Crossing Day by William A. Glass | Book Review ~ Author Guest Post ~ $25 Gift Card Available ~ Excerpt | #AlternateHistory #YoungAdult @GoddessFish @william.glass.50767 @williamasaglass @WilliamAGlass3
A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour.
Book Details
Crossing Day by William A. Glass Published by Independent Author on May 15, 2024
Genres: Alternate History, Fiction, Young Adult
Format: eBook, Hardcover, Paperback
Pages: 301
Source: Amazon Purchase, Goddess Fish Promotions, Received from the author or publisher for review.It's been one hundred and sixty years since the Confederacy won its independence at the Battle of Altamaha Crossing. Slaves of African descent still perform most of the work in the South.
This seems normal to Ryan Walters and his friends who attend high school in Huntsville, Alabama. Like teens everywhere, they enjoy sharing videos, playing sports, and hanging out with friends.
Jaybird's Drive-In is a favorite gathering place for the teenagers. There, they befriend Mish, a slave girl who works as a server. When the drive-in’s owner sells Mish to a dirty old man, Ryan and his friends awaken to the injustice around them. Despite the danger, they decide to help Mish escape. Will they succeed?
An early reader said Crossing Day "is like a combination of Huckleberry Finn, Moby Dick, and The Hunger Games." Another reader called it, "an action-packed thriller."
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Excerpt from Crossing Day
As Ryan strolls around the drive-in, he passes several vehicles filled with Johnston soccer players. They wave but aren’t in any mood to socialize after the loss. Ryan loops around the restaurant’s rear to complete the circuit. Through a kitchen window, he sees the staff bustling to get orders ready. The door opens, and Mish skates out with a tray. She delivers it to one of the German soccer players seated at an outside table. “What took so long?” the boy asks.
“We’re a bit overwhelmed,” Mish admits.
“You’re cute for a Swartz. My name’s Dieter.”
“I’ve got to go and get another order.”
“What’s your number?”
“That’s not allowed.” Mish spins on her skates, but Dieter is too fast. He jumps up and seizes Mish’s wrist, twisting it to read the number tattooed on the inside of her arm.
Ryan sees what’s happening and comes over. “Let go of her,” he demands.
“Make me,” the German sneers. Slowly, he increases the pressure on Mish’s wrist. She gasps and her knees buckle.
Pulling out his phone, Ryan snaps a photo. “Fraternizing with slaves is illegal,” he says.
Angrily, the German releases Mish and lunges at Ryan, knocking the phone out of his hand. As the two boys ball their fists and circle each other, vehicles throughout the drive-in empty. Instantly, the German soccer team is surrounded by a crowd of irate Southerners. Dieter drops his hands and backs away. “Ha-ha, I was just joking.” He smiles, but there’s no laughter in his eyes.
Excerpt provided by the author/publisher for use in this post.
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Purchase Links for Crossing Day
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Glass, William A. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 301 Pages - 05/15/2024 (Publication Date) - William A. Glass, Author LLC (Publisher)
- Glass, William A. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 266 Pages - 05/09/2024 (Publication Date) - William A. Glass, Author LLC (Publisher)
If the above links do not take you to your country’s Amazon page, please let me know, and I’ll gladly get a link for you.
Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount out of their share. Every penny helps to support this blog.
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My Thoughts on Crossing Day
William A. Glass’s “Crossing Day” transports us to an alternate history where the Confederacy triumphed at the Battle of Altamaha Crossing, and the repercussions are still felt 160 years later. In Huntsville, Alabama, high schooler Ryan Walters and his friends navigate a world that seems normal to them, where the legacy of slavery persists unabated.
Their favorite haunt, Jaybird’s Drive-In, becomes the center of a moral awakening when they befriend Mish, a slave girl. Her sale to a repugnant buyer jolts the teens into recognizing the cruel realities surrounding them. Fueled by a newfound sense of justice, they embark on a perilous mission to help Mish flee her fate.
