Cruel Summer won the Honorable Mention Award in the Young Adult–Social Issues category in 2021 Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest! Readers' Favorite recognizes Cruel Summer by Bernard Jan in its annual international book award contest, currently available at Amazon here. The Readers' Favorite International Book Award Contest featured thousands of contestants from over a dozen countries, ranging from new independent authors to NYT best-sellers and celebrities. Readers' Favorite is one of the largest book review and award contest sites on the Internet. They have earned the respect of renowned publishers like Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins, and have received the “Best Websites for Authors” and “Honoring Excellence” awards from the Association of Independent Authors. They are also fully accredited by the BBB (A+ rating), which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies. Readers' Favorite receive thousands of entries from all over the world. Because of these large submission numbers, they are able to break down their contest into 140+ genres, and each genre is judged separately, ensuring that books only compete against books of their same genre for a fairer and more accurate competition. They receive submissions from independent authors, small publishers, and publishing giants such as Random House, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, with contestants that range from the first-time, self-published author to New York Times bestsellers like J.A. Jance, James Rollins, and #1 best-selling author Daniel Silva, as well as celebrity authors like Jim Carrey (Bruce Almighty), Henry Winkler (Happy Days), and Eriq La Salle (E.R., Coming to America). “When the right books are picked as winners we pay attention. We will be spreading the word about Readers' Favorite.”—Karen A., Editor for Penguin Random House Readers' Favorite is proud to announce that Cruel Summer by Bernard Jan won the Honorable Mention Award in the Young Adult–Social Issues category. You can learn more about Bernard Jan and Cruel Summer at Reader's Favorite where you can read reviews and the author's biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages. “Bernard did a wonderful job of creating a beautifully written and compelling story that is very descriptive so that the reader feels immersed in the story. I enjoyed the detailed skateboarding stunt instructions at the start of each chapter. His characters were brilliantly written and very compelling.”—Rolanda Lyles for Readers' Favorite Please check out Cruel Summer at BookAwards.Com. Thank you. BJ Subscribe to my mailing list. Follow me on Twitter. Original post: https://www.bernardjan.com/post/readers-favorite-honorable-mention-award-for-cruel-summer

All I wanted to do is to publish this book. But I had other books plans before that one. After many years of preparations, testing, trial and error, waiting and burning excitement, Cruel Summer launch day is here, and the eBook is available at Amazon marketplaces! Cruel Summer is a gripping, unexpected, strong, and emotional YA cross-genre story about an abused teenage boy and a poet in New Manhattan, Michael Daniels, who only wants to skate and enter skateboarding contests, and the loyalty of friendship that stands as the shield between those with power and his freedom. Michael's skateboarding friends, Alien and Victor, are his only hope when things go wrong and mysteries and secrets start to unfold, threatening to turn their society into an authoritarian dystopia. Because when there is no hope left, friendship is what remains. All he wants to do is skate. By they have other plans for him. Cruel Summer has elements of family and social issues, extreme sports, conspiracy, murder, mystery, teen romance as a subplot, and even sci-fi and dystopia as a touch of alternative history. It carries a strong message of friendship. Although the main protagonists are three friends, skateboarders from New York City at the end of the millennium, Cruel Summer is not just a novel about extreme sports. It is a deep story of a family and sexual abuse, and the exploitation of power by those who have the means to use it over the individuals and the population in general. Having a strong human rights and environmental message, it will also appeal to those who love reading these books. Originally published as Okrutno ljeto in Croatian in 2014, Cruel Summer is still a hot topic today. Please click on the links below to get your copy where you can also leave your honest review. Thank you for that! Amazon.com Amazon Australia Amazon Canada Amazon UK Goodreads BookBub Cruel Summer is enrolled in KDP Select, where you can read it for free. Through most of March, it will be at the discounted price of $0.99 before it goes up to its regular place. A perfect time to download your eBook! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08X6JZKRM Thank you all who helped me bring this book to life. There are too many of you to mention you here, but you have my eternal thanks in the Acknowledgements in the book. If you are a representative of the media, please click here for the press release. https://www.bernardjan.com/cruel-summer-press Cruel Summer and I are available for reviews, book tours, interviews. Cover design by Dean Cole. BJ Follow me on Twitter. Source: https://www.bernardjan.com/post/cruel-summer-ebook-launch-day-on-amazon

