Bernard Jan's Blog - Posts Tagged "coming-of-age"

Not Just a Boy by Jonathan Hill

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Not Just a Boy is a warm coming-of-age human story about growing up and first love(s). A 78-pages-long novella – we can only wish it lasts longer! – of the talented author Jonathan Hill from Manchester, UK, takes us gently back to our childhood and school days where everything seemed to have been easier, carefree and more innocent. Unless . . . you were different.

For one of the two best friends moving to another school was everything but easy or innocent. Not being able to fit into the new environment, in difference to his friend, he is immediately labeled an outcast, unfit, different. His adolescent days unexpectedly turn into a nightmare of name-calling, ridiculing, bullying and physical assault; it seems like everybody knows about his schoolboy crush much sooner than him, even before he is fully able to comprehend the truth about himself. “There was precious little evidence, and certainly nothing concrete, to confirm that I liked boys. I just knew that I’d fallen for him. And if he’d been a girl or a . . . or a frog . . . maybe I would have felt just the same love towards her or it.”

Evidence or not, society doesn't forgive, and certainly not his school mates. Being different, being a boy with a crush on another boy, has a high price. And the price of being different he has to pay with broken friendships, isolation and loneliness, shame, confusion and torment.

After a grand opening, “I have been running for only a minute, maybe two, and yet their frenzied shouts are oddly distant, as if they originate not only from another part of the wood but from another time entirely. Every inch of me is riddled with pain and if I stop to think how bad the pain actually is, it is enough to make me want to tear off my limbs with my own teeth.”, and the tragedy that preceded this running but has been revealed only later in the book, at the end of the story, Jonathan Hill leads us to a pleasantly calming sunset of this remarkable novella, which warms our hearts with a promise of restored friendship and hope for a normal life despite being different.

Special kudos to the book cover art which just about perfectly captures the story that is about to grip and glue us from the first page already.

BJ
www.bernardjan.com



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Not Just a Boy
Jonathan Hill
Bernard Jan

Doba čuda by Karen Thompson Walker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I never thought I would see the beauty in the dying of our planet, a slow extinguishing of life on it. First the birds, then the whole flocks of birds, then the grass, plants, trees, whales, other animals.

As days and nights become longer due to the slower rotation of the earth and 24-hour days are more a habit of living than a natural exchange of day and night, people become divided: the great majority returns to the old measuring of time, others opt to follow the extending course of nature and group themselves into new communities.

Gravity and magnetic fields are affected, solar super storms arise, the radiation showers through the damaged ozone layer. Daylight becomes too dangerous, forcing everyone to seek escape and life at nighttime.

People suffer from symptoms, plants can grow only in protected greenhouses, the polar light is painting the Californian sky followed by the first snow. The Sun brings death instead of life, fires are lightening up the horizon, people are moving from their homes or locking themselves in their houses and underground shelters. And the days are still getting longer and the planet is spinning slower and slower.

As the world as we know it is approaching to its catastrophe, there is an unnatural and quiet beauty in the irrevocable changes that are happening all over the planet, witnessed through the—a little too matured—eyes of an 11-year-old girl. Yet, some things don't change despite the omnipresent devastation—the expectations and pain of first love, losing friends, the test of her parents' marriage, all the little aspects of coming of age—as life is slowly extinguished day by day. People seem to be the only living creatures who adjusted and survived on the scorched earth and in an environment-turning-hostile. No one knows for how long though.

Destruction of our planet has never been so gentle, charming, calming and poetic as in The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker.

BJ
www.bernardjan.com



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Bernard Jan

Offstage by Jonathan Hill

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A kiss and drunken lips. Is it a close friendship between Daniel and Nathan or the birth of the first love?

Who speaks the truth when youthful lust gets the cold shoulder?

Love cannot be killed. If it cannot be reciprocated it must be endured.

In Offstage Jonathan Hill gets more sexual, more erotic, more sensual, more emotional, more unforgiving, more everything.

More a writer.

I needed a break after reading this story. And a few moments of solitude. Jonathan Hill can do that to you. There lies his brilliancy.

Read him!

BJ
www.bernardjan.com



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Bernard Jan

Between sixty aftershocks that are shaking the ground after two strong earthquakes hit Zagreb on a Sunday morning and the threat of a deadly virus, my heart is filled with gratitude and excitement as I reveal the cover and the blurb for January River, my first novel in English. I’ve been working and waiting over a year for this moment to arrive, so I hope it finds its way to the hearts of many readers and fans.

