Crossing Day by William A. Glass Virtual Book Tour

 

Guest Post

So, I’ve been challenged by Momma to convince readers to read my novel, Crossing Day. To a former sales and marketing exec who some called a “rainmaker,” this is a worthy challenge. It reminds me of a standard interview ploy sales managers used back in the day. They would hand an aspiring applicant a pen from their pocket and say, “Sell me this pen.” 

The standard approach for most applicants to this interview question back then was to launch into a laudatory description of the pen, pointing out all its amazing features. Where applicants often failed, was in coupling the benefit to the user of each feature. For example, the more astute applicants wouldn’t just say, “Sir, this pen has a fabulous screw-on cap.” He or she would say, “Sir, this pen’s patented screw-on cap will prevent ink from leaking. The clip will keep the pen secure in your pocket, so it won’t fall out when you bend down to tie your shoes.”

Nowadays, sales training has advanced. So, before discussing the features and benefits, a well-schooled salesperson would find out why the prospective buyer is considering purchasing the product in the first place. So, if thrown that interview question today, my first words to the interviewer would be, “Sir, please tell me what you are looking for in a pen?” and I might follow up with, “How do you plan to use it.” After a few more queries along this line, I could tune my pitch to the buyer's needs, giving me a much better chance to close the sale. 

Now, if you’ve read this far, you’re probably wondering if I’m ever going to address Momma’s challenge to convince you to read Crossing Day. But in a way, I have answered it. My point is that I don’t know enough about you to proceed. If we were talking face-to-face and I asked what you look for in a book, and you said, “I strictly read Westerns.” My approach would be to recommend a couple of Westerns by my favorite writers in that genre, and I would not recommend my book. Only if you told me that you have wide-ranging reading interests and just want to be entertained or that you love to read thrilling stories set in speculative worlds would I suggest my novel, Crossing Day.

William A. Glass

It's been one hundred and sixty years since the Confederacy won its independence at the Battle of Altamaha Crossing. Slaves of African descent still perform most of the work in the South. This seems normal to Ryan Walters and his friends who attend high school in Huntsville, Alabama. Like teens everywhere, they enjoy sharing videos, playing sports, and hanging out with friends. Jaybird's drive-in is their favorite gathering place. There, they befriend Mish, a slave girl who works as a car hop. When the drive-in’s owner sells Mish to a dirty old man, Ryan and his friends awaken to the injustice around them. Despite the danger, they decide to help Mish escape. Will they succeed?

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Day-William-Glass-ebook/dp/B0CW8HBGV4/

Excerpt

The referee blows her whistle and points to the Joseph Johnston High School goal. It’s a foul, just outside the penalty area. Hastily, several defenders form a wall. Liam Larsen, the goalkeeper, shouts directions. 

“Block that kick, block that kick,” the Johnston cheerleaders yell. 

Melanie Montgomery, wearing her purple and gold cheerleader outfit, catches the eye of one of the boys on the squad. He nods as she runs toward him and then leaps, placing her foot into his waiting hands. Melanie’s world dissolves into a swirl of color. She comes to earth with a thud. 

“Nice landing,” the boy says.

“Thanks.” Melanie glances at the scoreboard and sees that despite their efforts, another goal has been added to the visitor’s tally. “I hate these German schools,” she pouts.

“Yeah, they act like they invented the game,” one of the other cheerleaders exclaims.

There’s no injury time added in high school soccer, so the match comes to a screeching halt when the clock winds down and the buzzer goes off. Most players line up to shake hands, but three of the Germans laugh and walk off. Their coach gives a Hitler salute to the Johnston stands. A chorus of boos greets his gesture.

“Everyone on the line,” Sam Gorman, the Johnston soccer coach, shouts. He crosses his arms and glares at his players threateningly until the whole team is on the touchline. “All right, Ryan,” he says to the team captain, “cool down.”

Bill is a retired business executive who now lives in a small southern town with his wife, Bettina. She’s a retired high school German teacher. Bill coaches soccer at a small college. Often, Bettina, who has a commercial driver’s license, pilots the soccer team bus to away games. 

Bettina and Bill have three sons, Alex, Robert, and Gordon who have all graduated from college and moved away to pursue careers. Instead of having an empty nest, Bettina and Bill now host three rescue dogs. They enjoy finding promising hiking trails to explore with their dogs.

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Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20170818.William_A_Glass 

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Giveaway

William A. Glass will award a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway