Galley Proof, by Eric Arvin

An insightful, witty romance by an insightful, witty author

Story blurb: Fiction writer Logan Brandish is perfectly happy in his peaceful small-town routine with his best friend, his cat, and his boyfriend—until he meets the editor of his next book, the handsome Brock Kimble, and the lazy quiet of everyday living goes flying out the window. Faced with real passion for the first time, Logan becomes restless and agitated, and soon his life and his new manuscript—a work in progress he’d always thought would be completed—are in a shambles.

But as Logan is learning, you can’t always get what you want… at least not right away. To take his mind off the mess, he takes a trip, but even the beautiful Italian, um, scenery can’t keep his thoughts from his erstwhile editor for long. Logan just might have to admit there are some things you can’t run from.

Available in e-book format – 380 KB.

About the author: Eric Arvin resides in the same sleepy Indiana river town where he grew up. He graduated from Hanover College with a Bachelors in History. He has lived, for brief periods, in Italy and Australia. He has survived brain surgery and his own loud-mouthed personal demons. Eric is the author of THE REST IS ILLUSION, SUBSURDITY, SIMPLE MEN, WOKE UP IN A STRANGE PLACE, and various other sundry and not-so-sundry writings. He intends to live the rest of his days with tongue in cheek and eyes set to roam

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Review by Gerry Burnie

Eric Arvin is a ‘friend’ on my Facebook page, and I frequently delight in his off-the-wall-type, ribald wit, and so I was pleased to see it present in Galley Proof [Dreamspinner Press, 2012], his latest in quite a long list of titles.

The topic–writers and writing—is a natural for any author, but it is not without its risks. It’s like ‘talking shop’ to someone who is not in the field, and readers of course are not. There is a twinge of this in talking about ‘writer’s block’—which I personally believe doesn’t exist[1]—but Eric rather skilfully avoids this by focussing on the personalities and their interactions.

The main character, Logan Brandish, is surprisingly conservative for a writer, with his ‘suburilicious’ cat and equally conservative boyfriend, Curtis. But since nothing ever remains constant for long, enter the rakishly handsome Brock who—like most alpha males—instinctively wants to dominate Logan ‘because he can.’ The methodology is fairly typical, as well; i.e. by attacking Logan’s self-confidence through his creation—most writer’s Achilles’ heel.

Logan’s reaction is fairly typical as well, almost trite, for he dumps Curtis and succumbs to this hunk’s manipulation like smitten spinster; eventually ending up in his bed. However, I hasten to add that it is Eric’s skill and wit as a writer that makes this seems fresh and above all entertaining.

It is not without its insights, either, and like his witticisms these are embedded like bonbons throughout; asides and observations that either make you smile or think.

It is the first of Eric’s novels that I have read, but I hope to be able to get around to others in the future. Four and one-half bees.

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Introducing the characters from my forthcoming novel: Coming of Age on the Trail

Since I write historical fiction, many of these images are vintage photographs with a story of their own.

He [Spencer – the main character] then turned his back on his aristocratic family and set about making a new life among the hardy Canadian colonists. For a while he tried his hand at farming in Upper Canada, but hearing rumours of rich gold finds in a place called British Columbia, he sold the farm and boldly set out with a good horse and a pair of pack mules for the three thousand mile trek across country. To orient himself for the journey west of the Mississippi, he first steered south through the populated northern states, and while in Chicago he encountered a roguish cowhand by the name of Jason “Jaycee” Collins. Collins appeared roughly the same age as Spencer, and from the rakish angle of his Stetson he had the same precocious nature as well.

“Where y’all headin’, Brit?” he asked when he saw Spencer’s Bowler hat.

“I don’t believe that’s any of your business, Yank,” Spencer was quick to reply, “But if you must know, I’m on my way to British Columbia to search for gold.”

Collins remained quite unfazed by the terse remarks, grinning lopsidedly and offering his hand. “No need t’ take offence, Brit. It’s just my way o’ talkin’. Where I come just about everybody has a handle ‘sides their own. So what trail are ya takin’ west?”

Spencer was quick to back down, as well. “I’m not sure, yet,” he admitted. “That’s why I’m here to find out.”

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Catch me if you know how, By Travis Morgan: This book teaches computer forensics to any level computer user. You do not need to be an intermediate or advanced computer user to understand this book or to know how to implement any of the procedures. It’s very easy to navigate, with clear screenshots as examples.[2]

Available in e-book format.

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If you would like to learn more about any of my books, or to order copies, click on the specific cover below. Two Irish Lads and Nor All Thy Tears are available in both Kindle and Nook formats. Publisher’s price, $4.95.

On behalf of the authors reviewed here and myself, thanks for dropping by! You make it all worthwhile.