Title: Failed Moments
Author Name: A. Robert Allen
Author
Bio:
A. Robert Allen
is a longtime New York City college administrator with a lifelong passion for
writing. When he traced his family tree back hundreds of years and uncovered
roots that were white, black, Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish, the seed of a
story began to grow. Failed Moments is a fictional account of the
exploits of his ancestors during racially charged periods in the past.
Find out more about the author and his works at his
website: http://arobertallen.com/.
Author Links - The link for any or all of the following...
Website &Blog: arobertallen.com
Facebook: anthonyroballen
Twitter:#anthonyroballen
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Failed-Moments-Allen-ebook/dp/B00TOXIZ10/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424911634&sr=8-1&keywords=Failed+moments
Giveaway -Kindle Fire HD 7" KDP Free Download Days will
be March 18 & 19th, and reviews must be left on Amazon Kindle page March 18
- April 10. Winner drawn from Reviews on Amazon book page and announced via
Live Video.
Book Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Createspace
Buy Link(s): http://www.amazon.com/Failed-Moments-Allen-ebook/dp/B00TOXIZ10/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424911634&sr=8-1&keywords=Failed+moments
Book Description:
Tagline:
What if the only way to survive
your life is to go back in history and right the wrongs of two other men’s
lives?
Book Description:
1790, French Caribbean: biracial
plantation owner Patrice Beaumont is known as a “kinder” slave master, but his
trusted friend reminds him that is no cause for pride. He claims to be committed to ending slavery,
but his actions don’t back-up his words.
Is being the “best of the worst” all he’s capable of?
1863, New York City: Giant Irish
street fighter Patrick Allen is days away from battling it out with a similarly
oversized Black fighter, when the Draft Riots ignite dangerous racial conflicts
around the city. Never one to take sides
outside the ring or join a fight he can’t win, he steers clear of the angry
mobs. So when he stumbles on a lynching
in progress, who can expect him to do anything more than look away?
Modern day, New York City: Patrick Walsh, a day trader by occupation and
a daydreamer by disposition, sits alone on his terrace trading his portfolio,
and staring out at the city skyline.
Alone feels right…always has, and he’s fairly certain, always will.
Besides having a similar name
and a proclivity to make tragic mistakes, what mystery ties these men together?
Excerpt One (300-500 or so Words):
Chapter 1
The Boigen
“NO PICTURE. NO name. No background,” he whispered to himself as he realized none of this missing information
mattered. In his experience, first impressions made all the difference. Details
offered nothing more than preparation for yet another first date. This time,
however, roles would be reversed. She would need to find him. Patrick Walsh
chuckled as he settled back into the snug couch inside the lobby of the elegant
Boigen Hotel on the West Side of Manhattan.
The Boigen had to be new, Patrick thought, as he flipped through a small
corporate brochure. The hotel, which was south of his old Hell’s Kitchen
neighborhood and in the vicinity of a few favorite hangouts, boasted ”Classic
Swedish Charm in the Heart of the West Side.” What an excellent tagline, he
thought.
A beautiful chandelier in
the center of the lobby, situated directly above a multi-colored table,
demanded Patrick’s attention. The light passing through the table’s colored
shelves reflected off the marble floor and mesmerized him. A large bouquet of
white tulips occupied the small, purplish tabletop. Perhaps amethyst, Patrick
thought. Below that were three shelves: The first level, ruby, the second,
emerald, and the third, sapphire. Noticing the colored flecks of light on the
floor again, he looked up. Where have I seen this fabulous chandelier? In a
magazine? A catering hall? Or somewhere else?
Patrick’s mind turned back
to his social life as he contemplated the newness of a first date and the
anticipation of a second, both acting as a lovely build-up to the third
date–the highlight of most of Patrick’s relationships, when the increasing ease
that came from being somewhat acquainted was roughly equal to the remaining
sense of the unknown. Third dates provided Patrick with a brief and welcome
opportunity to smile. Fourth dates, however, brought on the inevitable
question: “Where is this going?” or the new phrasing he’d heard twice this past
year, “What is your end game?” Whatever the form of the question, it always
marked the beginning of the end for Patrick, although he preferred to think of
it as the need for yet another new beginning. She’s late. Where is she?
Patrick continued to survey
his surroundings and tried to relax. The one modern aspect of the hotel, a
full-length glass wall, featured three oversized doors with pearl handles,
which provided access to Tenth Avenue. The Limerick Liar, one of Patrick’s
favorite Irish bars, became visible in the distance as a large delivery truck
pulled away from the front of The Boigen. How could I have missed this
hotel?
Two distinct groups of
people assembled in the lobby. The larger group clustered around the ornate
table with the white tulips. Tourists, Patrick guessed as he detected a
sense of anticipation when a big luxury charter bus pulled up to the Tenth
Avenue entrance. The second group in the lobby lacked the excitement of the
first and displayed more control, as they sat in a collection of chairs about
ten feet away from the doorway that led to 20th Street. Patrick didn’t know
what this group was waiting for and realized he had no theories. That was unusual.
