginning
KINDLE VERSION OF I, Hero: Nathan Returns
KINDLE VERSION OF As Life Goes: Elementary
KINDLE VERSION OF As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence

All you have to do is enter the giveaway at Rafflecopter.

Some of the entry choices are worth more than others AND you can return each day to TWEET the giveaway for additional entries.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!

EIGHT PRIZES Wyndham Ocean BLVD

(Here are all the extended details on the stay at my timeshare Wyndham Ocean Boulevard)

Wyndham Ocean BLVD

Here are the details on the unit and the resort:
Highlights:

Beachside Paradise with Award-Winning Flair. Wyndham Ocean Boulevard, located in North Myrtle Beach, blends stylish retro art deco design with modern beachside amenities and activities. This award-winning resort is close to many of Myrtle Beach’s most popular attractions, and has a big variety of on-site pleasures to make your beach side vacation complete.

Helpful Hints:
— Tower IV is across the street from the beach; all other towers are ocean side
— Vehicle recommended to fully enjoy area; parking is limited to one vehicle per unit
— This resort offers 24-hour secured and covered parking for motorcycles; however we are unable to provide parking for trailers. There are a number of locations nearby that offer trailer parking (fee).
— This resort is smoke free. Smoking is only permitted in designated areas. Not complying with these policy may result in the assessment of a fee.
— Wireless Internet is free for up to 4 devices, ideal for emails and basic web browsing. For more streaming and surfing options on unlimited devices, Enhanced High-Speed Wireless Internet is available for $9.95 per day, $49.95 for 6-10 days, and $59.95 for 11-30 days.
Information:

— Check-in time is after 4:00 p.m. The front desk is open 24 hours per day.
— Check-out time is 10:00 a.m.
— This resort offers 24-hour secured and covered parking for motorcycles; however we are unable to provide parking for trailers. There are a number of locations nearby that offer trailer parking for a nominal fee. Please call the resort for more information.
— As a courtesy to our non-smoking guests, smoking is not permitted at the resort. Thank you for your consideration.
— There are a limited amount of oceanfront units and views can not be guaranteed.
— Most resorts enforce a late check-out fee for any guests checking out past the check-out time.
— The resort reserves the right to assign a different unit of the same type and occupancy as confirmed with this confirmation.
— All guests are required to provide a Credit Card authorization for $150.00 or cash is required at time of check-in for a security deposit.

Mileage Between Wyndham Ocean Boulevard and…

— Charleston, S.C.: 112 miles
— Columbia, S.C.: 160 miles
— Edisto Beach, S.C.: 158 miles
— Charlotte, N.C.: 236 miles
Nearest Airport

— Myrtle Beach International Airport: 25 miles

Other Notes:
— Minimum Check-In Age for the CLUB WYNDHAM® Plus Program: The Member or Guest checking in must be at least 21 years of age with a valid ID.
— A credit card pre-authorization or cash deposit will be required upon check-in.
— The resort reserves the right to assign a different unit of the same type and occupancy as confirmed with this confirmation.
— Your safety is very important to us, so we closely follow local regulations for maximum occupancy per unit.
— A fee may be associated with some of the resorts amenities and activities. Please contact the resort for more details.
— Out of respect for all our guests, pets are not permitted. Please feel free to contact the resort prior to your arrival so that we may assist you in locating a local boarding facility.
— Service animals that are trained to work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability are welcome at all affiliated locations.

 

NEW RaffleCopter Giveaway from Author Jason Zandri

It’s Christmas Day, my kids are playing will all their stuff, and I just picked the winners from my last Rafflecopter Giveaway.

I had so much fun I’ve decided to run another one. There will be seven prizes and one GRAND PRIZE (so eight winners in total).

This time I am upping the ante on the grand prize:

FIVE DAY / FOUR NIGHT stay over Valentine’s Day weekend.

Here is the summary information on the prize (and the full details are at the end of the blog post).

Wyndham Ocean Boulevard
410 South Ocean Boulevard
North Myrtle Beach SC 29582
843-281-3300

CHECK IN –  Feb 11, 2016 after   4PM
CHECK OUT – Feb 15, 2016 before 10AM

FIVE DAY / FOUR NIGHT stay over Valentine’s Day weekend.
Room Type: 3 Bedroom Deluxe with 2 Bathrooms
Unit sleeps 8 in the rooms with 10 total within the unit (based on the unit).
Beds are – KING, Two doubles, KING, and Queen Sleeper Sofa
Units are between 1,200 and 1,400 SF in size (based on the unit).

