MILWAUKEE (PRWEB) January 14, 2019
Growing up in the inner city, Rodney Blackmon knew he always had to try to better himself. Visiting the library and reading was everything to him. Furthermore, the life stories of family and friends that were told to him inspired Blackmon to write “Not Your Average Joe” (published by Xlibris), the story of a young boy growing into a man and creating a host of problems for himself and his family by way of ill-advised choices, bad behavior, resentment, revenge and sometimes just plain haplessness. For more details about the book, please visit https://www.amazon.com/Not-Your-Average-Rodney-Blackmon/dp/1984574981.
Joe Valentine is a down-on-his-luck environmental service worker who robs a bank and is quickly captured. During his arrest, he reflects on the bad mistakes he made in his life and how he got to the point of robbing a bank. From getting a divorce to losing a child to getting stuck in a tree by a dog and knocking over a casket with a body in it, the book is both heart touching and hilarious.
“This story is about the hard times and how people make both ends meet,” Blackmon says. “It will remind readers that no matter what happens in their life, their family will always be there for them.”
An excerpt from the book:
The next day, Joe, his mother, and his sister made it to the cemetery at noon. Joe’s mother parked the car and turned off the engine, saying, “Joe, so far you have been doing good, and it’s only noon. Just keep doing what you’re doing.” “Yes, Mom,” replied Joe. They all opened their car doors to get out, but Joe’s door was slammed back shut. As Joe looked out of the car window, he saw his grandfather Joe standing there, waving his cane up and down and saying, “Oh no, you don’t. Your little ass is staying in the car.” Joe’s mother stood, closed her door, and opened Joe’s door, saying, “Dad, he is not waiting in the car.” “Why not? He’s nothing but trouble!” replied Grandfather Joe. Joe’s mother told her son to get out of the car. Then she looked at her father, saying, “This is a funeral. We all need to be out here.” She closed Joe’s door and added, “We are a family.”
“Not Your Average Joe”
By Rodney Blackmon
Softcover | 6 x 9in | 228 pages | ISBN 9781984574985
E-Book | 228 pages | ISBN 9781984574978
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble
About the Author
Raised by two parents and the youngest of nine. Rodney Blackmon always believed in faith and family. Knowledgeable in a number of fields from locksmithing, computer repair, software development, electronics, a little magic and tap dancing. Blackmon is proud of what he has become.
Xlibris Publishing, an Author Solutions, LLC imprint, is a self-publishing services provider created in 1997 by authors, for authors. By focusing on the needs of creative writers and artists and adopting the latest print-on-demand publishing technology and strategies, we provide expert publishing services with direct and personal access to quality publication in hardcover, trade paperback, custom leather-bound and full-color formats. To date, Xlibris has helped to publish more than 60,000 titles. For more information, visit xlibris.com or call 1-888-795-4274 to receive a free publishing guide. Follow us @XlibrisPub on Twitter for the latest news.