Tag: wheelman

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The Truth Hurts

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Tough news hit me right before a wonderful family vacation last week. It came in the form of an email.

Have you ever received unsettling news that way? No voice. No eye contact. It didn’t help that there wasn’t a thing I could do about it at the time…except focus on packing my bags and loading the car for the beach.

We went to St. George Island. It was great weather, warm water. Still the news lingered in the back of my brain. Stinging at times, when I wasn’t enjoying the sun. It was that email. Rereading it over and over again in my head. It came from the CEO of Booktrope, Ken Shear. He regretted to inform writers of the company’s upcoming immediate closure. He wrote:

We are deeply saddened to share the news that Booktrope will be ceasing business effective May 31, 2016. This decision was not reached lightly and we will share as much as we can with the community over the next few weeks…. What you need to know now: Booktrope will remove all published books from sale as of May 31, 2016

May 31st.

Thoughts of What the heck? and How will my book survive this? hit me again and again.

Then, I remembered that WHEELMAN and other titles at Booktrope existed before publication, and they would survive this as well. God is doing great things through the books in the Booktrope imprint, Vox Dei. These stories will continue being told – just in different mediums.

I appreciated the response from Shear and the timely update. It gave me enough foresight to mull this topic over, and I know I need to pray about WHEELMAN (and other books’ futures) as well.

The company’s closing date will mean the removal of WHEELMAN from their roster and printing will cease, as well as the Vox Dei logo going away. However, I am in the process of learning how to get the story back out there in a different way.

As always, I appreciate your faith and prayers in this current situation. Thank you for reading, and if you haven’t picked up a copy yet, this will be the last chance to order for a while. (I believe if WHEELMAN is ordered before 5/31, it will be printed via Vox Dei. Let me know if you have any problems with this.)

May God continue to bless the stories being told. Fellow writer, Niki Krauss does a much better job of describing the process for her thus far and getting her story re-printed.

All told: the beach is still there, the sun is still there, and God still holds it all together. Amen.

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70 Reviews on Amazon!

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2 months into its debut and we’ve hit 70 reviews for WHEELMAN already!!

Give yourself a pat on the back if you assisted in the reading/reviewing of this first novel (early readers you know who you are). Let’s crank it to 100 reviews!

Believe it or not, work has kick-started on a 2nd novel already (Titles and plot are hush hush at this point).

The 1st draft of the manuscript is being looked at for the first time by my editor this week. Prayers are appreciated for Martin Jones as he reads.

Now we wait…and we work and work and work. Is it summer yet? Are you traveling anywhere fun? Are your taxes done? If you answered yes to all 3 of those questions, I appreciate your honesty. Enjoy the weekend!

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NEW: WHEELMAN Book Signing.

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I’ll be signing copies of WHEELMAN on Saturday, 4/9 from 2-4pm at McKay’s Books  of Chattanooga (off I-75).

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Be sure to stop by!

Brian

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Goodreads WHEELMAN Giveaway!

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1 copy of WHEELMAN will be given away on Goodreads this Friday, Feb. 19th!

Step 1: Go to goodreads.com

Step 2: Create account or log-in with Facebook/social media

Step 3: Search ‘Wheelman’

Step 4: Scroll down and select ‘Enter Giveaway’

Drawing will be in 4 days!

I hope you win.

-Brian

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Cover for WHEELMAN (Reveal)

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I couldn’t wait any longer. Here’s the finalized cover (print & ebook) for WHEELMAN!

While the release day is still: Feb 2, this gives you a sneak peek at the look for this young adult novel we’re so proud of at Vox Dei.

Great work from Hayley Stone – designing it. The final proof has been approved.

 

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8 Things about WHEELMAN

(Interviewed on Twitter by Kandi J. Wyatt, author of The One Who Sees Me)  01.18.2016 –

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Question 1: Can you tell us a bit about yourself? How did you find @voxdeipub

Brian: Sure. I grew up in so. KY and met my wife in college. I wrote in graduate school and found @voxdeipub while scouring the web. 🙂

Kandi: What did you write about in graduate school?

Brian: I created a short story collection titled “Baptisms & Dogs” set in the fictional town of Seton, KY. It helped me start (writing).

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Kandi: It sounds interesting.

Martin Jones: Hey Brian, your friendly editor here – just popping in!

Question 2: What is your book about?

Brian: #Wheelman is about a teen seeking his father. He goes on a journey in search of hard answers.

