My author interview on Serious Reading
Here’s my most recent author interview posted on seriousreading.com. You can also see their review for because. I am not sure how their rating works but the book received a 93% overall score :).
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IndieReader Approved
Here’s another review for because from IndieReader which is a venue for discriminating book-lovers to find and purchase books published by the people who wrote them. According to the site, a 4-star rating means “Very good” 🙂
A mountain climber and his family deal with the repercussions of a tragic accident that cost him his legs.
Robert Sanchez was an inspirational figure, a mountain climber who worked with troubled young people, encouraging them to change their lives in helpful and positive ways. Six months ago, he took three of those young adults, Troy, Nancy, and Philip, up Mount Everest – only to face a catastrophic avalanche that cost him his legs, leaving him unable to climb again. As his loving wife Monique tries to cope with Robert’s depression and self-isolation, and his daughter Jenny reads through his old climbing journal looking for answers, Robert himself feels trapped and wonders if he can go on as he is. But will a chance to give one more inspirational talk give him back his spark, or demonstrate just how badly he’s been crushed for good?
BECAUSE is a deeply moving, emotionally-powerful tale of intertwined lives, and of finding strength to go on in the face of utter despair. There are multiple stories braided into the main plot, as each of the characters has a voice and a tale of their own. Robert’s story, therefore, is reflected in the stories of those he’s helped as well as those who want to help him, giving the book a multifaceted perspective and adding deeper emotional and philosophical layers to the plot. This is a heartbreaking but ultimately uplifting book, and there isn’t a character who doesn’t have a substantial, painful tragedy to wrestle with. At times, the book is almost too chock full of tragedy and inspirational recovery – it can be a bit overwhelming, even occasionally cloying. The encounter near the end also has a flavor of deus ex machina-level coincidence to it, too. Still, the characters’ emotions on the whole have real genuineness and force behind them, and their discussion and analyses of their situations are both thoughtful and compelling.
BECAUSE is a book full of both emotional intensity and real philosophical and psychological insight.
Goodreads Book Giveaway – until March 6, 2016
Enter to win one autographed paperback of because, from now until March 6, 2016.
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Kindle Instant Book Previews
Amazon’s Kindle Instant Book Preview has made it easier for you to read and share books. These previews show the first few chapters of each book. It’s a great way to discover your next favourite book and author!
Acorn 666Angel in the ShadowsBeware of WarlocksbecauseCommittedContact UsFatal ReactionFlexible Dieting HandbookInto the WoodsJingle Bell HowlLooking for HomeShadeWarriorSecond SkynXoe
What a wonderful way to end the year!
We just received this letter from The Midwest Book Review today with the following critique:
A deftly crafted novel and an absorbing read from beginning to end, “because” is a compelling and thoroughly entertaining novel that documents author Jack Langedijk’s truly exceptional storytelling skills. Very highly recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that “because” is also available in a Kindle edition ($6.99).
The Midwest Book Review (MBR) is an organization established in 1976 that committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. The MBR publishes a number of monthly book review magazines specifically designed for community and academic librarians, booksellers, and the general reading public.
We sent two paperbacks of because to MBR for a review in April and the book made it through the final cut (according to MBR, only about a third of all books submitted get reviewed) and the review was featured in the Small Press Bookwatch magazine November 2015 issue.
We are very grateful for the organization that supports and gives priority consideration to small press publishers and self-published authors like me. It is truly wonderful to end the year with such positive feedback. I hope you share my excitement and thank you too for all your support along the way. May 2016 bring you an abundance of energy and joy!
