Guest Post and Giveaway: Jonathan’s Promise by Hans M. Hirschi

BT_Banner

Please join us in welcoming author Hans M. Hirschi today, on the tour for his newest novel, Jonathan’s Promise. Enjoy his guest post, and then be sure to have a look at the Rafflecopter widget below and how to enter for the chance to win the Grand Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card, or one of five Runner Up prizes: an e-copy of Jonathan’s Hope (Book One) or Jonathan’s Promise (Book Two), winners’ choice.

Good luck!

First of all, thank you for hosting the book tour for Jonathan’s Promise today, and thanks for the opportunity to guest blog. I really appreciate it.

When I first wrote Jonathan’s Hope and ended that book with the epic epilogue, I was certain that there would never be a sequel. And while I can already see how writing series makes a lot of economic sense (I can see how sales of Jonathan’s Hope have increased in the wake of the pre-order of Jonathan’s Promise), I never write my stories with money or sales on my mind. All I’d be able to write would be dollar or Euro signs.

No, my writing is always driven by images in my subconscious, and my character take me places I never dreamt of. I am, literally, the first person to read my stories, and trust me, it’s no exaggeration that I cry, laugh and shudder just as many of you do. There was a scene in Jonathan’s Hope, specifically toward the end of chapter fifteen. If you’ve read the book, you know exactly what I refer to (no spoilers.)

So no, no sequel, and if you’ve read the epilogue, you know my conundrum. How do you follow up a book after that scene? Well, I have. The boys had come back to me in a dream, about their firstborn son, Rick, and images of Jeanette, their daughter, and I figured I’d give it a shot. If I hadn’t, they’d have haunted me, and my sleep is bad enough as it is. So I gave in and began writing, starting a week before the epilogue, to see where Dan and Jonathan would take me.

I also knew, on a very conscious level, how the story would have to end. There was no doubt in my mind. However, writing it, I had no clue what the circumstances of it would be… Wow, I cried for four hours straight, I read the final scenes to my husband, cried more, I talked to my publisher, and in the end, I decided that the only way to work through my sorrow would be to press on: Jonathan’s Trilogy is the result of that sequel. I hope you’ll join me again in September for the final chapter in this unexpected trilogy. Unexpected, yes, unwanted even, but in the end, I’m glad I got the chance to get to know the Jacksons better. They’re an amazing clan!

About the Book

jonathans promise TITLE: Jonathan’s Promise
SERIES: Jonathan Trilogy: Book Two
AUTHOR: Hans M. Hirschi
PUBLISHER: Beaten Track Publishing
COVER ARTIST: Natasha Snow
LENGTH: 214 Pages
RELEASE DATE: March 31, 2016
BLURB: Jonathan made Dan a promise – a promise that will affect the remainder of his life. But what does he have left to live for?

When their grandson Parker and his fiancé Cody move in with him, the three of them embark on a journey to shed light on Dan’s roots.

A heart-warming sequel to Jonathan’s Hope, Jonathan’s Promise deals with aging and the ultimate consequences of wedding vows. Are we entitled to a second shot at happiness? When is ‘for worse’ too much to handle?

In this trilogy: Jonathan’s Hope (Book 1) || Jonathan’s Promise (Book 2) || Jonathan’s Legacy (Book 3)

Purchase Links: Beaten Track Publishing || Amazon US (Paperback) || Amazon US (eBook) || Amazon UK (eBook) || All Romance eBooks || Barnes & Noble

Excerpt

“Jon?”

“Yes, Hon, what is it?”

“I’m tired.”

“I know. Just rest. You need your strength for tomorrow.”

“I’m not sure I want to…”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m just not sure it’s worth it, Jon…” Dan started to cough. Jonathan rose from his chair at his husband’s bedside to offer him some water, gently lifting and holding Dan’s head while he took down the cool, soothing liquid.

When the coughing eased, Dan patted Jonathan’s hand. He waited until Jonathan was seated before he spoke further. “Thanks. I’m old, hon. And I’m tired. I’ve lived a long and rich life, and you know what the doctor said. There’s only a very small chance the surgery will help. The tumor’s already metastasized, and even with chemo I’ll die sooner rather than later. Maybe it’s better to just get it over with.”

Jonathan began to cry, tumbling forward in his despair. His head came to a rest on his husband’s chest. They’d been a couple for so many years―six decades. How would he go on without Dan’s strength? How could he survive without the man who’d saved his life?

“Hon, don’t worry about me. I need you now, probably more than ever. I need to know you’ll stay strong for the kids. They need you.”

Dan’s words began to slur and his eyes closed. Even talking took so much effort. When he was sure Dan was asleep, Jonathan left their bedroom and went downstairs, out to the back patio, where he left the crisp, fresh fall air to dry the tears on his face. He was tired, too. Dan’s cancer had come back. They’d thought he’d beaten it, but the last screening showed the dark shadows in his bones and his lungs. After three years of clear results, it had come completely out of the blue, and the doctor said that it had also spread to other areas of the body.

That was just a few days ago, and Dan had accepted the news with equanimity. He had made peace with himself and the world around him when the cancer had first been diagnosed in his prostate. Back then, there was still a sparkle in Dan’s eyes, a determination to fight this, a will to survive. But at ninety years of age, Dan was tired, and Jonathan knew―or rather he felt―that his husband was done. And he understood, but that did not diminish the pain, the despair. Yes, he’d be strong for the kids, the grandkids, but who’d look after him? Who’d make sure he survived?

Watch the Trailer

About the Author

Hans Hirschi I’m an author. I write books. I write about things that are important to me: family, parenting, children, our environment, our world. Contemporary, fresh fiction with happy endings. It’s what I like to read myself. I write because I don’t have a choice. There are so many stories in my head, constantly forming, constantly trying to get out. Feel free to have a look on the other pages to learn more, listen to me narrate from those stories, and – if you like what you see or hear – follow the links to buy the books. I’d greatly appreciate that, as this is how I try to make my living.

I’m an author. But I’m also a forty something male who clings to the illusion of still being twenty-seven, despite my body’s daily reminders to the contrary. I’m married to the most amazing man, and together we have a beautiful son, Sascha. I consider myself a citizen of the world, having lived on two continents and traveled extensively through another three. I have friends all over the world. When I’m not writing, I like to do public speaking or training (where I have my professional background) to actually earn some real bill-paying money. Not sure this author thing is ever going to get me there…

:: Website & Blog :: Facebook :: Twitter ::