Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour for As Good As Can Be by William A. Glass. This book tour was organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. On my stop, I have an excerpt and a guest post from the author. There's also a tour wide giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card. Be sure to visit the other stops on the tour for more content. Enjoy!
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Title: As Good As Can BeAuthor: William A. Glass
Publisher: Hawkeye Publishers
Publication Date: April 14th 2020
Print Length: 410 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
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Dave Knight is a wayward child growing up in a military family during the 1950s. His older sister wants to kill him but settles for regularly beating him up. Other siblings join in the mayhem while their alcoholic father contributes to the chaos with his unique approach to parenting.
As the Knight family moves from one army base to the next, Dave develops a give-a-damn attitude that often leads to trouble. In high school, he joins other delinquents in a series of escapades, some dangerous, others funny, and a few that would be worthy of jail time should they ever be caught.
After barely graduating, Dave is drafted into the army and sent to guard a nuclear weapons depot in Korea. There, he gets into trouble with his sergeant and tries to avoid dishonorable discharge.
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iBooks * IndieBound * Kobo
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EXCERPT:
Upstairs all is pandemonium. Dan is furiously pounding on the bathroom door while inside Marie stares into the mirror applying eyeliner. She’s in the seventh grade now and has discovered that boys aren’t just for beating up. Meanwhile, Dave’s in the basement ironing a shirt. He gives it a couple finishing touches then slips it on while running up the stairs.
“Have you seen my book bag?” Melissa asks.
“Isn’t that it next to the door?” Dave replies.
The bus pulls up in front of the house, and Melissa grabs the book bag. Knight hands her a bacon-and-egg sandwich as she goes out. “Tell the driver to wait,” he asks. Then one by one the other Knight children rush out while the driver insistently honks his horn. Finally, Marie comes downstairs, gets her sandwich, and strolls down the front walk, arms full of accoutrements. As she climbs aboard, the enlisted men’s dependents in back sarcastically applaud. Marie ignores them, and once seated she uses a can of hairspray to laminate her teased tresses. She pays no heed to mounting protests from others on the bus who object to being gassed this early in the morning.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bill is a retired business executive now living in South Carolina with his wife, Bettina. She teaches high school German while Bill coaches soccer at a small college. Their three sons, Alex, Robert, and Gordon, have all graduated from college and moved away to pursue careers.
For recreation, Bettina and Bill enjoy hiking and camping out. Usually, they take their dog, Scout, along. When the weather permits, Bill commutes to work on his motorcycle.
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GUEST POST:
MY INSPIRATION FOR WRITING AS GOOD AS CAN BE, A NOVEL
by William A. Glass
by William A. Glass
As an NPR fan, I often listen to interviews with authors who appear on shows to promote their memoirs. Many are famous people from politics, entertainment, and business, who have led fascinating lives and hobnobbed with other celebrities. I’m a contrarian, so one day it occurred to me that what the publishing world needed was a memoir by a nobody with few friends. That was my inspiration for writing As Good As Can Be.
As it turned out, there’s a reason why memoirs by nobodies don’t get written. In my case, I got about halfway through then realized that I hated it. My life has been full of dramatic twists and turns, but the memoir format forced me to include all the tedious bits. Documenting life as a military brat from a crazy family meant listing one move after another along with a never-ending series of family fights. Who wants to read something like that?
Just as it seemed that my writing career was over, it hit me that I could keep the entertaining episodes from my manuscript, throw out the boring repetitive things, and create a well-plotted novel with fictional characters. So, I started from scratch and out gushed a book I’m happy with. Reviews of As Good As Can Be indicate I’m not the only one who thinks that the ups-and-downs 😊 of ordinary people, trying to live life to the fullest, can be fascinating. Now I’m waiting for a call from NPR and a shot to shill my book on Fresh Air!
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GIVEAWAY:
William A. Glass will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. To increase your chance of winning, leave a comment at a different stop on the tour each day. Good luck!
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to be here at All The UPS and Downs! Thanks for featuring AS GOOD AS CAN BE! - Bill
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt, sounds like a good book.
ReplyDeleteGood morning Rita! I just dropped my motorcycle off at my mechanic to install a carry rack. The soccer season is over, my teams did very well, and this weekend I'm going to take a ride to a beachfront campground and relax. It's no problem social distancing while camping this time of year!
DeleteI hope you have something fun to look forward to as well.
Bill
Sounds like a good book!
ReplyDeleteVictoria, thanks for following along on the tour! I hope you win the raffle!
DeleteBill
This sounds like a great book. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Honestly, you never know if what you've written is good until it's out there. Then all an author can do is wait for the reviews. 'As Good As Can Be' has received great ones, so I can breath a sigh of relief! I hope you will download a sample from Amazon and check it out. You don't need a Kindle to do it.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Bill
I love the cover!
ReplyDeleteLisa,
ReplyDeleteLove your comment about the cover! I'm very happy with it too, but often I see AS GOOD AS CAN BE clustered with other books and it looks kind of bland compared to some of the hyper-artistic covers out there. Still, in my mind that's good because in that way it stands out. Also the cover of AS GOOD AS CAN BE accurately reflects what the story is about. I hope you will look into the book more. There are a lot of reviews on Goodreads and Amazon has reviews and will allow you to download a sample at no charge. You don't need a Kindle for that.
If you read it, please get back to me. I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Best wishes,
Bill
This sounds like a great book
ReplyDeleteThanks, if you would like to read more of it, you can download a sample from Amazon at no charge! You don't need Kindle for that.
DeleteGood luck with the giveaway!
Bill
0How long did it take you to write this?
