A teacher and his protégé take a haphazard journey of joy, friendship and discovery. Reflections on the Boulevard By L.J. Ambrosio ➱ Book Tour with Rafflecopter
A teacher and his protégé take a haphazard journey of joy, friendship and discovery.
Reflections on the Boulevard
Reflections of Michael Trilogy Book 2
by L.J. Ambrosio
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Coming of Age
Michael's story continues from A Reservoir Man (2022) where we find him teaching at a university ready to retire. He unexpectedly meets a young man named Ron who becomes his protege and journeys in a haphazard adventure with him throughout America and Europe, each twist and turn of the road bringing unexpected adventures. The journey taken is one of joy, friendship and discovery.
Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * Smashwords * Author's Site * Bookbub * Goodreads
A Reservoir Man
Reflections of Michael Trilogy Book 1
A Reservoir Man, critics have hailed this explosive and timely work as “a must-read coming-of-age story of 2022.”
Twists and turns further pull the reader in to Michael’s action-packed tale, with powerful themes, from betrayal and family to secrets and identity.
“Be sure not to blink because you just might miss a pivotal moment in Michael’s rousing, larger-than-life story.” --R.C. Gibson, Indiestoday.com.
“This book is a dream, a gamble, a utopia, even.” -- Kalyan Panja, Bookmarkks.
Everywhere Michael turns he sees a Reservoir Man. Michael’s endless trials of survival include sexual assault, The Vietnam War, an arrest in Spain, Hollywood scandal, the AIDS outbreak, 9/11 and beyond.
If
only Michael could find the one thing he values most, freedom.
Michael’s coming-of-age is tarnished by many but the courage to
live his truth may just keep Michael one step ahead...or will he
succumb to the embraces of a Reservoir Man?
Amazon * Apple * B&N * Kobo * Smashwords * Author's Site * Bookbub * Goodreads
EXCERPT “A RESERVOIR MAN”
BY LJ AMBROSIO
On
New Year's Day, the children went with Michael to brunch in Venice and walked
on the boardwalk. For dinner, they ate at their favorite Chinese restaurant in
West Hollywood. Arriving home, they noticed someone sitting on the porch.
Michael quickly got out of the car and went over to the man. It was Joe, a
young client of Michael’s.
Two
years earlier, Michael brought Joe into the agency as a client; they had a very
respectful relationship. Joe asked Michael if he had time to talk. Normally,
Michael would have asked Joe if it could wait till the next day, but Michael
saw the urgency in his tone. He told Joe to come in and to give him some time
to put the children to bed.
Michael
came back into the living room with a martini for himself and his guest. He
finally broke down and had liquor in his house. Joe sat down and told Michael
to listen before he commented. He told Michael that there was an action to take
over the office, and his LA staff were aware of it, as well as the New York
staff. Gail had also secured a replacement for Michael to run the LA office.
The clients were not informed. She was waiting for the proper time after
Michael left the office. Gail had secured all the bank statements and hired a lawyer.
Michael
was shocked. “Who told you, Joe? Do you know a timetable for when she intends
to do this?”
Joe
said he was dating someone at the union who told him, and he was not aware of a
time she was going to act on this. Joe seemed very pale; Michael became
concerned about Joe’s health, asking him how his T-cell count was. Joe did not
respond to much of anything.
“There
is nothing you can do,” said Michael.
“Just
be healthy. There are some experimental drugs. Stay away from AZT. That is AIDS
by prescription.”
Joe
finished his drink and got up to leave. Joe hugged Michael, and while he was
holding on to Michael, he whispered in his ear, “I'm scared. What is going to
happen?”
Michael
replied, “You are going to live and have fun. Just be gay.” They both laughed.
Before Joe left, he stopped in the doorway, turning to Michael.
“What’s
wrong Joe?” asked Michael.
“I
did not call. I wanted to.”
“Why
didn’t you?” said Michael, staring at the young man, who was in a world of
anxiety and apprehension.
“I was
afraid they tapped your phone,” said Joe, and he left.
Can you, for those who don't know you already, tell us something
about yourself and how you became an author?
I always wrote- I was a professor who ran four major art institutions
and somewhat successful with my poetry. I wanted to write about my
like with was long and vastly interesting--I began writing my memoir
when suddenly I change course and fictionalize it –realizing I could say
more about my perceptions about living than write about myself that
was less than 2 years ago
What is something unique/quirky about you?
I do everything from my right side and arm -I was going to be a priest
and in the Nicaean creed, Christ sat at the right hand of God and
exhibiting my loyalty to my OCDI only used my right hand and arm for
40 years now
Tell us something interesting that's happened to you!
I always win not for money but for getting the job done—the one time I
lost I then won---I love winning for and with people
What are some of your pet peeves?
People who eat and make noise---peoples conversation that solely
circle around themselves--
Where were you born/grew up at?
Brooklyn my first 25 years --I still have family there but it is so different
from my perspective.
If you knew you'd die tomorrow, how would you spend your last
day? Sitting with my children and friend at Waldon pond
Who is your hero and why?
Roger Maris—the rest I only admire ----One other hero St John of the
Cross a 14th-century Catholic mystic
What kind of world ruler would you be?
I wouldn’t even think about that position
What are you passionate about these days?
Truth---great art---
What do you do to unwind and relax?
Up until 10 years ago a vodka martini with a cig. Maybe two or four –a
massage
How to find time to write as a parent?
They are older like 30 no problem
Describe yourself in 5 words or less!
A stubborn demanding older Italian man
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Last week with the publication of my second novel
Do you have a favorite movie?
A French Novie Love Song---and a Japanese trilogy The Human
Condition 1955
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit
animal?
my best friend he a beagle named Buddy
Stuff about the Book:
What inspired you to write this book?
Me my passion for life---human pain and its condition
What can we expect from you in the future?
My third novel Exile which I am prepped for already it will complete the
trilogy
Do you have any “side stories” about the characters?
They are real
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in (Name of the book)?
Michael 60 years old Ron is a 20-year-old man who lives on the street and
Carol is a big-breasted young woman who people make fun of and laugh at.
Where did you come up with the names in the story?
They were real
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
I feel new love again
Who designed your book covers?
A young Indian boy we did it all through emails I have such admiration
for him he did an outstanding job
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your
latest book?
Not a word loves the whole thing so much it speak to me and I hope it
will speak to you
If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?
Colin Farrell and tom. holland
Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
Read the book
How did you come up with the name of this book?
You have to read the book I'm not telling
If you could spend time with a character from your book, who would it
be? And what would you do on that day?
All three we would laugh cry and listen to Leonard Cohen and drinking Martini
Are your characters based on real people or did they all come entirely
from your imagination?
both
If your book had a candle, what scent would it be?
Jasmine
What did you edit out of this book?
Nothing
Thank you for inviting me I am waiting for my transition, but I will write
some more –God Bless You All-------the face of God you will find in the
mountains the trees the soil and the animals.
the writing process of the book
Thank you for sharing your guest post, bio and the books' details, I have enjoyed reading about you and your work and I am looking forward to reading this book and series
ReplyDelete