ANDREW DEMCAK'S BIG 23 BLOG
Showing posts with label A Little Bit Langston. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A Little Bit Langston. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
Sunday, October 07, 2018
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
A LITTLE BIT LANGSTON -FREE EBOOK- THROUGH MAY 30 2018
Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Sunday, February 05, 2017
FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY - A LITTLE BIT LANGSTON & ZERO SUMMER BY ANDREW DEMCAK
Free Book Giveaway! I'm giving away one signed copy of my GLBTQ Teen novel, A Little Bit Langston, and two signed copies of my classic second poetry book, Zero Summer. CLICK ON THE COVER BELOW TO ENTER!!!
Saturday, August 20, 2016
GREAT REVIEW OF A LITTLE BIT LANGSTON OVER AT QUEER SCI-FI!
Review: A Little Bit Langston by Andrew Demcak
Title: “A Little Bit Langston.”
Author: Andrew Demcak
Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult.
Publisher: Harmony Ink Press
Pages: 204.
Blurb:
Being different can be dangerous, and discovery can be deadly.
High school freshman James Kerr is finding out he’s not quite like his classmates. Around the time he realizes he’s attracted to his best friend, Paul Schmitz, James starts channeling a dead writer’s poetry and also discovers he has an ability to manipulate energy-a super power. Before James can figure out why this is happening to him, tragedy strikes in the form of Paul’s abusive father, and James is sent to a government-run school, The Paragon Academy, which specializes in juvenile paranormal research. There, he meets Lumen, the daughter of a famous Korean actress. Lumen’s psychic ability might be the key to helping James understand both his poems and his own power.
Review:
I was in a really bad mood when I picked up a copy of A Little Bit Langston, having had an especially horrendous week of insomnia. But I picked it up anyway, really just out of habit, hoping to kill some time before the end of the day. Before I knew it, I had finished half the book. If you can overcome one of my insomnia induced zombie states, you are an especially engaging author.
A Little Bit Langston is not at all what I expected. It follows a young teen, James Kerr, as he tries to come to terms with a highly strange occurrence. He is assigned to write a poem for class, and unwittingly, he writes a beautiful poem that just happens to resemble the work of the famous poet, Langston Hughes. The mystery is instantly gripping, as James tries to figure out what exactly happened. Is he somehow channeling a long dead, poet? His teacher naturally thinks he plagiarized it, and poor James doesn’t know what to do. His quirky mother finally intervenes and decides to enroll him in a unique school, Paragon Academy, where they work with “special” kids. And that’s where the strangeness intensifies. Now cut off from his mother and friends, James discovers that this school is not what it professes to be, and he must learn to tap his strange power, as well as rely upon some equally gifted teens, to solve the institution’s very odd secret.
Demcak’s strength as a writer comes through in the eminently likable characters he creates. James himself is a beautiful, if confused soul. And I loved his interactions with his new friend, Lumen, a Korean girl already familiar with much of Paragon Academy’s strange secret, due to her own unique ability. And finally James has a love interest in his best friend Paul, who himself gets caught up in Paragon’s bizarre past.
This was a great, quick read, and lots of fun — exactly what I needed during a long hot summer day and a week of insomnia. I enjoyed following James as he first discovers his strange powers, and then learns their true origins. X-files fans will especially enjoy the ride. Those steeped in UFO lore will get a bit more out of this, as Demcak makes references to famous cases throughout. And if nothing else, the book gives you the most poetic euphemism for “gay” that I’ve ever seen, a phrase captured in the book’s beautiful title. I know the author has already penned a sequel to A Little Bit Langston, called Alpha Wave. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for it to be published.
You can purchase A Little Bit Langston from Amazon or directly from Harmony Ink Press. And as a special bonus, here is an interview Queer Sci Fi’s, J. Scott Coatsworth, did with Andrew Demcak a few months ago.
