Hello, and welcome to Yellow Bird’s new ongoing series, Success In the Press. In each post, we will shine a spotlight on three of our published clients.
To Squeeze A Prairie Dog by Scott Semegran
From the author: This is the story of J. D. Wiswall, a sincere young man from a small town, who joins a state government agency in a data entry department comprised of quirky clerks. Quickly endearing himself to the diverse group in Unit 3, J. D. learns his coworkers have a pact to share the $10,000 prize if they win a cost-savings program for a suggestion that could save the government money, in turn helping them rise above their own personal struggles.
Our take: This award-winning literary novel ties together data entry clerks, one blustering governor, and an intrepid reporter in a story of friendship and intrigue. With the relationships and struggles of the protagonist and his new co-workers forming the heart of the novel, this satire has bite, but an ultimately optimistic message about forming connections and the changes those connections are capable of bringing.
From a reader: “If Semegran has one overriding talent, it’s in his ability to take the most seemingly ordinary bunch of characters and show us that their lives are, in fact, extraordinary. That the author is able to take the interplay of those lives and craft it into sucan entertaining novel is a credit to his mastery as a storyteller.”
Time Next (The Time Zero Trilogy Book 2) by Carolyn Cohagan
From the author: Mina's adventure continues in this sequel to the award-winning Time Zero. In book one, Mina and her friends narrowly escaped fundamentalist-ruled Manhattan. Now, they've been taken in by the Unbound, a modern community that wants to shelter and care for them. Mina, however, becomes increasingly nervous as she and her friends are forced apart, and she's asked to alter her clothing, behavior, and even her faith. As she struggles to hold onto her identity, she also grapples with her secrets, even as the Unbound endeavor to discover each and every one.
Our take: Called ‘exciting’ and ‘thought-provoking’ by The Things They Carried author Tim O’Brien, this sequel to a previous novel is a YA dystopia with elements of The Handmaid’s Tale. Forced to flee a patriarchal society and a forced marriage in the first novel, the protagonist faces a new system of oppression in what was thought to be a place of refuge. Taking a mature look at some dark topics, this compelling thriller is an impressive addition to the genre.
From a reader: “It’s rare that a sequel lives up to its predecessor, but this one did, and then some. I zipped through it in two days. Yet again, Carolyn Cohagan has created a new world out of whole cloth, one every bit as vivid, credible, and terrifying as the one Mina left behind. I ended every chapter breathless, and wondered time and time again how the characters would get out of their impossible situation.”
Amazon | Goodreads | Author site
Bombshell (What Doesn’t Kill You #9) by Pamela Fagan Hutchins
From the author: Ava dreams of building a better life for her daughter through her island pop songs. Her new temp job leads to a once-in-a-lifetime shot at a record deal, but before she can pack her bags for New York, she discovers a dead body outside her office building. Horrified, Ava recognizes the murdered sex worker as her childhood friend. [...] Before Ava can move on to a bright future in music, she must confront the truth behind her dark past to catch the murderer or she'll be next on his kill list.
Our take: The first book in a new trilogy within an ongoing series, this timely romantic thriller from a long-time Yellow Bird client is packed with conflicts and drama, from the protagonist’s hunt for a killer to financial corruption to childhood trauma. However, the funny and likeable main character keeps it from being too heavy of a read. Set in the Virgin Islands, you can’t ask for much more from a beach read than what this book delivers.
From a reader: “You will love this action-packed adventure with a spirited lead character who will have you rooting for her in no time. Funny, smart, self-deprecating, she's a complicated character with lots going for her but plenty of trouble holding her back. [...] The murder of an old friend is only one of the plot twists that keep this story moving in interesting, suspenseful, and unexpected directions.”
Amazon | Goodreads | Author site
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We hope you enjoyed this look at some of the Yellow Bird family’s success stories! Check back soon for more. If you are a former Yellow Bird client and would like us to consider featuring your published work, email info@yellowbirdeditors.com.