Or, more to the point, I am grateful TO the good folks over at Gateway Coffee Company, who are displaying my books on consignment. You should pay them a visit, regardless of books, because they have great coffee and pastries and more(I love the banana muffins), and if you do, and are interested in a book, I wouldn't mind that either. :)
Thanks for your support!
Gospel & Beyond: A Night with Author Daryl Rothman | Events | St. Louis Public Library - City
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!
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.
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!
Onward.
The final word of Gospel, my literary-suspense manuscript due out this year, about lost love, a Faustian pact, and coming to terms with those things which most truly author our lives. A hopeful note, against a chorus of considerable darkness and despair. At once a beginning, and an end.
Like so many things, for so many people, in so many ways. Every year. Any year. And once more now, another upon us.
I'm not here to lecture. Highs and lows this last year, like everyone. Dad passed in June, though, and that was a loss. Of the sort that no turn of the calendar can magically allay. And that's ok, really. We must go on, if not move on. Some things endure, and rightly so.
In All the Pretty Horses, Cormac McCarthy writes, Between the wish and the thing, the world lies waiting. 'Tis the season for resolutions, but whatever your aspirations, I hope for each of you the wish becomes the thing and that 2023 is a blessed year.
Speaking of McCarthy, he finally published again, a long-awaited delight for me. The Passenger, and a coda to that work, Stella Maris. Well into the former, and it's brilliant, per usual. The greatest nod I may give an author is when they inspire me not only to keep reading, but to write, and write well, and no one does so for me quite like Cormac. So, resolutions? Fine. Write every day. Something. Read too. And I implore all scribes do likewise. The opposite road is paved with beguiling excuses. Let's take the road less traveled. Erik Larson once reminded me that what most distinguishes a professional from an amateur is completion. I'll raise a glass to that.
I reckon if I must conjure up another resolution it would be to be more "other" focused. Can be counter-intuitive for a writer, as we must be our own best promoters, but in the end, we are of course more than our vocations or hobbies or our trades. In the end we must decide what shall author our lives. While he was on one hand a larger-than-life personality, Dad made a life out of focusing on others. Giving, teaching, inspiring. In his memory, I'll give it my best.
The key, of course, is enduring change. Making things a habit, not just a resolution that fades into the rearview mirror with each passing day. In the last year--and throughout our lives--we've all had some good luck and surely some bad. Perhaps even catastrophic. And while I shall never minimize those hardships confronted by so many, I do endeavor to maintain perspective, and another McCarthy quote sometimes helps me along the way. You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from. No Country for Old Men.
And shoot, I'm traversing that old men country myself, truth be told. Get AARP stuff in the mail, at any rate. Beats the alternative, pray tell.
Alas, I've prattled on, as is my wont. Hopefully can channel some of it into some good literary production. Wishing a very happy, healthy, and productive new year to all, whatever that looks like for each of you. If you're anything like me, you'll fall short many times, maybe even fall off the horse entirely. No worries, get back in the saddle. Each day we can do so is a blessing and reprieve beyond measure. One day at a time.
Onward.
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