This game of analyzing the behavior and motivations of strangers relaxed him
when he got anxious, which was often. Patrick’s blood pressure eased as he
continued to watch.
The tourists left the lobby
and headed toward the charter bus on Tenth Avenue and the more sedate group
departed onto 20th Street. Patrick found it peculiar–actually rude–that each of
the tourists peeled a single petal off a tulip as they passed the bouquet and
left for the bus. He was tempted to say something to them, but realized as much
as it bothered him, he would not want to be seen in any kind of a confrontation
when his date arrived. First impressions dictate the outcome, Patrick
reminded himself. A young hotel employee quickly replaced the ravaged bouquet
as if it were a standard duty. Patrick smiled. Good service standards, well
executed. It was a tightly run ship.
The Boigen lobby was almost
empty and all of the energy that had filled the room a few minutes earlier
exited with the two groups. His date was late. As Patrick glanced again at his
watch, he felt a tap on his shoulder and then a brief, searing pain just below his right ear. The extreme
discomfort forced him to hunch over while pressing his hands against either
side of his head. After a few moments, he straightened up and tried to regain
his composure. He was unsuccessful. So much for first impressions – Patrick
turned to meet his date.
“Good evening, Patrick,
it’s been a while,” she said.
He didn’t know how to respond.
“Patrick. This
must be upsetting to you, but we need to talk.”
His heart was pounding and
beads of sweat started to gather on his brow.
Patrick loosened his tie
and took several long, deep breaths. Finally, he stam- mered, “I don’t
understand. The last time...the last time I saw you...” His words failed him.
She smiled gently. “I
understand your confusion, but before I answer your questions, I have one for
you.” She paused. “Do you remember the last time we were together?”
“Yes.”
“I thought you
would. So when was it?”
Patrick cleared his throat and muttered, “April 11,
2008,” as he examined his surprise visitor
who hadn’t changed at all in the past five years. How could this be? Patrick
asked himself. April 11, 2008, was the day she died.
I was born in New York City and always lived in the greater
metropolitan area.
Tell us your latest news?
My latest and biggest news is the launch of my new novel of
historical fiction entitled, Failed
Moments. The book poses the
question: What if the only way to survive
your life is to go back in history and right the wrongs of two other men’s
lives? Patrick Walsh finds himself in
this precarious position as he goes back in time to the French Caribbean in 1790,
just before the slave revolt, which created Haiti, and 1863 NYC during the
Draft Riots. Tackling race relations from a unique perspective, Failed Moments is a thought-provoking
adventure through four centuries that questions the measure of a man not by his
decision to do no harm, but his willingness to act on what is right. I’m very excited about the prospects for the
book, which has just recently been released.
What inspired you to write your first book?
A few years ago I embarked on a very detailed study of my
family history. I was able to track my
family tree
back hundreds of years and uncovered roots that were white, black, Catholic,
Protestant, and Jewish, and the seed of a story began to grow. Failed
Moments is a fictional account of the exploits of my ancestors during
racially charged periods in the past.
How did you come up with the title?
The main character of the book has to go back to prior lives
to relive critical moments when he did the wrong thing or took the wrong
direction. His ability to correct his Failed Moments during these “do-overs”
will determine his fate in his current life.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
My novel has many lessons
about race and courage that are prominently placed throughout the story
line. Readers are able to learn about
the slave experience just before the revolution that formed the country of
Haiti from the vantage point of both the slave and the master. In addition, the tensions that erupted
between the Irish and Blacks during the Draft riots in New York City during the
Civil War are brought to life in a later section of the book. The main character reflects on lessons
learned after each of his “do-overs.”
What books have most influenced your life most?
I’ve been influenced by many books in many different
genres. For self-improvement and
business strategies I love books about NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming.) For light reads, I’m a sucker for a John
Grisham legal thriller. I was deeply
moved by Khaled Hosseini’s, A Thousand Splendid
Suns, and The Kite Runner. In my own genre of historical fiction, I
started out reading just about everything written by James Michener, and now
enjoy many of Edward Rutherford’s works.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
In the Young Adult category, an author by the name of Neesha
Meminger, who has been around for just a few years, has written a number of
excellent novels. I especially liked, Into the Wise Dark, which takes the
reader back in time to an ancient mythological culture.
What are your current projects?
Well before I begin my next novel, I’m focusing on spreading
the work about Failed Moments. I’m doing all that I can right now to get the
book out in the public eye, and I’m hoping your readers will give it a look.
What
would you like my readers to know?
I would like
your readers to know that Failed Moments will be a novel that will make them
think and reflect---two very worthy endeavors.
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