Unless you've had me
muted for the last month (which is entirely possible) then you'll
know my new book just completed a blog
tour (follow the link for an explanation if you don't know what that
is). I'm quite pleased with how it all came out, and, while I
promise I am working on new blogs, today I'm just posting links to
all the promotional content I created to promote Gap Years.
First
up, two small guest posts I wish I had kept for myself as they are
possibly two of the best things I have ever written.
This is some of the
best Londoner-baiting I have ever done (and I have form) about the
mystery of London-based fiction and its dominance in literature.
Hosted by The Magic Of Wor(l)ds.
Not-London is a
strange place, a place for people to be from – striving through
their young lives to get to the bright lights of London town; or a
place to go and hide, to get away from the stresses and strains of
the high-powered lives they lead in the capital. It is peopled by
those who have failed, those who are resigned to lead lives of no
meaning and quirky, menacing characters that will derail the hero’s
quest. A place for young, go-getting, couples to relocate to before
being terrorised by ungrateful locals.
Read
the full thing here
Then a short
dissertation on pigeonholing your work into easily marketable
categories and why it's impossible. Hosted by Splashes Into Books.
Musicians will
invariably try and invent their own genre, claiming nobody else
sounds like them; describing it as
electro-swing-glitchhop-disco-gypsy-funk-prog, and actually sounding
a bit like somebody playing Pink Floyd guitar solos over an Orbital
album while an asthmatic didgeridoo player hacks up a lung. Artists
will refuse to be drawn into even the most modernist of niche, while
authors, not allowed the luxury of making stuff up, because
marketing, will sigh and call it Literary Fiction.
Read
the full thing here
Then I had to answer
some questions – some about the book, but I managed to deflect most
of them onto things I would rather ramble on about.
I spoke to A
Story About A Girl about old
characters from Neighbours
and how to fix laptops
Then, Nemesis
Book Blog made the mistake of
asking me to pick just one song, and I couldn't even narrow it down
to one REO Speedwagon song.
B for Book Review somehow
kept me on the subject of books and writing with only a brief tangent
on my cats.
Then there were a
whole load of extracts to help you make up your mind to buy my book.
The
opening
Shit, Dad was
right.
Why does Dad have
to be right?
Why am I so
annoyed that I am wrong?
That’s not
what’s important here.
Priorities Sean,
that car just came out of nowhere, and your twelve year old
stepsister is in a hedge.
Read
the full thing here
https://maitaylor567291325.wordpress.com/2019/02/21/gap-years-dave-holwill-extract-from-chapter-one/
2nd Extract
If
you live in a rented family-sized house with a high turnover of
tenants, then digging a hole in the
garden involves a game of rabbit roulette. There's always the fear of coming across something already buried there.
garden involves a game of rabbit roulette. There's always the fear of coming across something already buried there.
Read
the full thing here
3rd
Extract
‘Oh how
exciting,’ she says. ‘Nobody’s ever sung me a Tom Hopkins song
before.’
Tom fucking Hopkins! Really? Tom fucking Hopkins? The twelve
year old that won that TV show last year, that Tom Hopkins?
Housewives’ favourite Tom Hopkins? Christmas number one Tom
Hopkins? Toddler’s birthday party disco Tom Hopkins? The one even
Melody thinks is for kids? Fuck my life.
Read
the full thing here
'
4th
Extract
It’s all so
different from when I was his age. When I was a kid round here being
gay wasn’t even an option, unless you wanted a swift kick in the
head and a trip into the river. It’s good that he has options I
didn’t. I admit I have trouble with it, but I mean well, I am a
product of my upbringing. I grew up in Devon in the 1970s, where
diversity was something to do with crop rotation.
Read
the full thing here
5th
Extract
It is not
funny. It turns out that Leanne is a sex blogger. A very successful
one by all accounts, shared constantly by people laughing at the
idiots she goes out with all over social media. I have read it before
and laughed, but didn’t make the connection, there are no pictures
of her and she uses a pseudonym. I am now at the top of page one,
with more likes and shares than any before.
