The Rock at the Bottom: Author Guest Post + Enter to Win

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Rock at the Bottom by Cynthia Hilston, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Rock at the Bottom 

Series: Lorna & Tristan Series #3 

Author: Cynthia Hilston 

Publisher: Independently Published 

Release Date: March 18, 2023 

Genre: 20th-century Historical fiction/Christian fiction/Romance

A big dreamer and successful novelist carries the sins of his father and a secret that leaves him wondering if he is the author or killer of love.

Stephen feels he is marked from day one to lose the ones he loves. His mother dies giving birth to him, and his alcoholic father makes sure Stephen never forgets it. To block out his father’s hate, fists, and belt, young Stephen loses himself in his imagination. Stories become his closest companions and barricades against a family that never wanted him. Once he can look his father in the eye, Stephen swears he will never be the monster his old man is. He vows he will become a published author, if for no other reason than to prove his father wrong. 

While his dreams of being a bestselling novelist and falling in love come true, Stephen has much to prove to himself before he can write his own happy ending. Set against the backdrop of Prohibition-era Cleveland, Stephen fights the same alcoholic demons that plagued his father as he tries to begin a life free from his family. He meets equally headstrong Julie and is smitten, but their marriage is as fractured as his career is solid. He can find ten ways to write about being in love, but he has a hard time translating love on the page to love in real life. Julie slips between his fingers like sand, and Stephen sees his father staring back when he looks in the mirror. 

Try as he might to rewrite his life, even going so far as to change his name, he has to wonder if he is the author or the killer of love.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

Amazon ebook sale March 21-22 $0.99

More Books in this Series

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About the Author

Cynthia Hilston is a stay-at-home mom of three young kids, happily married, and lives in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. Writing has always been like another child to her. After twenty years of waltzing in the world of fan fiction, she stepped away to do her debut dance with original works of fiction, although she still dabbles in fan fiction.

In her spare time – what spare time? – she devours books, shamelessly watches Hallmark movies and When Calls the Heart, pets her orange and black kitties, looks at the stars, drinks wine or coffee with good friends, and dreams of what other stories she wishes to tell. 

Connect with Cynthia by visiting cynthiahilston.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Author Guest Post

The Inspiration Behind The Rock at the Bottom

Because this novel is the third in a series, it’s based on what has already happened, especially in book one. In the first novel, the protagonist is Lorna, a young woman who has lost nearly everything and moves into a new house to try to restart her life. She soon meets the eccentric widower next door, Tristan. What ensues is their love story and healing and forgiveness for both, but the path isn’t straightforward or easy. That story is told from her point of view. We had some of Tristan’s backstory in that book, but I really wanted to expand and explore his background a lot more. So, book three was born! In his story, we meet him when he’s just starting out life on his own, and his name is still Stephen. It’s years away before he will meet Lorna, but in the meantime, he has much to prove to himself and the world that he won’t be the abusive drunk like his father and that he will become a successful novelist. He falls in love with Julie, who becomes his first wife, but Stephen is still far from the man he will one day become. Why does he change his name? What happens to Julie? Is he fated to become the monster he’s fought so hard not to become? He wrestles with not only his identity but also his faith, or the lack of because of his sad childhood. Hence, we have Tristan’s story from his point of view in book three of the Lorna & Tristan Series!

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card and a book bundle including Lorna versus Laura, Rocks and Flowers, and The Rock at the Bottom!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 21, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 28, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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