MARCHING IN…AN EBOOK SALE, A BOOK SHOW, A COVER REVEAL

 Hello, Everybody!

 

There’s a lot going on this March with me and Mr. Manfred Magpie, publisher of Magpie Press.

First, the eBook edition of one of my Love, Sex, and Pursuit of Happiness Novels, By the Sea: A Comic Novel, goes on sale for 99 minuscule cents on March 11.

 

A modern comic adult fairy tale with an ensemble cast of Cinderellas.

 

Instead of a kingdom by the sea, our story takes place in and around a residential hotel by the sea. The architecturally eclectic Briers Hotel is situated on Leech Beach, a not particularly inviting beach, being often fog-bound and always scruffy. But it's the perfect setting for our Cinderellas, male and female, who put up with the scruffiness of life while striving to make it through their various personal seaside fogs. Theater; art; antiques; old movies; sex; more sex; death; fast and slow cars, chicken shit and cow poop; military bearing and erotic emissions—not to mention the wicked witch, the sea serpent by the seashore, the village ogre, the village idiot, and several Prince Charmings—all figure into this merry tale with a multitude of happy endings.

 

SOME REVIEWS

 

“Steven Paul Leiva has written an engaging, thoughtful, and kind book…And what a satisfying book it is! Leiva has built his small world perfectly, and each character is so complete and well thought out that what at first seems disparate pieces fit together perfectly by the end. It’s a hat trick in perfect proportions!”—Jo Graham, author of Black Ships, Hand of Isis, and Stealing Fire.

 

“Leiva writes the story with a great deal of depth and perception as he explores the lives, thoughts, and ambitions of each main character...the book’s ending plays upon the they-all-lived-happily-ever-after angle in a quite satisfying but not wholly exaggerated manner.”—Stuart Nulman, Montreal Times.

 

“By the Sea is a delightfully engaging story about an eccentric community that resides in the foggy environs of Leech Beach...Leiva deftly interweaves the characters’ past and present to create a vibrant ensemble that is immediately engaging...By the Sea is a light-hearted, clever read.”— Literary Fiction Book Review.

 

 

 March 17^th sees the 44^th annual return of the Los Angeles Vintage Paperback Collectors Show. 

For the third year, Manfred Magpie and I will have a table to sell our paperbacks of my books. 

They're not vintage, of course, but this show has become so much more than its name suggests. Check it out at https://www.facebook.com/lavintagepaperbackshow.

 

And this year, the first ten buyers of at least one of my books will receive a copy of my book of essays, Searching for Ray Bradbury: Writings About the Writer and the Man at no additional cost!

 “Leiva’s personal and deeply moving tribute to his friend shines a loving light upon some little-known aspects of this intricate and deeply passionate man.” — David Brin in his Foreword.

 

“Ray Bradbury will be remembered as one of the literary giants of the 20th Century. Leiva’s book is a perfect tribute to the life and works of this great artist.”— Joe Mantegna, actor.

 

“Leiva helps us negotiate Ray Bradbury’s transition from a vibrant life to an enduring legacy. His trenchant observations effectively summarize the profound range of Bradbury’s voice.”— Professor Jonathan R. Eller, author of Becoming Ray Bradbury.

 

“Searching for Ray Bradbury is a delightful book — Gary Dalkin, Amazing Stories Magazine.

 

“A brisk read, partly because it is a slim volume, but also because of Leiva’s essay writing skill. … Leiva finds the true Bradbury by connecting anew with Bradbury's text.” — Phil Nichols, BradburyMedia blog.

 

 

AND NOW…A COVER REVEAL!

 

I am finishing up a re-proofing and polishing of my novel, IMP: A Political Fantasia, for release soon. This will be its first time in paperback, as its previous publisher Crossroad Press only put it out as an eBook. The new cover came in this weekend, based on the original cover but re-designed by the fabulous Juan José Padrón!

 

 

 

 

Politics as Unusual!

 

Thomas P. Powell's ascension in politics was both unusual and yet very American. From traffic cop to Vice President of the United States, his climb up the ladder of public service was often due to the push of random acts and not-so-happy accidents—although Thomas held the opinion that it was due solely to his singular innate moral authority. What matters is what's within; that's the Powell political philosophy. Then, on the cusp of his grasping the last rung on the American political ladder, something truly within suddenly appears. A horrible homunculus, an impetuous imp, climbs out of Thomas's right ear to bedevil his nights, confuse his days, and take him on a crazy, wild, nauseating, and nuclear journey. 

 

It’s The West Wing done as an episode of The Twilight Zone.

 

“Steven Paul Leiva is a very bad man. His version of U.S. politics Trumps anything the real world has to offer. Hell, you thought the orange one was the only homunculus America had to worry about? You thought wrong. There's always the nuclear option.”—Steven Savile, New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author.

 

“Leiva is a master wordsmith able to take on any genre or blend them, as in the case of IMP: A Political Fantasia. Once started, I couldn't stop reading. The tale was just long enough yet had me longing to read more of Leiva’s prose. Zoommmmbizzt! I highly recommend this novel. — Jean Rabe, USA Today Bestselling author.

 

“The book is a mix of genres, comedy, supernatural, suspense, and drama, with a U.S. presidential setting. Comedy is the overarching content, however, and I was left chuckling along at the behavior and attitude of the main protagonist. It’s a strong story and a very entertaining read. Well done, Mr. Leiva. — 5-Star Amazon review by PsychicSnail.

 

 

Cheers to All!