Blog Tour (Book Spotlight): How LJ and Rom Saved Heavy Metal – S.D. Mckinley

Hello!

Today is my stop on the blog tour for ‘How LJ and Rom Saved Heavy Metal’ by S.D. McKinley organised by Storytellers on Tour, and I’m delighted to share an extract with you. I hope that you will check out the book and the author, and enjoy the rest of the tour with the schedule in the banner below or (HERE). There is also an opportunity – open internationally – to win a copy of this fantastic book for yourself!

Book Summary:

Ride along with LJ and Rom as they travel the US to stop the death of their friend Dom, a legendary heavy metal guitarist. What unravels before their eyes is a trippy conspiracy against them and technological warfare on the dreams of not only Dom, but humankind alike. Action packed with fast cars, guns, monsters, magic and an ending like no other.

“This book is a whimsical ride, easy read and a thrilling piece of literature.”

“I especially enjoyed the authors sense of humor.”

“You’ll love the pop cultural references and dialog.”

“In most logical circumstances everything in this story shouldn’t work, but it does and the style of writing just flows and works flawlessly in what is one of the most original books I have ever come across. It’s clear that the imagination of S.D. McKinley is one of a gifted story teller with an original voice.”

***** *****

How LJ and Rom Saved Heavy Metal
by S.D. McKinley

CHAPTER 0

In a universe vibrant with energy and more coincidental than our own.

Gravel slid and rolled under each tire equally. A 4G63 engine drove power down through the axels to all four tires. The rally car was a far out, vamped up, metallic grey Mitsubishi Lancer WRC. Mountain Dew held a logo on the door panels of each side along with a mirage of small sponsor logos of every color. The body of the rally car was slightly jacked up via its racing suspension and featured a pewter burrito as a hood ornament.

The rally race, a series of stages, took place in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. A combination of pavement, gravel, dirt, straightaways, and various shaped corners laid out the course.

“Left five over crest. Then straight,” said Rom, reading off the pace notes just after the Lancer jumped a ditch, narrowly escaping a collision with a tree.

“Again? You just left out the fact that there was a jump after that corner! What kind of codriver are you?” LJ said. Rom snickered under his breath at his own prank. LJ’s top lip quivered, and the look on his face signaled impending doom.

LJ drove with a sweet finesse despite the fact that he was in a sour mood. His attitude was more often than not this way lately due to various things such as Rom giving him a hard time and the increase in boredom with his racing career. Even though he had achieved one of his dreams in life, becoming a highly successful rally racer, something was still missing. It became a sinking feeling you get when you just aren’t where you are supposed to be, the universe pulling at you like an anvil tied to your foot while trying to swim in the ocean on a stormy day. In the back of his mind, LJ knew that a fork in the road was coming soon, and while his sour mood sat steadily in the back of his mind, he was on the lookout for what was to come.

LJ jerked the volume knob of the illegal stereo system a bit louder. The stereo was illegal in the race, not in state or federal law. LJ and Rom ignored the rules often; they did this because they felt like an exception. As they continued through the race stages, they were fueled by the blasting double bass drums and machine gun–like guitar riffs of heavy metal, like a full-on assault aimed right at their eardrums. The adrenaline pumping through their veins got them through the next corner, a hairpin turn that almost beat the brakes square off of the AWD axles.

“Crap,” muttered LJ. “I just remembered I left the coffee pot on at the hotel.”

“So? Is that your OCD kicking in again? I thought you were over that,” Rom replied. “Ugh, another bump.”

“Stop talking. Turn is getting clo—” LJ exclaimed. They both switched their mics back on in between conversation.

“Left three, small straight to finish.” Rom flipped his radio back off again. “It’s a good thing I really gotta pee. Eyes are floating.”

LJ laughed lightly as they crossed into the last straightaway of the blocked-off, linear racetrack. Into the flying finish they went. They slammed the brakes hard, and the car came to an abrupt stop.

Eighteen girls screamed in unison at the finish as if LJ and Rom were the whole Beatles band reincarnated. Crew members rushed in to soak up the spilled fluids that dripped on the ground. Pressing the gas and the brake in accord with yanking the steering wheel had achieved the best win possible.

Not all competitors had finished yet, but LJ and Rom finished a half second faster than their last win on this course, which was a record time, so they counted on the win.

LJ and Rom exited the Lancer, removing their helmets gracefully.

“Fourteen straight wins now. I’m sure nobody can beat that time. Good job, guys!” said Kate, the race crew leader.

The winning ceremony was filled with a roar of talking; loud, spontaneous laughter; and active bodies. The Mountain Dew soft drinks were handed out and drunk in celebration. Three people simultaneously popped confetti trumpets half as big around as basketballs. Ribbons and multicolored paper pieces shot up and floated down through the air onto the ground as the celebration continued for some time.

***** *****

About the Author:

S.D. McKinley lives in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. He was born in the first half of the 1980’s and grew up in Wisconsin as a young boy, then moved to Georgia when he turned exactly twelve years old. During teenage years, he raced dirt track go karts and played guitar. He discovered his current love for all kinds of art after his mid-life crisis at 25 years old. S.D. McKinley began writing books in 2017.

Social Media:

Website

Purchase Links:

Amazon UK | Amazon US

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