Press Release
đź”— http://www.blacknews.com/news/sleepless_nights_norwood_holland101.shtml
Story Behind The Book
This story was inspired by DC 2003 Colonel Brooks Tavern murders. A shocking case in which a former employee returns to murder three employees in a botched robbery.
Media Links
Reviews
<div align="center"> <table border="0" width="80%"><tbody><tr><td rowspan="2" height="90%" valign="top" width="64%"> <div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001394122375">Karen Browne Anderson</a>: <span>Norwood</span>, Congratulations on your first release. I read "Sleepless ..." from cover to cover yesterday. Swept up in the story, I found it difficult to put the book down. Looking forward to the rest of the series.</font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=564526490">Lorena Sabbs</a>: <span>Finished the book today, it was a great read. I have some new friends now, so I am anxious to see what will happen with them next. Good job Norwood.</span></font></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1445523531">Theresa Williams-Stoudamire</a>: <span>I finished it and thought it was very well written and loved the story line. You did an excellent job and I can't wait for the next one.</span></font> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;"><font color="#0000ff">Kathleen Wills: </font></span>"Finished "Sleepless Nights" last week. It was a good read. I have to say I enjoyed it far more than the last vacuous, formulaic, sell-out novel I read ("The Long Fall") by Walter Mosley."</p> <p><font color="#0000ff" face="Arial">Dana Micheli - Writers In The Sky - Book Review: 5 Stars </font><font color="#0000ff" face="Wingdings">« « « « «</font></p></div></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial">Amidst the Cherry Blossoms and historical monuments of Washington D.C., a gritty drama is unfolding. Norwood Holland’s novel Sleepless Nights took me on a journey of life in the underbelly of our nation’s capital. Holland’s minimalist prose and authentic dialogue paints a vivid picture of the dark side of the American dream. Throughout the book I was struck by the irony that this story of loss, poverty and destruction was taking place against the backdrop of a city famous for the freedom and prosperity it symbolizes. </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial">Sleepless Nights is the story of three young men whose horrible crime threatens to unravel their friendship and change the course of their lives—and the lives of those around them--forever. It seems like Tyrone Jones, Gustavo “Gee” Garcia and Jean “Jinx” Legere have been friends forever. More than friends, they are an urban family, bound together by deprivation and a life lived on the streets. But lately, Gee is feeling the pull of a different life, a better life. He is going to college and works at the Farragut, an upscale D.C. eatery. But his pursuit of success is causing a fissure in the once rock-solid bond he shares with Jinx and Tyrone. </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial">Jinx is on the edge. Years of neglect by his drug-addicted mother have left him hopeless and angry. He sees no way out of the life or the neighborhood. I could feel the sadness and desperation in him as he committed the crimes. I could feel the loneliness in him as well, even when he was threatening his victims or manipulating Gee. </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial">At the center of the story is the handsome and well-to-do Drew Smith. As one of D.C.’s hottest criminal attorneys, Smith has built his career on helping people outrun their demons. He, however, has a few demons of his own, including an ex-girl friend he still loves and a son who doesn’t know he exists. More than anything else, I found this story to be about Drew’s chance at redemption. </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial">From the streets and strip clubs of inner-city D.C., to the packed courtroom of a homicide trial, Sleepless Nights is a gripping, edge-of-your seat drama that will keep you glued to every page. The only good part about reaching the end was when I learned that Sleepless Nights is only the first installment in the Drew Smith series! I look forward to seeing more of Drew Smith in (hopefully) the very near future. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sleepless-Nights-Smith-Norwood-Holland/product-reviews/0983165602/ref=dp%20top%20cm%20cr%20acr%20txt?ie=">Amazon Reviews</a></font></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;"><font color="#0000ff">Beth Turpin Adkins</font></span>: Norwood, just finished reading my copy of Sleepless Nights. It was a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed it! . Great job!" </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div>