Disclosure Stuff: I received an eBook preview of Black Day: The Monster Rock Band in return for this post. All opinions are my own and reading is awesome so high-fives all around!
I know, I know. Lauren’s doing another sponsored post? Doesn’t she usually blather on about how she really doesn’t do that kind of thing?
Well, sometimes I do, when it’s something I think is totally awesome. Plus, the compensation I’m getting from this particular post is the best kind ever: reading.
I recently got to check out a sneak peek of a new children’s book called Black Day: The Monster Rock Band, written by a local author named Marcus Sikora, and his mom, Mardra.
Black Day stars a young boy named Brad who desperately wants to be in a rock band… regardless of who’s in it. When he stumbles upon the band practice of a group that just so happens to be made up of monsters, Brad has no intention of changing his plans. Not only do we get to watch Brad use his resourcefulness and gain acceptance from his spooky band members, we also get to see the inception of a town’s newest Halloween tradition. I love that the book promotes the importance of recognizing people’s value, whether we fully understand them or not.
One of the things that makes this book special is the fact that the author, Marcus, is a young man living with Down Syndrome. His mother, Mardra, writes beautifully about their life together on her website, and I feel privileged to be allowed a glimpse into their lives. Marcus is a vibrant guy with an honest demeanor, and seems to be more emotionally intelligent than most of the people I’ve met in my life. Definitely more so than I am.
Let’s get real here, though. I think the most awesome thing about this book is that I got to see Marcus singing onstage before I had any idea that he had a book about a rock band cooking in his head.
I met Marcus and Mardra officially last year, but it turned out that I had been watching them sing Karaoke together since 2011 at one of my favorite (but sadly closed now) Karaoke bars. Mardra’s got a killer voice and can belt some 90’s alternative music without breaking a sweat, but the real showstopper is Marcus and his rendition of Harry Belafonte’s Day-O. I’ve gotten to watch Marcus’ accomplishments all the way from the stage to the page, and I feel incredibly honored.
The Details:
–Black Day: The Monster Rock Band is a 40 page hardcover book, and is available for $20 online here for delivery in July, and immediately available for purchase at the Bookworm in Omaha, NE
-For more info about the book, you can head over to www.BlackDayBook.com.
-There will be a reading and book signing event at the Bookworm on Friday July 11th 1:00 pm. -You can follow Marcus and Mardra on Facebook and Twitter!
Very Complex and In-depth Video Book Review
I asked Charlie to do a little video book review about Black Day. He may or may not mention a lot that the book is scary… just bear in mind that even a dash of ominous ambiance is enough to have him covering his eyes.
https://youtu.be/gA-w6GaLNj0