Read
the full thing here
https://indeboekenkast.wordpress.com/2019/02/15/rachels-random-resources-blogtour-gap-years-dave-holiwell/
6th
Extract
‘Nice.’
Rhiannon appears at the door in a dressing gown, grinning from ear to
ear.
I stop singing
immediately, frozen mid-Jagger.
‘Didn’t know
you were home,’ I say, sheepishly, face matching the wine in my
glass.
‘Evidently.
Show me your moves then.’ She sashays on to the rug and strikes a
pose as the opening riff of ‘Happy’ kicks in – because this is
the 21st century and we don’t have to go and fumble about in
the sleeve for disc two.
Read
the full thing here
And finally the
reason I sent it on tour, the reviews, unanimously good and providing
me with lots of juicy marketing quotes – left here for you if you
can't be arsed to click the links.
I adored the
writing style which easily created all of these situations with much
realism, and brilliant humour. I have smiled and chuckled throughout
the story, at both the writers wit and the scenarios that happened.
This coming of
age story is also driven by emotionally complex and psychological
aspects. It’s a contemporary read with an honest approach to a
messy family dilemma.
The language is
frank, the story is funny, no holds are barred in this honest account
of life, love and boring jobs.
https://northernreader.wordpress.com/2019/02/13/gap-years-by-dave-holwell-contemporary-life-in-the-most-entertaining-style/
A well-crafted
story about discovering who you are and where you belong and where
you’re headed to next, recommend!
There is humour
and some dodgy singing all a credit to Dave Holwill’s engaging
writing.
Gap Years has one
of the strangest starts to a book that I have read in a long time.
After just the first page, I was completely drawn in to Dave
Holwill’s unique writing style.
It’s
oddly beautiful how Holwill portrays the family as they attempt to
piece their lives back together. The novel is
impeccably diverse and inclusive, while never once stepping into the
realm of bigotry. If you like books that will make you feel
something, and where you can relate to the characters, I highly
recommend this
book.
http://www.vainradical.co.uk/blogs/gap-years-blog-tour-review/
http://www.vainradical.co.uk/blogs/gap-years-blog-tour-review/
The author does a
magnificent job of showing the pressures and problems that beset the
ordinary people up and down the country in the modern age and every
reader will find something to relate to in this story. It is unusual
to see male relationships portrayed so honestly and accurately, and I
felt really moved by it.
All the
characters were endearingly quirky train wrecks and profanely
talented in the use of creative expletives. I am enamored with the
talented scribbler Dave Holwill and unrepentantly covet his peculiar
characters, clever wordplay, and highly original vulgarities. He has
mad skills.
It’s that
diversity which makes it so enjoyable to read, it is so unpredictable
and with Dave’s acerbic tongue it is gritty and honest., this book
is everything and more a coming of age story should be
The writing
sweeps you along through the chaos and is immensely entertaining. A
quirky, absorbing read. This is another sharply satirical novel from
this author about false expectations and the sub-optimal lot of
humankind.
A compelling,
gritty, realistic and absorbing read about family, connections,
relationships, adulthood, building bonds, and new beginnings. The
Characters are relatable, complex, endearing and definitely made an
impact. It had plenty of drama, wit, emotion, angst, making it an
entertaining read that I highly recommend.
Once I got into
this book I couldn’t put it down, I loved the differing viewpoints,
the humour and the fact that it was very British.
It’s somehow a
simple story, but that’s the charm of it. And it’s that charm
that made me continue reading it.
With beautiful
writing and dark comedy, this is a quirky novel that I highly
recommend giving a shot. Dave Holwill’s writing will draw you in
and the characters will see you through to the end.
The story is
gritty, realistic and believable and that is what gives it an added
edge, a very well written and enjoyable story about the ups and downs
of relationships – highly recommended!
Each chapter left
me wanting to know more, which in my book - pun not intended - is the
sign of a truly absorbing read. Another great read from Dave Holwill.
I look forward to his next
book.
https://againsttheflowpress.blogspot.com/2019/02/review-gap-years.html
https://againsttheflowpress.blogspot.com/2019/02/review-gap-years.html
If you have made it to the bottom of this post, Sky thanks you, and admits she can't actually read.
