Over 6,000 Downloads:
HAMMOND Hits #1 on Amazon!
I am blown away by the incredible response to the start of our summer book tour. Thanks to you, HAMMOND (Book 1 of The Alacrán Series) just crossed a massive milestone—surpassing 6,450+ downloads and counting!
Because of your incredible support, the book exploded up the charts, hitting #30 Free Overall in the US Kindle Store and #40 Free Overall in the UK Kindle Store. Even better, it secured the unified #1 Bestseller spot across 6 different categories—including Psychological Fiction, Coming of Age, Dark Comedy, and Sports Fiction.
A Story That Refuses to Sand Down its Edges
When I wrote Hammond, I wanted to capture a raw, uncompromising look at alienation, mental illness, and the saving grace of camaraderie through the eyes of a troubled kid playing park basketball in Buffalo, NY. Seeing James Lombardi’s story resonate with thousands of readers around the world means everything to me.
It is a reminder that there is a deep appetite out there for transgressive fiction that isn’t afraid to look at the dark, humorous, and deeply human corners of life. As Kirkus Reviews noted in their Recommended Review:
“Earnest, hardscrabble story of restless youth, mental illness, and the saving grace of sports-inspired camaraderie . . . Compelling . . . successfully captures the anger, frustration, and freedom of kids on the brink of adulthood.”
— Kirkus Reviews, Recommended Review
Keep the Journey Going
Hammond is just the gateway to the larger Alacrán Series universe. If you’ve already finished Volume 1 and want to see where the frayed memories, dark wit, and interlocking journeys drift next, the four sequels (The Summer of Crud, Understanding the Alacrán, Developing Minds, and The Soul City Salvation) are wide right now across all digital stores.
We are officially pushing toward a goal of 10,000 copies by the end of July, with more promotional waves dropping on July 13th and 27th. If you haven’t jumped into the journey yet, grab your copy today, dive into the multi-format Creative Works Bundle here on the site, and let me know what you think of the court!
Thank you all for making this launch unforgettable.
The Alacrán Series Universe Portfolio:
- Volume 1: HAMMOND – Troubled boys playing park basketball to escape deep generational trauma in Buffalo, NY.
- Volume 2: THE SUMMER OF CRUD – A raw, post-graduation cross-country road trip descending into chronic pain and addiction haze.
- Volume 3: UNDERSTANDING THE ALACRÁN – An American teacher fleeing to a Mexican beach town, balancing a wild party scene and healing.
- Volume 4: DEVELOPING MINDS: AN AMERICAN GHOST STORY – Recent college graduates surviving their first year teaching in dysfunctional Miami public schools.
- Volume 5: THE SOUL CITY SALVATION – A surreal 10-year healing journey in a California beach town confronting undiagnosed OCD.
In recognition of cultural and literary significance, titles within the portfolio are indexed globally across select research archives, including the permanent national collections of the Library of Congress (LCCN: 2019937723).
Jon LaPoma’s award-winning novel