Writer Danny Bayle’s life is in shambles. His girlfriend has left him and his grandfather — the last and most important influence in his life — has just passed away. Danny has spent the last few months languishing, unable to write a single word, but at the urging of a friend ventures out into the world in an attempt to jump-start a new life, befriending in the process an interesting assortment of characters including an author, a musician, an artist, and an retired nurse. Garnering the attention of more than one woman, Danny sees his new friends unwittingly begin to shape what could just be the story of his life. But will he ever let go of the girl that got away?
Excerpt
“I was with someone for a long time, and that ended a few months ago, too.” “So you lost your grandfather and ended a relationship. That must have been hard for you,” she said. “That’s why I’m getting a strong feeling of loss, or emptiness. You were very close with someone, but now that person is gone. It’s someone you had a strong connection with.” “It’s possible.” “Whoever it is, there’s a big space between you now, yes?” She closed her eyes again and took a deep breath. “What kind of writing do you do?” “I write novels.” “And you’re very successful. . . .” “Not really,” I corrected her. “Well, then, you’re going to have a big breakthrough in the near future,” she assured me. “I’m seeing the number 3. Your third novel will be the big one, the one that will get you attention. Then they’re going to want to see what you’ve done before, but not until your third. How many have you written so far?” “One.” “Well, you’re on your way then.” “When will I start writing again?” I asked. “Soon.” “How soon?” “Something needs to change in your life first. Are you having trouble writing?” “Yes,” I said. “Something will change in your life, and then you will begin to write again.” She was comfortingly vague. Of course I wanted to believe her—which is probably the catalyst that keeps all soothsayers like her in business. Although she peppered her reading with relative dark spots, she massaged my ego just enough that I found myself hoping her gift was real. “Is there anything you want to ask me?” You’d think that, faced with access to endless prognostication, I’d have an abundance of questions. This was not the case however.
About the Author
Born and raised in Toronto, Brad Cotton has been writing professionally for over a decade. An average guitarist, a sub par painter, and a horrible juggler of anything larger than a tangerine, he is currently married to a woman, but does not have a cat, a drum set or any children. A Work in Progress is his first novel.
Authors Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes and Noble