AMERICAN ODYSSEY
Michael De Stefano
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: Coming-of-Age
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
|
Set in Philadelphia
in the mid-1970s, American Odyssey chronicles the coming-of-age journey of
Addison Caldwell, Cillian James, and Joey Brosco. In their quest for
independence, our trio encounters the recently widowed Leila Bennett, a
former prostitute turned farm owner. For Leila, a sultry summer blossoms into
an odyssey of hope and healing; for the boys, work and awakening. Leila—a
girl discarded and rescued—teaches the threesome that virtue does not lie in
the struggle for independence or what one must sacrifice for its behalf but
in love that reinforces enduring friendship. |
Excerpt
Two:
Joey emerged from the fields and Cillian from the kitchen.
We tossed our bags in the bed of Leila’s behemoth pickup, and off we drove.
Skipping the bus ride, we headed straight for Pittsburgh and the train station,
blasting rockabilly music with the windows rolled down and enjoying our final
time of what Leila called “hellraisin’.” As the train chugged west to east
through Pennsylvania, I repeatedly asked myself: Who was Leila Bennett? Could
she have been just a girl, any girl? Was Leila as common as any one of a
million buttercups clustered in an open field and just as forgettable, or was
she a four-leaf clover, a rare specimen who, over and over, would compel me to
search for her in every crowd everywhere? Was she a young girl in a grown-up
girl’s body or a grown-up girl as lost as any child would be when set to wander
the vastness of the universe? Air and space: they can prove fickle entities.
Not enough of each can kill you, and too much can kill you even faster. But
whether we blossom in a vast field or cottage garden, in a way, we all want the
same thing: the opportunity to strive for independence while enjoying the
strength and comfort of unity. Leila had experienced that aspect of human
desire for a time with Aunt Pearl, then later on, for a much briefer spell,
with Uncle Dave. I hope, sooner than later, she finds just the right amount of
air and space that allows her to bask in the beauty of youth while flourishing
as a woman.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1: Many years ago,
The Beatles wrote a lyric that said: I get by with a little help from my
friends. Friends are not people we collect and follow on social media. True friendship
is a much deeper and richer concept; it transcends faith and politics; it’s
what we rely upon when all else fails.
2: Each of us has
written their own coming-of-age story. Who we were in those tender times, when
a summer’s day seemed like an eternity but the summer itself seemed too short,
never fully leaves us.
3: Air and space are fickle entities. Not enough of each can
kill us, and too much can kill us even faster. It’s a tricky exercise,
maintaining our equilibrium on the path of self-discovery. Striving for
independence but wanting the strength and comfort of unity is a curious irony.
I imagine it always shall be.
Thank you for your question. I appreciate the opportunity to
post. I hope "American Odyssey" brings you many hours of enjoyment,
Kindest regards,
Michael DeStefano
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Michael
DeStefano runs a hairstyling salon, where he has spent the past four decades
beautifying the super people of Philadelphia. His past titles include the
historical family saga The Gunslinger’s Companion, the comedy/tragedy Waiting
for Grandfather, and The Bohemian. You can find these novels and other writings
such as his love essays and perspective pieces at his blog site Michael’s
Corner.
Blog:
http://www.michaelscorner.blog
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/michael.destefano.1654
Twitter:
https://x.com/xMichaelsCorner
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/American-Odyssey-Michael-Stefano/dp/1937769895/ref=sr_1_4
Barnes
and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/american-odyssey-michael-de-stefano/1147324924
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
Night
to Dawn Magazine & Books will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a
randomly drawn winner.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you for featuring AMERICAN ODYSSEY today.
ReplyDeleteThis excerpt is truly intriguing.
ReplyDeleteI would enjoy reading this one. Sounds good.
ReplyDeleteWhat went into the decision to design this cover?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great excerpt. The book sounds very interesting. Love the cover!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a very good book.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a book I will thoroughly enjoy. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you hope readers will take away from this book?
ReplyDeleteWhat is a specific scene or aspect of your book that you're particularly proud of, and what made it so challenging or rewarding to write
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing.
ReplyDelete