these things are always bigger and heavier than you think!
Tucker’s Monster, by S. S. Wilson wins Bill Fisher Award -- Best First Book - Fiction
May 25, 2011 -- Wadsworth, IL (OPENPRESS) May 25, 2011 -- Sponsored by the Independent Book Publishers Association, the awards, now in their 23rd year, originated as a way of recognizing excellence in independent publishing. Each year, works grouped by genre are judged on editorial and design merit by top practitioners in each field.
Tucker’s Monster harks back to the classic sagas of Verne, Conan Doyle, and Kipling. Set in 1903, it chronicles the fantastic adventures of young zoologist Gerard Whitney after he is hired by wealthy, eccentric cattle rancher, Harold B Tucker. Obsessed with finding a live dinosaur, Tucker scours the world investigating any report of any legendary creature. Wide-eyed Whitney learns about werewolves, mummies, ghosts, and even meets a mad scientist. On a more subtle level, Wilson also pokes ample fun at classic horror movie clichés.
Publisher’s Weekly called Tucker’s Monster: “A rip-roaring portrait of a man with the money, recklessness, and tenacity to pursue his single-minded goal... That both Tucker's companions and the novel's readers are inclined to forgive the manipulative, volatile dinosaur hunter is a testament to the author's character-building... Tense action scenes, including a particularly memorable haunted house, keep the pace moving at a brisk clip. A heartfelt and well-realized tall tale.”
Screen writer S. S. Wilson is the co-author of the hit movies Tremors, Short Circuit, The Wild Wild West and more. He began Tucker’s Monster over 30 years ago, setting it aside for his film career. He continues to work in Hollywood, but so enjoys his re-discovered literary pursuits (“I get no notes from studio execs!”), he has already finished his second novel, Fraidy Cats -- a comedy romp revealing that two self-serving cats were the real reason Frankenstein’s ill-fated experiment went so terribly wrong.
Tucker’s Monster is available at Amazon.com (Kindle and hard copy), Barnes and Noble.com. and smashwords.com. For more information, to arrange author interviews, or to request a review copy, go to Real Deal Productions’ website at www.arealdealproductions.com
