Blog Tour Spotlight: These Walls Were Never Really There by Bryan Blears

Today I’m bringing attention to the book These Walls Were Never Really There by Bryan Blears. In this post I’ll take you through the blurb, about the author, and a few tour excerpts! If you’d like to follow along with the tour, you can find the full tour schedule here.

Premise

Based on the author’s own experiences of leaving home and travelling across Europe on less than a pound a day, These Walls Were Never Really There is a compelling true story described by publishing editors as ‘immersive and moving’ and ‘a potential prizewinner in the making’.

Initially set in the heart of Manchester’s homeless community, These Walls follows twenty-year-old Cameron, who is propelled on a physical and spiritual journey which will take him far from the life he once knew.

A surprising story about mental health, friendship and redemption, this compelling debut will take you on a journey across Europe and beyond, as Cameron and his travelling companion Jacob navigate perilous border crossings, packs of wolves, and the harsh realities of life on the road.

Set against the backdrop of the emerging Arab Spring, Cameron and Jacob will have their friendship pushed to its limits as they find themselves trapped thousands of miles away from home…

About the Author

Bryan Blears is an author of contemporary literary fiction from Salford, Manchester. He has written for the Huffington Post, the New Statesman and the Philosophical Society of England, among others.

Focusing on social issues, mental health and overcoming personal adversity, his fiction has been compared to George Orwell, Sylvia Plath and Donna Tartt. His debut novel, These Walls Were Never Really There, has been described by critics as an ‘immersive and moving true story’ and ‘a fantastic talent, and a potential prizewinner in the making.’

What readers have to say

The author has a lovely personal style of writing. You can just settle in and let him talk to you like he is an old friend of yours, telling you about his life and journey. It’s very easy to feel for Cameron, as you begin to see the journey through his eyes.

The Artsy Reader

I found These Walls Never Really Were There to be quite a captivating tale. The author has a lovely 1st person style which really helps draw you in to the story. It all felt very real (which I suppose it was). I felt like it gave an insight into why there are so many homeless people on the streets.

Good Reads Mob

In short, I loved this book! Superbly written and quite clearly drawing on the authors experiences; there is a natural, ‘gritty’ feel to the prose that made me feel that I was with the character and living the story with him.

The Pursuit