Tag Archives: funny

Wanderlost 5: More Shots of Literary Tequila for the Restless Soul by Simon Williams Review

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

It’s the final chapter of this hilarious and personal series of travel novels for author Simon Williams with the release of Wanderlost 5: More Shots of Literary Tequila for the Restless Soul. Let’s take a look at the synopsis:

The Synopsis

From being stalked by muggers on the streets of Rio de Janeiro, to absent-mindedly insulting a FIFA World Footballer of the Year while at lunch, to almost getting a divorce over ordering an UBER to the airport, what else can go wrong on a trip?

These are one man’s riveting stories of wandering our planet that the staff at Lonely Planet doesn’t want you to know. Simon explains exactly what not to do when you find yourself in a sticky situation.

Nobody travels like this anymore. Maybe for good reason. Simon Williams doesn’t go looking for trouble in life, but when he finds it he never keeps his sarcastic mouth shut.

Travelling – it leaves you speechless then turns you into story tellers. Ibn Battuta 

The Review

From unexpectedly having to bribe your way into another country, to language barriers causing awkward situations at a religious retreat and having to manage himself and his various family members as they endure Hurricane Irma, author Simon Williams final chapter in the series brings the same level of sarcasm and wit into the amazing stories of his life. The vivid imagery presented throughout each story created the scenarios in the reader’s mind perfectly, making it seem as if they themselves lived these funny and unbelievable situations themselves.

The author does a wonderful job of blending his unique sense of humor with pop culture references, political jabs and a no nonsense attitude that is rare in travel books these days. It’s a fast paced read that doesn’t relent, and readers will absolutely love this final book in an amazing series.

The Verdict

Overall I love this book. It’s a great way to end a five book travel series filled with incredible adventures, unique interactions and so much more. If you read one travel series or book this year, let it be author Simon Williams and his novel Wanderlost 5: More Shots of Literary Tequila for the Restless Soul. Grab your copies today!

Rating: 8/10

https://www.amazon.com/Wanderlost-More-Shots-Literary-Tequila-ebook/dp/B07GN65ZNH/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1540269045&sr=1-1&keywords=9780463480243

About the Author

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If sarcasm was your acceptable daily allowance of protein, then author Simon Williams would be a juicy 12-ounce steak sandwiched between two pieces of red meat. In a recent Facebook posting of the 37 things people regret when they die, there was only one item he hadn’t done. Let go of a grudge, but he doesn’t regret it.

Born in Townsville, Queensland Simon now lives in Miami, Florida. He always wanted to see the world and still harbours a strong desire to visit Cambodia, Ceylon, and Leningrad, but is buggered if he can find where they are on a map. He has spent half his life having to tell Americans that he grew up near Sydney, as most of them have no idea that Australia has another city.

He found out how much he enjoyed writing when his 10th grade English teacher told him that he was lazy, so he wrote a 25-page story for his next essay just to annoy him. That is coincidentally when he found out he liked to shit stir people. His sense of humor was developed over 8 years of boarding school. As a way of both evading having the crap between out of him, while also dealing with being a smart boy who sat at the back of the class but who couldn’t see the board because he refused to wear his glasses.

His favourite pastime is trolling his mates on Facebook and taking the piss out of them. He has only been unfriended twice, on both occasions by his wife.

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Interview with Author Wendys Donuts

1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?

 

Growing up I was always inclined more towards science and engineering. In fact I almost failed my English classes a couple of times in high school. Even in college I studied Mechanical Engineering.

 

But I’ve always been a fan of telling stories and coming up with outlandish jokes to make my friends laugh. It was my love of telling stories that first drew me into trying to put some of them down on paper and flex my writing muscles.

 

2) What inspired you to write your book?

 

The inspiration for The Sweetness Run came from my fraternity brothers and our fantasy football group chat. We constantly fire jabs at each other and often joked about what would happen if anybody ever saw the things that were said on the group chat.

 

I really wanted to come up with something to showcase the silliness of our friend group and give an idea of how close we are after all these years. The book started out as a few jokes sent across on the group chat and quickly ballooned into a full story.

 

3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?

 

When people read The Sweetness Run I would like readers to first have a good laugh. Even if they get nothing else from the book, as long as they have a couple of laughs I’m happy.

I would also really like to give the reader a deep look into the stereotype of a post-college man-child and hope they relate to some of the mundane struggles Jason has to contend with everyday. The idea being that when these seemingly small catastrophes take place in our daily lives it’s not the end of the world. We can always persevere through them, especially if you have a few friends to call in for support.

