A Better Place To Be
Based on the Harry Chapin Song
by David Wind
Genre:
Contemporary Fiction
Contemporary Fiction
166 pages
A story about life, though perhaps not the one you would choose to live.
inspired by the characters from the Harry Chapin song of the same name, 'A
Better Place To Be’ is a story of love, loss, and the ability to
overcome the worst that life can throw at someone and come out the other side.
Better Place To Be’ is a story of love, loss, and the ability to
overcome the worst that life can throw at someone and come out the other side.
He
had no idea how long he had blanked out for, but when he was able to
think
again, he glanced at the clock. Twentyminutes had passed, and he had no
memory
of it. He shook his head. “Be strong!” he ordered himself aloud. “You
have
to be strong for her.”
Standing,
he wiped the wetness from his face and went to the dining room
table.
Leaning over the table, he moved the mouse and a few seconds later, the
screen
came alive. He sat, opened the first file, and went to work.
Three
hours later, exactly as he knew it would happen, Claire woke with
a
groan. He flew out of the chair, and raced to the bedroom. Kneeling beside
Claire,
he handed her another pill. When she took it, and drank half the water,
he
went around to the other side of the bed, slipped onto it, and drew her into
his
arms.
“Go
back to sleep, my baby.” Holding her close, he stroked her back as another
set
of chills battered her. He knew she would fall asleep within five minutes.
She
always did.With the additional meds, she would sleep for at least four
more
hours before the pain hit again, and if everything went as it should, the
chills
would be over until her next treatment.
He
held her close while she fell asleep, but instead of returning to work, he
closed
his eyes. Just for a moment, he told himself.
He
woke when she did; the clock read four forty-five. He bit back a curse,
shifted,
and turned on a bed lamp. Her eyes reflected her pain. He started to
rise,
but she stopped him. “I don’t need anything. Just you. Hold me.”
He
slid his arm under her neck and pulled her against his side. Her arm
went
across his chest, her hand cupped over his ribs. “I don’t want all those pain
killers,
not until I can’t handle it any longer. Please, I don’t want to spend what
time
I—that remains drugged out. I’ll smoke the grass after the treatments, I
promise.
But no more pills until I can’t manage it.”
His
only answer was to hold her tighter.
Reviews-
Wow.
That word just comes to mind over and over, in regards to this book, along
with the phrase, heart-wrenching. It's good though - incredibly, in
a makes-you-feel-things-and-think-things brilliantly good.
Upon first meeting John, he's likable enough. He soon turns out to be
sweet and the reader would have to be dead to not feel his love for
Claire - and it is mutual. So the two of them have this great,
comfortable thing...until tragedy strikes. Then the reader is treated
to a gut-wrenching, realistic, accurate view of what happens all too
often to too many people. I doubt there's a person alive who cannot
relate to this... Still, Wind puts it all so simply and so
realistically, it's like nothing I've ever read or am likely to read again.
Not only does he repeatedly rip out my heart and stomp all over it - and
I like it somehow, so apparently I'm some kind of sadist - but he
perfectly portrays a good - better than average actually- man turning
into completely something different, as a result of the bulls--- that
life has thrown at him....
....Point is, if you want a book that's real and will make you think, this is the one.
If you don't want to think but like a book that'll give you all the
feels, this is also the one. It's well detailed with perfect continuity.
If you don't want to think but like a book that'll give you all the
feels, this is also the one. It's well detailed with perfect continuity.
And did I mention it's based on a song? 'A Better Place to Be' by Harry
Chapin, a song that'll never be the same for me. It seems completely
natural as if the book IS the song and the song IS the book.
Brilliantly perfect. -------- J.L. Redding, Reviewer
Chapin, a song that'll never be the same for me. It seems completely
natural as if the book IS the song and the song IS the book.
Brilliantly perfect. -------- J.L. Redding, Reviewer
David Wind has written a 5 Star story about a wonderful couple – so happy
and in love - and then surprises us with one of life’s heaviest
blows. The reader indeed becomes “John Edghes” as John endures
one of the cruelest fates that life can impose - tremendous loss,
resulting in utter despair, loneliness, and addiction. He descends
into an addiction as a means to cover up the horror of it all. John
goes down that black hole (amazing how deep that hole can get) and he
must make a decision to climb out in order to survive or go further
down into that bottomless pit. After all, life goes on, with or without you.
John faces seemingly endless challenges as he makes his way back into life.
John eventually learns he is not the only lonely person in the world.
People need people and life does indeed go on.
People need people and life does indeed go on.
This is a story about life.
A message for us all.
The cold reality that life does end and the living must go on living.
A message for us all.
The cold reality that life does end and the living must go on living.
- Amazon Reviewer
David Wind has published thirty-nine novels, including science fiction &
Fantasy, mystery, thriller, noir, and suspense novels. He lives and
writes in Boynton Beach, Florida, and shares his home with his wife,
Bonnie, and dog Alfie, a sub-standard poodle (email David for an explanation).
Fantasy, mystery, thriller, noir, and suspense novels. He lives and
writes in Boynton Beach, Florida, and shares his home with his wife,
Bonnie, and dog Alfie, a sub-standard poodle (email David for an explanation).
His newest novel is A Better Place To Be based on the Harry Chapin song
of the same name. Not his usual genre, this is a story of love, loss
and facing to the worst life can throw at you and still be standing.
of the same name. Not his usual genre, this is a story of love, loss
and facing to the worst life can throw at you and still be standing.
Born To Magic, the first book of his sci-fi fantasy series, Tales Of
Nevaeh, was released in 2015. All three books have reached into the
Amazon Top 100 best seller rankings in several categories including
Young Adult. Both the second book of the series, The Dark Masters ,
and the third Book, TRINITY: The Battle For Nevaeh, have all received high praise.
Nevaeh, was released in 2015. All three books have reached into the
Amazon Top 100 best seller rankings in several categories including
Young Adult. Both the second book of the series, The Dark Masters ,
and the third Book, TRINITY: The Battle For Nevaeh, have all received high praise.
David's fantasy, Queen Of Knights, was a #2 best seller on the Amazon
bestseller lists for historical fantasy and medieval fantasy, and his
sci-fi paranormal, Infinity’s Doorway, has received wide acclaim.
bestseller lists for historical fantasy and medieval fantasy, and his
sci-fi paranormal, Infinity’s Doorway, has received wide acclaim.
When David formally left traditional publishing to become an independently
published writer, he published Angels In Mourning, his ‘homage’
to the old time private detective books of the 50’s and the 60’s.
Angels is a modern day take on the old style hard-boiled detective.
In April of that year, Angels In Mourning, won the Amazon.com Book of
the Month Reader’s Choice Award.
published writer, he published Angels In Mourning, his ‘homage’
to the old time private detective books of the 50’s and the 60’s.
Angels is a modern day take on the old style hard-boiled detective.
In April of that year, Angels In Mourning, won the Amazon.com Book of
the Month Reader’s Choice Award.
His previous suspense thrillers are The Hyte Maneuverv, (a Literary guild
alternate selection); The Sokova Convention ,, and The Morrissey
Manifest ,. David's Mystery suspense novels include: And Down Will
Come Baby, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, and Out of The Shadows.
alternate selection); The Sokova Convention ,, and The Morrissey
Manifest ,. David's Mystery suspense novels include: And Down Will
Come Baby, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, and Out of The Shadows.
Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
I love the boom cover.
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