This is the last opportunity to download my novel January River is at a 67% discount price on Amazon! Sunday, December 20, 2020, 8:00 AM PST through Sunday, December 27, 2020, 12:00 AM PST January River is a beautiful gift for everyone who loves a nice literature. This coming-of-age literary fiction story about five friends, one dog and one river carrying a secret has all the elements, mystery and romance included, to keep you entertained and warm around the heart. Please check out some acclaims for January River from happy and satisfied readers: “Wow, a very professionally written coming-of-age literary fictional book. It was quite easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment . . . Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters & facts to keep track of.”—Tony Parsons, Amazon and Goodreads “Author Bernard Jan has crafted a unique work of fiction quite unlike anything else I've ever read. The blend of genres woven into this highly literary piece delivers emotional realism, dark secretive thriller moments, and a deep and meaningful discussion of our connection to the natural world, all at once.”—K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite “The story has a variety of characters, both good and bad, that make this book complete. The story will also hit on a variety of emotions at various points and I found myself empathizing with different characters at different points.”—Leslie, StoreyBook Reviews Download January River at $0.99 bargain price on Amazon here and feed your Kindle! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086LJJC8V Please spread the word about this discount and make someone else happy too. And don't forget to check out my two other books A World Without Color and Look for Me Under the Rainbow. All rivers carry their secrets, but not every river keeps its secret forever. Thank you and my very best wishes for the happier and less stressful future to all of us! BJ Original blog post https://www.bernardjan.com/post/the-last-discount-for-january-river-in-2020

All rivers carry their secrets, but not every river keeps its secret forever. January River is at a 67% late summer discount on Amazon! Friday, September 18, 2020, 8:00 AM PDT through Friday, September 25, 2020, 12:00 AM PDT When one of their friends goes missing, everything comes crashing down for the small group of childhood friends in the small town of Greenfield. Ethan takes it hard. Not even his brother Will and their dog can console him. Then life bares its teeth again, scarring Ethan with another tragic event. He loses his dog, his only consolation. As soon as he gets the chance, Will leaves Greenfield and Ethan follows a few years later. They start a new life, far from the ghosts of their childhood and the river that gives and takes life. While Will discovers his love for the open seas and spends his best years aboard various ships, Ethan stays in New York City. There he finds his one true love and builds a career as a bestselling author. But how long will Ethan's happiness last as doubts creep back into him and shatter his reality? And will his reconciliation with the past come at too great a price? You can download my novel about five friends, one dog and one river carrying a secret for only $.99 bargain price on Amazon! Please spread the word about this promo week discount, and also check out my two other books A World Without Color and Look for Me Under the Rainbow. Thanks! BJ Acclaim for January River “Bernard is a writer who can evoke deep emotions with his excellent writing. He uses the perfect wordings and well-chosen metaphors to paint a scene and give us a look into his characters' deepest feelings.” —Koen Van den Eeckhout, Belgian information designer, reader, and Goodreads book reviewer “I will tell you upfront, this is no easy book to devour due to the tenacity of the story to impact you. Some will live. Some will not. But the author does all the right things to make you feel the emotions of the characters throughout the novel.” —James J. Cudney, author of Watching Glass Shatter, Hiding Cracked Glass, Father Figure, and Braxton Campus Mysteries series “It's one of those books that come along occasionally that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end.” —Píaras Ó Cíonnaoíth, poet and author of books for both children and adults and reviewer for Emerald Book Reviews Original post: https://www.bernardjan.com/post/january-river-bargain-price

