SOUP The Future Is Past and Present
by Travis Haugen
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GENRE: Adventure/Mystery
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BLURB:
Scott Yonge exploded onto the national consciousness at the 2001 Garrett Awards and quickly rose to legendary status on the wings of his music and his whirlwind romance with independent film actress Michelle Zoe. What should have been a perfect life was interrupted by an ultra-right wing militant group called the American Freedom Force and its leader, Colonel Randall, who forces Scott to choose between his life and that of his son. After his heroic sacrifice, his family is left to pick up the pieces and forge ahead to a future in the vacuum he left behind.
Now, in 2021, his son Hedley inherits music for himself, becoming a star in his own right as technology gives new life to the medium. Scott's daughter, affectionately known as Soup, throws herself into unravelling the mysteries of her family's history. Michelle commits herself to keeping them all together and trying to make sense of life without the one she loves. Through it all, the AFF looms in the shadows, threatening to resurrect the pain they have just begun to overcome.
Now, in 2021, his son Hedley inherits music for himself, becoming a star in his own right as technology gives new life to the medium. Scott's daughter, affectionately known as Soup, throws herself into unravelling the mysteries of her family's history. Michelle commits herself to keeping them all together and trying to make sense of life without the one she loves. Through it all, the AFF looms in the shadows, threatening to resurrect the pain they have just begun to overcome.
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Excerpt Three:
The dream wakes him, the same one. Hedley’s whispered words “Bye birdies, bye” still ring in his ears as he achieves consciousness. Sound of a different source soon intrudes: that of music playing through the PA system. It’s late, he realizes, and jumps to his feet. He can feel more than hear the rustle of people filing into the arena, bringing with them a sense of tension that will build until show time, then burst like a stick dam before a raging river with the first note. It’s 7:10 PM; an hour and twenty to go. A shrill knock comes to the door, followed by Del’s voice.
“You in there, dude?”
“Si,” Scott replies. All the years of the road, sharing the stage, and the music are audible in Del’s simple words. They don’t have to speak to talk; they’re on the same wavelength.
The show, the focus is the show. Whatever lies with tomorrow lives with tomorrow; they live for tonight. “I need a shower, I stink. I’ll be along soon.”
“Cool, dude, don’t forget your pants.”
He hears cowboy booted footsteps receding on the concrete floor.
A new, unidentifiable tension floats to the surface as Scott showers, rising from the dark side. It has an ominous feel about it, winding like a creeping vine around Scott’s confidence, bringing with it a sense of fear, and worse, a sense of defeat. The wariness settles on him again, draining his energy and his will. He shivers uncontrollably as coldness sets in, and he wonders if he can go on. Then it occurs to him as he cranks the hot water that this is all part of it. The plan all along was to isolate him, weaken him bit by bit, reducing him to a shell of what he is. By show time, they would see Scott as the colonel wants them to see him, a weak and ineffective fool incapable of sustaining a mission of any substance. “You will not break me,” Scott whispers. He leans his head against the cool tiles of the shower stall. “I will not give you that.”
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Travis was born and raised in the prairies of Saskatchewan, lived in Calgary for over 25 years and presently lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Travis Haugen has spent forty years of his life touring on the road as a musician and has spent hundreds of hours in recording studios. Travis spends much of his time writing songs, writing stories, playing music and spending valuable time with his family and close group of friends.
Links:
Where Soup Is Sold:
An Interview with Travis Haugen
1. Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reins of the story?
The story is wrapped around the characters adventures, so yes, the characters hijacked the story and they hijacked me while I was writing it.
2. Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.
You cannot get another book like it anywhere else. The interactivity of the book with the music and addendums from the SOUP website, and the way the music is an actual part of the plot apposed to background chatter, makes it unique. Then we take that aspect and wrap it around a story of mystery, family drama, intrigue, romance, and a touch of comedy.
3. Have you written any other books that are not published?
Yes, two are completed including the music. As well, Candy and I are working on a fourth book and a set of music to accompany the story. These books are all part of the One Song Series. We hope to get Hedley, the second book published within the year, so stay tuned!
4. Pen or type writer or computer?
Computer mostly, but pen if a computer is not around. I don’t own a type writer.
5. Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?"
I would suggest to anyone who is a fan of e books that they go that route as the interactivity is built in to this format. We have had feedback from other readers that listening to the music while reading was a fantastic experience. I would like to point out, that if you prefer hard copies, it is still a simple thing to link to the music. The A Note From the Author page at the beginning of the book explains how.
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:
Travis Haugen will be awarding a $30 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Congrats on this tour and thank for the opportunity to read about another great book out there to read. It helps out so I can find books I know my family will enjoy reading. Thanks as well for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteWho is your favorite character in your book?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Teresa, for having us back. Always a pleasure.
ReplyDeleteHi James,
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us on the tour, and for commenting.
Hi Bernie,
ReplyDeleteThat's kind of like trying to nail down your favorite song; it changes with the mood. I like them all. They feel like friends to me. Even the bad-asses, like the colonel, or Tom (in his younger days he was), or Scheck. We will hear at lot from Scheck in the next two books, lol.
Thank you Teresa for hosting!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book.
ReplyDeleteHi Rita,
DeleteThanks. We think it is, but naturally, we may have a bit of a bias. We invite everyone to take a spin, at your own risk, of course.
Thanks again for following the tour!
Great excerpt!
ReplyDeleteHi, Victoria,
DeleteThanks for the comment. Hopefully, the rest of the book stands up in people's eyes, lol.
Thanks for stopping by today, folks. And thank you, Teresa, for having us. I wish you all a good night.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteInteresting cover but I wasn't sure what the book was about, then I read the blurb and excerpt but they both got me interested in the story. Love the idea of the interactivity of the book with the music.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue,
DeleteThanks for your comment. Yes, the story is not your run of the mill book project. The music and the lyrics are part of the story itself, not intended as mere background chatter while you read. Beyond the music, the story has elements of mystery, suspense, family drama, romance, a touch of comedy, and political strife.
Hi Folks,
ReplyDeleteOn behalf of my niece, Candy (she's away on courses this weekend), and myself, we'd like to thank you all for stopping by on our tour; we've had a ton of fun! Here's wishing everyone a great summer!