How to find out what truly makes you happy
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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 :).
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.
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!
because all the sound of music in my life
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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 🙂
My interview with Norm Goldman
Norm Goldman, the Publisher and Editor of Bookpleasures, recently invited me for an online interview. One interesting thing I found out was that Norm went to Concordia University (when it was called Sir George Williams University) in Montreal a few years before I went there in the 70s.
Here is my interview with Norm. There are many other author interviews and book reviews available on the site so you may want to stop by for a visit.
I am grateful for you being my daughter
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Featured in Kirkus Reviews Magazine
I just received a message from Kirkus that their Indie Editors had selected the review they wrote in June for because to be featured in Kirkus Reviews Magazine — August 15, 2015 Issue. The review will be one of the 35 reviews in the Indie section of the magazine which is sent out to over 5,000 industry professionals (librarians, publishers, agents, etc.).
I am not sure what will come out of this, but apparently less than 10% of their Indie reviews are chosen for this, so it’s a great honour 🙂
because travels across seas
Last week when my daughter was creating the image with a saying about how books let you travel without moving your feet, my wife looked up from her computer and asked, “Hey, talking about books and travelling, I wonder how many countries has our book travelled to?”
I made my way behind her and we started to count as my wife shouted out the names, “Holland, India, Tunisia…” A couple of minutes later we shared a huge smile and congratulated each other. “Wow, we made it to 17 already!” Then our daughter laughed, “Yeah, that’s great, guys… You only have 177 more countries left!”
Okay, we still have far to go, but it was such an amazing feeling looking at the diverse list of countries that the book has gone to. Can’t wait to travel farther!
- Australia
- Austria
- Canada
- China
- Czech Republic
- Holland
- India
- Italy
- New Zealand
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Serbia
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Tunisia
- United Kingdom
- United States