 

Lastly I really want readers to get an idea of the way guys bond together and how life is always better when you have your boys around you. Jason’s day always gets better when he’s around his friends.

 

4) What drew you into this particular genre?

 

I’ve always been interested in comedy. Stand up specials, comedy fiction, movies, podcasts, etc. You name it I love it. Not only that, I feel that joking around is the glue for a good friendship or relationship in general. If you’re not laughing with each other then what is the point?

 

My love for comedy and laughter is what kept me going and kept the ideas flowing when I was writing The Sweetness Run.

 

5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?

 

I really like this question

 

I would love to sit down with The Wizard. Even though he has a small part in the book he is a big part of the glue that holds everyone together. I would love to ask him where he got a poster of Courage the Cowardly Dog. I’ve personally always wanted a poster like that. The Wizard seems to have some pretty weird stuff floating around his house so I’d also love to get an idea of who he uses as a decorator.

 

6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?

 

Facebook and Instagram have been the most useful for me.

 

7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?

 

My advice would be to always keep writing. It’s very important to write a little bit everyday even when you feel nothing of value is being written. What I found is that if you just keep writing a little bit every day that first draft will come up in no time. Then comes the fun of editing and refining your story.

 

8) What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?

 

I have a few different projects I’m working on. The first is The Wendys Donuts Report, which is a blog aimed at giving readers funny articles and outlandish solutions to problems that are seemingly unimportant but in reality, they are vital.

 

After that I have a few short stories I would like to release followed by part two of The Sweetness Run. Let’s not forget that her Majesty The Sweetness has to be rescued at all costs

The Sweetness Run: Book One by Wendys Donuts Review

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

If you’ve ever known a college frat boy who thinks he walks on water and want to have a good laugh at their expense, then you will not want to miss the latest comedic novel The Sweetness Run: Book One by Wendys Donuts. Here’s the synopsis:

The Sweetness Run is the brand new, no holds barred, nonsense comedy from professional class clown Wendys Donuts.

Dip your toes in the pool of ridiculousness.

Step into the shoes of Jason and tag along for his grand love affair with her Majesty The Sweetness.

In the greatest adventure a Fantasy Football champion can undertake Jason will have all of his senses tested to their extremes, battle foes he never imagined possible and brave adversities of a most nefarious nature. Not to mention he’ll have his mind warped by some troubling tricksters and inevitably have his soul searched.

But

The Sweetness does not reward plebs of a timid nature so Jason will have to prove his metal and fight against all odds to prove his worth to her Majesty The Sweetness. Ideally he’ll manage to find a bountiful haul of treats, libations and snacks along the way. Because c’mon, who wouldn’t mind a snack and a drink.

The Sweetness is Desire. The Sweetness is Warmth. The Sweetness is Glory.

This adventure isn’t a traditional romantic love story, this is the story your momma warned you about.

What The People Are Saying

“The most vulgar and entertaining thing I’ve ever read.” – N.R.

“Funny, original and over the top.” – J.S.

“One of the few times a book actually made me laugh out loud!” – D.K.

“Satire at its highest!” – S.R.

Now let’s be clear about one thing: this group of friends is not the best example of guys you’d want to hang out with on a Friday night. The chemical fueled, sex obsessed hero of this tale Jason definitely has a skewed view of women, the world and even himself. This hysterical and satirical look at the modern frat boy mentality and how it carries over into their adult lives is an exhilarating journey. I’d compare it to a combination of the comedy of projects like Family Guy, Deadpool and Curb Your Enthusiasm all rolled into one. An incredibly raunchy comedy that brings both humor and insight into male friendships, Wendys Donuts has done an amazingly funny job of bringing a new comedic voice into 2018.

Overall this was an amazing read. The characters were completely unique and unlike most of the characters I’ve come across in my reading career. The tone was lighthearted despite the protagonist’s misogynistic and misguided worldview. It also had some of the best imagery in a book, with the protagonist creating some of the most descriptive and colorful commentary on life that I’ve read. It’s a hilarious first entry into the Sweetness Run series, and does a fantastic job of bringing a new comedic voice into the literary world. If you haven’t yet pick up your copy of The Sweetness Run by Wendys Donuts today!

Rating: 8/10

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Website: http://wendysdonuts.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendysdonuts/

Amazon Listing Page: http://amzn.to/2p6h4a3

Judging My First Writing Contest!

Hello there everyone!

