In 2012, he won a prestigious Norman Mailer Fellowship to complete his most recent historical novel, Road to Delano. His novels Leonardo’s Chair and No Ordinary Man have received critical recognition.
He works with select clients to write stories of inspiration and determination and with those who have a vital message to bring to the marketplace of ideas in well-written books.
Website → https://www.johndesimone.com/
Twitter → https://twitter.com/JRDeSimone
Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/bookwriter718/
Book Info:
Jack Duncan is a high school senior whose dream is to play baseball
in college and beyond―as far away from Delano as possible. He longs to
escape the political turmoil surrounding the labor
struggles of the
striking fieldworkers that infests his small ag town. Ever since his
father, a grape grower, died under suspicious circumstances ten years
earlier, he’s had to be the sole emotional support of his mother, who
has kept secrets from him about his father’s involvement in the ongoing
labor strife.
With their property on the verge of a tax sale, Jack drives an old combine into town to sell it so he and his mother don’t become homeless. On the road, an old friend of his father’s shows up and hands him the police report indicating Jack’s father was murdered. Jack is compelled to dig deep to discover the entire truth, which throws him into the heart of the corruption endemic in the Central Valley. Everything he has dreamed of is at stake if he can’t control his impulse for revenge.
While Jack’s girlfriend, the intelligent and articulate Ella, warns him not to so anything to jeopardize their plans of moving to L.A., after graduation, Jack turns to his best friend, Adrian, a star player on the team, to help to save his mother’s land. When Jack’s efforts to rescue a stolen piece of farm equipment leaves Adrian―the son of a boycotting fieldworker who works closely with Cesar Chavez―in a catastrophic situation, Jack must bail his friend out of his dilemma before it ruins his future prospects. Jack uses his wits, his acumen at card playing, and his boldness to raise the money to spring his friend, who has been transformed by his jail experience.
The Road to Delano is the path Jack, Ella, and Adrian must take to find their strength, their duty, their destiny.
With their property on the verge of a tax sale, Jack drives an old combine into town to sell it so he and his mother don’t become homeless. On the road, an old friend of his father’s shows up and hands him the police report indicating Jack’s father was murdered. Jack is compelled to dig deep to discover the entire truth, which throws him into the heart of the corruption endemic in the Central Valley. Everything he has dreamed of is at stake if he can’t control his impulse for revenge.
While Jack’s girlfriend, the intelligent and articulate Ella, warns him not to so anything to jeopardize their plans of moving to L.A., after graduation, Jack turns to his best friend, Adrian, a star player on the team, to help to save his mother’s land. When Jack’s efforts to rescue a stolen piece of farm equipment leaves Adrian―the son of a boycotting fieldworker who works closely with Cesar Chavez―in a catastrophic situation, Jack must bail his friend out of his dilemma before it ruins his future prospects. Jack uses his wits, his acumen at card playing, and his boldness to raise the money to spring his friend, who has been transformed by his jail experience.
The Road to Delano is the path Jack, Ella, and Adrian must take to find their strength, their duty, their destiny.
Amazon → https://amzn.to/2Rdrc0G
Barnes & Noble → https://bit.ly/381fQT9
Book Depository → https://bit.ly/2Ld0z82
IndieBound → https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781644280317
Thank you for your time in
answering our questions about getting published. Let’s begin by having
you explain to us why you decided to become an author and pen this book?
Like most writers, I always
wanted to be a writer. I had many detours, but never gave up the desire to
write. This book happened as the result of looking for new subjects.
Is this your first book?
My second novel, but my first
historical novel. I’ve written books for others, mainly memoirs. But my passion
is writing fiction.
With this particular book,
how did you publish – traditional, small press, Indie, etc. – and why did you choose
this method?
Small Press. Rare Bird is a
traditional publisher in Los Angeles.
Can you tell us a little
about your publishing journey? The pros
and cons?
I think you mean the pros and
cons of traditional vs. small press. I had over 40 rejections in New
York for this book, and my agent gave up. Rare Bird
loved the book because it was a California
story and a great prospect for the school and library market.
What lessons do you feel you
learned about your particular publishing journey and about the publishing
industry as a whole?
So many. Work with good editors
who can help refine your writing. Be persistant. And take control of your own
destiny. If you have a good story, and no one notices. Then forge your own
path. There’s never been a greater time to be a writer.
Would you recommend this
method of publishing to other authors?
I would recommend shooting for
writing such a high quality book, a big publisher will purchase it. New
York is not the answer for everyone. Write a good
book, and then figure out how to sell it.
What’s the best advice you
can give to aspiring authors?
Get started, get connected to
other writers, find mentors, become a student of the craft. Be persistant.
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