Saturday, November 30, 2024

"A Must-Read"...

 

I mean, that's not an order, or anything, but I am humbled by this wonderful review from Carol Thompson of Readers' Favorite. I think she captures what I was going for, better than I could sum it up! At any rate, grateful for the kind words and incisive analysis. Anyone interested in the book may access it here or on the margins of this website. Thanks for your support!

    Book Review

Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite

Daryl Rothman’s Gospel melds the raw essence of human frailty with moral dilemmas and existential depth. The novel explores themes of redemption, sacrifice, and the lasting impact of guilt. The main character, Jacob Fallon, is a writer facing financial difficulties, a troubled marriage, and the pressure of unfulfilled expectations. His life darkens after meeting Justus, a mysterious figure who compels Jacob into a life-or-death pact involving strangers he must justify through writing. This premise initiates a haunting journey exploring the cost of dreams, the weight of choices, and the complexity of human connections.

Daryl Rothman’s writing is full of intricate details, drawing readers into Jacob’s emotional struggles and the vibrant settings of his life. It skillfully contrasts ordinary moments, like those shared with his son Gabriel, with tense meetings involving Justus. The recurring imagery of the Crooked River symbolically conveys life's unpredictable and chaotic nature. The indistinct boundaries between good and evil are thought-provoking and compelling. Through his cryptic motives and disturbing charm, Justus provokes Jacob (and readers) to face uncomfortable realities regarding morality and survival. The philosophical themes in the novel provide readers with more than just a suspenseful story. The duality makes Gospel an engaging and insightful read. The theme is unique. I’ve never read a book with this plot, and it’s a refreshing addition to the suspense genre. Rothman’s ability to weave a deeply personal and universally relatable story makes this novel stand out. It’s a must-read for those who appreciate masterfully written literary fiction that doesn’t shy away from the complexities of life and moral ambiguities.




Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Release Day!--GOSPEL

At long last, I am grateful to share that my literary-suspense novel has released. A harrowing tale of hope and fear, love and loss, and that which, after all else is stripped away, truly authors our lives, Gospel is a labor of love and one which I hope you will enjoy.

Good pricing, and a variety of options, both ebook and paperback, by consulting this link, or clicking the image on my homepage.  As ever, I am grateful to the EP Team for their support, and to my family for theirs. And to each of you, whether you opt to purchase  or would even consider sharing this information through your networks. My deepest appreciation. 🙏

I hope also to soon have some news re. some possible author events/signings, and other updates.

Thank you for your support!




Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Breath on a Window

 Just a passage from a WIP, and a passage from the heart.

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Sometimes he still dreamt of her and it was so real, as only subconscious truth can be, and it was those fugitive moments between slumber and sentience, hanging on, hanging on, which proved most painful of all. He’d roll over toward the window, gazing out upon that hinterland which was the rest of his life, and his breath would fog the glass before fading, and the dream would linger only as long. He’d known from the time he’d loved her—and loved her from the time he’d known her—that it was never about having her. Sure, there were those schoolboy moments when she professed feelings just as ardent, and dreams of a life together soared in his heart like uncaged birds, but even then, he knew. It was like trying to claim the sun or the stars as your own, when all along you should have bent a knee in gratitude that you got to spend time in her light. And that the world did too. How much colder would the world otherwise be. About as cold as the endless winter of his recalcified heart. The stone cold heart she’d found and pierced and healed, and set aflutter every time he set eyes upon her. Every time. No, it was losing her entirely. He’d understood to his bones how lucky he’d been, and long since learned not to question why she’d stopped loving him, but rather, why she ever had. It was nothing he’d deserved, like holy ground upon which he was blessed to have ever stood. But had stood his ground every day since. That in the one in near infinity chance she would on one far day extend her hand, it would find his, unfailingly. Not to win her hand, just to hold it, for as long or as little as she might need. He sighed, a plaintive sound. Exhaled slowly. So much wasted time. He watched as the breath on the glass slowly faded. Hanging on, hanging on.



Saturday, June 29, 2024

Update: David Rose & the Days of Awe

𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘴. 𝘍𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. 𝘎𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥. 𝘏𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢. 𝘕𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘳, 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮.


The climactic tale in the David Rose series, 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘦 & 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘸𝘦, will be out later this year. A labor of love inspired by the bond between my own David and Rachel, and a promise to them to tell the tale, I am humbled by the responses to the series, and by the support I have received. If you have not yet read the first two, and/or might want to share with anyone else, here is the means to do so.

David Rose - Evolved Publishing


As always, 
gratefully yours,

Daryl



Monday, January 1, 2024

Nullius in verba


Nullius in verba. In 1660 the Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge was formed, and they made this their motto. Roughly translated, take no one’s word for anything. Reminds me of another favorite quip, this one by Carl Sanburg: Be aware of advice--even this.

Faith can be a beautiful thing, yet blind or worse still, intolerant faith, not so much. Questioning is good. Inquiring. I’m more apt, of course, to question that which I’m exhorted to take on faith, and which has not—perhaps cannot—be tested and validated and proven, than that which has been.

But I digress, as writers are wont to do. Newton was among the Society’s founders and thought by some to have popularized the notion of a clockwork universe, but many contend he in fact rejected the notion, and dated the concept as considerably older. At any rate, time plays heavily in the David Rose series, and this was indeed the impetus for my contemplations today. Readying to pen a clockwork universe scene. (While I suspect the metaphor of time and the universe as an inexorably advancing machine is more properly crafted over the balance of a treatment, I do have hints throughout the series, and want to try to conjure a vivid sequence nonetheless.)

I am working on the third and final book of the series (were originally to be four, but, you know, time happened, and seems I’m getting old), with hopes of getting it out there by the end of this new year. Hoping much earlier this year to release Gospel, a literary-suspense manuscript I poured about 18 mos. into.

Anyway.

Just wanted to share the update. I start a new job tomorrow and while I’m looking forward, time (that pesky notion again) will be in shorter supply, so getting the words in shan’t be easy. Alas, I usually do better when forced to be more disciplined. Time(ahem) will tell.

Wishing that the time ahead for each of you is healthy, happy, and requiting of your dreams, whatever they may be. I remain ever grateful for your support. I love you all, be it friends, families, readers, or even the wayward souls fallen away from my life but for whom this may yet be a loving, secret cipher, should you on one far day stop in: you are not forgotten, and are forever loved.

Happy New Year, and to quote my daughter’s beloved Dr. Who, Laugh hard. Run Fast. Be kind.