I’m excited to announce that I am going to be an official judge for this year’s Your Laugh Line Book Contest. I will leave the official details below, but I wanted to share this with both my readers and supporters of this blog and my own writing, and to any authors out there who may be interesting in entering this contest. I’m so excited to be participating in this event and honored to have been asked to judge what I’m sure will be a great assortment of books to read. I will keep you guys posted when I get more info on the event, so stay tuned. For now, enjoy the official press release from Your Laugh Line!

 

Press Release:

 

Strap in!  It’s going to be a hilarious ride!

Starting on February 1st, Your Laugh Line begins its official search to find the funniest books written in 2017.  It’s like a quest for the Holy Grail (Monty Python or otherwise) but more important!  Our hope is that this book is so funny that it will end all war.

Okay.  Maybe not.

But we are looking for the best, hilarious books written last year. 

The contest has two components. One is a Reader’s Choice Award. Readers can log onto https://yourlaughline.com/vote and enter the author and book of their choice. The author who receives the most reader votes will win $250 and an assortment of promotional help from Your Laugh Line.

 

The other component is an adjudicated contest for books submitted by authors and/or their publishers.  The form is available at https://yourlaughline.com/laugh-line-humorous-book-awards.  The cost to enter the competition is $20 per book. Those books will be judged by a panel of expert book reviewers. The winning author will receive $500, plus an assortment of promotional help from Your Laugh Line.

 

Authors can enter the competition between February 1st and April 30th.  Reader’s Choice voting runs from February 2nd to August 15th.  Books making it past the first round will be announced on July 1, second round list on August 1, and the final winner on September 1. Honorable mentions will be made for category-specific books.

 

Author or reader – come and help us find last year’s funniest book! 

 

About Your Laugh Line

Your Laugh Line was created to help funny authors find an audience who appreciates funny books. Knowing the power of laughter to help alleviate stress, to provide the necessary mental distraction to give the brain a break, and to make people feel silly, Your Laugh Line is committed to making the world a better place through humorous books.

www.yourlaughline.com

 

 

Growth and Change Are Highly Overrated by Tom Starita Book Review

Everyone has a dream in their lives, but what are some people willing to do or willing to lose in order to accomplish that dream? That’s the question explored in author Tom Starita’s novel, Growth and Change Are Highly Overrated. Here is the synopsis:

Growth and Change Are Highly Overrated is a classic coming-of-age story that takes a unique and comic look at what we all fear— having to grow up and abandon our dreams. For a charismatic man like Lucas James, life is a breeze because everyone else provides the wind. This man-child front man for a mediocre cover band has been mooching off of his fiancée Jackie for years until she finally decides she’s had enough. Faced with the reality of having no income to support his carefree lifestyle, Lucas James abandons his principles and gets a job working in the stockroom at, “That Store.” How does he cope with this new found sense of responsibility? He casually steals… In a life spent bucking authority how will Lucas James deal with his manager, ‘Victor the Dictator’? How long can he survive Ralph, a starry-eyed coworker who desires nothing more than to be best friends? Will Lori, a twenty-something cashier, be like everyone else and fall for his charms? Will he ever find a place to live? And is “growing up” just another way of saying “selling out?” With this hilarious and engaging novel, author Tom Starita perfectly captures a character we have all met and perhaps some of us know all too well.
When you read this novel, you’ll quickly realize that we all know a Lucas James. He’s the kind of guy who abhors responsibility, challenges authority and is willing to use anyone to achieve their goals, and yet they work under the guise of being “free” and yet everyone around him feels drawn to him and his personality. That is who Lucas James is, and as he narrates his story, you’ll learn how he became the man he is today, and how he relates to those around him.
This is a journey of a man with a dream, and the consequences of pursuing that dream. The story itself is highly entertaining, and written with a fresh, unique voice from author Tom Starita. The brutal honesty of Lucas James to the reader while showcasing the lies he’s willing to tell to the people around him are a fantastic source of irony, and the very realistic depiction of not just a wannabe rock star, but of a person who’s dream trumps any and all relationships and responsibilities, makes this a must read novel that readers will not want to miss. 
Overall, this was a fantastic read. Often times it was funny, other times dramatic and sad. The tale of Lucas James is a familiar one, and yet it’s presented in a new and exciting way, and that’s why I give Growth and Change Are Highly Overrated by Tom Starita a 9/10 rating. Be sure to pick up your copies of this amazing novel today!
Growth and Change Are Highly Overrated https://www.amazon.com/dp/1520705816/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_5G3rzbMJZDS5C

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