Virtual Book Tour Maple Express- by Peter A. Brandt {CONTEST}

Today I welcome Peter A. Brandt to my blog to talk about his latest book- Maple Express.  Peter has some original prizes he's giving away at the end of his tour. Two winners will win a pint jug of Butternut Mountain Farm Vermont Pure Maple Syrup, Grade A Dark Amber, in honor of the main character of The Maple Express, Sara Maple, from the small town of Mapleton Vermont. One grand prize winner will win an awesome Bachmann Trains Pegasus Ready-to-Run HO Scale Train Set. Also, the blog host with the most comments will win a 2012 Canadian (1 oz) Silver Maple Leaf Coin in an "Air-Tite" Capsule.

I've asked Peter to share a story about his favorite school memory.  Being a teacher myself, it always makes me happy to know that teachers can impact the world around us.

Peter A Brandt's Favorite School Memory

My favorite school memory didn't appear to be that great at the time but in light of my crazy sense of humor, I look back now and I can only laugh.

I was in a band in school. My grades weren't the best, my attention span fairly dismal, and my overall lack of direction extremely high. The one thing I had going for me was my love of singing and I was one of only eight people in our school that was in a rock band. (Two bands, 4 people each.) This was in a school of over 1000 kids. I had a great voice back then and had
won the local singing contest every year I entered.

Being young and not allowed in bars, we used to play at our high school assemblies held once a month for a couple of hours in the morning in lieu of class. The stage was set up, our equipment plugged in and our band began to play. I was the lead singer, fronting an excellent group of musicians made up of kids like me. Our guitarist was so good he actually taught at the Conservatory of Music at the age of 15. 
 
I was wearing the oddest colored green paisley bell-bottom pants with an orange shirt and platform shoes. Think a psychedelic version of the band Kiss without the makeup. I was the height of fashion back then.

I stood in front of 1000 high school kids singing my heart out when a friend in the front row happened to catch my attention and pointed to his zipper, indicating that my zipper was down. I scanned the crowd. I didn't think anyone else had noticed but I couldn't take the chance of anyone seeing the white undies my mom bought or even worse, anything else that may decide to appear.

My decision came with little thought preceding it - I spun around, dropped the hand holding the microphone to my groin to hold my pants, while I used my other hand to zip up my zipper. The sound of my zipper echoed through the auditorium and when I was done, I spun back around without missing a beat or dropping a verse.

The whole auditorium erupted into laughter. I was told my face turned beat red but I actually wasn't too embarrassed. I smiled and waved my appreciation for their concern. In my mind, I had averted an even bigger disaster. 

I took a lot of ribbing in halls for a few days after but overall it cemented my name into the minds of everyone in the school. 
 
As they say, "the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about."

Pete

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THE MAPLE EXPRESS
By Peter Brandt

BLURB:  
Sara Maple has a comfortable life—the only child of a wealthy family—a best friend who does everything she asks—and the admiration of most of her schoolmates.
Unfortunately, her temper and “indestructible” attitude quickly place her in a very precarious position.

“The Maple Express” is a powerful novel that captures the author’s take on the miracle of the human mind. “The Maple Express” delves into the actions and consequences of a young girl who has never had to
take responsibility for her actions before. The story brings the reader into a world where Sara’s determination to find her way off the train sends her on an emotional trip that bonds her to her new friends and changes her life forever. 

Both young and old readers will love the emotional journey Sara Maple takes them on as she deciphers the obstacles that confront her. Sara’s story ends with a surprise twist and leaves the reader with a sense of discovery about his or her own humanity.

Maple Express Excerpt

The three girls giggled at Mr. Freezen as he walked around the cafeteria, stopping and talking to some of the boys that were being excessively loud.
 
“Oh, my God — he doesn’t even know it,” Jenny snorted and then burst out laughing, lowering her head and banging her fist, causing the dishes and milk containers to bounce up and down on the table.

Julie had her arm around Sara’s and the two of them were laughing just as hard. The cafeteria was abuzz with the sounds of kids talking, louder and louder to get the edge above the other voices until a crescendo of voices drowned out any semblance of understanding.

When the hair finally tickled his ear, Mr. Freezen pushed his hand through his hair and tossed his comb-over back into place on top of his head. As quick as lightning, he pulled out his comb and straightened it.

 A couple of the boys fought to contain their giggles while he combed everything into place. The rest of the cafeteria continued with their own lives with no indication of what was transpiring within feet of them.

The group watched him point his comb at the boys and say something before he left.

“Someone should tell him that the comb-over look is dead,” Julie quipped.

“Not me,” Sara said, a shot of fear on her face as she fidgeted in her seat. 

Once Mr. Freezen left the boys’ table, they erupted into laughter. They watched a young man wipe tears from his eyes.

"He’s so cute,” Sara mumbled, but Julie overheard it.

“Why don’t you ask him to the Sadie Hawkins dance?”

“Yea, yea I will. I just need to find the right time.”

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LINKS:

www.peterabrandt.comis my personal site where you can read Peter's bio.

www.simplesimonpublishing.com is where my books are for
sale.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/140570 is where Maple Express is for sale at Smashwords for
$1.99

Thank you Peter for stopping by!  Just a reminder to leave a comment for a chance to win those fabulous prizes that Peter is offering at the end of his tour!

PRIZE INFORMATION: Peter has some original prizes he's giving away at the end of his tour. Two winners will win a pint jug of Butternut Mountain Farm Vermont Pure Maple Syrup, Grade A Dark Amber, in honor of the main character of The Maple Express, Sara Maple, from the small town of Mapleton Vermont. One grand prize winner will win an awesome Bachmann Trains Pegasus Ready-to-Run HO Scale Train Set. 

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