Reflections

by Barry Brennessel

Brian Caleb made a lot of mistakes chasing his first love. A fleeting, confusing love that disappeared forever. He wishes it were a lifetime ago, but the pain is fresh and raw. Now he’s running away from love. And everything else in his life.

Then a chance encounter takes an unexpected turn: Brian finds himself falling for someone after something falls on someone!

They say true love comes when you’re not looking for it. That’s precisely what scares Brian. Can he find the courage to follow his heart again?

ebook

First published February 11, 2012

About the author

When Barry’s first collection of stories was read aloud by his second grade teacher, the author hid. As the years flew by, he wrote more, hid less (not really), and branched out to Super 8 films and cassette tape recorders. Barry’s audience—consisting solely of friends and family—were both amused and bemused.

Since those childhood days, Barry has earned degrees in English and French from the State University of New York College at Brockport, and a Master of Arts in Writing from the Johns Hopkins University.

Tinseltown, a Finalist in the 24th Annual Lambda Literary Awards, is Barry’s first novel. His novel The Celestial won the Gold Medal in the 2012 ForeWord Book of the Year Awards and was a Finalist in the 25th Annual Lambda Literary Awards. Reunion, a collection of linked stories, was a Finalist in the 2012 ForeWord Book of the Year Awards.

His work has appeared in SNReview, Perspectives, Time Pilot, Liquid Ohio, Nocturnal Lyric, Midnight Times, Gival Press’s ArLiJo, and Polari Journal. His stories, novels and teleplays have won awards, including a 2008 Pushcart Prize nomination; 3rd Place in the 2010 Pacific Northwest Writers Association (PNWA) literary contest and finalist status in the 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, and 2013 PNWA contests; 3rd Place in the 79th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition and a winning entry in the 2013 WILDSound Screenplay competition.

When not embroiled in his own writing, Barry sips wine, nibbles on chocolate, and watches films and TV—both the classic and the cheesy. (Mmm…cheese!)

http://barrybrennessel.com/

Reviews

[Kazza · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Can I tell you a secret?" Jason said as Brian unlocked the passenger door.

"Sure."

"You don't wake up when people kiss you."


I like Barry Brennessel as a writer. I really do. He does not give me anything but three dimensional. He does not give me the expected. Don't ever buy this book off the cover, or because it seems like it may be a sexy MM Valentine's romp - chances are you won't like it if you do. I know it is part of a group of Valentine's Day (blech) stories that MLR did. But this is not erotic or sappy, it has hope, it ends nicely, but the tone is sombre for a bit of the book. It is real.

I like these characters that the author keeps writing. I like observational writing about every day people as much as I like characters who are larger than life. Barry Brennessel has a way with nice characters who have flawed families and insecurities. Reflections makes you feel, and it is romantic - just not in the sausage-factory-production kind of way. Proper review to come after Reunion as I believe this is part of that book.

[Anke · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my second try with this author and I have to say - nope, he is just not for me. At least I managed to finish this story, but I couldn't relate to anyone in it. For me it had a very dark atmosphere and the MC came across as rather depressed. If you are looking for something to drag you down, this would be it, despite the positive ending.

[Vespasian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. Dark and haunting, as real life is, yet hopeful and uplifting, as real life can be. These characters stayed in my thoughts long after I finished the story.

I'm continually pleased that this author doesn't follow the formula.