New book by Ryan Rapier - The Reluctant Blogger

Book Description:

 

Blogging was the last thing Todd Landry expected his psychiatrist to recommend in dealing with his wife's death. But his aversion to therapy demands drastic measures, and Todd soon finds himself writing about his sometimes-humorous struggles with single parenthood, dating, and shattered expectations. With each blog entry, Todd lets his guard down and discovers that perhaps he can find love once again.

 

What the readers are saying:

 

"Man, I liked this book.  Warm and human and real.  A novel about growth and loss and pain, about

Mormonism and judgment and forgiveness, about recovery and redemption.  I read it in one afternoon, just couldn't put it down.  A winner." – Eric Samuelsen, Playwright and former President of the Association of Mormon Letters

 

“A delightful gift from a skilled writer and insightful observer of life in Mormondom.  THE RELUCTANT BLOGGER shines a clear but affectionate light on our most challenging and rewarding relationships - family, romance, friends, God, self - and invites us to the high and holy calling of laughing at ourselves and loving ourselves pretty much at the same time. Highly recommended.” – Carol Lynn Pearson, Playwright, Author, Poet

 

"With gentle humor and an open heart, Rapier delivers an engaging story about the joys, sorrows, and

complexities of family life." – Stephen Carter, Editor, SUNSTONE MAGAZINE

 

“Ryan Rapier's new book "The Reluctant Blogger" is a refreshing addition to the growing LDS fiction market. Unabashedly, Rapier embraces the vernacular and culture familiar to LDS readers, but he does so in a way that seems honest and unobtrusive. Using language that is very much natural to

contemporary Mormon "hipsters" and the college-aged LDS crowd, the novel comfortably and naturally approaches topics and relationships that are authentic, germane, and engaging. It's easy for me to recommend the book.” – Kurt Bestor, Emmy-award winning and Grammy-nominated Composer

 

“This is a powerful story told by a superb storyteller. From the very beginning, THE RELUCTANT

BLOGGER introduced me to a wide range of emotions that had me laughing, crying and connecting

with each character in such a way that I felt as if I were saying goodbye to old friends as I finished the last page. Rapier has done an incredible job of writing a story that I believe every member of the LDS faith ought to experience.”  – Brad Hull, Songwriter and Vocalist with The Nashville Tribute Band and Nashville recording group, Due West

 

“Heartbreaking, emotionally charged, humorous and real: The Reluctant Blogger will grip you by the

throat, leaving you desperate for closure until you turn that final satisfying page.” – Steve Westover, Author of GOLD CLASH and CRATER LAKE

 

"A story that proves there is hope beyond loss, and healing becomes possible through love. Uniquely written, Ryan Rapier's The Reluctant Blogger will warm your heart." -  Mandi Tucker Slack, author of THE ALIAS and TIDE EVER RISING

 

“Rapier has an uncanny ability to take the reader from laughter to wrenching emotion in a matter of

paragraphs. The whole page-turning journey is a wonderful roller coaster ride with characters the reader is invested in from page one—all the way to the highly satisfying ending.” – Jennifer Griffith, author of BIG IN JAPAN

 

 

Author Bio:  RYAN RAPIER is an Arizona native and through the course of his life has come face to face with a rattlesnake more than once. For that reason alone, he would likely have left the desert behind years ago were it not for one thing—the luxury of year-round golf. When Ryan isn’t on the course or in front of a computer screen, he can usually be found chasing behind his four children or doing errands for his amazing wife in the isolated beautiful valley they have both called home forever. Ryan’s thoughts and opinions that concern nobody but himself can be found at his website, www.ryansrapierwit.com . The Reluctant Blogger is his first novel.

What the men say...

