BLOG TOUR: The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain, Guest Post + Excerpt!

Why hello there!

Welcome back to another day here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers….where the posts are like a box of Mr. Gump’s chocolates; you never quite know what you’re gonna get. 

Yesterday, we took a stroll through the world of Children’s Fiction with a contemporary title that took us round the world.  Today, we travel back to the land of Fiction and land squarely on target with a BLOG TOUR!  That’s right.  We’ve got special guests in the house courtesy of the fabulous folks at Meryl L. Moss Media in the form of a blog tour featuring an author I had the privilege of reading some time ago…and thoroughly enjoyed.  This time around, we’re celebrating the release of another title from this prolific author that is sure to catch your attention as it did mine…and some might even relate to it personally in these trying economic times.  I was lucky enough to get on board with this tour to share with you a special feature or two, but first, let’s take a gander at the book itself, shall we?

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The Good Father

By

Diane Chamberlain

From Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc…

A beloved daughter. A devastating choice. And now there’s no going back. Four years ago, nineteen-year-old Travis Brown had to make a life changing decision. While his friends were out partying and meeting girls, Travis was at home raising his newborn daughter on his own – changing diapers and working to keep food on the table.  But he’s never regretted his decision. Bella is the light of his life – the reason behind every move he makes – and so far, she is fed.  Cared for.  Safe. But when Travis loses his construction job and his home, the security he’s worked so hard to create for Bella begins to crumble…

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Sounds like one devoted father, no?

I thought so…and you have to give him credit for manning up, taking responsibility and helping to make a life worth living for this precious bundle of joy.  So sad to see that sacrifice seems to be a prevalent fixture in their lives….but if I had to guess, by books end they’ll be better for it. 

Now for special feature number one…an excerpt!  Let’s take a peek behind the cover, shall we?

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"Can you watch Bella a sec and I'll go get it? I can tell you the address and maybe you can tell me how to get there."           

"Sure," she said.                                 

I couldn't move all of a sudden. I wanted to take Bella back into the restroom and hug her so hard, but really, I had to get this over with. Just do it. I bent over and kissed Bella's head, then walked away fast. Out the door, across the parking lot, into my van.

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Whoa.  *-*

Okay, now I’m concerned, confused and a few other “con-“ things.

Did he just leave her?  Was it only for a second?  With a stranger?!  Is he going back?  Of course he is…right?  Amazing how even a short excerpt like that can tease the brain and make it race to a hundred conclusions! 

Okay.

Let’s compose ourselves.

There…that’s better.

Now, on to special feature number two…a GUEST POST!

That’s right.

The author was kind enough to grace us with a post about a topic of her choosing and the results are below for your perusal.  It’s a personal share that fits rather well with the personal nature of this particular book, so I say BRAVA!  Ready?  Set?  READ!

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How has rheumatoid arthritis affected your writing?

In the mid-nineties, I worked out every day and was in the best shape of my adult life. I was also newly married and a new step mom to three teenaged girls. I had published seven novels by then and life was looking good--until I noticed a twinge in my left foot. The twinge was the start of Rheumatoid Arthritis---a serious chronic disease that can affect internal organs as well as the joints. Within a few months, I couldn’t walk without excruciating pain—pain that quickly moved into my hands. In a few more months, my ankle and wrists fused as the cartilage disappeared. It was a frightening time, filled with uncertainty about the future. My days of working out were over. The most I could manage was hobbling to the mailbox. Worst of all, I couldn’t type. I had a story inside my head and no way to get it onto paper. It never occurred to me to quit, though. I was a writer and if I gave up my writing, all those ideas inside my head would have no place to go. So I bought voice recognition software and wrote all of my eighth novel by narrating the story aloud--and cussing at the software when it stubbornly refused to understand my New Jersey/California/Virginia accent.

Everything changed when the new generation of medications came along. In a remarkably short time, I could type again. I still have trouble walking (I wear a brace) and my wrists will never bend, but I can type nearly all day, which is a joy I will never take for granted.

The most profound impact of having RA, though, didn’t take place in my body but in my spirit. Being seriously ill made me see my life in a new way—a way filled with gratitude and acceptance. It also influenced my writing, as I better understood the struggles of my characters. Don’t get me wrong—I would have loved to come to these realizations without getting sick, but I’m not sure it would have happened.  Sometimes, a hardship can truly be a blessing in disguise.

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See what I meant about a perfect fit?

I think she summed it up rather well with “a blessing in disguise”…something I have a feeling we’ll see proven within this book.  My thanks to Ms. Chamberlain for the personal share…it must have been a trying time indeed but one she not only made it through, but overcame with astonishing results.

Special thanks to Erin at Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc for the chance to bring this tour to all of you.  (THANKS!)  For more information on their services as well as their upcoming tours, feel free to visit them online or follow along on Twitter.  To check out the rest of THIS TOUR, be sure to visit the official blog tour site where you can see all the stops that have come and gone chock full of interesting information, reviews, and the like.  Now, one more bit of news that I KNOW you’ll want to clear your calendars for...

WHAT:  LIVE chat with author Diane Chamberlain!

WHEN:  Thursday, May 31^st, 2012 at 3 PM EST

WHERE:  BookTrib.com

RSVP:  livechat@booktrib.com

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Be there or be…well, there.  ^_^

It’s sure to be a high-ho time you won’t want to miss.

In the mean time, if you’d like to discover more about this title as well as what the author is up to now, be sure to stop by her official website, like her Facebook, or follow along on Twitter.   

Until next time...happy reading!