"Mesmerized" by David Matthew Barnes

If you want to read an amazing book by an amazing author....and incredible human being....then read "Mesmerized" by David Matthew Barnes.

You won't be disappointed!

Check him out at:

http://www.dmbarnes.blogspot.com

http://www.davidmatthewbarnes.com

About the Author:

David-Matthew Barnes is the author of the young adult novel "Mesmerized" and the forthcoming literary suspense novel "Accidents Never Happen", both published by Bold Strokes Books. He wrote and directed the coming-of-age film "Frozen Stars", which received worldwide distribution. To date, he has written over forty stage plays that have been performed in three languages in eight countries. His literary work has been featured in over one hundred publications. David-Matthew received a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina. Currently, he is a full-time faculty member at Southern Crescent Technical College in Griffin, Georgia, where he teaches courses in English, speech and theatre.


Brief Synopsis of "Mesmerized":

While being punished for writing a controversial article in her high school paper, Serena Albright is befriended by the enigmatic loner Brodie Wiles. Serena witnesses the first time that Brodie meets Lance Royal, who is secretly rehearsing to compete in The Showdown, the biggest dance contest of the year. Immediately, Serena is drawn into their world, inspired by the love she recognizes between them.

Through her close friendship with Brodie and Lance, Serena finds comfort for the grief and guilt she feels over the brutal death of her older brother, the victim of a hate crime. Frustrated that her deep-in-denial parents spend endless hours in front of the television and refuse to acknowledge the death of their son, Serena accepts the challenge to have a face-to-face meeting with the boy who killed her brother.



Some Reviews of his book "Mesmerized"

4.0 out of 5 stars Teen's coming out gives a family a second chance ..., October 29, 2010

By Bob Lind "camelwest" (Phoenix, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER) This review is from: Mesmerized (Paperback)

It's "love at first sight" for loner high school senior Brody Wiles meets Lance Royal, who is preparing to enter a local dancing competition. There as a witness is the high school paper's conscientious but socially-stunted editor, Serena Albright, who is especially attuned to the needs of gay teens, since her brother - who was never completely accepted by her parents or her after he came out to them - was the fatal victim of a hate crime. Serena makes it her mission to help Brody find happiness, the same way she wishes she would have been better attuned to her brother's needs. At the same time, she is working through the guilt she has for failing to have done so, and dealing with her parents, who have become emotional cripples since their son's death, failing to deal with their grief and move on. Like Serena, her parents find themselves involved in helping Brody after he comes out to his own parents, and decides to join Lance as his dance partner in the competition. At the same time, Serena and her parents have to deal with a request from the individual who is in prison for killing her brother.

The book is set in the late 1980's, but still relevant to the plight of many gay teens today. The author presents a vivid and realistic telling of the emotions and unfortunate realities that can face a teenager in reconciling his sexuality, as well as the confrontations this can cause with others. Very well written, meant for a younger audience, but a valuable read for all. Four stars out of five.

- Bob Lind, Echo Magazine

The End of NaNoWriMo 2010

Well it is once again the end of NaNoWriMo....2010....and I did not complete my novel. When I first started this 'project' I thought about working on my current novel "Betrayed" but then I thought...."NO!" I am required to do a new piece of work. Apparently...that is not the case because 14 days into the "assignment" I saw that you could complete a novel you were previously working on.

*****I don't remember that being in the rules before*****

So now, instead of having 3 novels that I am working on....I now have 4 thanks to this one that I just started. FYI....it is really good!

Why is it that something always happens when I agree to do this novel writing assignment in November that derails me from completing the assignment? It can be a severe case of the flu (happened 2 years in a row), my sons broken hand (happened 1 year), or the need to complete everything on my to do list before I move to China (that was this year!).....There just seems to always be a force working against me in November!

I guess the good thing is I have a wonderful story line to work with....I have amazing characters willing to tell me their story....and I have a family that supports me working until all hours of the night so I can try to quiet the voices in my head! I will finish this novel...tentatively titled "Descent into Darkness"

If it wasn't for my dear friend in Georgia....Mr David Matthew Barnes...I would probably throw in the towel. But I just saw that he finally completed his 3rd novel...which he has been working on for 7 years. (Way to go, DMB!!)

This makes me feel like there may be a light at the end of the tunnel for me and my work!

Thanks DMB for always being an inspiration to me!

And for those of you who do not know his work.....go buy his new novel "Mesmerized".

You can find it at http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Mesmerized/David-Matthew-Barnes/e/9781602821910/?itm=1

All you need to do is copy and paste the address on Google and it will come right up!

November is finally over and so is NaNoWriMo. I guess it is time for me to enjoy the lack of pressure and take some more time to work on my novel because.......the only way to complete the novel is to work on it one day at a time.

That is exactly what I plan on doing!