Jay Jordan Hawke is the award winning author of the Two-Spirit Chronicles, which includes: Pukawiss the Outcast, A Scout is Brave, and Onwaachige the Dreamer. He is an avid sci-fi fan. His first love was Star Wars, but alas, he married Star Trek. Learn more about Jay Hawke at www.jayjordanhawke.com.
Monday, April 11, 2016
FREE GIVEAWAY - A LITTLE BIT LANGSTON BY ANDREW DEMCAK - ENTER NOW!
My Goodreads book giveaway is now OPEN.
Enter now (below) to win a signed copy of my Teen GLBTQ Sci Fi novel, A Little Bit Langston.
Kirkus Reviews raved: "This book really ... takes its place in the marginalized-will-lead-us genre,
as popularized by The Matrix and the X-Men franchises."
Being different is a challenge, especially for James Kerr.
He’s no average teenager. James begins to channel a dead writer’s poetry and then discovers he has the power to manipulate electricity. At the same time, romantic feelings for his best friend, Paul Schmitz, make him realize he’s gay. But he has little time to explore the drastic changes in his life before heartbreak strikes at the hands of Paul’s violent father. James is sent to The Paragon Academy, an institute specializing in juvenile paranormal research. There he meets Lumen Kim, the mysterious daughter of a famous Korean actress. Lumen’s psychic ability might just be the thing that helps James unlock the secrets of both his poems and the origins of his supernatural talents.
He’s no average teenager. James begins to channel a dead writer’s poetry and then discovers he has the power to manipulate electricity. At the same time, romantic feelings for his best friend, Paul Schmitz, make him realize he’s gay. But he has little time to explore the drastic changes in his life before heartbreak strikes at the hands of Paul’s violent father. James is sent to The Paragon Academy, an institute specializing in juvenile paranormal research. There he meets Lumen Kim, the mysterious daughter of a famous Korean actress. Lumen’s psychic ability might just be the thing that helps James unlock the secrets of both his poems and the origins of his supernatural talents.
Goodreads Book Giveaway
A Little Bit Langston
by Andrew Demcak
Giveaway ends May 01, 2016.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Sunday, December 27, 2015
FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY @ GOODREADS - A LITTLE BIT LANGSTON BY ANDREW DEMCAK
Enter now to win a FREE signed copy of my new Teen GLBTQ Sci-Fi Coming Out novel,
A Little Bit Langston!
Goodreads Book Giveaway
A Little Bit Langston
by Andrew Demcak
Giveaway ends January 27, 2016.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Monday, December 07, 2015
A LITTLE BIT LANGSTON BY ANDREW DEMCAK IS A BEST SELLER IN THE U.K. - AMAZON'S TOP 100 YA BOOKS
My new Teen GLBTQ novel, A Little Bit Langston, is a Best Seller in the U. K. - It's currently #43 in the Top 100 Gay & Lesbian Teen books. Yay! Thanks Harmony Ink Press.
Thursday, December 03, 2015
GREAT REVIEW OF MY NEW TEEN GLBTQ NOVEL, A LITTLE BIT LANGSTON BY ANDREW DEMCAK
“A Little Bit Langston” by Andrew Demcak
Genre: Gay YA Science Fiction
Length: Novel
James has a pretty boring life. Sure, his mom is nuts, and also sort of interesting, but that’s par for the course for adults, who all seem a bit off. He’s in high school, but he still has problems with reading, and his best friend, Paul, seems to have a few problems as well. But people pretty much leave them alone, and all in all, he has nothing to worry about—just the average life of an average teenager. Until one day when he blacks out, and wakes up to find he’s written perfect copies of a dead poet’s greatest works… works he’s never seen before. On top of that, he starts zapping things with green electricity. Then things get weird, and he and his best friend have to face the facts: they aren’t your average teenagers anymore, and nothing’s going to ever be the same.
