Hi and “WELCOME” to Rave Reviews Book Club’s BOOK, BLOG & TRAILER BLOCK PARTY at Watch Phil Write!

/ Phil Stephens

***

Here’s What I’m Giving Away Today:

*($30) Amazon Gift Card

*One (1) Autographed Paperback copy of The Altar Boy

Black-robed nuns, priests, bishops, the select fraternity of Altar Boys, and the ancient ceremonies of the Catholic Church. Music of the ’60s, boyhood shenanigans, Cootie doctors, and coming of age. Set in the socially and politically tumultuous period of the 1960s, The Altar Boy is the fictionalized memoir of Carl Sanders, a funny, sensitive kid, who’s caught in the middle when his family is fractured by the intrusions of a priest. We follow Carl’s confusion and pain as he watches the pious façade of the Church fall away to reveal unholy carte blanche, cover-ups, and collusion.

The book opens in the late 1980s.  Carl and his brother down beer after beer at a favorite pub, trying to piece together their family’s chaotic past. The stakes are high—someone is about to return after a 20-year absence, threatening to re-ignite the family conflict. As the brothers’ painful recollections of their past become more traumatic, Carl drifts back in time to the era he tried for so many years to forget.  

The story is realistic, poignant, and at times very funny. Stephens shines a timely spotlight on the then-unquestioned power of the Church, while taking the reader back to the ’60s era of rock & roll, Catholic schools, social upheaval, and boyhood pranks.

Author Bio: Phil Stephens is an Indiana native and a graduate of the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, and of the Dale Carnegie Course. He spent many years working in Fortune 500 America. Raised in a solidly Catholic family, he attended Catholic grade schools in the 1960s and served as an Altar Boy. His writing has appeared in the local newspaper and Pen IT literary magazine. His passions include reading in his favorite genres—history and horror. He also enjoys cooking, exercising, and the environment. Stephens resides in beautiful Brown County in Southern Indiana with his wife Marie, and has an adopted granddaughter, Crystal Maiden, in the Philippines.

41 thoughts on “Hi and “WELCOME” to Rave Reviews Book Club’s BOOK, BLOG & TRAILER BLOCK PARTY at Watch Phil Write!”

  4. Phile, I enjoyed learning more about your book, “The Altar Boy,” as so much has been revealed recently about the Catholic church. The cover of the book is haunting. Hope you have an enjoyable weekend!

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  11. Wow Phil! Your website jumps out at me. Very interesting and I love your book cover. I’ve read and reviewed your book and it was featured on a Raters not Haters Show.

    Good luck to you on the tour.

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  16. Hi, Phil! Even though your coming-of-age story is fictionalized, I imagine there is quite a bit of personal experience or observation in it, given your growing up in the Catholic church.

    Your book cover is arresting too and invites me to read your book. I must say your giveaway is very generous. I hope I win it! 🙂

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  18. Hi Phil, stopping by to check out your website on the tour. I read and enjoyed The Altar Boy, often relating to many of the things you wrote about. I’m curious about your new book, it appears to be scary. What’s it about? Have you considered a PRE-SALE on Amazon? Any sales that you get are collected and reported on the 1st day that it goes live, often becoming a best seller during the first week. Good luck and enjoy the rest of the tour.

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    • Well Thank you. The new book, which is still getting edited, is actually a paranormal romance. I will have to check out the pre-sale thing with Amazon. Thank you for the info. And I really like your Viet Nam pics. They give me a whole new perspective of the war.

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