Category: Uncategorized

Books available at Dec. 10 Christmas event in Chelsea

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A great event was recently brought to my attention, and I’m excited to be a part of it.

I’ll be attending the Christmas Open House & Local Author Expo on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Chelsea General Store. The address is 14555 Highway 280, Chelsea, AL 35043.

Here is a link to the event on Facebook.

I’ll be on hand with my three books: Trussville, Alabama: A Brief History, Deep Green and Heart of the Plate.

This event includes several local authors. They are Stephanie Rodda, Cabot Barden, Trailon Johnson, Ellen Sallas, Betty Smith, William Thornton, Marian Powell, Rita Moritz, Karen Allen, Shirley Aaron, Audrey Pitt and Urainah Glidewell.

The event is also combined with the store’s annual Open House, which includes snacks and sampling. There will also be door prizes.

So, come on out, get some good books, and eat some great food. It’s sure to be a good time.

First 2017 book event scheduled

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My first book event of 2017 is scheduled. 

I’ll be toting books and heading north to Guntersville, Alabama, on Saturday, June 17, 2017 for the Authors on the Lake event. It is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There will be around 50 authors on hand with their books.

The physical address of the event is 1120 Sunset Drive, Guntersville, AL 35976.

I’ll bring copies of Trussville, Alabama: A Brief History, Deep Green and Heart of the Plate.

Who knows, maybe there will be another book out by then.

Hope to see you there.

Calling all high school coaches, players for new book

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I’m calling all high school coaches and former student-athletes for potential inclusion in a new book that I’m working on.

I’m interviewing any and all high school coaches and former student-athletes who have great stories to tell that transcend wins and losses, 40-yard dash times and recruiting. This book will focus on the other side of coaching, the relationship side.

This is not just football. If you’re a baseball coach, I want to hear from you. Same if you’re a basketball, soccer, volleyball, cross country, bowling or hockey coach. Anything.

It could be a coach’s story of helping a kid out in various ways. Maybe the coach toted the kid to and from practice. Maybe he helped with homework. Maybe he floated a player a few bucks here and there for food. Maybe the coach has a specific way of motivating his players that is unique. Anything. Nothing is uninteresting.

So if you are a coach, or know a coach with great stories to tell, have them contact me at garylloydbooks@gmail.com. 

Thanks!

University of Alabama, writers group visits a success

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The last two days have flown by, and they have been awesome.

I spent much of Tuesday and Wednesday in Tuscaloosa, Ala., speaking to a couple reporting classes at the College of Communication & Information Sciences, as well as at the Tuscaloosa Public Library to the Tuscaloosa Christian Writers Group.

I appreciate Dr. George Daniels, the assistant dean of the college, inviting me to Tuscaloosa for the opportunity. 

On Tuesday, I spoke with the JN-315 Advanced Reporting class, taught by Scott Parrott. The students were attentive and asked great questions about researching, reporting and book writing.

Later Tuesday night, I spoke to the Tuscaloosa Christian Writers Group about the three books I’ve written, and the books to hopefully come in the future.

On Wednesday, I spoke with the JN-311 Reporting class, taught by Kenon Brown. These students, much like the ones in the JN-315 class, paid close attention and took notes while I spoke about reporting strategies and writing books. 

I also toured the state-of-the-art Digital Media Center, located inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. It is an amazing place, where students gain significant real-world experience. It is very impressive.

My two-day trip wrapped up Wednesday with a studio interview with Dr. Daniels at the Faculty Resource Center inside Gordon Palmer Hall. Dr. Daniels interviewed me about my life as a journalist, editor and author. The interview will soon be available on the college’s website and on iTunes by searching “Journalism On The Go.” 

What a fun two-day trip it was. I can’t wait for the next one.

I’ll end this blog post the same way I ended the studio interview: Roll Tide.

‘Heart of the Plate’ earns regional news coverage

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What a week it has been.

My newest fiction book, Heart of the Plate, has earned news coverage from several regional publications. I’ve listed them below. Click the links to read the stories.

The Northport Gazette also covered the release of the book in its July 27, 2016 edition.

I hope you all order a copy of the book, and please let me know what you think!

‘Heart of the Plate’ now available

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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.

Tuscaloosa, UA speaking engagements soon

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An incredible opportunity has presented itself, and I couldn’t be more excited.

On July 26-27, I will be in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for two reasons:

  1. I’ll be speaking to the Tuscaloosa Christian Writers Group at the Tuscaloosa Public Library on Tuesday, July 26 at 6:30 p.m.
  2. I’ll also be speaking about news reporting and book writing to the Reporting and Advanced Reporting classes at the University of Alabama’s College of Communication and Information Sciences both days.

I have Dr. George Daniels, the assistant dean of the college, to thank for the invitation and opportunity. 

I will also be recording a studio interview about my books and work as a journalist for future use in journalism classes at UA.

How cool is that?

I’m ecstatic about this opportunity to talk about my reporting days, as well as Trussville, Alabama: A Brief History, Deep Green and the books to come.

Roll Tide.

Draft of next book completed

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The first draft of my next fiction book is complete, and I’m excited to tell you a little bit about it.

It will be called “Heart of the Plate.” 

Here’s a brief synopsis:

Jeff Wright is at the pinnacle of his Major League Baseball career, earning his way into his first All-Star Game. Not long after, Jeff suffers a gruesome, career-ending injury and ventures down a path of self-destruction, and becomes addicted to painkillers. He is arrested for drug possession. 

Upon completing a short stint in a rehabilitation center, Jeff returns to his hometown of Lewis Rock, Georgia, where he discovers that the town’s largest job source, Reynolds Manufacturing, is being sold off and will leave hundreds jobless. He also attempts to rekindle a love that he lost years ago. 

What begins as mandatory community service for Jeff’s arrest — helping his alma mater’s floundering baseball team — quickly becomes his saving grace. In “Heart of the Plate,” follow along as Jeff helps his hometown through a difficult time the only way he knows how — through baseball.

Look for more on this book throughout the summer and fall. No timetable yet for a release date, but I’ll be sure to post about it when I know.

Two New Books in the Works

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I figure this is as good a time as any to update the blog. 

My second book, Deep Green, came out in February. It’s been going well. We just had a book talk and signing at Huffman United Methodist Church, whose gymnasium adorns the front cover.

I’m working on two books right now. One is with a former University of Alabama football player now playing in the NFL. You’ll definitely want to stay tuned for more about that book. It is about so much more than football.

Second, I’m working on another fictional book. At this time, I’m about halfway done with the first draft. It’ll focus on a small town’s largest job source being sold off, leaving hundreds without jobs. The town’s most famous native, who played Major League Baseball, returns to his hometown after years of being away to help the only way he knows how — through baseball.

Look for more on both of these throughout the summer and fall. No timetable yet for release dates, but I’ll be sure to post about it when I know.

Deep Green Talk, Book Signing May 25

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Another event for my second book, “Deep Green,” is now scheduled.

I’ll be speaking about the book on Wednesday, May 25 at 6 p.m. at Huffman United Methodist Church’s parlor and signing copies after. Books are $15 each and will be available. You can also order them here on Amazon.com. 

A dinner will begin at 5 p.m. in the church’s Fellowship Hall.

If you didn’t know already, the book’s front cover photo was shot in the gym at Huffman United Methodist Church by Ron Burkett. The church was a big inspiration for this fictional work. It’s the church I grew up in.

The church is located at 711 Gene Reed Road in Birmingham. 

So come hang out with us May 25. Eat some dinner and learn about how this book came to be.

Gary