ReplyDeleteHi Deborah! I have one of those jobs that keeps me very busy during some periods and less busy at others. Still, it took me four years to write 'As Good As Can Be' than six more to rewrite it about 24 times! Truly it would have been crushing after all that work if people hadn't liked it but.....:-)
DeleteHello William. This sounds like a very interesting read. Loved the excerpt. Sounds like classic family life. I wish you all the luck with your tour.
ReplyDeleteSue it is so nice hearing from booklovers like you! With this daggone pandemic going on it's not possible to go out and meet people face to face at literary fairs and so on. Now I'm learning to get to know folks on line. It's great!
DeleteBest wishes,
Bill
Sounds like a great book. I like the cover.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your comment about the cover! I will pass it on to Timber Hawkeye, my publisher. He and I teamed up on the concept but he deserves the credit for the execution!
DeleteRegarding the book, you can download a sample from Amazon at no charge. Don't need a Kindle. Please let me know what you think!
Best wishes,
Bill
I like the cover. It has very nice artwork.
ReplyDeleteabfantom at yahoo dot com
Ann, I am so happy about your positive comment about the cover. I love it myself because it's so different from many covers I see that look like they are coming off an assembly line. I give the credit for the cover of my book to Hawkeye Publishers. It draws readers into the story and accurately reflects the world As Good As Can Be' will take them to.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Bill Glass
Fantastic cover! I enjoy historical fiction. This novel sounds fascinating.
ReplyDeleteWow, so many positive comments about the cover! Caryl, you and others make me happy I approved the design within a minute of first seeing it from my publisher! If you get a chance to read As Good As Can Be please let me know how you liked it.
DeleteBest wishes,
Bill
Thanks much for sharing your book and a giveaway. Sounds great and happy to have read about it.
ReplyDeleteJames, it's great to hear from you! Thanks for your kind words.There's a ten-page sample posted on my website: www.williamaglass.com. Please check it out!
DeleteBest wishes,
Bill
I enjoyed reading the excerpt, sounds like a fascinating read, thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteStormy, thanks for following along on the tour!
DeleteThe book sounds really great.
ReplyDeleteI love to hear uplifting comments like your's! Please download a free sample of As Good As Can Be on Amazon (you don't need a Kindle for this) and let me know what you think!
DeleteYour book sounds like a one of a kind read! I'm sure I'd enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Hi Nancy, thanks for your nice comment. I hope you will ask for my novel at your library. Or try downloading a free sample from Amazon. Let me know what you think.
DeleteBest wishes,
Bill
It sounds like a fascinating book. Love the cover!
ReplyDeleteAt this point, after hearing so many readers praise the cover, I am glad that I worked so hard to make the content of the book live up to it. Thanks for your kind words! If you get a chance to read 'As Good As Can Be' I hope that you will get back to me with your thoughts on it. My email is coachbillglass@gmail.com.
DeleteThe cover is interesting! It sets the tone for the book.
ReplyDeleteJeanna, you are so right about the cover being an example of 'truth in advertising'. My publisher came up with the design but I took one look and approved it because it accurately reflects the contents of the book. Hope you read it then follow up with me.
DeleteBest wishes,
Bill
I like the cover
ReplyDeleteYay! Another vote for the cover. I would be jealous of my publisher, who designed the cover, if it wasn't for all the kind reviews of the content of As Good As Can Be from readers. If you get a chance to check it out at your library or buy it online I hope you will post a review as well!
ReplyDeleteAll my best,
Bill
Have a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteThanks Deborah! We're catching the edge of the remnants of Zeta this morning, just light rain, but not a good day to ride my motorcycle. Hope the sun is out where you are!
ReplyDeleteBill
I love historical reads and this cover is perfect.
ReplyDeleteKatie, if you love being transported into another era and a different world (in this case the world of military families) I'm sure you'll find AS GOOD AS CAN BE hard to put down. Hope your library stocks it! If not the Kindle or Nook is reasonably priced. I'd love to hear your take once you've read it. My email is coachbillglass@gmail.com.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt. Thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the excerpt. There's a longer one posted on my website: www.williamaglass.com. Also you can download a sample from Amazon even if you don't have a Kindle!
DeleteGood luck with the raffle!
Bill
The excerpt is interesting. Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to hear good things about my writing! I hope you will reserve As Good As Can Be at your library or purchase it online. The ebook is reasonably priced!!
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Bill
This sounds like a really good book!
ReplyDeleteMarisela, thanks for your kind comment! I hope you will reserve As Good As Can Be at your library, or buy a copy online.
DeleteBest wishes,
Bill Glass
I liked the excerpt. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you liked the excerpt Diana. There's a longer one on my website: www.williamaglass.com. Also you can download a free sample on Amazon even if you do not have a Kindle.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Bill
book cover looks like one of our 1960's family photos, cool.
ReplyDeleteHi Deb! Glad the cover brought back fond memories. The idea behind it was to combine the look of magazine advertisements for 1950s station wagons, with a backdrop of WW II era army buildings. If you grew up in the 60s, you would probably love my book! Please reserve it at your library then after you've read it get back in touch with me. My email is coachbillglass@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Bill
Have a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteThanks Deborah! It's beautiful here today, not a cloud in the Carolina blue sky!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Bill
What is your favorite part of the book writing process?
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading Historical Fiction.
ReplyDeleteAnd an amazing cover.
Thank you for sharing the review.
What advice would you give a struggling writer?
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteLooks great!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteI like the cover of your book. It looks realistic and draws the reader into the novel.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Have a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteThat cover is great and the story sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!
ReplyDeletesounds like a fun one
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds really good, cant wait to pick it up. I love the cover.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new release!
ReplyDeleteohhh cant wait to get my hands on this book!
ReplyDeleteWas it difficult or easy to write this book?
ReplyDelete