Sunday, July 1, 2012
News & Reading
Two bits of news:
- However Long the Night was announced today as a finalist in the Romantic Suspense category of the 2012 Readers Favorite Awards. Winners will be announced on September 1.
- Please join me as I read selections from my award-winning novel, However Long the Night, at Montford Books in Asheville at 7 pm on September 21, 2012.
David
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Readers Favorite - 5 stars
I just received a 5-star review from Readers Favorite. I'm still waiting to see if HLTN is a Finalist in their annual awards. Here's the review:
http://readersfavorite.com/review/6544
Reviewed by Alice D. for Readers Favorite
Nineteen year old Cid Milan leaves Cuba with his family in 1980. His father, the Colonel, had fought with Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, but when he turned against their Marxist leanings, he was put in jail for three years. Twenty-five years pass and Cid is a U.S. citizen and college educated, a successful architect, and has just been named "South Florida's Hispanic Man of the Year. "He has not spoken to his father in years, but he is called to Tampa as the Colonel, dying of lung cancer, has a confession to make to Cid. What is on the Colonel's mind? Years before, as the Milans were leaving Cuba, the Colonel knew that Cid's girlfriend, Sandra, was pregnant with their child, but would not let her join them in their escape from Cuba. Can Cid get back into Cuba to find Sandra and their son, now a grown man?
"However Long the Night" is a well-written and well-edited story of lovers separated for years by their families. The characters of Cid, Sandra, their son Diego, Cid's brother Manny, and all the other characters both major and minor are well-developed and highly believable. The plot proceeds believably as Cid goes to great lengths to find Sandra and their son. His trip to Mexico to get into Cuba and the people he must find and then interview to reach his long-lost love are quite real and will draw the reader into the story. The build up of suspense as "However Long the Night" comes to its conclusion will keep the reader absorbed until the story's concluding pages. "However Long the Night" is a sure keeper!
http://readersfavorite.com/review/6544
Reviewed by Alice D. for Readers Favorite
Nineteen year old Cid Milan leaves Cuba with his family in 1980. His father, the Colonel, had fought with Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, but when he turned against their Marxist leanings, he was put in jail for three years. Twenty-five years pass and Cid is a U.S. citizen and college educated, a successful architect, and has just been named "South Florida's Hispanic Man of the Year. "He has not spoken to his father in years, but he is called to Tampa as the Colonel, dying of lung cancer, has a confession to make to Cid. What is on the Colonel's mind? Years before, as the Milans were leaving Cuba, the Colonel knew that Cid's girlfriend, Sandra, was pregnant with their child, but would not let her join them in their escape from Cuba. Can Cid get back into Cuba to find Sandra and their son, now a grown man?
"However Long the Night" is a well-written and well-edited story of lovers separated for years by their families. The characters of Cid, Sandra, their son Diego, Cid's brother Manny, and all the other characters both major and minor are well-developed and highly believable. The plot proceeds believably as Cid goes to great lengths to find Sandra and their son. His trip to Mexico to get into Cuba and the people he must find and then interview to reach his long-lost love are quite real and will draw the reader into the story. The build up of suspense as "However Long the Night" comes to its conclusion will keep the reader absorbed until the story's concluding pages. "However Long the Night" is a sure keeper!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
New Articles
My two most-recently-published articles, "The Pros and Cons of Blog Book Tours" and "Are Minor Literary Awards Worth It?", are now available on my website. The former was published on the Book 'Em NC website, and the latter by the newsletter for the South Florida Writer's Association. Have a peek!