There is no cost for the stay – the prize is the unit on the given days; you simply have to arrange to get yourself there.

 

In addition to this grand prize, I am also offering the following prizes:
ALL 6 KINDLE EDITIONS OF MY BOOKS (one winner will get all six)
KINDLE VERSION OF Before Another Sunset – Second Edition
KINDLE VERSION OF Another Sunset
KINDLE VERSION OF I, Hero: The Beginning
KINDLE VERSION OF I, Hero: Nathan Returns
KINDLE VERSION OF As Life Goes: Elementary
KINDLE VERSION OF As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence

All you have to do is enter the giveaway at Rafflecopter.

Some of the entry choices are worth more than others AND you can return each day to TWEET the giveaway for additional entries.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!

EIGHT PRIZES Wyndham Ocean BLVD

(Here are all the extended details on the stay at my timeshare Wyndham Ocean Boulevard)

Wyndham Ocean BLVD

Here are the details on the unit and the resort:
Highlights:

Beachside Paradise with Award-Winning Flair. Wyndham Ocean Boulevard, located in North Myrtle Beach, blends stylish retro art deco design with modern beachside amenities and activities. This award-winning resort is close to many of Myrtle Beach’s most popular attractions, and has a big variety of on-site pleasures to make your beach side vacation complete.

Helpful Hints:
— Tower IV is across the street from the beach; all other towers are ocean side
— Vehicle recommended to fully enjoy area; parking is limited to one vehicle per unit
— This resort offers 24-hour secured and covered parking for motorcycles; however we are unable to provide parking for trailers. There are a number of locations nearby that offer trailer parking (fee).
— This resort is smoke free. Smoking is only permitted in designated areas. Not complying with these policy may result in the assessment of a fee.
— Wireless Internet is free for up to 4 devices, ideal for emails and basic web browsing. For more streaming and surfing options on unlimited devices, Enhanced High-Speed Wireless Internet is available for $9.95 per day, $49.95 for 6-10 days, and $59.95 for 11-30 days.
Information:

— Check-in time is after 4:00 p.m. The front desk is open 24 hours per day.
— Check-out time is 10:00 a.m.
— This resort offers 24-hour secured and covered parking for motorcycles; however we are unable to provide parking for trailers. There are a number of locations nearby that offer trailer parking for a nominal fee. Please call the resort for more information.
— As a courtesy to our non-smoking guests, smoking is not permitted at the resort. Thank you for your consideration.
— There are a limited amount of oceanfront units and views can not be guaranteed.
— Most resorts enforce a late check-out fee for any guests checking out past the check-out time.
— The resort reserves the right to assign a different unit of the same type and occupancy as confirmed with this confirmation.
— All guests are required to provide a Credit Card authorization for $150.00 or cash is required at time of check-in for a security deposit.

Mileage Between Wyndham Ocean Boulevard and…

— Charleston, S.C.: 112 miles
— Columbia, S.C.: 160 miles
— Edisto Beach, S.C.: 158 miles
— Charlotte, N.C.: 236 miles
Nearest Airport

— Myrtle Beach International Airport: 25 miles

Other Notes:
— Minimum Check-In Age for the CLUB WYNDHAM® Plus Program: The Member or Guest checking in must be at least 21 years of age with a valid ID.
— A credit card pre-authorization or cash deposit will be required upon check-in.
— The resort reserves the right to assign a different unit of the same type and occupancy as confirmed with this confirmation.
— Your safety is very important to us, so we closely follow local regulations for maximum occupancy per unit.
— A fee may be associated with some of the resorts amenities and activities. Please contact the resort for more details.
— Out of respect for all our guests, pets are not permitted. Please feel free to contact the resort prior to your arrival so that we may assist you in locating a local boarding facility.
— Service animals that are trained to work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability are welcome at all affiliated locations.

 

FROM WALLINGFORD – Let’s celebrate our real heroes

As I finish my lunch and prepare to head out from work to spend  Christmas Eve with my kids, I will take time tonight, and tomorrow, to remember the families who cannot do the same.

I will be ever mindful, and teach my kids the same mindfulness, that it is because of them and their sacrifices, sometimes their total sacrifice, that allows us to have what we have.