Domi at Inspired Cover Designs did a stunning cover for my eBook and paperback editions, so if you ever need a skilled cover designer, give her a chance!

Indie authors, Jonathan Hill and Michael Evans, have big credits for the final look of my blurb, so please show them some love by reading and reviewing their books.


January River Blurb

Five friends. One dog. One river carrying a secret.

When one of their friends goes missing, everything comes crashing down for the small group of childhood friends in the small town of Greenfield. Ethan takes it hard. Then he loses his dog, his only consolation.

Hoping to start anew, Ethan leaves Greenfield and moves to New York City. Far from the ghosts of his childhood and the river that gives and takes life. There he finds his one true love and builds a career as a bestselling author.

But how long will Ethan’s happiness last as doubts creep back into him and shatter his reality? And will his reconciliation with the past come at too great a price?

All rivers carry their secrets, but not every river keeps its secret forever.

In this heartwarming coming-of-age literary fiction with episodes of mystery and romance cross-genre story, Bernard Jan, the author of Look for Me Under the Rainbow and A World Without Color, speaks of true friendship, first darlings, and real loves. With gentle words he describes our connection with nature and love for our four-legged friends who quickly become honorable members of our families, but also tells about the dark secrets we carry in our hearts.


Thank you all who brought me here. January River will be available for purchase on Amazon in April.

BJ
www.bernardjan.com

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Bernard Jan

It’s been a long road, but I published my eBook January River on Amazon!

It is a heartwarming cross-genre story about five friends, one dog and one river carrying a secret.

If you like literary fiction, coming-of-age, mystery, or romance novels, you will find in it something for you. And if you love dogs, this is a book for you!

When one of their friends goes missing, everything comes crashing down for the small group of childhood friends in the small town of Greenfield. Ethan takes it hard. Then he loses his dog, his only consolation.

Hoping to start anew, Ethan leaves Greenfield and moves to New York City. Far from the ghosts of his childhood and the river that gives and takes life. There he finds his one true love and builds a career as a bestselling author.

But how long will Ethan’s happiness last as doubts creep back into him and shatter his reality? And will his reconciliation with the past come at too great a price?

January River is enrolled in KDP Select, where you can read it for free, and through most of April it will be at the discounted price of $0.99. A perfect time to download your eBook!

Please don’t forget to leave an honest review and recommend it by word of mouth. Thanks!

Here are some Amazon and Goodreads useful links:

Amazon
Amazon UK
Goodreads

If you are a representative of the media, please click here for the press release.

Once again thank you all who helped me bring this book to life.

BJ
www.bernardjan.com

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Bernard Jan

Another joyous day because on April 20 I have released a paperback edition of my novel January River on Amazon!

This heartwarming cross-genre story, a fine mix of literary fiction, coming-of-age, mystery, and romance, about five friends, one dog and one river carrying a secret is available as paperback on Amazon for only $10.99.

Animal and dog lovers, don’t skip it because this is a story for you too!

When one of their friends goes missing, everything comes crashing down for the small group of childhood friends in the small town of Greenfield. Ethan takes it hard. Then he loses his dog, his only consolation.

Hoping to start anew, Ethan leaves Greenfield and moves to New York City. Far from the ghosts of his childhood and the river that gives and takes life. There he finds his one true love and builds a career as a bestselling author.

But how long will Ethan’s happiness last as doubts creep back into him and shatter his reality? And will his reconciliation with the past come at too great a price?

All rivers carry their secrets, but not every river keeps its secret forever.

Here are the links to January River as paperback and eBook.

Please don’t forget to leave an honest review at the platforms below and recommend it by word of mouth.

Amazon
Amazon UK
Goodreads

Thanks!

If you are a representative of the media, please click here for the press release.

BJ
www.bernardjan.com

Follow me on Twitter.


Bernard Jan

I have submitted my new novel January River in two contests: TCK Publishing Reader’s Choice Awards 2020 and AUTHORSdb Cover Contest 2020.

TCK Publishing Reader’s Choice Awards 2020 is a contest for best books in 16 categories. To reach the category of my book, click the arrows on the left and right side of the voting form to navigate between categories. Once you are on the page 13/16 of General Fiction books, scroll down until you get to January River and click on the book title to cast your vote.

To vote for my book cover January River in AUTHORSdb Cover Contest 2020, please scroll down on this link where you will see a blue button Submit your Vote / Review. By clicking on it, you will cast your vote!

Thank you very much for your votes and support! Please share these links with others, because, as you know, life of every book depends on your support and love.

