A Death For Beauty Virtual Book Publicity Tour October 2011

A Death For Beauty

Join Alberto Rios Arias, author of the historical mystery novel, A Death For Beauty or, An Immortal (Freedom River Books), as he virtually tours the blogosphere October 3 – 28 2011 on his first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!

About Alberto Rios Arias

Alberto Rios Born in Jersey City and raised in Hoboken, New Jersey, Alberto Rios Arias filled his leisure time writing and illustrating short stories and took an interest in creative writing after reading J.D. Salinger’s, Catcher in the Rye in high school.

After a three-year stint in the Army, he pursued another obsession and enrolled in the popular School of Visual Arts in Manhattan under the G.I. Bill. Although he majored in Fine Arts, his creative writing class inspired him to continue writing.

His efforts eventually paid off and he found work as an advertising copywriter. His advertorials appeared weekly in The New York Post and The Daily News. Meanwhile he continued to hone his writing skills and upon early retirement, he decided to pursue creative writing in earnest, recently finishing two feature screenplays and his first novel.

Alberto is currently developing another novel, a short story collection, and a memoir.

A Death for Beauty or, An Immortal is his debut novel.

Learn more about the story: http://www.adeathforbeauty.com.

A Death for Beauty About A Death For Beauty, or An Immortal

Set during the Civil War, a troubled young woman struggles with her conscience after the suspicious death of her unfaithful husband. When her dreams of a new life seem hopeful, she ventures across the western plains with her sickly daughter in tow and an unscrupulous businessman who promises her a pot of gold. But the seeds of this dangerous venture—sown in blood—yield the unexpected and what she encounters along the fringes of the Oregon Trail in the dark corners of the prairies, will change her life forever.

Book Excerpt:

FIRST CHAPTER EXCERPT:

THE SOUND RUMBLED THROUGH the air like a stampede of wild horses, warning what was yet to come. The winds echoed like an open wound—a wound so deep that only death could heal it.

She could feel the storm approaching from the east, the rising heat, the smell of rain. She saw the natural order of things gathering. Death comes like salvation, unexpectedly. But her life was slow and deliberate. A life bound by swirling untruths—dark, unanswered prayers.

Virginia Mae Mercy always dreamed of starting over somewhere else. Now that her husband died, everything else stood still too, and if she needed a little push to get on with her life, that’s when the whirlwinds seemed imbued with divine purpose.

She tried to lock down the storm shelter, but within seconds, she lay in a cornfield searching for her little girl. The storm tore off the shelter doors, snatching her and the girl in a flash. They landed acres away but somehow survived, almost falling together, bruised and hallucinating.

Two signs from above were enough.

Last month, the first sign had come in the unlikely form of a telegram. She felt it coming. Confederate soldiers killed her husband in battle, or so they thought. That shocker was still under investigation, and the disorienting malaise from this recent storm, was finally beginning to fade.

Virginia never understood life’s storms. Not hers. But if there was one defining moment in her mind that crystallized and spoke to her sensibilities, this was it. She wished she could understand eternal matters too, a lifetime of prayers that until recently had gone unanswered.

Yet it was the earthly things that often made her breathe a little heavier, made her heart beat a little faster. In reflection, she feared the sudden horror of dying alone, her childhood premonitions about a fragile life in Geneva, Kansas. How dangerous life really was.

divider 13

A Death For Beauty Virtual Book Publicity Tour Schedule

divider 13

books kk Monday, October 3

Interviewed at Review From Here

“I’ve always been conscious of good health and after my unexpected heart condition (which is genetic) I’ve learned to value life in very different ways. Staying healthy and exercising has always been important to me, but now more than ever. But that’s where the irony begins and those thoughts sparked some of the ideas and motifs for this story.”

Tuesday, October 4

Book spotlighted at Book Marketing Buzz

“THE SOUND RUMBLED THROUGH the air like a stampede of wild horses, warning what was yet to come. The winds echoed like an open wound—a wound so deep that only death could heal it…”

Wednesday, October 5

Interviewed at Book Marketing Buzz

“As an independent author/publisher, I had a very daunting task ahead of me. I wanted total control of this project and after 5 long years I believe that my very capable editor steered me in the right direction and helped me make this happen. I had set up a website and sent out press releases, but this is my first major push into the mainstream media.”

Thursday, October 6

Guest blogging at The Book Bin

“Getting your book published today is probably harder than ever before because big publishing houses are only interested in high concept projects with huge blockbuster potential and that leaves most authors to fend for themselves and find alternative ways to get their good work in front of the masses.”

Friday, October 7

Interviewed at The Book Connection

“I’ve always been fascinated with the Civil War era and in particular the battles among soldiers and Indian tribes.”

Wednesday, October 12

Interviewed at The Writer’s Life

“As far as story concepts go within this genre, at least, I think it’s a strong concept and I’ve always believed it had a good chance at appealing to its core audience of historical mystery fans.”

Thursday, October 13

Guest blogging at Literal Exposure

“Getting your book published today is probably harder than ever before because big publishing houses are only interested in high concept projects with huge blockbuster potential and that leaves most authors to fend for themselves and find alternative ways to get their good work in front of the masses.”

Friday, October 14

Interviewed at Examiner

“I’d always experimented with writing but it wasn’t until I studied creative writing in college that I took it to heart and put together a portfolio of my writing samples and interviewed at a variety of advertising agencies in New York City.”

Monday, October 17

Book reviewed at Mad Moose Mama

“I thought the ending was poetic in an ironic and sadly twisted way”

Tuesday, October 18

Book spotlighted at Literarily Speaking

Wednesday, October 19

Book reviewed at So Many Books, So Little Time

Thursday, October 20

Book reviewed at WV Stitcher

“For me, A Death for Beauty was in some instances dark and often sad but the characters really touched my heart and stayed with me long after the final pages of the story.”

Tuesday, October 25

Book reviewed at The Book Garden

Guest participant at Literarily Speaking October Book Panel

Wednesday, October 26

Book reviewed at Bookspark

Thursday, October 27

Book reviewed at Between the Pages

divider 13

Alberto Rios Arias’ A DEATH FOR BEAUTY VIRTUAL BOOK PUBLICITY TOUR will officially begin on October 3 and end on October 28 ’11. Please contact Dorothy Thompson at thewriterslife(at)gmail.com if you are interested in hosting and/or reviewing his book. Thank you!

If you would like to book your own virtual book tour with us, click here to find out how!

divider 13

Pump-Up-banner


One Response to “A Death For Beauty Virtual Book Publicity Tour October 2011”

  1. Alberto says:

    A big thank you to all the reviewers who gave “A Death for Beauty” such honest and heartfelt reviews. I enjoyed them and learned a lot from your insightful comments.

    While this is a dark story throughout and its ending bittersweet, my intention was always for readers to have more questions than answers once they finished the final chapter.

    I believe literature should challenge the status quo and authors must take chances if they want to do more than just entertain readers. (BTW, no one has mentioned the ironic humor throughout this story, which all good tragedies must balance.)

    For those who haven’t read the book, I encourage you to give it a chance and experience the story with an open mind. There is plenty to explore for anyone who has ever feared dying, or worse, anyone who has feared living life to their fullest.

    For more insight about this story see the book trailers here:
    http://www.adeathforbeauty.com/promo.htm

    *************************************

    Thank you, Dorothy. You’re the best!

Leave a Reply