Sunday Awakening - D.A. Kentner

Today, I have the great honor of having D.A. Kentner here.  Here is a man who joined our critique group about a year ago. His artistry with words and stories is amazing.  If you buy any book, I highly suggest you purchase one of D.A.  He is a master at what he does.  

To prove my point, take a look at his recent reviews for his novel Sunday Awakening.  

Book Wenches

Literary Nymphs

Thanks, D.A. for guesting! Wishing you great success.  Just remember little old me when you hit the big times!

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As I'm writing this, a situation has just come to my attention. NYT bestselling author Jessica Verday removed a short story she had written for an anthology with a major publisher. The reason? Ms. Verday had written a Young Adult story of first love – between two young men – and the publisher wanted her to change one of the characters to a female. That wasn't the story she had written. Ms. Verday stood her ground not just because she believed in her story, but because young love between same sexes is a reality within society, and she refused to turn a blind eye. Ms. Verday chose integrity over acceptance. Not always an easy choice.

Please understand, the issue here is not gay love, the issue is an author's choice to stand behind her convictions.


Though hardly on the same scale, when I sought a publisher for "Sunday Awakening," I encountered similar problems. My story was too raw, too real, too not what publishers were looking for. What a few people focused on was that my female lead, Cheryl, came from a life of child abuse and prostitution. How could anyone be interested in such a story? What they overlooked, failed to see, is that "Sunday Awakening" is a story of Cheryl's rise above all the horror inflicted on her. It is a story of empowerment, courage, and fulfillment. Most of all, it is a story of discovering the true meaning of home and love and finding that one man who will risk all to be loved by… you.

Because, in the end, isn't true, unbreakable love what we all seek?

Blurb:

If the microwave hadn’t blown a fuse, she might not have killed him. But it had, and she did. Sundays are like that sometimes.

After stabbing her keeper to escape his abuse and her sex-slave life, Cheryl faces the greatest decision of her twenty-six years: “Now what?” Only one thing has ever brought her comfort and a sense of freedom—running. So she does.

On her journey to discover who she is, and where she came from, Cheryl happens upon a woman who puts her onboard the modern-day Underground Railroad for abused women.

At each stop, each "depot," she encounters people who teach her love may not just exist in novels. But is love possible for someone who doesn’t know what it is?

Criminal Investigator Taylor Hughes reluctantly agrees to locate Cheryl and find her “home.” When Cheryl poisons him, Taylor realizes the hardest part of the trip may well be the day he has to leave her behind.

Trailer:

Brief BIO:

Judith said I should share a little about myself, which is fortunate as there's little to tell.

I was an army EOD specialist before beginning a career in law enforcement. While a cop I worked in patrol, undercover narcotics, detective, shift commander, and ultimately police chief. No, I don't miss it, but I certainly draw on my experiences to create characters and events in my stories. In fact, the first piece I had published, which appeared in Faraway Journal, was a story about a police officer. I've also been an auctioneer and antiques dealer.

Today, my wife and I continue to volunteer on occasion at the local Salvation Army as we have for over a decade. I interview authors both famous and not yet famous for GateHouse News Service, and write stories I hope readers will enjoy.

If you'd like to learn more about me and what I'm up to, please visit my blogs: http://dakentner.blogspot.com/ and http://kevad-author.blogspot.com/

I'm also on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=100000734965695

I was fortunate that Noble Romance Publishing believed in "Sunday Awakening" and chose to publish Cheryl's unique story. For that, I will always be grateful.

David Kentner
http://dakentner.blogspot.com/   http://kevad-author.blogspot.com/
http://www.nobleromance.com/BrowseListing.aspx?author=116