Friday, May 25, 2012
Two New 4-star Reviews for HTLN
Long and Short Reviews
4 stars However Long the Night by David Pereda
Publisher: Eternal Press
genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery Length: Full Length (281 pgs)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Poppy Cuban-born, award-winning Miami Architect and successful real estate developer Cid Milan suddenly faces a dilemma when his dying father reveals to him a shocking twenty-five year old family secret. Cid realizes there is only one thing he can do to unravel the mystery of his own past and right the wrongs committed. He must return to the land he abandoned. In his quest, Cid rediscovers himself and his roots as he searches frantically throughout Cuba for his teenage flame, Sandra, and the secret she kept from him all these years. In the process, Cid learns an invaluable lesson about love, forgiveness and redemption which changes his life forever. However Long the Night was a gritty, incredibly realistic portayal of life for Cid Milan, a Cuban who came to America more than twenty years prior to the story's real beginning. Cid wasn't always the most heroic of heroes, at least not at the start. I admit I struggled to like him for the first several chapters. He's arrogant, selfish and I wasn't overly impressed with his moral compass (especially about what caused an estrangement between him and his brother, Manny). Still, as time and pages passed, it became clear that Cid was molded by his past and that underneath the outer layer was a man with a good heart and a sense of right and wrong. I may not have always agreed with his behavior or choices, but I understood the reason why he acted the way he did. This story is layered with conflict over conflict, from the discovery of a family secret and Cid's decision to return to Cuba and the things he learns there, to the internal machinations of people looking to betray Cid within Cid's own company. There's so much going on sometimes, it leaves the reader breathless. I thorougly enjoyed reading about Cuba. For most of us here in America, Cuba is a land of mystery. We know little about it, and Mr. Pereda certainly embued his story with loads of information about the country: its sights, sounds and people -- the good and the bad. I think the story really gained traction once it entered Cuba. More questions were posed, intrigues about Cid's father's past there and the hunt for Sandra, the love of Cid's young life and mother of the son he never knew. The author writes with flavor and sensual detail. Occasionally, it slowed the story, but the reader is never truly bored. Perhaps it's only because we have so many questions and worries that we get frustrated when things don't move forward quickly enough to satisfy the need to discover just what's going to happen. Overall, though, I recommend However Long the Night, not as a romance as it's billed by the publisher, though there are romantic elements, but as a fascinating suspense with a Cuban flavor and a completely satisfying ending. posted May 25, 2012
Amazon Reviews Judy Thomas - 4 stars This review is from: However Long the Night (Paperback) He's handsome, rich, successful, and in a relationship with a beautiful model. He has it all--or does he? Nobody realizes the emptiness inside caused by what he perceives as the betrayal and rejection of the one woman he loved. When his father reveals the truth of that, events are set in motion which will forever change Cid Milan. However Long the Night is very much a plot-driven book. There were some very interesting characters--loved the blonde porn stars mom and daughter--but they were not the focus of the book. The story was...and there were enough twists, turns, and almost-misses to keep me reading to find out what happened. There was one character in the book that overshadowed the others--and the changes in that character, the effects those changes had on the plot were vital--Cuba itself. I was fascinated by seeing Cuba through the eyes of Cid--the Cuba he remembered, the Cuba he returned to. All in all, However Long the Night was a very interesting book, and I look forward to reading more of David Pereda's work. posted May 25, 2012 ===== You may recognize Judy Thomas' name, especially those of you who follow the GoddessFish Tours. That's it for today. David
4 stars However Long the Night by David Pereda
Publisher: Eternal Press
genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery Length: Full Length (281 pgs)
