“How do you recognize your soulmate?
In glittery 1980’s Los Angeles, Beau Kellogg is a brilliant Broadway lyricist now writing advertising jingles and yearning for one more hit to compensate for his miserable marriage and disappointing life.
Amanda Harary, a young singer out of synch with her contemporaries, works at a small New York hotel, while she dreams of singing on Broadway.
When they meet late at night over the hotel switchboard, what begins will bring them each unexpected success, untold joy, and piercing heartache ... until they learn that some connections, however improbable, are meant to last forever.
STEALING FIRE is, at its heart, a story for romantics everywhere, who believe in the transformative power of love.”
STEALING FIRE was a Quarter-Finalist (Top 5%) in the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest.
Excerpt:
Oh, God, it was him, the bastard who had upset the switchboard operators and bellowed through the lobby loudly enough to alert all five boroughs. At three o'clock in the morning, asking for room service. Unbelievable.
Amanda leaned back in her chair. Her stomach was tightening inexplicably. "I'm sorry," she said finally, when she could control her voice. "Room Service closes at midnight."
There was a pause. "Oh. What time is it now?"
She looked at her watch. "Ten after three."
"Then whom am I speaking to?"
"I'm the night operator. This is the main switchboard."
"Well, main switchboard, you must all sound alike down there. I could swear I talked to you earlier tonight."
Well, how about that. "You've got a good ear, 704. I was on duty earlier."
"Good Lord. How long are the shifts around here?"
"Eight hours for everybody else. I’m working a double today."
“Why?"
"Maybe I just love it here."
"I guess you do. But I hope you're well compensated."
Trust a man to think of money first. "That’s not my major concern."
"Glad to hear it."
Okay, enough's enough. It's been a long day, made even longer by him. No reason to shoot the breeze with this guy. "Excuse me, I have other callers. Sorry I couldn’t help you."
"Well, better luck with them."
"Look, if you'd called earlier—"
"Absolutely. My fault entirely, for falling asleep after a cross-country flight, a time change and a screw-up in hotel administration. Forget I even mentioned it." The phone clicked in her ear.
She sat for some moments before she noticed she was trembling. This was the second time he'd undermined her—and it bothered her.
About the author:
Susan Sloate is the author of 20 published books, including FORWARD TO CAMELOT (with Kevin Finn), an alternative history of the JFK assassination, STEALING FIRE, an autobiographical love story, and REALIZING YOU (with Ron Doades), for which she invented a new genre – the self-help novel. FORWARD TO CAMELOT was a #6 Amazon bestseller, took honors in 3 literary competitions and was optioned for film production by a Hollywood company. STEALING FIRE was a quarter-finalist in the 2012 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest. Susan has also written young-adult fiction and non-fiction, including RAY CHARLES: FIND ANOTHER WAY!, which won a silver medal in the 2007 Children’s Moonbeam Book Awards, AMELIA EARHART: CHALLENGING THE SKIES, a perennial Amazon bestseller, and MYSTERIES UNWRAPPED: THE SECRETS OF ALCATRAZ, which led to her appearance on a special for The History Channel in 2009, as well as books for five girls’ fiction series. As a screenwriter, she has written an informational film for McGraw-Hill Films and optioned two scripts to Hollywood production companies. As a sportswriter, she’s covered the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets. She’s also managed two recent political campaigns, founded the East Cooper Authors Festival (which put 18 professional authors in 17 area schools in one day) and serves on the Culture, Arts and Pride Commission of the Town of Mount Pleasant.
**Susan will be awarding a notebook perfect for journaling to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
**Susan will be awarding a notebook perfect for journaling to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
14 comments:
Thanks for hosting!
The excerpt looks so awesomesauce! Really want to read this book now.
Thanks so much for hosting me here today! Twilight is one of my favorite times of day (they don't call it 'magic hour' for nothing!)
Kayla, I'm delighted you like the excerpt! Another excerpt on my website and a longer sample at Amazon. Hope you'll check them out!
That excerpt is just wonderful! I'm glad I heard about this book, I want to read this! Thanks for the giveaway too!
olympiansonolympus@yahoo.com
Thanks for the excerpt and the chance to win!
Sounds really good!!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com
Jesica, delighted you like the excerpt and want to read the book! I'll notify the winner of the contest giveaway on Monday - the more you comment, the likelier you are to win!
Natasha, glad you enjoyed the excerpt too! Best of luck to both of you in the contest!
Susan Slote can really write a terrific romance. This is a love story for the ages. You will not forget Amanda and Beau. This one is hard to put down. I can still cry when thinking about the ending.
"Stealing Fire" sounds like a powerful story! A must-read! :)
ChaoticKarma23 at gmail dot com
This sounds great! I must read this!
Thanks for the excerpt and giveaway!
cool_cat97@msn.com
Thank you, Chaotic Karma and wolfie 402, for your enthusiasm! Hope you will read it and enjoy it! The only thing better for an author to hear than "I must read this" is "I stayed up all night and cried at the end." So Ms. Anonymous, thanks for your input too - I love readers who cry at the end of my books!
Nice excerpt
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
Thanks, BN!
The cover looks cool :) Thank you for the giveaway <3
Thank you for the giveaway, and your story sounds interesting! I love the title.
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