"That women are mysterious and unknowable is something every young man grows up believing. Men, on the other hand, never think of themselves as mysterious or confusing, and we are often at a loss as to why women want to figure us out. But since you asked:

When you say we don't really talk to you or reveal ourselves to you, we wish you knew just how much we have had to suppress about our desires, pains, fears, and vulnerability over the years to conform to the script of masculinity that we are given. Sometimes we don't open up because we are afraid of what we will find. We are also afraid that if you see who we really are, in all our flawed humanity (and not the flaws that annoy you, like being untidy or driving fast), you won't like us.

Men do communicate, often very directly, but women sometimes cannot accept how simple what we have to say is. We seldom play games—we aren't that sophisticated. If we don't call you for a couple of days after a date, it is because either we are afraid you will think we are stalkers (and we will call on day three) or we aren't into you. That's all there is.

We are very insecure about how we look and what you really think about us, and we are excited when you do small, nice things for us like make coffee or come with us to the barber or just buy us a good book. We've been trained never to show this side to you, but it is there.

We are not subtle creatures. You might think that when you play with your hair in our presence, we know that means you like us. We don't know for sure. Men who do are bad men (sorry, guys!). And anything you've been told about playing hard to get is wrong.

We crave cuddling and hand-holding, maybe even more than you do.

We are desperate to please you because we know you are far sexier and more beautiful than you will ever admit to yourself, and we're confused (but extremely happy) as to why you like us.

Here's the thing: You rescue us every day in small, quiet ways, so why not in this way? Let us into your mystery, tell us how you would like to be loved, show us how to see you, really see you."

written by Chris Obani
in O,the Oprah Magazine May 2008

You're the Author

Two little boys were at play one day when a Fairy suddenly appeared before them and said, "I have been sent to give you New Year presents."

She handed to each child a package, and in an instant was gone.

Carl and Philip opened the packages and found in them two beautiful books, with pages as pure and white as the snow when it first falls.

Many months passed and the Fairy came again to the boys. "I have brought you each another book?" said she, "and will take the first ones back to Father Time who sent them to you."

"May I not keep mine a little longer?" asked Philip. "I have hardly thought about it lately. I'd like to paint something on the last leaf that lies open."

"No," said the Fairy; "I must take it just as it is."

"I wish that I could look through mine just once," said Carl; "I have only seen one page at a time, for when the leaf turns over it sticks fast, and I can never open the book at more than one place each day."

"You shall look at your book," said the Fairy, "and Philip, at his." And she lit for them two little silver lamps, by the light of which they saw the pages as she turned them.

The boys looked in wonder. Could it be that these were the same fair books she had given them a year ago? Where were the clean, white pages, as pure and beautiful as the snow when it first falls? Here was a page with ugly, black spots and scratches upon it; while the very next page showed a lovely little picture. Some pages were decorated with gold and silver and gorgeous colors, others with beautiful flowers, and still others with a rainbow of softest, most delicate brightness. Yet even on the most beautiful of the pages there were ugly blots and scratches.

Carl and Philip looked up at the Fairy at last.

"Who did this?" they asked. "Every page was white and fair as we opened to it; yet now there is not a single blank place in the whole book!"

"Shall I explain some of the pictures to you?" said the Fairy, smiling at the two little boys.

"See, Philip, the spray of roses blossomed on this page when you let the baby have your playthings; and this pretty bird, that looks as if it were singing with all its might, would never have been on this page if you had not tried to be kind and pleasant the other day, instead of quarreling."

"But what makes this blot?" asked Philip.

"That," said the Fairy sadly; "that came when you told an untruth one day, and this when you did not mind mamma. All these blots and scratches that look so ugly, both in your book and in Carl's, were made when you were naughty. Each pretty thing in your books came on its page when you were good."

"Oh, if we could only have the books again!" said Carl and Philip.

"That cannot be," said the Fairy. "See! they are dated for this year, and they must now go back into Father Time's bookcase, but I have brought you each a new one. Perhaps you can make these more beautiful than the others."

So saying, she vanished, and the boys were left alone, but each held in his hand a new book open at the first page.

And on the back of this book was written in letters of gold, "For the New Year."

by Emilie Poulsson, The Fairy's New Year Gift