Heat Level: spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Poppy Cuban-born, award-winning Miami Architect and successful real estate developer Cid Milan suddenly faces a dilemma when his dying father reveals to him a shocking twenty-five year old family secret. Cid realizes there is only one thing he can do to unravel the mystery of his own past and right the wrongs committed. He must return to the land he abandoned. In his quest, Cid rediscovers himself and his roots as he searches frantically throughout Cuba for his teenage flame, Sandra, and the secret she kept from him all these years. In the process, Cid learns an invaluable lesson about love, forgiveness and redemption which changes his life forever. However Long the Night was a gritty, incredibly realistic portayal of life for Cid Milan, a Cuban who came to America more than twenty years prior to the story's real beginning. Cid wasn't always the most heroic of heroes, at least not at the start. I admit I struggled to like him for the first several chapters. He's arrogant, selfish and I wasn't overly impressed with his moral compass (especially about what caused an estrangement between him and his brother, Manny). Still, as time and pages passed, it became clear that Cid was molded by his past and that underneath the outer layer was a man with a good heart and a sense of right and wrong. I may not have always agreed with his behavior or choices, but I understood the reason why he acted the way he did. This story is layered with conflict over conflict, from the discovery of a family secret and Cid's decision to return to Cuba and the things he learns there, to the internal machinations of people looking to betray Cid within Cid's own company. There's so much going on sometimes, it leaves the reader breathless. I thorougly enjoyed reading about Cuba. For most of us here in America, Cuba is a land of mystery. We know little about it, and Mr. Pereda certainly embued his story with loads of information about the country: its sights, sounds and people -- the good and the bad. I think the story really gained traction once it entered Cuba. More questions were posed, intrigues about Cid's father's past there and the hunt for Sandra, the love of Cid's young life and mother of the son he never knew. The author writes with flavor and sensual detail. Occasionally, it slowed the story, but the reader is never truly bored. Perhaps it's only because we have so many questions and worries that we get frustrated when things don't move forward quickly enough to satisfy the need to discover just what's going to happen. Overall, though, I recommend However Long the Night, not as a romance as it's billed by the publisher, though there are romantic elements, but as a fascinating suspense with a Cuban flavor and a completely satisfying ending. posted May 25, 2012
Amazon Reviews Judy Thomas - 4 stars This review is from: However Long the Night (Paperback) He's handsome, rich, successful, and in a relationship with a beautiful model. He has it all--or does he? Nobody realizes the emptiness inside caused by what he perceives as the betrayal and rejection of the one woman he loved. When his father reveals the truth of that, events are set in motion which will forever change Cid Milan. However Long the Night is very much a plot-driven book. There were some very interesting characters--loved the blonde porn stars mom and daughter--but they were not the focus of the book. The story was...and there were enough twists, turns, and almost-misses to keep me reading to find out what happened. There was one character in the book that overshadowed the others--and the changes in that character, the effects those changes had on the plot were vital--Cuba itself. I was fascinated by seeing Cuba through the eyes of Cid--the Cuba he remembered, the Cuba he returned to. All in all, However Long the Night was a very interesting book, and I look forward to reading more of David Pereda's work. posted May 25, 2012 ===== You may recognize Judy Thomas' name, especially those of you who follow the GoddessFish Tours. That's it for today. David
Thursday, May 24, 2012
New 4-star Review for HLTN
David Pereda’s “However Long the Night” smacks of realism, and his three dimensional characters are absolutely believable.
Much of the book is set in Cuba. Readers are allowed to see the changes in the Country and its people over a twenty-year time period as seen through the eyes of his protagonist Cid. Mr. Pereda successfully transports readers to another world fraught with danger, corruption, and poverty.
Cid, his brother Manny, and his best friend Joaquin scour the island home of their youth in search of Cid’s lost love Sandra and his son. Cid’s father, facing certain death in the very near future, finally admits his complicity in many distasteful events. His deceitful actions prior to the family’s exodus from Cuba drastically change many lives. Now, he seeks absolution for his sins from those he wronged.
David Pereda keeps the mystery of his tale alive through to the last pages. Readers will be engaged and keep turning the pages of this award-winning novel. This romance incorporates much historical accuracy, political intrigue, and adventure. Find out for yourself why this book won the Lighthouse Book Award for fiction as well as the Royal Palm Award for fiction.
I highly recommend this book. It was a good read. I give it a 4 star rating, only because, not being bilingual, I found some passages difficult to follow. Thus slowing down the flow of the story.