My novel, January River, about five friends, one dog and one river carrying a secret, at a 67% discounted price on Amazon! Monday, June 22, 2020, 8:00 AM PDT through Monday, June 28, 2020, 8:00 PM PDT When one of their friends goes missing, everything comes crashing down for the small group of childhood friends in the small town of Greenfield. Ethan takes it hard. Not even his brother Will and their dog can console him. Then life bares its teeth again, scarring Ethan with another tragic event. He loses his dog, his only consolation. As soon as he gets the chance, Will leaves Greenfield and Ethan follows a few years later. They start a new life, far from the ghosts of their childhood and the river that gives and takes life. While Will discovers his love for the open seas and spends his best years aboard various ships, Ethan stays in New York City. There he finds his one true love and builds a career as a bestselling author. But how long will Ethan's happiness last as doubts creep back into him and shatter his reality? And will his reconciliation with the past come at too great a price? The whole week, January River eBook will be only $.99, which is a great opportunity to get it at a bargain price. Download this beautiful and heartwarming coming-of-age literary fiction with episodes of mystery and romance cross-genre story and leave your honest reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Please spread the word about this promo week discount, and check out my two other books A World Without Color and Look for Me Under the Rainbow. BJ Source: https://www.bernardjan.com/post/january-river-at-a-discounted-price-on-amazon

Between sixty aftershocks that are shaking the ground after two strong earthquakes hit Zagreb on a Sunday morning and the threat of a deadly virus, my heart is filled with gratitude and excitement as I reveal the cover and the blurb for January River, my first novel in English. I've been working and waiting over a year for this moment to arrive, so I hope it finds its way to the hearts of many readers and fans. Domi at Inspired Cover Designs did a stunning cover for my eBook and paperback editions, so if you ever need a skilled cover designer, give her a chance! Indie authors, Jonathan Hill and Michael Evans, have big credits for the final look of my blurb, so please show them some love by reading and reviewing their books. January River Blurb Five friends. One dog. One river carrying a secret. When one of their friends goes missing, everything comes crashing down for the small group of childhood friends in the small town of Greenfield. Ethan takes it hard. Then he loses his dog, his only consolation. Hoping to start anew, Ethan leaves Greenfield and moves to New York City. Far from the ghosts of his childhood and the river that gives and takes life. There he finds his one true love and builds a career as a bestselling author. But how long will Ethan's happiness last as doubts creep back into him and shatter his reality? And will his reconciliation with the past come at too great a price? All rivers carry their secrets, but not every river keeps its secret forever. In this heartwarming coming-of-age literary fiction with episodes of mystery and romance cross-genre story, Bernard Jan, the author of Look for Me Under the Rainbow and A World Without Color, speaks of true friendship, first darlings, and real loves. With gentle words he describes our connection with nature and love for our four-legged friends who quickly become honorable members of our families, but also tells about the dark secrets we carry in our hearts. Thank you all who brought me here. January River will be available for purchase on Amazon in April. BJ Source: https://www.bernardjan.com/post/january-river-cover-and-blurb-reveal

Today, I read a small introduction to a webinar I am taking through Friesen Press and it told me that I am an Authorpreneur. The term is very unique to me and it made me feel like my life long writing career has become just that, a legitimized career. I have been an Entrepreneur since the age of four with my first lemonade stand out side my parents house. I've always known I was a business minded person and today my writing career has really solidified it's position in my life. I am so overjoyed because the job part finally feels real and to be so open to the world is such an amazing and overwhelming feeling. I am humbled by this new experience. This is truly an amazing moment. In the next post, I'll have some examples of my work for You. My exciting novel "Viktor, Into the Light" will be coming out in the summer of 2020 and my Thanks goes to Friesen Press for making this lifelong dream come true. Viktor, called an "epic" good versus evil story by Friesen Press excites me to tell you about it. He's sexy and moral. He discovers a few things about his family and longs for one of his own. Look for it in the Friesen Press bookstore or eBooks and give a copy to your staff, friends, mother, sister, or your aunties. Viktor is a satisfying read for anyone 14+. Well, I'll post some examples of my work for you now. See you in the next post. Julie Ann

Good Day, Wow wee has time just flown by. This summer I spent my time re-writing my manuscript for the editors. My book Viktor, Into the Light will be out sometime in the summer of 2020 and I am delighted to share this exciting moment in my life with you. I am just thrilled that my dream is on the precipice of coming true! Publishing one of my books and having it made into a real book is so exciting for me.I have waited 40 years for this moment in my life and now it is finally happening for me! This is just wonderful! The whole experience of writing Viktor has been quite magical and inspirational. Since 2014 I have written 5 books, with Viktor being my first for publication. I hope you all have something exciting going on in your lives that just brings you pure joy! Have a wonderful time dancing through life. Look for my book; it will make a great gift for someone you love. Thank you for your time! God Bless, Julie Ann