The Meteoric Rise of Simon Burchwood

Scott Semegran

Sep 2013 · Simon Adventures Book 1 · Mutt Press

About this ebook

On his way to New York to celebrate his impending literary success, Simon Burchwood is the prototypical American careerist: arrogant, egotistical, narcissistic. But a quick detour to Montgomery, Alabama to visit a childhood friend sends Simon on a bizarre journey, challenging his hopes and dreams of becoming a famous writer. The Meteoric Rise of Simon Burchwood is a character study that delves into the psyche of a man who desperately tries to redefine himself. 

Simon is certain he is on the brink of literary stardom. Yet this brief sojourn in Montgomery challenges his haughty façade—and the "meteoric rise" that has continually eluded him. Expecting adulation from his childhood friends during his layover in Montgomery, he's instead met with indifference. Ready to finally leave his troubled past behind and move on to greater things, he invites his friend Jason—whose marriage is on the verge of divorce—to join him in New York. They quickly embark on a bizarre trip that is stranger than they could have ever imagined.

From Kindle bestselling writer and cartoonist Scott Semegran, The Meteoric Rise of Simon Burchwood is for fans of literary fiction with a touch of magical realism and a dose of dark humor. This is the first book in the Simon Adventures Series which includes The Meteoric Rise of Simon Burchwood, The Spectacular Simon Burchwood, and Sammie & Budgie.

"A clever and surprising twist." — Kirkus Reviews 

"An ambitious, enjoyable read with a superb ending that changed my interpretation of the entire text." — IndieReader

"The book is told entirely from Simon's viewpoint. Simon is not a very likable guy; as a matter of fact, he is a self-centered, pompous jerk. But for some reason, it's pretty fun to be inside his head." — Red Adept Reviews (4.5 Stars)

Ratings and reviews

I had to do it. The introduction to Simon is interesting because it was an atypical character with what seems to be obvious personal flaws that somehow kept me engaged. Like any proverbial train-wreck, I had to keep reading. I know I was doing so to see if he would eventually get some come-uppance. But then I realized this was much more of a fleshed out character than I had anticipated. It was not only fun to explore the mind of this egotistical, self-centered writer, but it was also fascinating to view his interactions with other people while his thoughts meander from sheer panic to extreme confidence as he constantly judges himself as much as he judges others. These thoughts eventually contribute to some interesting choices/decisions on his adventurous trip to his book signing in New York. A humorous and actually thought-provoking book since it actually gives you another viewpoint into the mentality of a character you would normally not read about. A great read!

About the author

Scott Semegran is an award-winning writer of nine books. BlueInk Review described him best as “a gifted writer, with a wry sense of humor.” His latest novel, The Codger and the Sparrow (TCU Press), is a comical yet moving story about a 65-year old widower’s unlikely friendship with a 16-year old troublemaker. His previous novel, The Benevolent Lords of Sometimes Island, is about four middle school friends who sneak away to an abandoned lake house to evade the wrath of high school bullies, only to become stranded on the lake’s desolate island. It was the First Place Winner for Middle-Grade/Young Adult fiction in the 2021 Writer’s Digest Book Awards. His novel, To Squeeze a Prairie Dog, was the winner of three book awards including the 2020 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Gold Medal for Humor. Other books by Scott Semegran include Sammie & Budgie, BOYS, The Spectacular Simon Burchwood, The Meteoric Rise of Simon Burchwood, Modicum, and Mr. Grieves. He lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, four kids, two cats, and a dog. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English.

Scott Semegran is co-host of the web series Austin Liti Limits along with fellow award-winning writer Larry Brill.