‘Crossing Day’ is a gripping thriller that paints a chillingly plausible picture of a modern South still shackled by its past. The narrative deftly explores the dynamics of power and prejudice, with the Confederacy’s alliance with Nazi Germany adding a dark twist to the tale. The author’s vivid world-building and the stark parallels drawn to our own society underscore the vigilance needed to protect democracy.
While the story’s themes may be heavy, they resonate deeply, prompting reflection on the values we hold dear. Glass’s novel is a poignant reminder of history’s enduring impact and the importance of standing against tyranny.
This thought-provoking story lingers in the mind, challenging us to consider the paths not taken and the future we wish to forge.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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I love my Amazon Kindle Unlimited Subscription. So many books, so little time!
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About William A. Glass
William A. Glass is a retired business executive now living in South Carolina with his wife, Bettina. She teaches high school German while Bill is the soccer coach at a small college. Their three sons, Alex, Robert, and Gordon have all graduated from college and moved away to pursue careers.
Now Bill and Bettina enjoy long walks with their dogs. When the weather permits, Bill commutes on his motorcycle. “It’s like taking a roller coaster to work!” he enthuses.
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Guest Post by William A. Glass, Author of Crossing Day
Discuss the world you’ve created for the book.
By William A. Glass
The world I created for Crossing Day envisions a worst-case but realistic scenario for what life would be like in the South today if the Confederacy had gained independence during the Civil War. In the story, field slaves of African descent still power the South’s agribusinesses while house slaves cater to their owner’s every need. The Confederacy sided with Germany in the World War, so when Hitler was defeated, Nazis were welcomed to the Confederacy.
Many years later, they have gained positions of authority. Because of an active resistance movement, all pretense of democracy has gone by the wayside. The Confederate Army enforces a dictatorship, while Nazis are responsible for security. Southern citizens live in fear of the Nazi Security Service (SS).
To further complicate matters, the United States and the Confederacy are divided by a one-hundred-mile-wide demilitarized zone. It was cleared of inhabitants at the time of the 1865 Armistice, but the original residents infiltrated back to reclaim their farms and villages. Little has changed there since the Civil War. Only a few modern conveniences have been smuggled in.
So, life goes on there much as it did in 1860. Because neither the North nor South are permitted to send armed forces, including police, into this Autonomous Zone (AZ), the residents have gone back to their quarrelsome ways. Bands of pro and anti-slavery guerrillas rape, murder, and plunder each other’s settlements. This is a major problem for the Confederacy because the river that runs past the AZ is essential to commerce. Pirates who live without fear in the AZ extort tolls from passing container ships raising prices for Southern citizens.
This, then, is a description of the world inhabited by the characters of Crossing Day. Given the environment, it wasn’t hard to come up with a wild plot for my characters!
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Giveaway!
William A. Glass will award a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter.
Visit more stops on this Goddess Fish tour for extra chances to win!
Official Tour Page for Crossing Day
Full Tour Schedule:
May 13: Readers Roost
May 14: Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books!
May 15: A Wonderful World of Words
May 16: Sandra’s Book Club
May 17: Westveil Publishing
May 20: Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews
May 21: The Pen and Muse Book Reviews
May 22: Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
May 23: Kenyan Poet
May 24: Literary Gold
May 27: The Faerie Review
May 28: Fabulous and Brunette
May 29: Gina Rae Mitchell – review
May 30: The Avid Reader
May 31: Our Town Book Reviews
June 3: Hope. Dreams. Life… Love
June 4: Long and Short Reviews
June 5: Books in the Hall
June 6: Straight From the Library
June 7: Full Moon Dreaming
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Looks like a very interesting book.
Gina Rae, thank-you for your thoughts on ‘Crossing Day’. I am truly pleased that you found it to be a thought-provoking read as that’s how it’s intended. I appreciate you taking the time to read it and to share your review with your readers!
The excerpt sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing.
This sounds like an unusual and very unique read.
Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
I read ‘As Good As Can Be’ by William A. Glass, and I loved it. I found it to be fast paced.
Hi Audrey,
Thanks for your kind words about ‘As Good As Can Be’!
Best wishes,
William Glass
Thank you so much for featuring CROSSING DAY and for reviewing.