A fragile relative peace in our lifetime and as much protection as we could hope to have.

Thank you to the real heroes (originally written and published in the Record Journal Sunday December 19, 2010).

FROM WALLINGFORD – Let’s celebrate our real heroes
by Jason Zandri

A week before Thanksgiving, my neighbor David Gessert called one afternoon and asked me if I was going to be around on Wednesday. He mentioned that he and the neighbors were going to be having a little get together for U.S. Army Sgt. Jeff Sirois who was to be returning to Wallingford after nearly a year in Afghanistan. They were planning to line up along the final leg his travel route and wave the American flag and hold up some signs to welcome him home.

I thanked him for thinking of me and I apologized for being unable to attend. I had recently started a new job which requires me to go into New York City on a daily basis, a change from my previous job which offered me some flexibility for working from home some of the time.

When I think about how much attention in general America pays to which celebrity is cheating on whom and how long Bristol Palin was going to last on “Dancing With the Stars” it made me even more upset that I couldn’t make it that day.

As I was thinking of a topic to put together for this final article of mine before Christmas my thoughts went back to this event, a simple little gesture by family, friends and neighbors to welcome home this member of our armed forces from his recent deployment overseas.

We as a nation simply don’t celebrate our true heroes nearly enough.

We parade the winning World Series team down the main boulevard of whichever city they hail from for ticker-tape parades (and more times than I’d like to admit, this is the Canyon of Heroes, the lower section Broadway in the Financial District of New York City).

I read a lot of news stories: nearly everything in the Record Journal and a volume more from newspapers across the country online. Over the course of the year I’ve read stories about someone who saved animals from a burning animal rescue or another who heard an elderly woman’s cries for help and called 911.

Many of these stories called these people “heroes”. I absolutely agree that the actions that these people have taken are positively heroic but that is the maximum extent of credit I am willing to give them. You show me a police officer, a firefighter, an EMT, a member of our armed forces that puts their uniform on, pats their children on the head, kisses their spouse good-bye, and who puts themselves in harm’s way in an effort to make us safe and to preserve our way of life here in America for all, and I will show you a real hero.

A message is making its way across Facebook – “This Christmas, when you’re eating your dinner, smiling and laughing, remember that in another house somewhere, there’s an empty chair where a Hero should be sitting. They gave up their life or are presently serving overseas so that you can sit with your family. So light a candle for the Heroes that did not make it home and for those who are still serving.”

To my neighbors, the Siroises, whose house I have walked by dozens of times in nicer weather when I go for my walks downtown, thank you.

Jeff – thank you for serving our country and for protecting it.

Jen – thank you for all the support that you offer to Jeff and to your family while he is away.

To the Sirois’ children – thank you for your sacrifice of time with your father.

When you take the time to stop and consider this on a finite and personal level, it gives so much more meaning to “land of the free and home of the brave.”

To all the heroes – thank you. May you have the best of holidays and may you return home safely.

MY POST – Twelve Giveaways of Christmas Blog Tour

As part of my involvement in the Twelve Giveaways of Christmas Blog Tour I am doing a couple of things.

I am, of course, posting my own post and promoting all the others and I am also doing a Rafflecopter giveaway. That is what this post is.

Each day, I am going to kick off with this same summary information (that you’ve just read) and then I am going to cross post the links to the blogs on the tour.

I am going to ask each of the readers to my blog and everyone I hit across my social networks, to follow the links to the other blog posts. Catch the writings and the spirit of the season.

For each post of mine (including this one) I am going to offer one part of the “10 Painfully Obvious Truths Everyone Forgets Too Soon” posting (Credits: by Marc Chernoff, marcandangel) and my own thoughts on it.

Today’s is:

1.  The average human life is relatively short.

We know deep down that life is short, and that death will happen to all of us eventually, and yet we are infinitely surprised when it happens to someone we know.  It’s like walking up a flight of stairs with a distracted mind, and misjudging the final step.  You expected there to be one more stair than there is, and so you find yourself off balance for a moment, before your mind shifts back to the present moment and how the world really is.

LIVE your life TODAY!  Don’t ignore death, but don’t be afraid of it either.  Be afraid of a life you never lived because you were too afraid to take action.  Death is not the greatest loss in life.  The greatest loss is what dies inside you while you’re still alive.  Be bold.  Be courageous.  Be scared to death, and then take the next step anyway.

