I’m excited to announce that my third book, Heart of the Plate, is now available.

You can get it on Amazon.com here.

This work of fiction focuses on Jeff Wright, a Major League Baseball All-Star whose career abruptly ends due to a gruesome leg injury. He ventures down a path of self-destruction and becomes addicted to painkillers. He is arrested for drug possession and completes a stint in a rehabilitation center before moving back to his hometown of Lewis Rock, Georgia.

Once home, Jeff discovers that Reynolds Manufacturing, the small town’s largest job source, is being sold off and will leave hundreds without jobs. Jeff also attempts to rekindle a love that he lost years ago.

What begins as mandatory community service for his arrest quickly becomes Jeff’s saving grace. Jeff helps his hometown through its most turbulent time the only way he knows how — through baseball.

The book earned praise from three professional baseball players and one former college softball head coach:

• Wes Helms: former third baseman, first baseman and outfielder for the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, Florida Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies
• Matt Guerrier: former pitcher for the Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs
• Jason Standridge: former first-round MLB draft pick who played for the Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Cincinnati Reds and Kansas City Royals before moving to play professionally in Japan
• Karen Johns: former U.S. Junior National Softball Team head coach, who also served as the head softball coach at the University of Florida and University of Virginia

Copies of Heart of the Plate are $15 each and are available at Amazon.com.

For more information, follow @GaryALloyd on Twitter or email garylloydbooks@gmail.com.