I did it again.  Finding Hope in Texas won a Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for Young Adult Fiction for the summer 2014.  Horray me!

Interview

Another interview of me about my new book "Finding Hope in Texas."  Thank you to Becky's Barmy Book Blog for putting it on.  Go check it out!

http://beckysbarmybookblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/author-interview-ryan-t-petty.html

Book ShowCase

Finding Hope in Texas was recently showcased on a blog.  See what you think of my Q&A: 

http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com/2014/05/showcase-finding-hope-in-texas-by-ryan.html

Enjoy.  ;-)

Book Signing at Black Jack Grove, Cumby, Texas

Just a little book signing I did at my home town.  It's good to have the support of your local friends and family.

Author Interview at Fire and Ice Books.

Here is a link to an interview I did through Fire and Ice Books, the young adult publishing company that produced, Finding Hope in Texas.  Hope you enjoy...

http://www.fireandiceya.com/blog/interview-ryan-petty-finding-hope-in-texas-giveaway/

Amazon Reviews for Finding Hope in Texas

Check out the first few reviews on Amazon...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J8X7FHQ/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0FNKRR8HDN4WMXKE05JZ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846

Prologue to my new book, Finding Hope in Texas

Prologue

A winter chill had encroached upon New York. I watched the morning news as car accidents were reported throughout the city. Luckily, I lived close enough to school to walk. When I got out into the storm, I noticed that Christmas cheer had evolved into anger and frustrations from people I passed. Everyone was running late and tempers flared, thus giving into the theory of how New Yorkers really are. The holiday joy had been blown away by the bitter winds. I was running late too, being tardy for the first time all year and then late again getting home from orchestra practice. My teacher kept us longer to make sure we were prepared for the Christmas pageant coming up on Saturday. As I walked home I got a text from Mom explaining that they had left to see Tyler's game and would be back late that evening. I didn't mind. I knew they were coming to my recital the next day, and besides, I would have the house to myself for once. Mom called me one more time as they drove to the game.

“Are you sure you're going to be okay tonight, honey?” Mom asked me.

“Yes, Mom. Jeez. I’m not a little kid anymore.” I answered back coolly. “You just have a good time at the game with Dad. Tell Tyler he'd better get a double-double for me.”

“I will, sweetie. There are leftovers in the fridge when you get hungry. And hey, it’s Friday night. Call someone up or have a friend over. We trust you.”

“Okay, Mom. Thanks.”

“Bye, sweetie. I love you.”

“Yeah, me, too. Bye, Mom.” Why didn’t I just say I love you? Teenagers could be so stupid sometimes.

I made use of my night by reading a book and watching another Christmas special. This time it was Miracle on 34^th Street, a homegrown, New York movie. I also sent a text to my friend about plans on Saturday: shopping at the mall to get gifts for the family. I lost track of time, though, and realized that they were running late.

“Tyler's game should have been over by now,” I said. “It must be this storm holding them up.” At first their tardiness didn't bother me. The storm, overtime, going out to eat—there was a number of possibilities. But as the TV shows passed the night away, I still had no word from them. I finally grabbed my cell and began to text.

Where R U? I sent it out to all of my family in a group text. There was no reply. I quickly took to actually calling Mom, something I rarely did. The phone rang and rang before finally being sent to voice mail.

“Hey, Mom. It's Hope. I can't get any of you. Call me as soon as you get this message. Thanks. Bye.” I hoped that it didn't show through, but there was worry in my voice in that phone call. My heart just wouldn't stop pounding.

I called again and again. All three of their phones. Nothing.

Two hours later there was a deep, penetrating knock on my front door. It startled me so much I jumped from the sofa and scrambled to the door, first checking through the glass to see who it was. Two uniformed police officers stood on my front porch. I immediately flung the door open.

“Are you Hope Kilpatrick?” asked one of the officers, a younger man, probably early thirties, tall with just a hint of gray in his sideburns. The older one stood just behind him, his eyes dark.

“What happened? Where is my family?” I asked loudly, already knowing this had to do with them.

“Miss Kilpatrick—”

“Where is my family?” I repeated, practically yelling at the officers this time.

“There was an accident,” the other officer finally said, a hint of grief in his words. I nodded my head to show that I understood, but for a moment I couldn't find the words.

Focus. Remain calm.

“Okay. Okay, then they must be at the hospital. Can you tell me which one so that I can get going?” My mind was whirling. I thought about stepping inside and grabbing the keys to Mom's car—or maybe they were here to take me? But the first cop stared deep into my eyes and ducked his head.

“I'm sorry, Miss, but—”

“No! You tell me where they are right now!”

