From Rocking Horse Publishing: Danny’s Grace


Today, I’d like to take just a few minutes of your time and introduce RHP’s newest release: Danny’s Grace.

Danny'sGrace-Concept2 (3)

I’ve “known” author Dawn Hawkins for oh, about five or six years, since our days of online content writing—although we’ve never met. I’d always noticed her writing; it was good, yes, but included a fresh perspective, a unique style.

Her debut novel only reinforces that flair, that gift.

Danny’s Grace is the story of a little boy, one whom life has dealt a hard hand, and it’s his own father who is the perpetrator. Danny is tough and smart, cheeky and irreverent; and one wonders if he’s actually going to survive, given the violence with which he lives.

His best friend, his only friend, Carson, is Danny’s reason for pushing onward. Their relationship suggests that Danny is the strong one, but the emotions and deep layers imply otherwise.

As Danny and his mother and sister escape their dreary, frightening lives, moving onward and upward to better things, Danny’s personality has undergone few changes. He is still the leader, still the instigator, but the stakes are higher: professional success, or professional suicide.

Danny comes full circle when a budding novelist arrives on his doorstep. Her pointed questions drive home both helpless and hopeless feelings as Danny revisits his life, digging deep to explore pivotal events from the past and glossing over others, even while his subconscious pushes him closer to the brink.

The novel, told from Danny’s perspective with continuous asides to and inclusion of his inner voice, it pulls together to create an unusual and compelling story.

You simply MUST read this book.

Big Holidays Doings at the Bookstore


SLLC City Wide Book Fair 2013 (3)

Yes, I said “doings.”

Anyway, coming up this Saturday we have the amazing Laura Ray – I won’t try to list all her names because it gets a little confusing – with her new book, “Brain Dead and Still Cooking.” Awesome recipes, and an hilarious style make this a great gift! Pair it with her first book, “Brain Dead in the ‘Burbs,” for twice the awesomeness!

SUNDAY-SUNDAY-SUNDAY!

Yes, we’ll be open this Sunday, noon to 5:00 p.m. for a special event – and you ALL SHOULD COME! Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, I’m going to add the press release for this FANTASTIC, ONCE A YEAR EXTRAVAGANZA!

St. Louis Literary Group Rings in the Holidays with an Area-Wide Book Fair

Checking your list? Checking it twice? Books make great gifts, and there’ll be plenty of chances to  shop ’til you drop at the St. Louis Literary Consortium’s Second Annual Holiday Book Fair. Set for Sunday, December 8, 2013, from 12 noon to 5 p.m., the Book Fair will feature the work of local writers at five locations around the St. Louis Metropolitan Area.

“We’re always happy when we can partner with independent booksellers to support local authors, and the Holiday Book Fair is a great opportunity for us to do that,” said Winnie Sullivan, who heads PenUltimate Press, a Consortium member organization. The St. Louis Literary Consortium, formed in 2012, is an alliance of literary organizations whose purpose is to promote the literary arts in the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area. Its members include Blank Slate Press, the St. Louis Writers Guild, the   St. Louis Poetry Center, and Walrus Publishing.

Holiday Book Fair displays will showcase the work of St. Louis writers at the following stores:

  • Subterranean Books – 6275 Delmar Boulevard, University City
  • All on the Same Page Bookstore – 10052 Olive Boulevard, Creve Coeur
  • STLBooks – 100 W. Jefferson Avenue, Kirkwood
  • The Book House – 7352 Manchester Road, Maplewood
  • Main Street Books – 307 S. Main Street, St. Charles

And writers will be on hand to sign their books at the Creve Coeur, Maplewood, and Kirkwood locations.

So come out and join in the holiday fun. Shop at your neighborhood bookstore, browse at one of the newer bookstores in the area, or visit all five! For more information about the Holiday Book Fair, contact Kristina Blank Makansi at kbmakansi@blankslatepress.com or any of the participating organizations, whose website addresses are: www.blankslatepress.com, www.stlwritersguild.org,  www.penultimatepress.blogspot.com, www.stlouispoetrycenter.org, and www.walruspublishing.com.

So, there you have it! Saturday AND Sunday this week! Plus, we have book bundles, and new items, and NEW coffee, tea, and hot chocolate! Come on down!