About Soldier and the Clown
Soldier and the Clown is about …
Two 14-year-old friends, Antoine and Alan, accidentally open a wormhole while exploring a cave in present-day Fredericksburg, Virginia, transporting them to the 1863 Civil War Battle of Chancellorsville. They immediately clash with Justus, a psychopathic Rebel who mistakes Antoine for an escaped slave, nearly killing him. Alan shows up at the last moment, saving Antoine. The boys are subsequently taken in by Union forces, who confirm their temporal displacement.
Their return to the present day is followed quickly by Justus, who, disoriented by modern objects, shoots and gravely wounds store owner Mr. Stone, steals his M1911 pistol, and escapes. Realizing the danger of the modern weapon in the past, Antoine, spurred by Stone’s plea to close the “wormhole,” compels a hysterical Alan to pursue Justus back to 1863.
Captured again by Union soldiers, Alan convinces Captain House of their time travel using modern coins, leading the command to prioritize capturing Justus and the “futuristic weapon.” The boys are armed and join the Union troops, quickly facing the brutal reality of the Civil War firsthand.
The final battle ensues when Justus attacks Lieutenant Ralston’s position. In a surprising turn, Alan leads a bayonet charge, rescuing Antoine and the wounded Ralston, and earning a battlefield promotion to Corporal. With orders to destroy the time portal before the Confederate Army seizes it, Ralston devises a plan to trap Justus in the mine. Alan uses improvised explosives to disarm Justus of the M1911.
The pursuit ends as Antoine drags the grievously wounded Ralston back to the present, followed shortly by a wounded Justus. As police, paramedics, and mysterious “Men in Black” descend on the scene, the two soldiers are taken to the hospital. Lieutenant Goodman, promoted by Ralston in a final, tearful farewell, orders Alan back into the cave to destroy the wormhole.
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Soldier and the Clown is a delightful time-travel story about two Fredericksburg, Virginia, boys who thought plagiarizing their classroom’s National Geographic magazine might save them some report-writing hardship.
Their teacher catches them and gives them a choice: visit the Chancellorsville Battlefield, take notes, and rewrite the report—OR—retake the entirety of the 8th grade.
Alan—pudgy, immature, and terrified of promotion to high school—is OK with retaking the whole year. However, his best friend Antoine leads him into the future. Along the way, Alan accidentally opens a wormhole that begins the boys’ time-travel adventure.
Amazon ASIN: B0G5P1TQWZ
Author C.J. Walworth’s ancestor, Lt. Ralston, was killed at the Battle of Chancellorsville, and Walworth built his story around the known facts.
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SOLDIER AND THE CLOWN — free Kindle eBook promotion! Available only December 21st through 25th. Merry Christmas!
Cheers! And Merry Christmas! — Walther E. “Wally” Budman
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Author Bio:
Author C.J. Walworth is an award-winning spec screenplay artist (GAT FINGER, SOLDIER AND THE CLOWN, ORTEGA HIGHWAY, etc.) who has revisited his first love: comedic YA adventure and junior novelizations. His past works include the Super Underwear Man comedic comic books.
C.J. Walworth’s ancestor, Lt. Ralston, was killed at the Battle of Chancellorsville, and Walworth built his story around the known facts.
Soldier and the Clown began life as a multiple award-winning spec screenplay. But after a crude and prolonged offer/counteroffer cycle (read: demand) from the "37th" most influential Hollywood producer—who wanted to have his 22-year-old stoner step-son star as Alan, and insisted the author rewrite the script as a coming-of-age comic film opera, AND demanded all rights (past, present, and future)—C.J. Walworth exploded.
He told the producer he could read the book on Amazon. When the producer replied, "No worry, we'll do that," Walworth slammed the email, ripped his iPhone from his car, and tossed it into the Hudson. It caught fire and sank—but not before engulfing a nearby rotting wooden schooner, which the lawyers now insist was a "delightful megayacht nearing completion."
Amazon ASIN: B0G5P1TQWZ