Guest Post and Giveaway with Chuck Waldron, author of Tears in the Dust

Hi, everyone!

I am pleased to participate in Chuck Waldron's Tears in the Dust Virtual Book Publicity Tour hosted by Pump Up Your Book. 

About Chuck:

U.S. born, Canadian novelist Chuck Waldron is currently working on his fourth novel, a thriller about an investigative blogger who uncovers more than he ever imagines…and has no idea what to do with his discovery.

His first novel, Tears in the Dust, is a mystery set against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War in 1937.  When Alestair Ferguson volunteers to fight in the International Brigade he doesn’t realize the true price he will have to pay.  Chuck’s second novel, Remington and the Mysterious Fedora, is a quirky fantasy, a story about what happens when a young man sits at the keyboard of a manual typewriter and puts on an old fedora.  When the fedora and its mysterious power begins to whisper a story to him, the young man has a strange adventure indeed.  His third novel, Served Cold, spans decades and stretches from the countryside of rural Ontario to a quiet artists’ studio in Tucson, Arizona.  With lots of murder and mayhem in between, the story is what happens when a long-standing feud erupts into hot-blooded vengeance.

Chuck wrote over thirty short stories before setting out to write novels that are affordable and entertaining.  He has attended writing workshops in Iowa, Florida, Georgia and Ontario, Canada.

“I grew up,” Chuck said, “listening to my grandfather, an Ozark Mountain story teller, spinning tales of the caves on his farm, describing them as hiding places once used by the Jesse & Frank James’ gang.  It didn’t matter if the stories were true or not.  Those legends set fire to my imagination, creating images that emerged slowly over the years, finally igniting as my short stories and novels.”

Now, thirty-plus short stories and three novels later, ideas keep coming, with more novels under development.  Do they share anything in common?  Each has its own unique voice and tale to tell, yet, at their heart, his stories tell about the human condition – the good, the bad and the ugly.

Chuck adds, “Stored images that echo in my writing include train whistles in the night, Norman Rockwell childhood scenes, U.S. Army memories, blue collar jobs, university, a professonal career, and finally retirement.  Many of my images are drawn from this pool of memories: places visited, sights seen, and people met.  The rest I filled in with my imagination: dreams of places yet to be visited, sights yet to be seen, and people yet to be met.”

His literary roots were planted in the American Midwest and thrived when transplanted – over thirty-nine years ago – to the rich, cultural soil of Ontario.  He and his wife, Suzanne, spend their summers in Kitchener, Ontario and are warmed by a winter sun in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

You can visit Chuck at http://www.writebyme.ca and at www.chuckwaldron.com.     Visit him at Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/writebyme and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/wordstir.

Welcome to Darlene's Book Nook, Chuck!

Chuck has written a guest post, so I will now turn the floor over to him.

Guest Post by Chuck Waldron

My name is Chuck Waldron. Tears in the Dust was my first novel and remains my favorite. It started as a short story when I imagined a character in 1937, hopping trains as many did in those times, and on his way to volunteer to fight on the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. The story was really a memory Alestair “Alec” Ferguson was clinging to as he lived out his life in a nursing home.

Writing the novel allowed me to imagine the story leading up to that day and night in the make-believe town of Sweetwater, Oklahoma, and take it from that time through a war in Spain and on to Southern Ontario, ending with a final confrontation with his adversary.

The central story chronicles Alec’s journey to Spain to fight in a war, a decision that would fill him with personal loss and disillusionment. While in Spain, he falls in love with Tamara, a convoy driver for the International Brigade. The war takes its heavy toll on his life, and he learns just how high the cost can be. Disillusioned, Alec fights on despite the damage done to his once strongly held beliefs.

When Alec returns to his home he must live the rest of his life under a false identity. But, no matter how far he goes, Alec can’t outrun Samuel T. Harrison, who pursues him through years and countries, only to catch up with Alec in a stunning conclusion.

I have been delighted with reader response to this novel. The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) is a war that is being consigned to history’s dustbin Perhaps the ‘Tears’ in the title are for fading memories. “Dust” in the novel for the dust bin.

So many events overshadowed the brave men and women who travelled far and wide to fight fascism. These amateur soldiers were abandoned by democratic nations and ultimately defeated by an army that was backed with men, weapons and money by Hitler’s Germany and Mussolini’s Italy.

Echoes of that conflict can still be heard resonating in today’s headlines.

While I was strongly influenced by the history of that conflict, my goal was to write an entertaining story. I think I have and I look forward to readers telling me what they think.

Thanks so much for joining us today, Chuck! 

Giveaway: 

One lucky winner will win a paperback copy of Tears in the Dust. 

This giveaway is open to entrants from Canada and the United States only at the author's request.

SYNOPSIS:

Tears in the Dust is a contemporary novel with gleams of hope intertwined within the despair of life. This is a story which serves to lift the reader up, only to take him back down into the darkness that lurks around the corners of one man’s life. Alestair “Alec” Ferguson beings a journey as a young man, off to enlist in the Spanish Civil War in 1937. Samuel T. Harrison is a dark and warped detective with a deep hatred of communism. He is the dark and violent nemesis who makes his way into the ranks of the detective agency where his boss uses his violent talents. People disappear whenever Harrison comes to town. The story chronicles Alec’s journey to Spain to fight in a war filled with personal loss and disillusionment. While in Spain, Alec falls in love with Tamarah, a convoy drive for the International Brigade. The war takes a heavy toll on Alec, and he learns just how high the cost of war can be. Disheartened, Alec fights on despite the damage done to his once strongly held beliefs. When Alec returns to his home in Vermont, seeking healing and the redemption of his ideals, what he finds there instead, causes him to flee to Canada and live the rest of his life under a false identity. But, no matter how far he goes, Alec cannot outrun Harrison, who pursues him through years and countries, only to catch up with him in a stunning conclusion to the story.

To enter the giveaway, please fill out the Rafflecopter entry form below.

This giveaway is open to entrants from Canada and the United States only until 12:01 AM EST on December 20, 2011.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Participants

Monday, December 5

Book reviewed at True Media Solutions

Tuesday, December 6

Interviewed at Pump Up Your Book

Wednesday, December 7

Guest blogging at Literary Backstories

Thursday, December 8

Book reviewed at Kaitlin Usher’s YouTube Channel

Friday, December 9

Interviewed at Beyond the Books

Monday, December 12

Video interview at Pump Up Your Book

Tuesday, December 13

Guest blogging & Book Giveaway at Darlene’s Book Nook

Wednesday, December 14

Guest blogging at The Book Boost

Thursday, December 15

Guest blogging at Mad Moose Mama

Friday, December 16

Book reviewed at Mad Moose Mama

Chat with Chuck at Pump Up Your Book December Authors on Tour Facebook Party!

In celebration of his new release, Chuck will be attending Pump Up Your Book’s 1st Annual Holiday Extravaganza Facebook Party on December 16. More than 50 books, gifts and cash awards will be given away including a paperback copy of Tears in the Dust! Visit the official party page here!