The officer stepped forward and tried to place a hand on my shoulder to comfort me, but I pushed it away. I wasn’t going to accept it. I wasn’t going to accept their story. There had to be some mistake. This didn’t happen to people like my family. Not to them, not to me.

I swung around and went inside. I could hear them calling my name, but I wasn’t about to answer. I found my mom’s keys in the kitchen where she always put them. The police were in the entranceway when I made my way out again. The younger one threw his hands up in front of him, like he was trying to corral me.

“Miss Kilpatrick, stop,” he ordered, but in the slightest way. I wasn’t going to listen. I just wanted to get to them, to be by their side like they had been for me for so many years.

“Please, just tell me where they are!” I demanded back at him, but my voice trailed off and I could feel my eyes being engulfed by tears. He shook his head again. Why did he have to keep doing that? But for some reason, I knew the answer.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” his voice was about to break. “They’re not coming home, sweetie.”

Sweetie? You ring my doorbell and give this awful news and have the audacity to call me sweetie?

I went from frustrated sadness to anger in a heartbeat. I threw myself at him as hard as I could, pounding on his uniform, screaming the worst profanities I could before he restrained me up in his arms so that I couldn’t move. I just wanted to hurt him and I couldn’t even do that.

He didn't have to use the words “killed” or “no survivors.” I had figured it out on my own as I sobbed loudly against the officer. The man I tried to attack now held me like a child in his arms, as I could do nothing but weep. The drunk driver just couldn't stop on the icy roads and had slammed into my family’s car with such force that they were all killed instantly. There would be no criminal court to see the drunk punished. No trial or witnesses to make sure he lived the rest of his life in prison for killing three innocent people. He got off free by dying in the carnage he caused.

I just couldn’t stop crying as I held their picture. That wretched picture would always let me know what I once had, what was gone forever. It was such a big crossroads to encounter at sixteen years old and basically, alone.

Fate had looked me square in the face and punched me as hard as it could.

Here is the back cover blurb from Finding Hope in Texas.

How do you move on in your life after a horrible tragedy?

That's what Hope Kilpatrick must ask after losing her family in a horrible car accident right before Christmas. Unable to deal with the pain, she leaves the haunting memories of her New York home behind and escapes to Texas with an estranged aunt that is her only family.

Still reeling from her loss and the culture shock of her new home, she must also deal with a school bully that has set her sights upon her. Hope's only solace is the quiet girl at the vacant lunch table, an eccentric history teacher, and the introverted handsome young man she meets at a Texas parade. Finding Hope in Texas deals with the tragedy of loss, the sardonic struggles of teenage life, and the sanguinity in finding a special someone that will help her discover the strength to live again.

Characters in Love interview

Check out this link to Mysti Parker's Characters in Love column on her blog.  She interviews my character Hope Kilpatrick and her new love for the James Dean looking Jason.  Hope you enjoy...


http://mystiparker.blogspot.com/2014/02/characters-in-love-hope-kilpatrick-from.html

Cover for Finding Hope in Texas

Here is the cover to my new book, Finding Hope in Texas.

2012 North Texas Book Festival

I sat next to keitha Willis at this event, another new author.  Currently she is working on her second book which I can't wait to read.  Check her first book out at www.keithawillis.com

Another Review

Almost forgot about this one by the Civil War Courier.  Thanks for the entry.


http://www.civilwarcourier.com/?p=14131

Reviews of The Life He Never Knew

I thought I would publish a few areas were you can find some reviews for my first book.  If you read it and would like to review it, feel free to do so.  Be honest, it only helps me become a better writer.  Anyway, here you go...


http://www.amazon.com/Life-Never-Knew-Ryan-Petty/dp/1611602912


http://blogcritics.org/book-review-the-life-he-never/


http://www.civilwarnews.com/reviews/2012br/sept/shaara-petty-bw812.html


http://www.tear-a-page.com/ryan-petty.html


http://frontporchnewstexas.com/cumbyauthor092711.htm

Welcome!

Hello all.  I have started this blog to talk and discuss my writings with the world, or whoever cares.  Currently, I have written one book, a historical fiction, called The Life He Never Knew, as you can see off to the right.  I enjoyed writing it and the process of publication.  It did go on to win one award, another thing I'm pretty glad about.


My next book, Finding Hope in Texas, comes out in April of 2014.  So far, it has a great cover and part of the editing has been done. I hope my friends, family, and new people that I haven't met yet will enjoy it as much as they did my first book.  I think it is also a pretty cool story, but I wrote it, so I'm kind of biased.


I hope to continue to write for a long time.  It is a hobby and a passion of mine.  Anyway, stop on by, contact me, let me know what you think.  Enjoy your stay...  :-)