Hey, lovelies!! It gives me great pleasure today to host Allyson Rice and her new book, “The Key to Circus-Mom Highway,” here on FAB!! For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.
Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $20 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card!! Also, come back daily to interact with Allyson and to increase your chances of winning!!
Thanks for stopping by!! Wishing you all lots of good luck in this fabulous giveaway!!
The Key to Circus-Mom Highway
by Allyson Rice
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GENRE: Contemporary Fiction (Family Dramedy)
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BOOK BLURB:
In an attempt to secure an unexpected inheritance—and hopefully find a few answers—two estranged sisters and their newly discovered brother embark on a comically surreal trip through the Deep South to retrace the life of the mother who abandoned them as infants.
On a Tuesday afternoon, sisters Jesse Chasen and Jennifer McMahon receive a phone call notifying them that their birth mother has died, leaving behind a significant inheritance. But in order to obtain it, they must follow a detailed road trip she designed for them to get to know her—and that includes finding a brother they never knew existed.
For the next week, this ill-assorted trio treks across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia to meet their mother’s old friends, from circus performers to a juke joint owner, each of whom delivers a shocking vignette into the life of a young mother traumatized by loss and abuse. Along the way, these three siblings—Jesse, whose fiery exterior disguises a wounded, drifting musician stuck in a rut; Jennifer, whose carefully curated family life is threatened by her husband’s infidelity; and Jack, whose enigmatic Jackie, Oh! persona in the New Orleans drag queen scene helps him escape the nightmares of Afghanistan that haunt him at night—must confront their own demons (and at least one alligator). But in chasing the truth about their real mother, they may all just find their second chance.
This uproarious debut novel is a reminder that sometimes, the family you’d never have chosen may turn out to be exactly what you need.
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EXCERPT TWO:
“We have a long drive ahead of us. Don’t make me turn this car around.”
“You can’t say that when you’re not driving, Jen,” said Jesse. “It makes no sense.”
“I know! I was kidding!” She let out an exasperated sigh.
Jack stroked Sean’s head and returned to staring darkly out the window at the passing scenery. Jesse eyed him surreptitiously in the mirror.
Over the next hour, Jennifer occasionally attempted some small talk to ease the tension, but no one was having it. Nerves were frayed and tempers were short after too little sleep the previous night. Not to mention the disturbing story from the previous day that they were all still attempting to process.
After another hour, Jennifer couldn’t stand the crypt-like silence anymore. She reached for the radio, asking the others what they wanted to listen to. Jack answered “Country” as Jesse simultaneously said “Anything but Country.”
“What’s wrong with Country??” he roared. “They’re the best damn storytellers in the music business!”
“If you have to even ask that question,” said Jesse, “then it’s pointless in even responding to you.”
“Good! I don’t wanna hear it!”
“Fine!” Jesse snapped.
“Fine!” he snapped back.
“Fine!”
“Fine!”
Jennifer was morbidly curious to see how long they’d keep that call-and-response going, but after 3 more rounds of “Fine!” she yelled, “SHUT UP!! I don’t want to hear another word out of either one of you for the rest of this drive.”
That seemed to do the trick.
That is, until Jesse mumbled, “You’re not the boss of us…”
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GUEST POST:
Music Playlist Inspired by My Novel
I’ve put together a music playlist inspired by my novel, The Key to Circus-Mom Highway. I used to be a DJ for blues dancing events, but haven’t done that since before the pandemic, so this was FUN! Some songs relate to themes in the book, some relate to the characters, some I chose purely for the song title, and some of these songs are mentioned in the book. So the genres in this list are all over the place. Hopefully, it’ll make you curious...
1.) KEY TO THE
HIGHWAY
by Luther Allison (though the original is by
Big Bill Broonzy.) This song appears in the book in a flashback about their
deceased mom (“I’m gonna leave here runnin’, cuz walkin’s much too slow.”) The
book title is a play on this song name, so it’s the first on the list!
2.) TOXIC by
Britney Spears. This song is in the first scene of the book. It’s playing in
the strip club where Jesse bartends, the dead-end job she leaves after that
first scene.
