Michael Embry

Shooting Star, published by the award-winning Wings ePress, is a story about a new kid in school and the trials and tribulations he faces in playing for the high school basketball team. The novel is targeted to middle school and high school students and young-at-heart adults who love hoops.

About Shooting Star:

Jesse Christopher finds out that it’s not easy being the new kid in school, no matter how well you play basketball. When discovered shooting hoops at a school playground by a high school coach, Jesse seems to be the missing piece to the puzzle for a team that aspires to win the Kentucky state championship.

But Jesse faces an array of problems in his new environment as he tries to make friends in the classroom and become part of the school’s close-knit basketball team. Can Jesse overcome the obstacles and lead his team to a state high school basketball title?

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What the reviewers are saying about Shooting Star:

•  "I think there are a lot of great lessons to learn including ones about teamwork, responsibility, and forgiveness...as well as important lessons about standing up for oneself and not letting other people's negative attitudes bring you down. Overall, this was a very uplifting story and I think if you're looking for a light and fun read, especially if you're a basketball fan, then you won't be disappointed in this novel!" -- Juliette, Paperbacks and Frosting

•     “Multi-published author and noted sports reporter Michael Embry writes an inspiring YA for all high school basketball players with his latest release, SHOOTING STAR. I’m sure it was his intent to illustrate that it isn’t just one spectacular player who is the team’s star…but everyone working hard together to make up a tightly knit team. I was truly impressed with this play-by-play account of the new boy in town becoming the inspiration for his entire team in spite of prejudice, injury, and jealousy. This book is a keeper. I highly recommend that all high school team members to read this.” – JoEllen Congers, Congers Book Reviews

• "...Embry offers plenty of excitement as readers follow Jesse and the team through a season filled with possibilities and challenges. Embry's generous use of dialogue and his sharp play-by-by narrative help connect readers to the characters and the non-stop action packed into this novel." -- Readingjunky's Reading Roost (http://readingjunky.blogsport.com)

• "Talent presents the expectation of performance, which can lead to much stress. "Shooting Star" follows Jesse Christopher, high school basketball star who is recently transferred to a new school. With the pressure to succeed on him, he also must manage to blend into his new school. A fine story that will resonate with many other young adults trying desperately to make it in their new school, "Shooting Star" is very much recommended reading." -- Small Press Bookwatch, Midwest Book Review. (www.midwestbookreview.com)

• "Embry provides plenty of fast-paced action, but the real strength of the novel is the values of loyalty, forgiveness and honesty he portrays in varying degrees in his characters." -- Steve Flairty, Kentucky Monthly

• "Author Michael Embry's characters are true to life, realistic and definitely typical high school kids that strive for attention, want to be in the limelight, do not want their court time shortened and definitely have issue with having Jesse, an outstanding player that most admire and aspire to have on their team." -- Fran Lewis, Book Town (www.booktown.ning.com)

• "'Shooting Star' is more than a novel about high school basketball although it provides the excitement of a hoops season in a team's quest for a championship against formidable odds. It also deals with the problems students face on a day-to-day basis in trying to fit in the complex world of high school. Michael Embry has crafted a novel for young adults that's a winner on many levels. -- Mark Maynard, author of "Ashland's 1961 Championship Season" and "Mark My Words: Tales of Brandon Webb, O.J. Mayo, and other Sports Legends of Northeastern Kentucky"

• Michael Embry's "Shooting Star" captures the excitement of Kentucky high school basketball and more. Embry is a proven winner when it comes to writing about basketball. This novel is sure to please sports fans of all ages. -- Mike Fields, prep sports editor, Lexington Herald-Leader

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Click on covers to purchase novels from Wings ePress's bookstore.

Sports columnist Chase Elliott has earned a reputation around the newsroom of being a person that others can confide their deepest problems. What happens when someone goes over the line? And what if a fellow worker dies from mysterious circumstances?

Elliott tries to deal with all the rumors and innuendos circulating around the newsroom while coming to terms with his own sense of trustworthiness and high ethical standards. Can he discover the truth without betraying confidences?

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Brandon Wilkes is a 45-year-old sports columnist who has never settled down to the point of marriage. At first it was his career that caused him to go the bachelor route. He became a respected and successful sportswriter. As he grew older, he seemed content to be single the remainder of his life. That's not to say that he didn't have relationships or that women didn't pursue him. He just didn't want to make a permanent commitment to a woman.

Micah Stewart is in the throes of a mid-life crisis. He’s bored with his job as a sports writer. While he maintains a good relationship with his ex-wife and children, he feels unfulfilled in many areas of his life.

A random act of violence in the workplace forces Micah to hit the road in search of meaning to his life. Will he find enlightenment? Can he find happiness again? Can he find contentment at the end of the long highway?

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Blake Williams is a widower trying to raise three children. He has been careful to open his heart to another woman, fearful of the pain he might suffer again. His attention is focused on providing a loving home for his kids.

Carla Reeves is involved in an abusive relationship. She doesn’t know who to turn to for advice. She meets Blake by chance on several occasions and the relationship evolves into much than casual interest in each other.

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A Confidential Man, Foolish Is The Heart, A Long Highway, The Touch and Shooting Star are also available from Amazon.com in print and Kindle editions and other websites such as Fictionwise.com. You can also ask your favorite bookstore or local library to order the books from Wings ePress. If you'd like a personalized copy of my books, please contact me by e-mail for information. If you've purchased any of my novels on Kindle, I can digitally sign them for you. Simply go to Kindlegraph.com and request a signed copy.

I also want to thank my fans and readers for voting for my novels in the past two  Preditors & Editors Readers' Polls. A Confidential Man finished No. 14 in the Mystery Category and Foolish Is The Heart placed No. 19 in general fiction. By the way, Preditors & Editors is an excellent resource for writers.

To learn about upcoming appearances by me and other authors, visit www.booktour.com. 

 I'd like to invite Kentucky authors with books that could be used in the classroom to participate in the website www.kyauthorsforeducators.weebly.com. It's free and will get your name and your books in front of teachers across the state. Feel free to e-mail me for more information. The website is also an excellent resource for teachers and librarians.

Thanks for dropping by, and have a great day!

BookTown!