Kandi: So is it a YA or middle grade book?

Heather Huffman: Hey everyone!

Kandi: Welcome! Glad to have you.

Brian: Young Adult

Heather Huffman: I’d say young YA.

Kandi: Awesome!

Martin Jones: Definitely YA, some serious themes tackled here!

Question 3: What led you to write Wheelman?

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Brian: A trip with friends to Mexico in 2011 prompted the book #wheelman. It was a great experience albeit dangerous.

Kandi: Can you share what themes besides #humantrafficking Wheelman tackles?

Martin Jones: I think the impact of a broken home and sin is prominent, together with a fair amount of violence!

Kandi: How was it dangerous?

Brian: Drug cartels and beheadings were reported at that time. It was a tough time to travel near Mexico City.

Kandi: That does make for some interesting travel.

Martin Jones: Another question (for Brian) – are any of the characters based on yourself or people you have met?

Brian: That’s a tough one, Martin… I’d say Teddy resembles my dad just slightly. But most were abstract creations.

Question 4: So you’ve done some traveling. Can you tell us about that?

Brian: I love the open road. It’s what generates new memories. Central Mexico is so beautiful. It needs to be written about!

Kandi: Guanajuato is my favorite place. Although I had fun in San Miguel de Allende

Brian: God’s country, right? So pristine and beautiful! I LOVE San Miguel.

Kandi: Right. I love the colors of the houses.

Brian: And the doors. I’ve never seen so many different types of doors.

Kandi: You’re right. The doors in central Mexico are amazing.

Adam Hopper: How did growing up in a small town like Monticello, Kentucky impact the locations in the book?

Brian: #Wheelman tackles travel to and from some unique places. My hometown molded me into what I am today. I love Ky!

Brian: Hi! @pastortabitha Thanks, Tabitha!

Martin Jones: Do you think #Wheelman has any kind of take-away message for the reader?

Brian: Great Q. #Wheelman does. The importance of valuing family is central! Today, tomorrow, everyday. While we can!

Question 5: Do you have any #travel safety tips for us?

Brian: I knew that one was coming! 🙂 Be cautious. I had great taxis in Mexico (and fun). But there’re always risks

Kandi: That there are. Your book gives you a platform to discuss #HumanTraffickingAwareness.

Brian: Yes. It plays a role in the family reunion elements of #wheelman and it was a difficult subject to study.

Kandi: I bet it was. I know I had difficulty sleeping just after writing a blog about trafficking

Question 6: How did you become aware of human trafficking?

Brian: Drug/human trafficking are prevalent not only in other parts of the world but US- all 50 states #IJM helped me for #Wheelman. It messes with us, as it should. Knowing the world has such intense events happening daily – wakes us up!

Kandi: It makes us realize there is more to life than our happy little corner.

Martin Jones: Without revealing spoilers – we might differ slightly on this but would you say the book has a happy ending?

Brian: You all brought the real Qs. 🙂 Haha. I would say quasi-happy. It depends on the reader’s idea of win vs. lose though.

Kandi: I think that is key to any ending of a book.

Martin Jones: Gotta say I love the title #Wheelman – says so much about the book in a word – both sides of the story #goodevil

Brian: Amen! #Wheelman is to the point. Our team really made it happen.

Martin Jones: Yeah, I wish I could take credit for the title #lol

Brian: You CAN!

Question 7: What kinds of testing of faith have you experienced either while writing or that prompted you to write?

Brian: Learning about trafficking and realizing that all sins are equal … caused me to write more definitely. Scars are lasting.

Kandi: Scars are lasting! Oof. That they are. We can end #humantrafficking

Question 8: If people want to help end #humantrafficking what do you suggest they do?

Brian: Playing an active role in their daily lives, online and in person. We have an opportunity to @endtraffick ing

Kandi: Where can we find you online?

Brian: Online- https://brianltucker.com, Instagram: bltuck2, amazon at: http://amazon.com/author/tuckerb, and even on Goodreads at: Brian L. Tucker

#Wheelman releases Feb 2 on #groundhogday and my father’s birthday! It’ll be on @amazon and other major websites

Kandi: Can’t wait for it. Thanks so much everyone for joining, and congratulations, @thebriantucker

Brian: Thanks again, Kandi J Wyatt! I appreciate your time. Have a great night!

Kandi: Thanks again for the time. I’m off to eat dinner with the family.

 

-End of Interview-