Cast your vote for January River in TCK Publishing Reader’s Choice Awards 2020 (go to page 13/16 General Fiction).

Cast your vote for January River in AUTHORSdb Cover Contest 2020.

I thank you for loving January River, a story of five friends, one dog and one river carrying a secret!

BJ
www.bernardjan.com

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Cover design by Domi at Inspired Cover Designs.


Bernard Jan

My novel about five friends, one dog and one river carrying a secret is competing in AllAuthor Cover of the Month contest for June 2020.

If you like January River cover designed by Domi at Inspired Cover Designs, please cast your vote! Even if you don’t like the cover, and you love dogs, cast your vote. A golden retriever from its cover will be grateful to you, and so will I!

Please also check this heartwarming coming-of-age literary fiction with episodes of mystery and romance cross-genre story on Amazon and leave an honest review if you like stories of true friendship, first darlings, and real loves, beautiful nature and our four-legged friends who quickly become honorable members of our families.

Vote for January River as the cover of June

January River on Amazon

January River on Goodreads

Thank you!

BJ
www.bernardjan.com

Follow me on Twitter.


Bernard Jan

My novel, January River, about five friends, one dog and one river carrying a secret, at a 67% discounted price on Amazon!

Monday, June 22, 2020, 8:00 AM PDT through Monday, June 28, 2020, 8:00 PM PDT

When one of their friends goes missing, everything comes crashing down for the small group of childhood friends in the small town of Greenfield. Ethan takes it hard. Not even his brother Will and their dog can console him. Then life bares its teeth again, scarring Ethan with another tragic event. He loses his dog, his only consolation.

As soon as he gets the chance, Will leaves Greenfield and Ethan follows a few years later. They start a new life, far from the ghosts of their childhood and the river that gives and takes life. While Will discovers his love for the open seas and spends his best years aboard various ships, Ethan stays in New York City. There he finds his one true love and builds a career as a bestselling author.

But how long will Ethan’s happiness last as doubts creep back into him and shatter his reality? And will his reconciliation with the past come at too great a price?

The whole week, January River eBook will be only $.99, which is a great opportunity to get it at a bargain price. Download here this beautiful and heartwarming coming-of-age literary fiction with episodes of mystery and romance cross-genre story and leave your honest reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.

Please spread the word about this promo week discount, and check out my two other books A World Without Color and Look for Me Under the Rainbow.

Click here to get January River at a 67% discounted price on Amazon on June 22-28, 2020.

BJ
www.bernardjan.com

Follow me on Twitter.


Bernard Jan

All rivers carry their secrets, but not every river keeps its secret forever. January River is at a 67% late summer discount on Amazon!

Friday, September 18, 2020, 8:00 AM PDT through Friday, September 25, 2020, 12:00 AM PDT

When one of their friends goes missing, everything comes crashing down for the small group of childhood friends in the small town of Greenfield. Ethan takes it hard. Not even his brother Will and their dog can console him. Then life bares its teeth again, scarring Ethan with another tragic event. He loses his dog, his only consolation.

As soon as he gets the chance, Will leaves Greenfield and Ethan follows a few years later. They start a new life, far from the ghosts of their childhood and the river that gives and takes life. While Will discovers his love for the open seas and spends his best years aboard various ships, Ethan stays in New York City. There he finds his one true love and builds a career as a bestselling author.

But how long will Ethan’s happiness last as doubts creep back into him and shatter his reality? And will his reconciliation with the past come at too great a price?

You can download my novel about five friends, one dog and one river carrying a secret for only $.99 bargain price on Amazon! Please spread the word about this promo week discount, and also check out my two other books A World Without Color and Look for Me Under the Rainbow.

Thanks!

BJ
www.bernardjan.com


Acclaim for January River


“Bernard is a writer who can evoke deep emotions with his excellent writing. He uses the perfect wordings and well-chosen metaphors to paint a scene and give us a look into his characters' deepest feelings.”
—Koen Van den Eeckhout, Belgian information designer, reader, and Goodreads book reviewer

“I will tell you upfront, this is no easy book to devour due to the tenacity of the story to impact you. Some will live. Some will not. But the author does all the right things to make you feel the emotions of the characters throughout the novel.”
—James J. Cudney, author of Watching Glass Shatter, Hiding Cracked Glass, Father Figure, and Braxton Campus Mysteries series

“It’s one of those books that come along occasionally that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end.”
—Píaras Ó Cíonnaoíth, poet and author of books for both children and adults and reviewer for Emerald Book Reviews


Bernard Jan