Take Me to the Willow
Hi guys! It gives me great pleasure today to host author Shelly Brimley and her book, Take Me to the Willow! For the other stops on Shelly’s Goddess Fish Virtual Book Tour, please click on the banner above.
One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Please do leave a comment to support the author, as well as for more chances to win the giveaway!
Historical Fiction
In defending his life-long friendship with Charlie, Will may have inadvertently had a hand in the growing chaos that leads to the horrifying night when his familiar world is shattered.
When Will Wright, the eighteen year old son of a small-town Arkansas sheep herder in 1905, begins reading his motherβs journal, he is inspired by its startling content to start putting his own experiences to paper for posterity. An unsophisticated but principled young man, Will is becoming increasingly aware of the hatred that exists in the world. When he begins his own journal, Will canβt know what events are to take place in the next five years β from his motherβs battle with a life threatening illness, to his embarrassments of learning how to be in love for the first time, to witnessing Charlieβs fate at the hands of the bigoted townspeople. While part of him wishes the pain in those pages didnβt exist, he knows that the original purpose for keeping the journal has been realized – to show his kin how he became the man he is. He will probably never go back through and read again the pages heβs written, but someday, someone will, and they will see that along with the hurt, Willβs life had been one that knew true joy, absolute love, and undying friendship.
Excerpt:
“Men and women are different,” Will, he said.
“I know that,” I said.
“Now donβt interrupt me, son!,” he said, his voice rather abrupt and a bit on the nervous side. “Just let me say what I got to say.”
“Sorry, I said,” feelinβ startled.
Daddy scratched the back of his head and started again.
“Men and women are different,” he said.
Weβve already covered that, I thought to myself but didnβt dare share that with him.
“And when they come together as husband and wife for the first time, itβs real important for the man to be sensitive to the woman so she feels comfortableβ¦ because the woman might feel uncomfortable if the man ainβt sensitive,” he said.
I just sat and listened, not sure where he was goinβ with it. He didnβt seem to be goinβ anywhere except around in circles. All I could seem to grasp was that Iβm supposed to be sensitive β about whatβ¦ I had no clue. And Hannah is gonna end up feelinβ comfortable or uncomfortable β Iβm not sure which. And speakinβ of beinβ uncomfortable, Daddy looked like a lone rabbit in a coyoteβs den. I donβt believe he looked at me the whole time he was talkinβ, just fidgeted and looked at the ground.
“You understand?” he asked.
I couldnβt bring myself to tell him I had no idea what in tarnation he was talkinβ about. So I just nodded instead.
“Uh huh,” I said.
“Good,” said Daddy as he put his hat back on and stood up to leave.
“Thank you, sir,” I said. “This was real helpful.”
Daddy stood there for a minute, not sure what to do next. He nervously shifted his weight from one foot to the other, and at one point, I thought he might shake my hand, but then he just said, βAlright thenβ, and went back in the house.
Shelly Brimley was born in Flagstaff, AZ, where she lived most of her life until moving to Mexico to study abroad. After graduation, Shelly did some volunteer work in Africa and completed her graduate degree while working in an adolescent drug treatment center. After acquiring her Masterβs degree, she worked as a counselor at a residential shelter for children who had been smuggled and trafficked into the USA from different countries around the world. She also taught English to adult refugees before resigning to raise her children. Shelly wanted to use her experience working with others as a source of inspiration in her writing, offering a voice for those who are not typically heard or considered.
Website link βhttp://www.shellybrimley.com
Author Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/shellybrimleyauthor
Goodreads-https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28183223-take-me-to-the-willow
Amazon β On sale for only $0.99 until May 22
http://www.amazon.com/Take-Me-Willow-Shelly-Brimley/dp/0997081600
I truly appreciate you hosting me today, Harmony! It was lovely hearing from your readers and conversing a bit. Signing off… goodnight!
It’s been great fun having you over, and hearing from all our visitors! Best of luck to you and everyone! π
This looks like a beautiful book.
Thanks so much, Caitlin. I hope you get a chance to read it. I’d love to hear back from you if you do.
Sounds like a great read.
Thank you, Rita. What genres do you enjoy reading?
Thanks for sharing the excerpt!
You bet, Victoria!
Good luck with the release!
Thanks for stopping by, Trix! π
Thank you, Trix! Nice to hear from you again.
Thank you for hosting me today, Harmony!
It’s a pleasure and an honour to have you over today, Shelley! I’m smiling at your answer, as it seems we’re the same in that regard. I suspect that many authors are introverts, secretly, lol. Very best wishes for everything π
I think you’re right! The didn’t used to feel that way… sort of a newer development and an increasing tendency toward that social dynamic as I age.
Something personal about you people may be surprised to know?
Good morning, Mai T! I love small groups and usually hate huge crowds.
Thanks for stopping by, Mai! I love your question π
Thanks for hosting!
My pleasure! π