A number of things come to mind when I read this, but I suppose it’s the simple thought of “plan your life like you might live forever but live it as if it might end tomorrow.”

Yes, you want to make sure to take the time to save for a house, a vacation, retirement, and so forth, but no one ever lay on their deathbed saying “damn, I really wish I could have put in 100 more hours at work.”

  • Take the vacation.
  • Go for a walk.
  • Buy an ice cream cone for yourself.
  • Step outside on a sunny day; soak in the rays.
  • Step outside into the rainstorm; let the water wash over you.
  • Grab an extra hour of sleep.
  • Call a loved one and just BS on the phone.
  • Go over and see them.
  • Buy a bag of dog food and bring it to the animal shelter.
  • Clear out the canned goods that are about to expire at home and donate them to a food pantry for the less fortunate.
  • Sing or dance like nobody is watching / listening.
  • If there are people around, do it anyway.
  • Play with your kids / grandkids.
  • If they are older, take them to lunch (or that ice cream cone).
  • Forgive someone for their trespass; you do not have to forget what occurred, but perhaps it’s time to let part of it go.
  • Ask for forgiveness for a trespass of your own; if you are not forgiven by them, at least forgive yourself.

I will close my thoughts by looping back on what I said prior – “plan your life like you might live forever but live it as if it might end tomorrow.”

You want to do whatever you can that is timely and practical as far as working and savings so that you can have the best chance to have the same kind of life in your final years as you experienced your working adult life.

With that I emphasize two additional ‘moderation’ thoughts:

Do something ‘small’ tomorrow for yourself, in case it does in fact end up being your last day.

You are never going to see an armored car follow a hearse; find a balance in what you are putting off for ‘down the road’ and what you could do, streamlined, next weekend.

 

 

As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence releases; As Life Goes: Elementary FREE until December 1, 2015

“As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence”, the second book of in the “As Life Goes” series released today, Friday November 27, 2015

End of the Innocence

As part of the release event, there is a Kindle FREE e-book promotion for the first book of the series “As Life Goes: Elementary” which is ongoing until December 1, 2015

as-life-goes FINAL cover large

SYNOPSIS and the top review for “As Life Goes: Elementary”

As Life Goes: Elementary (BOOK ONE of the “As Life Goes” series) – Links to Excerpts

As Life Goes: Elementary – Excerpt I
http://bit.ly/1RmOdc6

As Life Goes: Elementary – Excerpt II
http://bit.ly/1NSaAAg

As Life Goes: Elementary – Excerpt III
http://bit.ly/1kKfxm6

——————————————————————————————–

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching and very relevant
By TFLReader TOP 500 REVIEWER on October 3, 2015

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

Today’s society is filled with broken homes and transient kids. While divorce was just starting to become more acceptable as I was growing up, it is now the norm and author Jason Zandri has written a very poignant tale of one family’s experience in “As Life Goes: Elementary”. The story of Mark and his son Matthew, who return to Mark’s childhood hometown to start over after a divorce. The struggles of starting a new school and meeting new people are illustrated as are the pains of loss. This is a great story that I became quickly invested in and that I found very easy to relate to. Definitely recommend.

——————————————————————————————–

“Every new beginning starts from nothing. Understanding that you can have everything in the love of one person, isn’t that worth the risk of personal capital? Isn’t that kind of love worth it?” – Diane Wakeford

“Have I ever told you, you’re the nicest boy I’ve ever met?” – Melissa Bancroft

“I will have the friends I want. I don’t care what boy likes me or what boy I like. You’re an awesome friend. I am not giving you up because we’re going to different schools or for any one person either.” – Elizabeth Wellsworth

Mark Sanford returns to his hometown with his son Matthew in tow to rebuild their lives. Recently divorced, and with the mother totally abandoning her parental responsibilities, both father and son are beginning their fresh start together.

Matthew begins to make new friends in the neighborhood and at school while he tries to find his place among people that have been friends with one another for years at elementary school.

Mark takes over the reins of the former family corner store with the help of a young woman looking for work. The ability to love and trust that woman entering his life is difficult for him because of all he has lost. For Matthew, that “first love” is difficult to understand without a motherly influence and with a father that has been deeply hurt.

