JEALOUSY IS A GREEN-EYED MONSTER AND HIS NAME IS WILLIAM BARNES
A girl with power over luck. An obsessed author consumed by envy. Two nemeses drawn down a path from which only one will return.After witnessing her mother’s brutal murder, ten-year-old Nem’s life seems destined for tragedy. Then she discovers an old journal which holds an incredible secret. Nem now possesses the ability to control … she discovers an old journal which holds an incredible secret. Nem now possesses the ability to control the fortunes of others. It is said luck is probability taken personally, and she’s about to get personal with her own brand of justice.
Decades later, the literary world hails William Barnes’ debut as a masterpiece. His best seller success, though, doesn’t survive his next two books. Readers abandon him, his publisher cancels his contract, and his agent isn’t returning his calls.
Meanwhile his undeserving protégé, Orelia Mason, enjoys a meteoric rise in the charts, coinciding suspiciously with his fall. So William embarks on a plan to win back the life he’s certain she has stolen. If people die along the way, well, that’s their problem. He’ll discover though, that battling fate when luck is not on your side can be a deadly game.
This is A Star is Born meets A Portrait of Dorian Gray and the consequences are not pretty. In fact, they’re darn well bloody.
From the international best selling author readers call the new Stephen King, comes a dark and twisted tale of jealousy, revenge and a very special power.
What readers are saying about BEST SELLER
After reading horror for over 50 years I’m excited by Susan May’s book as I haven’t been since I read Stephen King’s The Stand. Michelle Hummer-Kindig (USA)
Few authors successfully make the leap from short story to novels as fluid as King, Jackson and Poe. But, damn May did it again and she keeps getting better. Judy Clay (USA)
What an insane read! It was unputdownable! Mandie (GoodReads USA)
I wanted to continue reading late into the night, in order to get to the end. And what an ending! Regina Lively (USA)
I can honestly say if it were possible to give 10 stars I would! Possibly the best suspense novel I have read in a year. Doreen Keele (USA)
It’s like Hitchcock meets the Twilight Zone. John Filar (USA)
This is a suspense filled thriller. Holy S*%^ great ending! Diane Lynch (Bookmeetsgirlblog USA)
Susan May has created some more characters you love to hate! Diane Lybbert (USA)
Best Seller is Susan May’s best work to date and there aren’t enough positive adjectives to describe how much I enjoyed this novel. Peg Daniels (USA)
I felt like this could have been written by Dean Koontz in the early 2000’s … more like the mature King, as in “Duma Key” and not “Carrie” or “Pet Cemetery”. Bill Schmidt (Holey One) (USA)
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I just finished Best Seller….oh it was a tricky one. When it first started coming together for me, I was delighted. Then as I kept going, I couldn’t put it down. I definitely see more to this one….
William Barnes, author… obsessed? possessed? addicted?
Nem Stratton, child… young woman… forsaken? abandoned? lost?
Don’t be fooled by labels and generalities. William and Nem are not necessarily what they first seem. Susan May doesn’t put the best bits in your face. No, she works up to them by crafting a tale that you cannot put down. In the case of BEST SELLER, she is crafting two story lines in alternating chapters. I do not use ‘crafting’ lightly because without careful composition, it might have been difficult to keep each narrative moving forward and memorable.
Susan May has become one of my ‘must read’ authors over the past couple of years. She brings a fresh perspective to supernatural speculative fiction by mixing reality with subtle hints of otherworldliness. She drops a hint here and then another over there until you realize that something magical is happening, and not always in a good way.
In BEST SELLER, the word is ‘luck.’ We all know that famous Clint Eastwood line “… you’ve gotta ask yourself one question: “Do I feel lucky?” Well, do ya, punk?” I can’t tell you how many times this line percolated into my thoughts while I was reading. There are ever so many widely used references to luck in literature, song, and everyday speech that this is a book literally for everybody. After all, who hasn’t wished for a bit of that illusive thing?
Along with everybody, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever written a book, or thought about writing a book. There is much about the world of the writer here that has little to do with creating a manuscript and everything to do with the publishing of a product.
