May 2, 2017
Last Exit To Montauk
Additional Info for Reviewers & Staff
I didn’t self-publish. I went through a boutique, or small-press publisher. That said, I did consider self-publishing and was in the process of going down that route, until my editor, Janet Fix, who also has the aforementioned publishing arm, thewordverve, asked to publish my debut novel, Last Exit To Montauk.
I use commercial off the shelf editing tools, like Grammarly, to help edit my manuscripts before submitting them to my editor. I also self-edit as well. I'm the type of writer who, halfway through my manuscript, will go back to the beginning and start editing. It drives some people crazy, but I find it helps with the flow of the material, as well as "cutting away the fat." as I like to call it.
I am a recent Pitch Perfect Winner. I've read a few of your reviews, been to your website, and feel my novel is right down your alley. It's an inter-racial coming-of-age, love story, set in the mid-80s, on Long Island, New York. It features strong women characters. Also, what makes this novel different from others is, the Hispanic characters featured.
The main protagonist is from an upper-middle-class family. His mother is a successful pediatric surgeon, the older brother graduated from Dartmouth, and the main characters attend a Christian private school. The Hispanic family is not your typical migrant-working, blue-collar family.
Lastly, here's a recent review (December 22, 2017) that captures the spirit of the novel:
A wonderful story of sweet young love that flooded me with memories of the 80s. It was heartwarming to watch the friendships - old and new - unfold as the characters brought out the best in each other, with nothing but hopes, love and dreams in their hearts and their future. I laughed, and I cried. Well done. Amazon Review, Lori Ann King
I hope you enjoy the novel as much as Lori Ann King.
Amazon e-book: $3.99
Amazon hard copy: $15.99
Editing, Production, Marketing & Sales
Workshopped with
Lawrence Kelter
Edited by Janet Fix
Cover design by Book Formatters
Formatted by Bob Houston eBook Formatting
Published Through TheWordVerve, Inc.
Marketed by TheWordverve, Inc.
Read a positive review
Distributed by Lightning Source
Scheduled for review – the information below will be filled out slowly. It will not be visible to the public until it is published on our magazine.
While out grocery shopping with his wife in Whole Foods, a middle-aged, male, Floridian spots a young look-alike of his high school sweetheart. He is unable to sleep that evening and recalls the summer before his senior year, where he first fell in love with B. Their whirlwind romance took place in the1980s on Long Island, a suburb of New York City.
The main character’s name is never mentioned. The story is written in first person and B just calls him ‘Mister’.
High school senior, ‘Mister’, is drawn to pretty blonde classmate, B, one day, as he watches her smelling fruit in a grocery store. He’s seen her at his private prep school, but they don’t really know each other well. He decides to speak to her while in the grocery store, and to his surprise, she asks him if he’d like to play tennis with her. Right then. He says yes, she wins the game and he has to treat her to pizza since the loser has to pay for a meal.
Their unexpected friendship blossoms. He is totally into her, but is B into him? His best friends, Hannah and Jean Paul, twins, are shocked and a bit uneasy about B at first, but soon they are all hanging out at his pool, going to Friendly’s for ice cream, and heading out to the beach during the summer between junior and senior year.
‘Mister’ is surprised when he runs into B, and she is hanging out with Mary, a rich, snooty drug user. The problem is, Mary’s brother, Kyle, used to date B. Kyle doesn’t seem to be over B and can’t believe she is dating a ‘Spic’ or Hispanic, like ‘Mister’. Kyle has it out for him now. Will ‘Mister’ have to confront Kyle? Will B confront him or just push Kyles consistenf flirting under the rug? Will this young first love survive or will it be doomed because of Kyle and his past romance with B?
The story is written in a strong voice that exudes wit and playfulness, in keeping with a seventeen-year-old narrator that is coming of age and experiencing his first love.
LAST EXIT TO MONTAUK delivers a roller-coaster of a ride with some surprises. A Romantic-Comedy with some touching, heart-felt, thought-provoking and heart-breaking, yet relatable, moments.
The story is extremely well-written, full of humor, heart, and a vulnerability that pulls the reader in from the very first page. Words that describe the story would be: Poignant. Deep. Moving. Heart-felt. Funny. Universal.
Fans of John Green, Nick Hornby and romantic coming of age stories, will enjoy this look at the joys and pitfalls of first love.
The Rundown
While out grocery shopping with his wife in Whole Foods, a middle-aged, male, Floridian spots a young look-alike of his high school sweetheart. He is unable to sleep that evening and recalls the summer before his senior year, where he first fell in love with B. Their whirlwind romance took place in the1980s on Long Island, a suburb of New York City.
The main character’s name is never mentioned. The story is written in first person and B just calls him ‘Mister’.
High school senior, ‘Mister’, is drawn to pretty blonde classmate, B, one day, as he watches her smelling fruit in a grocery store. He’s seen her at his private prep school, but they don’t really know each other well. He decides to speak to her while in the grocery store, and to his surprise, she asks him if he’d like to play tennis with her. Right then. He says yes, she wins the game and he has to treat her to pizza since the loser has to pay for a meal.
Their unexpected friendship blossoms. He is totally into her, but is B into him? His best friends, Hannah and Jean Paul, twins, are shocked and a bit uneasy about B at first, but soon they are all hanging out at his pool, going to Friendly’s for ice cream, and heading out to the beach during the summer between junior and senior year.
‘Mister’ is surprised when he runs into B, and she is hanging out with Mary, a rich, snooty drug user. The problem is, Mary’s brother, Kyle, used to date B. Kyle doesn’t seem to be over B and can’t believe she is dating a ‘Spic’ or Hispanic, like ‘Mister’. Kyle has it out for him now. Will ‘Mister’ have to confront Kyle? Will B confront him or just push Kyles consistenf flirting under the rug? Will this young first love survive or will it be doomed because of Kyle and his past romance with B?
The story is written in a strong voice that exudes wit and playfulness, in keeping with a seventeen-year-old narrator that is coming of age and experiencing his first love.
The Recommendation
LAST EXIT TO MONTAUK delivers a roller-coaster of a ride with some surprises. A Romantic-Comedy with some touching, heart-felt, thought-provoking and heart-breaking, yet relatable, moments.
The story is extremely well-written, full of humor, heart, and a vulnerability that pulls the reader in from the very first page. Words that describe the story would be: Poignant. Deep. Moving. Heart-felt. Funny. Universal.
Fans of John Green, Nick Hornby and romantic coming of age stories, will enjoy this look at the joys and pitfalls of first love.
The Rating
Top Pick! 5 Stars (out of five): Freaking amazing. Any agent or publishing house that passed this one up made a big mistake. It was selected by our reviewer as a personal favorite. This is also a nomination for our Novel of the Year award.
Author’s Summary
When he approaches her at the market, he has no idea the next three weeks of his life would change him forever.
It’s the late 1980’s, summertime, on the North Shore of Long Island. The air stirs with possibilities as it often does during this time of year. And so begins the romance between one Hispanic seventeen-year-old male, on the verge of manhood and ready to conquer the world, and one beautiful and intelligent young woman named B.
It is much more than romance, though. B will forever become a part of this young man’s soul. He will never forget her.
This is a coming-of-age story, a love story, replete with milestones, tangled emotions, and adventures that are the embodiments of first love. Not just for the young, but for the young at heart.
Short Description
Love the eighties? Love romantic adventures? How often have you looked back on your high school experiences and just thought . . . WOW. Last Exit to Montauk will take you there . . . and more.
Catchphrase
Young souls experience new love, intimacy, tragedyYou might also like...
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