Reviewed by Jackie
http://bookreviewsbyjackie.com/
http://bookreviewsbyjackie.com/
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
The eBook Reviewers review HLTN
Review:
When Cid left Cuba and left behind a girl that he loved very deeply, something shifted within him. The girl carried his child, though he was not aware of this fact. It is only 25 years later he learns this fact, and he has very limited time to get to Cuba find her, and convince her and their son to return to the States with him before Cid's father takes his last breath. It is a race against time. However Long The Night is very much a book about betrayal, and of course redemption. Often is the case, misunderstandings are grave, and love is never ending. This book is a contemporary mainstream novel with a romantic elements. It is a clean read, which I highly enjoyed. I found his characters to be a breath of fresh air and the I was unable to put the book down. It is very well paced, the characters were exceptional, and the mystery of what transpired to his lady love after he left Cuba had me on the seat of my chair. Over all, the heartbreak, the betrayal, the mystery, and at the heart of it all love, wrapped together wonderfully to tell a beautiful story. This book gets a 4 out of 5. And Mr. Perada, I have to say as your first shot at a romance was beautifully crafted, I truly hope you will grace us with another in the future. The full review, with excerpts and Q&A with the author, can be found at The eBook Reviewers
Review posted May 22, 2012
When Cid left Cuba and left behind a girl that he loved very deeply, something shifted within him. The girl carried his child, though he was not aware of this fact. It is only 25 years later he learns this fact, and he has very limited time to get to Cuba find her, and convince her and their son to return to the States with him before Cid's father takes his last breath. It is a race against time. However Long The Night is very much a book about betrayal, and of course redemption. Often is the case, misunderstandings are grave, and love is never ending. This book is a contemporary mainstream novel with a romantic elements. It is a clean read, which I highly enjoyed. I found his characters to be a breath of fresh air and the I was unable to put the book down. It is very well paced, the characters were exceptional, and the mystery of what transpired to his lady love after he left Cuba had me on the seat of my chair. Over all, the heartbreak, the betrayal, the mystery, and at the heart of it all love, wrapped together wonderfully to tell a beautiful story. This book gets a 4 out of 5. And Mr. Perada, I have to say as your first shot at a romance was beautifully crafted, I truly hope you will grace us with another in the future. The full review, with excerpts and Q&A with the author, can be found at The eBook Reviewers
Review posted May 22, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
HLTN Review at Shardpubs
David Pereda's - However Long the Night. A great read.
shardpubs.blogspot.com
I was somewhat nervous of doing a professional review, what if I don't like the book? However, as I had the opportunity to choose the books that interest me on this tour, I was delighted to settle down with David Pereda's book 'However Long the Night' and discover myself pleasantly transported to another country, namely Cuba, and a different world.
During my research I discovered the book was the Winner of the Lighthouse Book Award for fiction and the Royal Palm Award for fiction,. The book in short is a sweeping romance with a depth of suspense and political and historical intrigue. This gives the book weight.
The main character Cid, is a man who discovers that the whole edifice of his success is a lie perpetrated by his own father. Much of the book is set in Cuba and the writing which is sweeping and descriptive evokes the warm sensuality of the country. I have been to Cuba myself and so it was a secondary pleasure to be transported to a living breathing Cuba, rather than the one portrayed for the consumption of holiday makers. It will certainly make me appreciate my experience there all the more.
The story is exotically sumptuous. The account transports us on the journey of a Cuban family forced to leave Cuba during the boatlift of 1980. The story is focused on Cid who arrives as a teenager in the United States. He goes on to become successful as an architect in Miami with all the accoutrement of the role. The book however avoids predictability by launching us into a world of intrigue surrounding his father's past in Cuba. I will not go into the details as it will spoil the story. Suffice to say Cid's journey risks danger and intrigue.
As a skilled writer David Pereda manages to keep the mystery of the story suspended thus engaging the reader to the very end. I was hooked by the three dimensional complexity of the character development and the swirling description.
As a writer myself I have certainly learned a thing or two. I have nothing but admiration for the quality of the writing and the awards previously won are well deserved. I give this book a well deserved 4.5. The story will stay with you and give you a satisfying excursion into pastures new crossing as it does the area between fiction and faction. Certainly a page turner and one to add to the library. I would be tempted to read it more than once as there is bound to be more to get out of it with each read.
This review is also printed at Writervamp.blogspot.com
Posted May 21, 2012
Posted May 21, 2012
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