If you haven’t yet read Susan May, this is a good place to take the plunge. Her works of fiction are not only entertaining and well written, they are informative as well. I look forward to reading her next “best seller.”
What pulled me in first with this book was the blurb. I loved the plot and thought this was gonna be quite the unique read and it was. While it was a long book, I did enjoy the story and I know I won’t be forgetting these characters anytime soon. I found myself drawn to Nem’s story in the first half of the book and quite disliked William. Then about halfway through my opinion changed! I finally understand William’s quest and though he wasn’t completely redeemed I did agree with what he had to do. Nem on the other hand did let things get out of hand, but I still feel sorry for her. I’d recommend this story if you’re looking for a twisted tale that includes a bit of ‘magic’.
Final Rating: 4 Stars
Best Seller, my first read from author Susan May. Enjoyable suspense, reminiscent of Stephen King. 13-hours 22-minutes and 472 pages, but reads longer with the twists & turns and intense detail written into it. I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reading & reviewing it. Narrator Steve Marvel’s narration adds to the book’s enjoyment. I look forward to reading more from this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 – July 24, 2018).
Best Seller was hard for me to get into. I liked the unique and original plot. My struggle was trying to feel invested in characters I didn’t like. I like Susan May’s writing and look forward to checking out more of her work.
Would you take another person’s destiny if you were able?
Does “what goes around” really “come around”? Or is something else at play?
An original spin on karma, the dark, twisty plot takes you on a suspense filled odyssey when a man fueled by jealousy and bitterness seeks the source of his bad luck. The author pulls you into this well written novel of revenge and betrayal from page one, and keeps you there until the shocking end.
Best Seller by Susan May is a story about the travails of being a writer told through the characters of two writers and an agent. Since the story is told by a best-selling author, one of my favorites, I was looking forward to a fun, fast-moving read with a generous dose of minor surprises. I have read several novels by Susan May, and the only surprise I found with Best Seller is that it did not measure up. At times, the novel came across as a list of complaints about why being a writer is so difficult. If any reader is contemplating becoming a writer, I advise keeping a side note while reading because there are lots of good suggestions about how to survive in the world of a writer. Some are motivational tips, and some are practical, such as who pays for the unsold books returned to the publisher. The tips and advice can be copied and pasted to form a handy checklist of things to watch out for during the writing process.
Be sure to read From The Imagination Vault after the end of the story. Susan May reveals how much of this story comes from real life, much of it from her experiences. In the novel, the author uses reviews that she received for books she wrote. Some of the reviews are cringeworthy and would “encourage” many novice writers to find another profession.
William Barnes, the author, wrote a best seller. His success was phenomenal, with only one drawback. He spent so much time on the road giving readings and signing autographs that he was pressed for time to write his second novel. His time was not open-ended; it did not belong to him. He had a three-book contract complete with deadlines.
Nevertheless, he managed to publish a second novel which was met with surprised reactions from critics. His second novel was mechanically correct but not impressive. Many reviewers gave him a conditional pass but his next book, his third, had to be good.
Orelia Mason, the author, also wrote a best seller. With no experience in writing a novel, Mason had met Barnes at a book signing. Orelia had written what she considered to be an excellent first draft. Written with a pencil on lined paper, Mason had scanned the pages and asked Barnes if he would look at her first effort. If Barnes thought Mason had promise, Orelia would proceed to edit and revision. She asked Barnes for help, he agreed, and the two would work together for three months before Barnes thought the work worthy of submission to an agent. Barnes was not exactly kind in his willingness to help Mason. He felt an obligation to bookstore owner Diane. Barnes had spent much time in the bookstore before the publication of his debut novel, the runaway bestseller. Some of his first, very well attended readings had taken place in Diane’s bookstore. Barnes felt a sense of obligation to at least a first meeting with Orelia, an employee of Diane’s.