I don’t usually read young adult fiction—for many reasons—but I loved this book. I loved the two boys, James and Paul, and how their friendship turned into an adorable crush, and then into love. It had a very teenage boy feel—one scene in particular—and you’ll know the scene when you read it. It was perfect in characterizing their fragile love, and the forces that tried to keep them apart, creating a compelling story line.
I also liked the little secondary characterization details from James’s point of view: how poor Paul had to wear a helmet growing up, because his parents said his balance was off, and how Paul was always in front of James in line no matter where they went, and that was perfectly natural for both of them, or even how James’s mother kept saying he was destined for greatness… in that overly eccentric way of hers. Those details were incredibly beautiful and complete in how they showed the characters.
James and Paul are just “a little bit Langston”, and while that line is poetic in itself, I can also relate, because I’m just a little bit Langston too. The story, as well as these fantastic details, came off as more literary fiction than genre fiction, but then the world cracked open, and James and Paul were thrust into a crazy science fiction adventure, meeting new characters and creatures, and battling to save their lives, and maybe the entire world. Wow. Super good. Check it out.
Andrew Demcak has written much fiction, poetry, and other works, so if you favor a particular genre, I can assure you he has plenty to choose from. I can also assure you you’ll love it, and I’ll definitely be reading more.
His website: http://www.andrewdemcak.org/
B. A. Brock is a reviewer for DSP and QSF. He enjoys reading, writing, running, family and food, and fills his life with bent bunk. He especially loves to discuss LGBTQ+ literature. His website ishttp://www.babrockbooks.com. You can find him on Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/BABrockBooks.
Dreamspinner Press–Where Dreams Come True… International publishers of quality gay romantic fiction since 2007.http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
DSP Publications–Off the Beaten Path. Worth the Journey.http://www.dsppublications.com
Harmony Ink Press–LGBTQ+ Young Adult Fiction.http://www.harmonyinkpress.com
Monday, June 29, 2015
COVER REVEAL! - A LITTLE BIT LANGSTON BY ANDREW DEMCAK - HARMONY INK PRESS 2015
My new GLBTQ Teen novel, A Little Bit Langston, will be forthcoming from Harmony Ink Press, winter 2015. If you want to add it to your Goodreads list, click HERE.
Blurb:
Being different is a challenge, especially for James Kerr. He's no average teenager. James begins to channel a dead writer’s poetry and then discovers he has the power to manipulate electricity. At the same time, romantic feelings for his best friend, Paul Schmitz, make him realize he’s gay. But he has little time to explore the drastic changes in his life before heartbreak strikes at the hands of Paul’s violent father. James is sent to The Paragon Academy, an institute specializing in juvenile paranormal research. There he meets Lumen Kim, the mysterious daughter of a famous Korean actress. Lumen’s psychic ability might just be the thing that helps James unlock the secrets of both his poems and the origins of his supernatural talents.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Saturday, January 17, 2015
MY NEW TEEN NOVEL *A LITTLE BIT LANGSTON* COMING FROM HARMONY INK PRESS WINTER 2015
Here's my contract offer email from Harmony Ink Press:
Dear Andrew,
Thank you for your submission. We are interested in publishing A Little Bit Langston. You will be receiving your contract via Echosign shortly. Please review the contract, and if it is acceptable, sign and return it digitally. Let me know if it doesn't arrive or if you have any problems. A certified pdf version will be emailed to you upon receipt.
Thank you for your submission. We are interested in publishing A Little Bit Langston. You will be receiving your contract via Echosign shortly. Please review the contract, and if it is acceptable, sign and return it digitally. Let me know if it doesn't arrive or if you have any problems. A certified pdf version will be emailed to you upon receipt.
Publication with Harmony Ink Press includes:
- Thorough editing led by a senior editor
- Cover creation with author input
- Simultaneous release in print and digital to all major retailers
- Marketing and social media promotion
- Review coordination with dozens of sites and magazines, including School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly and Booklist
- Custom blog tour
Feel free to email me if you have any questions about the contract or the process. We are excited to work with you on your new story.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth
Sincerely,
Elizabeth
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