ACCIDENTAL PARADISE
ACCIDENTAL PARADISE
by Eric Grandy
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GENRE: Coming of Age
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BLURB:
Natural talent, hard work, and a childhood friend help LaVern Whitaker find her calling as an actress. When her life becomes overwhelming, they discover a small town where her true identity can remain unknown and she can stay out of the spotlight. The more she visits her secret getaway, the more deeply she feels connected to the history, the lifestyle, and the people. Could this place be her home away from home, or become the home she has dreamed of? Or will sinister forces rip it all away?
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EXCERPT
“Make me a promise, Shaundra. Promise me we will always be best friends.”
“I promise, Peaches.”
LaVern stood up and said she had better head back. “Are you coming over tomorrow?”
“Hell yeah.”
Both girls had a hardy laugh at that one.
As Freeman and Jackie watched their daughter recross the street, they noticed a more delighted and relieved child than the one who left a few minutes earlier.
The girls resumed their old routine of talking and gossiping in LaVern’s bedroom. Shaundra asked more questions about her new school; how did she like going to school with White kids? Did she hang out with the other Black students? How was she treated? LaVern did her best to answer; No, she wasn’t completely accepted by everyone, she wasn’t friends with all the Black kids, she still felt very self-conscious being one of a few Black students in an all-White school, sometimes she felt very alone but she had made a few friends.
“My daddy said it would take a little while, that I would get used to it. He said I would get a better education.”
“Well, you’re already smart Peaches. You’ll be smart no matter what school you go to.”
“Well, it is harder than 139, but I’m doing OK.
“I know you, Peaches. If you say you doing OK, I know you killin’ it.”
LaVern looked down at her feet. “Well, I’m doing alright.”
But the Big Dog was right. She was killing it.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Eric Grandy was born and raised in Baltimore City and graduated from City College. After he graduated from Essex Community College, he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs and played six years for that team. He went on to a variety of jobs: photographer, lab manager, driver for DHL and warehouse manager. After retirement, he decided to devote himself to writing, producing several short stories and Accidental Paradise, his debut novel.
Grandy still lives in Baltimore with his wife Rhonda and his daughter Marti.
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Eric Grandy will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN gift card.
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Qand A With …
Tell us about you as a person.
My name is Eric Grandy, and I live in Baltimore, Maryland with my wife of thirty-five years, Rhonda. I have one daughter, Marti. In addition to my novel, I write short stories. I’m an avid reader of fiction and historical non-fiction. My wife and I like to travel, and we always stay where we can get a sense of the local community.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
I’m a huge Muhammad Ali fan. I feel as though I know every aspect of his life from birth to death. At one time in America, Black athletes were expected to be docile and deeply appreciative of the rare opportunity for wealth and fame that professional sports provided them. Things not available to the average Black person. He chose not to be silent and spoke out about the injustices suffered by his fellow Blacks. His outspokenness cost him his career. He’s one of the select few athletes who sacrificed their career for a principle. A rare person indeed.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
Accidental Paradise tells of the journey of a Baltimore girl, LaVern Whitaker, who defies the odds and becomes a major movie star. Timid and secretive by nature, stardom’s spotlight brings an end to her highly valued privacy. She and childhood friend, Shaundra, find a small, under-the-radar, seaside town where she can relax and mingle unrecognized. The town offers more than solitude. It has an extensive historical legacy beginning with its founding in 1870 by newly freed slaves, some of whose descendants still live and farm there. It is a thriving and prosperous Black run municipality that proudly clings to its legacy of self-reliance and ownership of land and businesses. This place becomes their yearly go-to vacation spot. A shady land developer appears and threatens to ruin her adopted town and the lives of those citizens she has come to love. Because she now considers herself one of them, LaVern joins with her friends in the fight to save the town, her paradise.
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their book?
You can’t do it by yourself. You need people who know about publishing and marketing. I am fortunate to have a publisher, Austin Camacho, who goes beyond in setting up live events and blog podcasts for me. I have Marianne Judy from goddessfish promotions to promote my book. I could never do those things on my own. Thank you, guys.
List 5 things on your bucket list.
Stay healthyContinue to travelMeet Barack ObamaWrite a bestsellerMeet interesting people
Any final thoughts?
Always try to do the right thing. The world as it is doesn’t make that easy. In the long run, it’s always the best thing.
