Just Out of Reach
by Belinda
Stevens
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
When
high school freshman Katherine Boyd meets David, her life is forever altered.
Their romance experiences the turmoil of Mississippi in the sixties, family
relationships that keep them apart, and political differences that threaten to
destroy them. Through the death of JFK and James Meredith’s admission to Ole
Miss, Katherine’s growth means being progressive in a traditional Southern
family, accepting the loss of those closest to her, and learning to cope with
her family’s darkest secrets. Just Out of Reach is the story of a young woman
forged in desperate times and a love that changes her life forever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt
There are
certain events in life that leave a line of demarcation, the beginning of
things, the ending of something else.
For me, meeting David was that line.
It all began
my freshman year at Lancaster High. What
amazed me about the year 1961 was that my feelings for David emerged at the
exact moment I became isolated from the soul of my town, my birthplace. I was
apart from all that I knew or understood.
It all happened so fast that I felt split, like some multiple
personality separating into many different identities.
The day we
met, it was very cold. The student body had congregated in and around the
arcade during morning break to get a glimpse of the falling snow, hoping that
the ground would be cold enough for it to stick. Lancaster High was nestled between the canal
that separated my town from the residential area and its business district to
the north. LHS was made of red brick,
with a newly erected concrete arcade leading directly to its front entrance.
As thoughts
of a snow holiday raced through my head, Betsy and I noticed a couple at the
far end of the arcade. We automatically
moved in that direction. I nudged my
best friend and whispered, “Who’s the guy with Linda?”
“Don’t know,
let’s find out,” responded Betsy. My
friend continued to talk but I didn’t hear a word. My eyes were fixed on the boy at the end of
the arcade. My heart was pounding so
hard, it was all I heard. My reaction was a mystery, even to me. It still is.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Belinda J.
Stevens was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi, the gateway to the Mississippi
Delta, in 1948. She grew up in the turbulent sixties, and has a true
appreciation for the difficulties experienced by Katherine in Just Out of
Reach, which is Belinda’s first novel. She is an attorney who currently
practices law in Yazoo City and resides in Brandon, Mississippi with her dog,
Humprey B.
Facebook:
facebook.com/belinda.stevens.733
Twitter:
@BelindaSteven20
Blog:
belindastevens.blogspot.com
Readers, Belinda is giving away a $10 Amazon gift certificate so follow her tour and comment often for a chance to win. Find her schedule at http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/09/virtual-blurb-blitz-tour-just-out-of.html
What made you go with the age level that you did? I know a lot of authors struggle with whether to write YA, New Adult, or Adult literature, and what it means to be in each genre...just wondering your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteandralynn7 AT gmail DOT com
I like the premise of the story.
ReplyDeleteKit3247(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks for sharing the great excerpt and the giveaway. Sounds like a great book and I am looking forward to reading it. evamillien at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI really think this book sounds awesome. I loved the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteIntriguing characters
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
I'm looking forward to a great read.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Sounds like a great read!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the excerpt and the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com