The Madison Picker
A Charles Dawes Novel
by Mark Clay Grove
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Pub Date Sep 07 2014 | Archive Date Aug 24 2014
Spitfire Publishing, LLC | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles
Description
Antiques dealers, Charles and Emma Dawes, search for anything that they can buy low and sell high. A second generation collector and recently a certified appraiser, Charles leads the way through the marketplace engaging dealers and collectors and in the process he reveals details about the business and their formula for success, while his Peruvian-born wife’s corporate marketing experience adds a broader perspective to his narrow field of expertise. Ah, but there’s trouble in antique paradise. Charles’ sixth sense portends coming new trends and seismic demographical shifts in the business of antiques. He wonders if he should make the hard decisions. This isn’t the first time this complex man has refocused his life. As a child he learned to accept his Old Soul past, one in which his English incarnation perished in the blitz. Later, after his retirement from the U.S. Marines, he’s learned to cope with his PTSD and visions of earlier times. The Madison Picker is a witty story of personal encounters within the world of antiques filled with all sorts of treasures that Dawes carefully explains. It is actually a semi-autobiographical novel that reflects the author’s own experiences as a certified appraiser over the past four decades.
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
★★★★★ 5-STAR Review by Jack Magnus of Reader’s Favorite: The Madison Picker is a biographical novel. Fans of The Antiques Roadshow and Jonathan Gash's Lovejoy series will appreciate this book, which is crammed with details of antiques, history, and the art of collecting. The Madison Picker made me want to go out thrift shop hunting and start reading up on collectibles and antiques. Grove's characters and their joy in plying their trade are quite infectious, and their travels make the deep South come alive. And it's not all road trips and dusty stores - Charles and Emma's trip to Key West finds him tackling the mighty bonefish in a thoroughly enjoyable segment. Grove's The Madison Picker entertains while it educates, and I'm looking forward to the further adventures of Charles and Emma.
Beta Readers’ advance praise:
:: I'm very impressed with your writing.
:: I learned a lot from the book about antiques and it brought tears to my eyes.
:: All of the characters and relationships depicted and described come off as very genuine and engaged me as the reader.
Charles takes the reader through the ins-and-outs of the business, underscoring the challenges, sure, but at the same time opening windows onto history, context, and levels of meaning that can be appreciated well beyond those that have dealer/collector aspirations. Kind of like the way Antiques Roadshow has wide appeal, because of stories from which people learn something about history or context, nuggets of information which flush out our cultural understanding, along with our sense of value.
:: I really enjoyed this story. By far the strongest point is the memorable characters, you do a wonderful job of portraying the colorful, dedicated, and slightly crazy personalities characteristic of so many dealers and pickers.
:: I am in love with your relationship with your wife and your dear friends. I respect your Code of Honor and find myself cheering for the next "find".
:: Fascinating, a sensory gluttony of knowledge makes me want more. Your writing style is fast paced but very intimate, it draws the interested reader in, ready to partake in the next adventure… I for one am ready for more, more incredibly detailed teaching moments, more "Amor" from Emma, more honor, integrity and fidelity.
:: I found the book very interesting and entertaining. I know very little about antiques, so I felt I was learning a lot along the way. Congratulations on writing such a fine book. I look forward to the sequels.
:: You did a very nice job fleshing out the many characters along the way (it felt like a wonderful road trip).
Marketing Plan
Distribution through CreateSpace, ARCs to 50 Book Review Editors at major newspapers across the US, leading experts in the art & antiques field, and notable broadcast luminaries in the field; galley submissions to PW, LJ, BookList, Kirkus, ForeWord, Readers’ Favorite; entry ABNA contest; Library of Congress Control Number; 50+ beta readers; all IBPA marketing programs; on-line marketing to include IAN, Good Kindles, WATpad, AskDavid, Kindle MOJO, book blogs, FB, Twitter, author’s website, etc.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781494786670 |
| PRICE | $13.95 (USD) |
Links
Average rating from 13 members
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