NBTM Virtual Tour and Giveaway - The Final Crossing: A Tale of Self-Discovery and Adventure by Vince Santoro

Welcome to my stop on the NBTM virtual tour for The Final Crossing: A Tale of Self-Discovery and Adventure by Vince Santoro. This tour was organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. On my stop, I have an excerpt from the book as well as an interesting guest post from the author. There's also the tour wide giveaway for a chance to win a $15 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: The Final Crossing: A Tale of Self-Discovery and Adventure

Author: Vince Santoro

Publisher: Tellwell Talent

Publication Date: March 24th 2022

Print Length: 354 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

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In this tale of self-discovery and adventure, we are connected with a history we've come to know as the cradle of civilization.

Nenshi, an Egyptian house servant, raised in nobility, is well-schooled, a master huntsman and hungers to be free. His master agrees to grant his freedom but while the petition is set to be heard, Nenshi's indiscretion gets in the way. He is caught in a secret love affair with a woman above his social status.

As punishment, he is exiled to labour in the Nubian gold mines. His life turns upside down as he is thrust into a world for which he had been ill prepared. He escapes from the mines and vows to return to Thebes, but his attempts push him farther and farther away on a journey that redefines him – a journey mired with cruelty, bloodshed, and the discovery of a new deity.

In the end Nenshi learns his freedom has been granted and must decide whether to return to his homeland or start a new life.

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PRAISE:

"I greatly enjoyed this well written story by Vince Santoro. He takes us across the Ancient World through the protagonist, Nenshi, an exiled Egyptian servant who struggles with class structure, both around and within himself. Santoro weaves a story of ideas – a sense of belonging, monotheism, and the human soul - told through Nenshi's rite of passage through to his final crossing. The setting is visually evocative of "spirit of place" as the novelist and travel writer Lawrence Durrell called it. It's a story worth reading." - Terry Stanfill, Award winning historical fiction author of The Gift from Fortuny, Realms of Gold, The Blood Remembers, and other works.

"Vince Santoro is a gifted storyteller. I found The Final Crossing difficult to put down because it is well written. As an historian and author of non-fiction books, I am impressed with the amount of research that Santoro has done to prepare this story of adventure and romance set in the ancient Middle East. The customs, the beliefs and even the character names are all authentic to that region and era. With so many plot twists and turns, Santoro will keep you guessing about what might happen next to the protagonist until the very end!" - John Charles Corrigan, Author of The Red Night and "Love Always"

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EXCERPT:

Nenshi and Hordekef meandered through the passages, some narrow, some wide enough to parade animals for sale. There was a different mood among the merchants. Nenshi noticed the acrid atmosphere. An unsettled sensation lingered, like a haunting image from a nightmare. The acrimony spread like the annual flooding of the River Iteru - the sorrowful tears of Isis for her dead husband Osiris.

But Nenshi could not let things go unsaid. At the very least to make sure Hordekef was aware of it all.

“Something is very different today,” Nenshi said.

Hordekef surveyed the surroundings. “All I see is the same greedy merchants selling the same worthless merchandise to the same rude buyers.” He grinned and then pushed a short man aside who stood in his way. The man turned and raised his hand to strike but realized the difference in size and strength. He casually submitted to the titan and moved aside.

“Look around,” Nenshi said. “Tehuti may be right, the heqa khasewet may be closer than we think.”

Hordekef laughed. “You are obsessed with this notion of invaders.” He refused to let Nenshi’s preoccupation ruin his day. “If they’re as close as you suggest, the marketplace would be empty.”

“Don’t you see there aren’t as many merchants.”

“That doesn’t mean an attack is imminent.”

Even though there were fewer merchants, the market was still busy. A sea of sellers and buyers overflowed the narrow paths. Merchandise of every kind, from near and far, strewn on tables, hung on ropes, were on display to attract customers. Merchants added their own special calling, chanted or yelled, to solicit a sale.

