Set in Philadelphia in the mid-1970s, “American Odyssey” chronicles the coming-of-age journey of Addison Caldwell, Cillian James, and Joey Brosco ➱ Book Tour with Guest Post & Giveaway

 

AMERICAN ODYSSEY

Michael De Stefano 

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GENRE:  Coming-of-Age

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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

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.

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Guest Post:

Topic: Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.

I wouldn’t be so bold as to describe “American Odyssey” as a “must-read.” But while it isn’t Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment,” neither is it anyone’s idea of a typical coming-of-age tale. Addison Caldwell, Cillian James, and Joey Brosco are the products of a grass-toking mother, an institutionally crazy mother, and a war-veteran father with a missing limb, respectively. The stars align and place a trio of coming-of-age city rats on a path that intersects a former prostitute, now a farm owner, in the full thrust of an existential crisis. This “perfect storm” launches a summer of unimaginable delight but also one of confession, reconciliation, and truth for four people trying to find their equilibrium in a madding world. As is often the case in a world chock-full of irony, “American Odyssey” doesn’t answer questions; it trades away old ones and asks new ones. 

Thank you for your question. I hope you find “American Odyssey” an enjoyable read.

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

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