Author Event: Gospel & Beyond

 

Hope you can join me!

Gospel & Beyond: An Evening with Author Daryl Rothman

 Excited and grateful to St. Louis Public Library for hosting my upcoming author event at their Buder Branch, Thursday, July 3, 6-730pm. I will be discussing GOSPEL and past and future works, my literary journey, and signing books. Hope you can join me!

Gospel & Beyond: A Night with Author Daryl Rothman | Events | St. Louis Public Library - City

Tips Accepted: The Sage Writing Advice That Transformed My Career

Erik Larson, my fave nonfiction scribe, once shared a tip with me that has made every difference in my literary career. 

Always an honor to write for the wonderful Rachel Thompson.

Thanks as always for your support.

The Writing Tip That Helped Me Publish - Learn How It Can Transform Your Writing Journey!

First Things First....Or?

Write the last line first, as the great John Irving exhorts? I'm not so sure. My guest-post for the inimitable Katie Weiland today on her terrific Helping Writers Become Authors site. Always an honor. Let me know your thoughts on the piece, and thanks as always for your support!

Do Great Writers Know the Ending First? - Helping Writers Become Authors

"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.

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!

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.