3.) NIGHTMARE by Halsey. This might be a good theme song for
Jesse. It’s got a harder edge and it talks about going through difficult things
in life. It’s defiant. (“I keep a record of the wreckage in my life. I gotta
recognize the weapon in my mind”).
4.) NEW BLOWTOP
BLUES
by Deborah Cox. For when Jesse gets the phone call about the death of her birth
mom. (“I got bad news, Baby. And you’re the first to know.”)
5.) I SMELL TROUBLE by The Ron Teamer Band. When Jesse shows up on her
big sister’s doorstep needing a place to stay. Jennifer opens the door. Cue
music. (“I smell trouble. Trouble just walked through that door.
6.) I CAN FOLLOW
THE RULES SONG
by HeidiSongs (Heidi Butkus). I stumbled across this “indoctrination” song on
YouTube when I was looking for a theme song for Jennifer, songs about always
following the rules. It was created to teach young kids in school. I think this
was probably Jen’s favorite song as a little girl! Lol
7.) PEOPLE ARE
STRANGE by The Doors.
Chose this one mostly for the title, once Jesse and Jen start meeting the, uh, unusual
cast of supporting characters.
8.) YA YA by
Buckwheat Zydeco. This song appears in the book when the
sisters arrive in Thibodeaux, Louisiana. Harville Poupard is playing it as he
cooks crawfish etouffee.
9.) IF I COULD TURN
BACK TIME by Cher.
In the book, playing in the club in New Orleans when Jesse and Jennifer walk
in.
10.) JACKIE ONASSIS
by Human Sexual Response. In the book– the first time they see
their brother Jack. He’s onstage.
11.) NEW ORLEANS
BUMP by Wynton Marsalis. I could hear this fun instrumental play
over the scene where Jesse and Jen are putting on disguises outside the club in
New Orleans
12.) OLD SHOES
(& PICTURE POSTCARDS) by Tom Waits. During the scene where the
siblings are finally hearing part of their mom’s story and are looking through
boxes of mementos. (“So goodbye, so long. The road calls me, dear. And your
tears cannot bind me anymore. And farewell to the girl with the sun in her
eyes…”)
13.) SWEET THING by
Rufus and Chaka Khan.
This song is in the book in a flashback scene about their birth mother.
14.) OUTTA MY HEAD
AND BACK IN MY BED by Loretta Lynn. This song is in the book in
a flashback scene about their birth mother.
15.) ANGIE by The
Rolling Stones.
This song is in the book in a flashback scene about their birth mother.
16.) MOTHERLESS
CHILD by Bar Scott.
For the scene with Jesse on the back porch in the middle of the night.
17.) BAD DREAMS
(Stripped) by Faouzia. Jack’s “issue” song.
18.)
19.) TURN THIS CAR
AROUND by the Boom Chicka Boys. Chose this solely for the
title.
20.) YOUR WIFE’S
BEEN CHEATIN’ ON US by Little Milton. This song is in the book.
It’s played in the juke joint.
21.) HIT THE ROAD
JACK by Casey Abrams & Haley Reinhart. When Jack and
Jennifer rescue Jesse.
22.) I CAN’T MAKE
YOU LOVE ME by Bonnie Raitt. This is in the
book–Jennifer’s new ringtone for her husband.
23.) BE MY HUSBAND
by The No Shit Shirleys. When Jen opens up to Jesse about Sean.
24.) ON THE ROAD
AGAIN by Willie Nelson. When they get stuck in Milan, GA. (“On
the road again. I just can’t wait to get on the road again”).
25.) REDNECKER by
Hardy.
For Sy. ("My truck's louder than your truck/And my collar's a little
bluer/You might think that you're redneck/But I'm rednecker than you.")
26.) MURDERED BY
LOVE by the Toler Brothers. For the Sy/Shailene/Jimmy drama.
27.) THE TWILIGHT
ZONE THEME SONG.
This one’s in the book.
28.) GEORGIA by Ray
Charles.
In the book–Westley’s doorbell.
29.) WIPER BLADES by
Zane Taylor and Andre Hando. Jesse sitting with Jack
under a tree in the rain. (“You got me feelin’ some type o’ way. But I don’t
really feel right today. We like to wipe away them tears and fears, like wiper
blades.”)
