The Book
Genre: Literary Fiction, Women’s Fiction
About Searching Civilization:
After leaving an abusive relationship, Andy Daniels heads back to Las Vegas to reunite with Earl, the love of her life, only to find him gone. Devastated from losing him, she realizes life holds for her several choices, return to her burnt-out hippie days at Berkley, succumb to society’s expectations and settle down with a suitable companion, or hold onto her faith in love and wait for her lost love to return. Andy chooses the latter.Source: Info in the About Searching Civilization was from the press kit from the publicity team.
To her friends, Andy’s clinging to love seems futile and even a little pathetic, yet no one seems to be able to deter her. As the years pass, Andy’s love grows past her love for Earl. She learns to appreciate the love of friendship, coworkers, neighbors and everyone who crosses her path, but mostly she learns to love herself. Her love grows to such epic levels that she simply cannot help become a magnet and attract what she desires most of all—the love she lost so many years ago.
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Excerpt:
Later, when the sun began to set below the horizon, Earl and Andy rested enjoying their beers and snacks as if watching a movie feature at the drive-in. The sky was much more of a spectacle than anything Hollywood could create.
Out in the desert, the stars were so bright and visible it was as if it was the beginning of time and all was new. Andy noticed a few shooting stars dart across the sky. “What’s the deal with shooting stars?” she asked cuddled against Earl.
“They are stars who have yet to find their home,” he replied and pointed to the sky. “Look, that star found a home as part of Orion’s belt, the other an anchor for the Big Dipper. The stars keep bouncing around the universe until they find a place to call home. It’s like how people roam around until they settle into a comfortable life.”
Andy lifted her head and caressed his face. “Not like you and me, huh? We found our place and that is with each other.”
Earl leaned forward and kissed her nose. “That’s right. We’ve formed our very own constellation.”
“Let me guess. We’re in the shape of a bottle of hot sauce,” Andy said with a laugh.
“You are getting so good at stargazing,” Earl replied.
Andy nestled close to his body. “I am.” Her gaze shifted to the sky and she smiled. “It must be amazing to fly at night, being closer to the stars.”
Earl looked into her eyes. No sight to him was more beautiful, even the stars in the sky couldn’t compete with Andy’s loving gaze. He shifted his gaze upward. “I remember this one night. It was so clear. The stars were so bright illuminating the entire horizon and the ocean was reflecting all the stars. It was hard to tell what was up and what was down. It was like I was flying through space.” He settled down in his seat pulling Andy closer. “Space,” he started, “everyone thinks it’s just up there in the sky, but it is everywhere. We are space itself. We are one with it all.”
Andy rotated in his arms and faced forward staring at the sky. Her mind wandered to the openness of the desert. Darkness surrounded them and the only light was the stars in the sky. She gained serenity with the feeling of complete oneness. Never in her life did she believe she would ever know it.
Out in the desert, the stars were so bright and visible it was as if it was the beginning of time and all was new. Andy noticed a few shooting stars dart across the sky. “What’s the deal with shooting stars?” she asked cuddled against Earl.
“They are stars who have yet to find their home,” he replied and pointed to the sky. “Look, that star found a home as part of Orion’s belt, the other an anchor for the Big Dipper. The stars keep bouncing around the universe until they find a place to call home. It’s like how people roam around until they settle into a comfortable life.”
Andy lifted her head and caressed his face. “Not like you and me, huh? We found our place and that is with each other.”
Earl leaned forward and kissed her nose. “That’s right. We’ve formed our very own constellation.”
“Let me guess. We’re in the shape of a bottle of hot sauce,” Andy said with a laugh.
“You are getting so good at stargazing,” Earl replied.
Andy nestled close to his body. “I am.” Her gaze shifted to the sky and she smiled. “It must be amazing to fly at night, being closer to the stars.”
Earl looked into her eyes. No sight to him was more beautiful, even the stars in the sky couldn’t compete with Andy’s loving gaze. He shifted his gaze upward. “I remember this one night. It was so clear. The stars were so bright illuminating the entire horizon and the ocean was reflecting all the stars. It was hard to tell what was up and what was down. It was like I was flying through space.” He settled down in his seat pulling Andy closer. “Space,” he started, “everyone thinks it’s just up there in the sky, but it is everywhere. We are space itself. We are one with it all.”
Andy rotated in his arms and faced forward staring at the sky. Her mind wandered to the openness of the desert. Darkness surrounded them and the only light was the stars in the sky. She gained serenity with the feeling of complete oneness. Never in her life did she believe she would ever know it.
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Meet The Author
Inspiration comes from watching way too much Monty Python. The abstract and the absurd way of looking at normal life, not only offers humor, but questions many problems in society in a light-hearted manner. If we can laugh at ourselves, if we can laugh at life, problems do not seem quite so difficult to tackle. In fact, problems are not as complicated as they seem; everything is very simple. If you can laugh at it, write about it and read about it, most likely one would think about it.
Jennifer Ott is an award-winning author. She is the author of several satire fiction Wild Horses, The Tourist and two non-fiction books Love and Handicapping and Ooh Baby Compound Me! She recently published, Serenidipidus, Edge of Civilization, A Soul to Shine and now her new release, Searching Civilization, which is the second part of a character inspired series, “Citizens of Civilization.”
She also is the host of the SuperJenius Show and the Poets First show on Artist First radio Network.
Jennifer Ott lives in Long Beach, California, enjoys the sun, the sand, the surf and lots of Mexican food.
www.jenniferott.com | www.superjeniuspublications.com | twitter | facebook | facebook book page | google+ author page | google+ (jo) | google+ (sjp) | youtube | pinterest | tumblr | radio show | goodreads
Goodreads Book Giveaway
by Jennifer Ott
Giveaway ends April 17, 2014. See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Giveaway
Win a $25 Amazon gift card! Enter 2/9/15 – 2/23/15. Open WW. The Goodreads giveaway will run 2/9 – 2/22/15 and is open to residents of the USA, CA, GB, and AU.