Nonetheless, Nenshi remained vigilant. Unlike raids, common in small towns, he knew attacks in Thebes were never anticipated. And like many others, he had been lulled in the belief that the Walls of the Prince, there to protect the people, were impenetrable.

“This is the perfect stage for an attack,” he said. “A large unsuspecting crowd is fodder for mayhem.” But he was hardly heard, drowned by squealing flutes, competing with thunderous drumbeats.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Vince Santoro is an Italian-born Canadian who grew up in Toronto, Canada, and now lives in Pickering, a suburb of Toronto.

In his youth, education and sports became a priority. A private boys' school, St. Michael's College in Toronto, provided the opportunity for both. He graduated from York University, Toronto, with a degree in history and a minor in behavioural science.

Vince was always up for new challenges. After completing his studies, he set his eyes on Europe and played professional basketball in Italy. When he returned home, he shifted gears and worked in the aerospace industry in several capacities. The most rewarding was managing internal communications for a large aircraft manufacturer. It was during this time he decided to hone his writing skills by studying journalism at Ryerson University, Toronto, and he had several articles published.

His career in communications along with studies in history and journalism prepared him to take on his next challenge: to write a book. His debut novel, The Final Crossing, has been a labour of love, one he worked on for many years. It reflects life experiences, woven into a story that inspires and entertains, and perhaps even show the world in a different way.

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GUEST POST:

- What do you love the most about historical fiction and why?

In suspense novels and thrillers, like the protagonist, readers are dangled over a constant state of danger. Crime and mystery fiction are intriguing by nature and always seeks to get to the bottom of a situation. Historical fiction can have these same characteristics and more.

When meshed with historical facts, historical fiction takes us back to a time and place to help us understand what happened. Where history looks at the people and events that have shaped the world, historical fiction reaches the core of our humanity in a constant search for wisdom and value.

What I like about historical fiction is not only that it takes me to another place and time, but it balances research and creativity. A whole new story is created, a whole new world is uncovered.

But don’t be mistaken, writing historical fiction has its challenges. Once historical facts are researched, they are weaved into a story, utilizing a degree of creative liberties. This doesn’t mean the facts are distorted or changed. They are used to move the story forward or give a different perspective of what happened.

Then there are other lesser-known facts, used to conceptualize an event or situation. The purpose is to make the story readable, believable, or spark thought-provoking alternatives to traditionally known facts. Like an archaeologist, I like digging for those kernels of alternatives.

For example, when I was researching for my story, The Final Crossing which is set in the Ancient World, I was intrigued by the history of biblical events or phenomena. In my research I discovered that manna, the so-called “bread from heaven”, was a unique substance that grew on desert shrubs. After it fell to the ground, it was collected, ground and pounded into cakes and then baked. Bible passages tell the story of the Israelites eating manna, sent by God, during their trek across the desert. In my story the protagonist learns about this mann es-sama from Bedouins living in the desert. I tried to show that even what many believed to be a miracle from above can be explained in Nature.

Here’s another way to look at it, in a simplistic sort of way. A painter prepares his canvas and may choose to paint the backdrop first. Strokes of colours, accents in shades – all to help bring the painting to life. Then the painter adds what he or she wants to depict - the focus of the painting. We look at the finished work, perhaps of a man, his face wrinkled like old leather, his eyes staring in determination. In the background, grey clouds overlook a farmer’s corn field ready for harvest. The painting is about the man. The backdrop tells us something about the man’s world.

It’s the same with historical fiction. The history is a backdrop to what the story is about - the protagonist and his or her quest. The backdrop helps create an accurate representation of the protagonist, their world and the events that propel them towards their goal. It’s the canvas, carefully prepared to help bring characters and settings to life.

What I like most about historical fiction is, taking people, places and events from the past and propelling them into today’s world. With a stroke of imagination, the people, places and events tells a new story, one that makes us see the world differently.

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GIVEAWAY:

Vince Santoro will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Good luck!

(All the Ups and Downs is not responsible for this giveaway, its entries, or the prize. Goddess Fish Promotions and the author assume all responsibility over this giveaway.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway