Hooray! I have finally received my very first copy of my book, A Wasted Life. I am so thrilled and can't wait for it to go live. The interesting part of this story is that I was in Disney World when I got a hold of it. For me, all wonderful things happen in Disney ( I got engaged, married and ran marathons there, maybe even conceived a child there.)
As my luck would have it, I found out that it had arrived and was sitting at my doorstep about an hour after I had left my home on my way to Disney World. I was freaking out. I had my neighbor take it in for me and she was the first person to see it in book form. I knew I had to proof it for the printer but I also couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Coincidentally, a friend was headed up to Disney that very same day, so I called her and asked her to swing by my neighbor's house to pick up the book and bring it up with her. She graciously obliged. She too was staying in the same hotel complex we were in. So I patiently waited for her arrival and when she called I was ready to burst. We met in front of the fountain in the middle of our two hotels and she handed me the book with my kids, John and my parents there. I received it at 6:30 p.m. Friday November 20th. It was an incredible feeling.
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The story
If art imitates life, then “A Wasted Life” is a perfect example of that. Most all of us could probably say we have felt that we missed an opportunity at one point or another. Or maybe we have felt that we had followed the wrong path at a critical turning point. Maybe our eyes were closed to something wonderful right in front of us and once we realized it, it was too late. All these experiences are realized in "A Wasted Life."
Based on the true life experiences of a New York man who was, for all intense and purposes, on a fast-track to a successful career and family life, “A Wasted Life, “ tells the provocative fictional tale of how selfish pride, narcissism, poor judgment, addictions and bad habits can get in the way of your dreams and desires.
The title of the book is derived from a comment Robert DeNiro made in the 1993 movie “A Bronx Tale,” and sort of picks up where that theme left off by way of a very gangster-esque main character. This book is rich with animated and entertaining characters mixed with factual details of pop-culture and events that happened in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and into the new millennium. The story is told through two people’s eyes, Joey Martino and his daughter Nina and explores a very dysfunctional father-daughter relationship.
Nina starts off the story with a festive holiday celebration only to be interrupted by an unexpected phone call from an estranged Joey. With mixed and torn emotions, this forces her to recall many turbulent and violent memories about this once powerful air-traffic controller and union leader. Fast-forward to the current times where Joey picks up the narration when he finds out he has cancer. The story becomes a tormented person’s road to finding himself and forgiveness. An unlikely friendship ensues between Joey and a Jamaican nurse, illustrating how compassion can go a long way. Meanwhile, a mysterious reporter steps into Joey’s life to chronicle some of his past. The latter coupling takes on a life of its own, similar to a patient/ therapist relationship, giving Joey so much to hold on to during his fight to survive.
Hopefully you will come away with a new found enthusiasm for life, appreciation for loved ones, motivation to cultivate lost and new relationships, and passion to pursue your dreams and talents.
Based on the true life experiences of a New York man who was, for all intense and purposes, on a fast-track to a successful career and family life, “A Wasted Life, “ tells the provocative fictional tale of how selfish pride, narcissism, poor judgment, addictions and bad habits can get in the way of your dreams and desires.
The title of the book is derived from a comment Robert DeNiro made in the 1993 movie “A Bronx Tale,” and sort of picks up where that theme left off by way of a very gangster-esque main character. This book is rich with animated and entertaining characters mixed with factual details of pop-culture and events that happened in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and into the new millennium. The story is told through two people’s eyes, Joey Martino and his daughter Nina and explores a very dysfunctional father-daughter relationship.
Nina starts off the story with a festive holiday celebration only to be interrupted by an unexpected phone call from an estranged Joey. With mixed and torn emotions, this forces her to recall many turbulent and violent memories about this once powerful air-traffic controller and union leader. Fast-forward to the current times where Joey picks up the narration when he finds out he has cancer. The story becomes a tormented person’s road to finding himself and forgiveness. An unlikely friendship ensues between Joey and a Jamaican nurse, illustrating how compassion can go a long way. Meanwhile, a mysterious reporter steps into Joey’s life to chronicle some of his past. The latter coupling takes on a life of its own, similar to a patient/ therapist relationship, giving Joey so much to hold on to during his fight to survive.
Hopefully you will come away with a new found enthusiasm for life, appreciation for loved ones, motivation to cultivate lost and new relationships, and passion to pursue your dreams and talents.
How it Started...
Well about 10 years ago, when I lived with my roommate, we were both journalists and we had both always wanted to write a book. It was a goal for each of us, so we challenged each other and got started. Needless to say as time went on, work, love, marriage and kids got a hold of me, thank GOD for those things, but I let the book idea go. I guess you could say, life got a hold of me… Then after a series of tragic losses, I began to realize that life was too short to let dreams go by and let things just happen to me. After all I was someone who always set goals and conquered them. I was a marathon runner for goodness sake. An opportunity presented itself during a brief meeting with an acquaintance who is a life coach who wanted to get healthy and fit. Since I am a fitness professional, the wheels were set in motion. We were going to barter our services to each other and make our dreams happen. We set a start date, made each other accountable and gave each other a year to reach our goals.
That year was riddled with highs and lows for me as I was working, being mom to my two young children and trying not to let this “hobby” of writing a book interfere with day-to-day life. The biggest low came with the news that my grandmother, who was like a second mom to me and whom I affectionately called “nanny,” was very ill. Being there for her was never a question, but it was hard on everyone involved, day after day, caring for her and watching her suffer and seeing her pass on. I still miss her terribly. Through it all though, I still kept on writing the book, and oddly enough I felt like I had an angel on my shoulder telling me to keep going with my dreams and goals.
I am happy to say, nanny (grandmother) helped me finish the book ! We did it lady!
It was a long year but a very interesting and cathartic journey. Even if I shared it with nobody else I was elated with what I had done. A few close friends and family members read the book and it drove them to fits of laughter and tears. They urged me to let people know about it. It has the power to touch so many people for so many different reasons. I believe we can all relate or recognize ourselves in some of these characters. So here it is… and I’ve got lots more stories where this came from.
That year was riddled with highs and lows for me as I was working, being mom to my two young children and trying not to let this “hobby” of writing a book interfere with day-to-day life. The biggest low came with the news that my grandmother, who was like a second mom to me and whom I affectionately called “nanny,” was very ill. Being there for her was never a question, but it was hard on everyone involved, day after day, caring for her and watching her suffer and seeing her pass on. I still miss her terribly. Through it all though, I still kept on writing the book, and oddly enough I felt like I had an angel on my shoulder telling me to keep going with my dreams and goals.
I am happy to say, nanny (grandmother) helped me finish the book ! We did it lady!
It was a long year but a very interesting and cathartic journey. Even if I shared it with nobody else I was elated with what I had done. A few close friends and family members read the book and it drove them to fits of laughter and tears. They urged me to let people know about it. It has the power to touch so many people for so many different reasons. I believe we can all relate or recognize ourselves in some of these characters. So here it is… and I’ve got lots more stories where this came from.
Dear Marlo ...
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to ready your book !! I know your husband through high school friends "Deerfield Beach" days. We didn't go high school together but ran in the same crowd of Rey Mendez, Ben Bray, Don Galloway etc ...
Anyway I had commented to your husband on FB, that I wanted to know more about this book. I was intrigued to know more, because he mentioned you were making a donation to the "American Cancer Society", and of course, because I love to hear about such success, be it renowned or personal for good people.
One of our 4.5yr old twins was diagnosed with cancer in February of this year, so it has been quite a ride for our family. As a parent, I am sure you can imagine the roller coaster of emotion that has evolved, seemingly right before our eyes, but I can honestly say, that all in all everyone is doing well and just as you had set this goal for yourself, we too are driven to reach our goal.
I read a beautiful quote the other day ...
"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would have not a single bit of talent left and could say , 'I used everything you gave me'. " (Erma Bombeck)
With the things I read about you in your profile and previous posts regarding the book ... you are well on your way to being able to make that statement true ... Kudos to you lady !!! :)
I wish you well in all this new, exciting and aspiring territory, and I again can't wait to get the book and enjoy and nice read ;) !!
Shawn Miller-Krausz