30.) BURY ME IN
GEORGIA by Kane Brown. When they go to their mom’s final home.
31.) YOUR MOLECULAR
STRUCTURE by Mose Allison. A funny song for when Jesse and Lex hit
it off. Foreshadowing for another novel? Hmm...
32.) THE FINDING-MY-FAMILY BLUES written by… me! You won’t be able to find this anywhere. (Yet.) It’s just the lyrics that are written currently. The lyrics appear in the book, written by Jesse.
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AUTHOR BIO:
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Allyson Rice is the author of the novel The Key to Circus Mom Highway. ("Fans of family drama, road trips, and non-stop laughs will love this cross-country adventure."–BookLife/Publisher's Weekly). She's an award-winning mixed media artist, and a producer with Atomic Focus Entertainment.
After spending many years as an actress on stage and on television, she left acting and spent the next decade running yoga/meditation retreats, women’s retreats, and creativity retreats around the country. After that, she pivoted to focus once again on her own creative work. In addition to her writing and art, she’s also a photographer (her work was most recently seen in an exhibition at the Soho Photo Gallery in NYC).
Some random bits of Allyson trivia: 1.) She’s been skydiving, paragliding, bungee jumping, ziplining through a rainforest, and scuba diving with stingrays; 2.) she has an extensive PEZ dispenser collection; 3.) she played Connor Walsh on As the World Turns for seven years; 4.) she’s been in the Oval Office at the White House after hours; 5.) she’s related to the Hatfields of the infamous Hatfield/McCoy feud; and 6.) her comedic rap music video “Fine, I’ll Write My Own Damn Song” won numerous awards in the film festival circuit and can now be seen on YouTube (https://youtu.be/7Xe3nuVDkC4).
Also available from Allyson Rice is her line of women’s coloring books (The Color of Joy, Dancing with Life, and Wonderland), and The Creative Prosperity PlayDeck, an inspirational card deck about unlocking and utilizing your creative energy in the world. She’s currently at work on her second novel and her fourth women’s coloring book. But she is most proud of being mom to musical artist @_zanetaylor.
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CONNECT WITH ALLYSON:
Author Website:
E-Commerce Website:
https://www.Allyson-Wonderland.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AllysonRiceAuthor
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/CircusMomHwy
Instagram #1:
https://www.instagram.com/allysonriceauthor
Instagram #2:
https://www.instagram.com/officialallysonrice
Instagram #3:
https://www.instagram.com/allysonriceart
BookBub Author Page:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/allyson-rice
BookBub Book Page:
https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-key-to-circus-mom-highway-by-allyson-rice
Goodreads Author Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15265116.Allyson_Rice
Goodreads Book Page:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62003645-the-key-to-circus-mom-highway
Amazon Author Page:
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BOOK BUY LINKS:
Amazon US Kindle eBook:
Amazon US Paperback:
Amazon CA Kindle eBook:
https://www.amazon.ca/Key-Circus-Mom-Highway-Allyson-Rice-ebook/dp/B0BCDL1QLB
Amazon CA Paperback:
https://www.amazon.ca/Key-Circus-Mom-Highway-Allyson-Rice/dp/0982185545
Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook:
Barnes and Noble Paperback:
Kobo US eBook:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-key-to-circus-mom-highway
Kobo CA eBook:
https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-key-to-circus-mom-highway
Target Paperback:
https://www.target.com/p/the-key-to-circus-mom-highway-by-allyson-rice-paperback/-/A-87939489
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GIVEAWAY INFO:
Allyson will be awarding a $20 Amazon OR Barnes and Noble Gift Card (Winner’s Choice!!!) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase is made, I may receive a small commission to help support this blog. This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those fabulous community outreach projects and awesome giveaways on here**
This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions. Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteHey Ally! Thanks so much for hosting today's VBT stop! And thanks for this super-fun suggestion for a post topic. I loved making this playlist. I may just have to create this playlist on Spotify! :)
ReplyDelete–Allyson
I liked the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rita! I hope you'll get a chance to check out the whole book at some point. :)
Delete–Allyson
Sounds like a very interesting book.
ReplyDeleteI just love the cover art - makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds like an interesting read. Love the cover!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, the book title made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a very interesting read!
ReplyDelete