“Josh and the Skeleton: Christmas Eve Discovery” by Skip Ashworth was displayed at the 2023 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (LATFOB) – Book Gallery
“Josh and the Skeleton: Christmas Eve Discovery” by Skip Ashworth was among the books displayed by Author Reputation Press during the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2023 at the University of Southern California on April 22-23, 2023. This mystery-thriller narrative is about conquering your fears.
The much-anticipated annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2023 was held on April 22–23, 2023. It was attended by nearly 500 authors and hundreds of exhibitors. The festival was launched to connect individuals who read books with those who write them. The range of book genres exhibited at the festival captivated readers of all ages. Witness musical performances, readings from authors, exciting exhibits, and much more!
The Los Angeles Times is the country’s biggest metropolitan daily newspaper, with more than 40 million unique latimes.com visitors monthly, a Sunday print readership of 1.6 million, and a combined print and online local weekly viewership of 4.4 million. The Pulitzer Prize-winning Times has been covering Southern California for more than 140 years.
Author Reputation Press is committed to connecting readers and authors through books. ARP participated in the book gallery organized by LATFOB. In line with this, ARP exhibited some of its spectacular books to the festival audience. The wide selection of genres made the gallery more enticing.
Skip Ashworth is an award-winning teacher and coach who has worked with students from fifth grade through college for fifty years. He also interpreted for the deaf. He developed his own Oklahoma history course, taking students around the state for two weeks in a traveling classroom. He enjoys learning about and participating in the Chickasaw culture with his wife, who is part Chickasaw.
In the story “Josh and the Skeleton: Christmas Eve Discovery” by Skip Ashworth, Josh gulped hard, trying to catch his breath. What’s that, boy? Flash barked but didn’t look back at his master. I don’t remember seeing that truck there before now. Flash’s curiosity finally took over, and he sprinted toward the snow-covered blue pickup. The door windows were down, and the front windshield was shattered into a sea-green mosaic of a thousand pieces. Is that what I think it is, Flash? Is that a bone hanging out of the window? On a snowy, Oklahoma Christmas Eve, Josh and his dog, Flash, happen upon a skeleton in an old pickup on the Cheyenne campground area, which Josh isn’t allowed to visit.
When Grandpa was alive, he told Josh the Cheyenne legends, including the one about ghosts who weren’t properly buried. Grandpa would know what to do about the skeleton, but he’s not here anymore, and Grandma doesn’t believe in the Cheyenne stories. Josh continues to be haunted by ghosts, memories of Grandpa, and the mysterious black crow who seems to be telling him something. Then, one night, Flash runs away, and Josh must confront all of his biggest fears. Will Josh be able to do the right thing?
This book was also nominated for the 2023 Eric Hoffer Book Award. The Eric Hoffer Book Award commemorates the memory of the famous American philosopher Eric Hoffer by honoring outstanding writing and the independent spirit of small publishers. Since its foundation, Hoffer has grown to become one of the most prestigious worldwide book awards for small, academic, and independent presses.
Skip Ashworth was interviewed by Benji Cole of CBS Radio to discuss his book. Click on the link to listen to the full interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cjTwoAe0pQ.
This book was acclaimed by Mark Heisey of the US Review of Books, acknowledging that, “Ashworth creates an interesting tale with engaging characters and a nice mix of ghost story, outdoor adventure, and personal development. There are hints of Jack London in the storytelling, and readers familiar with Gary Paulsen’s work will find a home in this book. The writing is clear, and the story is well-paced. At times, there is an over-abundance of descriptors or a slightly awkward analogy, but, overall, the setting and characters are realistically portrayed.”
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