——————————————————————————————–

—- As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence —- ON SALE NOW —-
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017TBSD42 —-

—————————————————————

SYNOPSIS for “As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence”

—- SEQUEL TO “As Life Goes: Elementary” http://www.amazon.com/Life-Goes-Elementary-Jason-Zandri-ebook/dp/B00ZXVB7SK/ —-

——————————————–

—- BOOK TWO OF THE “AS LIFE GOES” SERIES —-

As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence – Excerpt I
http://bit.ly/1knbsVe

As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence – Excerpt II
http://bit.ly/1MycCaG

As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence – Excerpt III
http://bit.ly/1M4duT0

As Life Goes: Elementary (BOOK ONE) – Links to Excerpts

As Life Goes: Elementary – Excerpt I
http://bit.ly/1RmOdc6

As Life Goes: Elementary – Excerpt II
http://bit.ly/1NSaAAg

As Life Goes: Elementary – Excerpt III
http://bit.ly/1kKfxm6

“You have to let things happen and be there for the ones you care about. When they slip, you try to catch them to break their fall. You can’t always be there for everyone; when you’re not and if they should fall, you help them back up.” – Matthew Sanford.

“Now and for the rest of my life, I want to spend the time trying to make you as happy as you’ve made me.”

“There’s no way to know all things with absolute certainty. If you want to love that much, if you want the chance to be Matthew’s entire world, and have him be yours, you’re going to have to risk everything.” – Diane Wakeford.

The one constant in the universe is change.

Matthew, Tim, Melissa, Liz and the gang come to the end of their youth as they turn eighteen and prepare to leave high school.

Old friends and new come together as their lives shift from the moment they are in to the future that is coming at them.

One love is discovered and then lost. Another is never fully revealed. Others are put forward to stand against the tests of life, time, and circumstance.

At a time of letting go, they do their best to hang on, realizing that yesterday is gone and what they have to look forward to is everything that tomorrow offers.

 

One year anniversary of my first fictional release – “Another Sunset” (November 28, 2014)

Over the US Thanksgiving Holiday, my first fictional release – “Another Sunset” will celebrate one year in release – November 28, 2014.

Another Sunset by Jason Zandri

I am really excited at this milestone for a few reasons.

First, I never thought I’d get here. If you tried to suggest to me in the spring of 2014 that I would be a published author before the end of the year, I would have lightly laughed at the notion. I would have been wrong in laughing because that is exactly what happened.

I had the idea for “Another Sunset” in my head for over fifteen years when suddenly one summer, the summer of 2014, I simply decided “it’s time to write this”.

Since then I simply kept going and I am now four novels in release, one novella (“Before Another Sunset”) and one new title on the way for November. I am aiming for November 27th with “As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence” (The As Life Goes Series Book 2).

Second, for every one person that has put me down or tried to make me feel small at my success (inadvertently or intentionally) I have meet five more that helped me, gave me guidance, offered me their thoughts, lent me their expertise, or just let me whine and complain (to get it out of my system).

The gang over at Rave Reviews Book Club have gone a LONG way in getting me started “right”. Everything I learned there I might have learned over a few years time anyway, but the membership there allowed me an immense and immediate ramp up into the writing side of the literary world. Beyond that, I met a pretty diverse group of uber supportive people.

I have also met numerous more, very supportive people, across many Facebook groups that I am involved in. While there are many that are effectively “marketing only” (very little other interaction) there are a few that are of the discussion and support type. My favorite go to group (to which only half of my titles actually apply) is the Clean Indie Reads group

I guess as an additional point, it really is nice to see people buying your work. Am I selling tens of thousands of copies? Nope. I have to check my numbers again to see if I hit one thousand yet; I know I am really close. (Sales – if I coun’t books given away at events / contests / for reviews, etc. then I am 1,400+) If I can make one thousand sales before November 27th I’ll be happy I hit a stretch goal of mine.

With nearly 200 unique reviews at Amazon, GoodReads, B&N, and across various author / reader blogs, as far as I am concerned, I am a huge success.

Thank you for being a part of it and celebrating it with me.

Before Another Sunset (The Sunset Series Book 1)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T11GKYE/

Another Sunset (The Sunset Series Book 2)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QD2FQU8/

I Hero: The Beginning (The I, Hero Series Book 1)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Y3LA41M/

I Hero: Nathan Returns (The I, Hero Series Book 2)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011AOPE64/

As Life Goes: Elementary (The As Life Goes Series Book 1)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZXVB7SK/

As Life Goes: The End of the Innocence (The As Life Goes Series Book 2)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017TBSD42/

all books