Once Barnes considered Orelia’s novel ready for an agent, Orelia requested further help from Barnes. Perhaps she could use the same agent as Barnes, agent Morris. At this point, the story begins to take a darker tone. Orelia would use Morris. There was no doubt. Morris did not know that he would “discover” Orelia. William Barnes did not know Orelia would be successful in landing Morris as an agent, nor did he know Orelia would be such a success. Orelia knew she would be as lucky as she wanted to be in all things because Orelia had a secret helper, one that was not of this world.
The problem was that as Orelia Mason’s fame ascended at an unbelievable rate, the career of William Barnes plummeted at an equal rate. It was as if the world was operating on a system resembling a balance sheet. For every good thing that happens, an adverse event must take place. Readers will follow how this “force” plays out throughout this novel. While readers will primarily see the effects on publishing careers, there are also some horrific accounts outside the literary world.
Best Seller is 472 pages divided into 74 chapters. The first few chapters capture reader interest; the rest of the novel drags on forever. The final few episodes, along with the ending, are imaginative and might surprise. I believe this novel worthy of the reviews written for the third novel written by William Barnes. The story is out-of-synch as far as interest level with all other books and short stories I have read by Susan May. Mechanically excellent and with several astute observations, I rate the story at three Amazon stars. It is available through Kindle Unlimited as a free read or for sale on Amazon for USD 2.99.
Portrait of Nemesis–UPDATED!!
Narrator Steve Marvel does a marvelous job voicing the various characters as his smooth delivery captures their various nuances and story pacing to perfection. If you are a fan of Susan May, you will probably catch the cookie in chapter 6. But our Hero’s troubles are too big even for a Troubles Keeper as parallel tales unwind and intertwine complex patterns. I had read “Best Seller,” of course, when it first came out (***ORIGINAL REVIEW BELOW), but as an audio fan had to see how this played out on a multi-media platform. And I must say it does exceptionally well. My imagination now takes the plot multi-dimensional, adding film to the mix, and somehow I want to include some of the aspects as comic sequences (referring to cartoons rather than humor). Interspersing the flashbacks with the live-action in this manner would help preserve some of the unwinding intrigue and suspense. After all, the main protagonist perceives himself to be an action figure. Relax and enjoy yourself as our author plays with the dark side of your brain.
***[ORIGINAL REVIEW] Bit by bit, step by step, person by person, we are introduced to the threads that make up this network of terror. We are what we have done and cannot escape our actions. Actually, that’s a pretty grim take on the world and contrary to Christian teachings (forgiveness for sins), but makes one h3!! of a premise for a horror novel! An innocent young girl seems to lose her way; a brilliant young novelist is blessed with a best seller; a romance novelist seeks a mentor. Layer by layer the plot builds as you find your sympathies being torn this way and that. The author’s afterword lets you know you’ve fallen prey to her scheme . . . and her book.
After ten-year-old Nem watched her mother’s brutal murder, she believes her life will be tragic as well. When she finds a journal, her life is turned around.
Years later, William Barnes debut book was regarded as a best seller; unfortunately, his two successive books were considered literary bombs. As his success declines, his protégé, Orelia Mason, becomes a best-selling author. William believes she has stolen his life of fame. He is determined to get it back, at any cost…
Full of action and twists, a great plot and great characters, it pulls you in from page 1!
I received a complimentary copy and freely give my honest review
Absolutely loved this book, from the way it’s written with perspectives from Nem and William and Orelia (Nem’s writer name). This is one of those books that you end up finishing late at night (in my case it was 1228am) I just couldn’t put this down until I finished it! Nem witnesses her mother being killed by her mom’s boyfriend, gets put into foster care, she is given a box of her mom’s belongings that she doesn’t bring herself to get into for some time but when she does, there is her mom’s green book, something like a diary only it has names and pluses and minuses….what does this mean? Nem is going to have to learn how to use this book that can grant wishes/favors (+) but in order to have something positive happen to somebody someone else is going to get just the opposite negative (-)…
William Barnes is a #1 bestselling author until he meets Nem….then his luck swings to bad luck….with twists and turns you’re going to have to read this for yourself to see what happens. Thank you Susan May for such a great read! I have found another stupendous writer to add to my growing list!