Tom said…
I have read hundreds and hundreds of books, and this has become one of my favorites. Robert has two passions in life: helping teenagers overcome personal challenges, most of them self-induced, and climbing mountains. He comes up with an ingenious plan to combine both into one and then tragedy strikes. As I came to the last third of the book, the suspense was so powerful, that I couldn’t wait to learn if Robert could provide help for himself as he had done for countless others. Coincidentally, Robert was also faced with helping employees of three companies that were merging into one to face those challenges, the exact same situation that I have in my life. The author used his life experience and great ability to write to help me overcome my personal doubts regarding this situation. In fact, I am going to pass this book around to my fellow employees to inspire them to overcome our current situation. Thank you, Mr. Langedijk. One thing I found hard to believe: That this is his debut novel. What a gifted novelist. Can’t wait for more.
because all the sound of music in my life
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Grady said…
HALL OF FAME – TOP 100 REVIEWER – VINE VOICE
Canadian author Jack Langedijk received his BFA in Montreal at Concordia University and his MFA at York University in Toronto and has taught acting and directing at Concordia University and Ryerson University in Toronto. Jack’s gift is his humanistic enthusiasm and he shares his passion for life in workshops in leadership and listening and hearing to the spectrum of audiences that embrace children at the elementary school level through families and even corporations, an interest that resulted in his founding QUEST-I’m-ON, a not-for-profit organization with a mission to create and foster healthy relationships within schools, workplaces and homes. In ‘because’, his debut novel, he weaves personal lessons with a fictional setting that articulates and instills fresh strategies for social issues such as teen bullying. Yet dealing with such topics his overall message is the power we have to overcome obstacles and achieve our dreams and goals.
Reading Jack’s first novel the first response is one of surprise that a man who has not published before writes so succinctly and professionally and passionately. His language is at all times appropriate to his characters and the people who he has created as characters are so three-dimensional they seem like familiar friends.
The synopsis by the author is a fine one: “I’m not supposed to be here!” The tragic accident on Mount Everest changes everything for Roberto Sanchez, a loving 48-year-old husband to Monique, and father to Jenny. As a professional mountain climber and motivational speaker, he had reached the summit of many mountains and helped others reach theirs. Now facing the toughest climb of his life, Roberto is troubled by his own ideals and morals. As his family life tumbles through turbulent events, he is no longer the giver of service but the recipient – a shift that instills anger and pushes away the people he loves most. When Jenny receives her father’s private journal – the one he promised as her inheritance, once he was dead – it is a race against time for her to get to him…before it’s too late.”
Superb writing and a thoughtful story make this a book that deserves no[t] only a wide reading audience but seems molded for a film. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, September 15
One year later…
What a wonder-full adventure writing this book has been—because…well, there have been many creative risks I have taken in my life but none like this book! Most of the creations of mine have been as an actor, director and producer in theatre and film. I have had some of the most profound thrills of a lifetime performing and directing. I have been incredibly fortunate to have been blessed with amazing reactions: having a full auditorium burst into full-celebrated laughter…feel the silent echo of stillness that a deep touching moment can bring to an audience…gratefully bowing to a spontaneous standing ovation…or feeling that sense of pride of a job well done through newspapers or radios gifting me with critical praise. I have always felt a strong sense of WORTH through my work (really it never felt like work; more like play).
And now after a year of having because out there in the world, I feel a new sense of worth that doesn’t end. Of course, it is a long road when one self publishes. I mean writing a book is a huge achievement but then you have to find readers! From discovering all the author tools out there to building a website to connect with all of you, the new journey as an author has been a very exciting and rewarding learning experience.
At first it was different for me because I’m used to having that immediate response from an audience. But then when the show is over the response dies out. With a book, the show never ends as the potential audience is always there and it’s so diversified in its age and country. It plays at all times of the day and night. On crowded subways, in cafes, on a back porch swing and late at night under the covers…and that idea—that the audience is no longer a collective of people, but each audience member is alone somewhere in the world sharing my story—makes it feel more of an intimate creative experience than I ever had.
And it’s exciting to connect with and receive invaluable feedback from many people—family, friends, readers and site visitors—who have reached out through facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and private emails. I’ve received many great reviews for the book, and just today I received another amazing message from someone who felt my book had helped her through a struggle she was having in her life. All these moments along with all your care and support have made this an incredible journey for me and my wife. So thank you for your support and for a wonder-full year 🙂