Lisabet Sarai: Your Michael series is deeply personal. Do you worry that you have exposed too much of your private self in these books? Or was that your intention?
L.J.
Ambrosio: I did worry at the beginning of the promotion of the
1st book but as I wrote the other two books, it became
important for me to lift that veil. There was nothing I was ashamed
of or had to hide. My truth is important for myself and the readers.
So many hide the truth of their lives and mask the bumps or ignore
them, I imagine how painful this must be for them. Even though I
might have been reluctant in telling my story I never hide it from
myself.
LS: In writing these books, were you trying primarily to capture individual experiences and epiphanies, or did you also have a message you wanted to convey to your readers?
LJA: Everyone's life has a message, those that hide from living experiences have a message of fear. The average person’s life teaches us different experiences. Michael in A Reservoir Man sat on benches talking to people, listening to their lives. He met his monster, the “Reservoir man” when he reached the top of the hill. Avoiding the “Reservoir Man,” or corrupt individuals looking to hurt him, became his constant battle throughout his life.
LS: If I am not mistaken, Exiles is the final volume in your Michael trilogy. What is next for you as a writer?
LJA: These questions from critics provoked my need to go on with their stories. My need to talk about and further understand the journey of Ron and Louie from Exiles. They all learned from reflections of other people but now it is the ripple in the water, the outreach of those lessons they have learned to others that will be their journey from here. So, I want to go on my journey in the next few months and then find Ron and Louie at the edge of Walden Pond looking at the ripples in the pond, and at their future.
Thank you –your review of Exiles was great and touching ---and thank you for your wonderful questions. Until another time... LJA
Blurbs
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.
Reflections on the Boulevard
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.
Exiles
Michael's wish was for Ron to exile himself in the heart of Paris with its beautiful culture and citizens as they protest and fight for the soul of the city. Ron's journey is met with life-affirming friendships and lessons along the way. The final book in the Reflections of Michael Trilogy, which started with A Reservoir Man (2022).
Excerpt from A Reservoir Man
Michael had now become, after these last six months, a little more world weary and worse for the wear. Sitting on his bench, entering his last year at college. Michael still had not found his soul or his truth. His emphasis on sex was unfulfilling and empty. He wandered in the shadowy corners, the lightless streets, leading to a dead end and the darkness of an empty truck.
Loneliness had become a fixture of Michael’s being. He longed for a few hours to be with Carol, Claire, or Raphael.
One day, while sitting on the bench, Michael heard in the distance Otis Reading’s “The Dock of The Bay” playing on a portable radio. The music came closer and closer and then quickly turned to the Four Tops' “Reach Out (I’ll be There).”
Picking up his head, Michael saw this extremely attractive ethnic guy standing right above him.
Michael said "Hello," and the young man answered.
“My name is Nick. Do you dance?”
Michael said, “Sort of, but I do not have much of a chance to go dancing.”
“You want to go tonight?” Nick asked with a smile, and he started to sing “Baby I Need Your Loving” by the Four Tops.
Michael became a little concerned about the message of the song, so he suggested that they might talk over coffee before they ventured out dancing. Michael decided to cut his next two classes and have coffee.
They spent hours talking about their lives. Nick was older than Michael by nine years. Nick said he had to prepare for graduation as did Michael. He was in the School of Education and would be graduating that year.
He was first generation Greek from Cyprus and spoke fluent Greek. His family lived in Harlem on 137th Street off Broadway. He had siblings, a brother and sister. Michael was taken by him.
He made him laugh and feel amazingly comfortable. Nick invited Michael to dinner Saturday night. His mother would make Doimadakia, Humus, Tzataki and Moussaka. Michael agreed to go.
Nick’s parents were great. His mother was shy, his father a little less. They spoke with a broken accent, which Michael loved. They had a great dinner and talked a lot. Michael learned a lot about Cyprus.
Nick said after dinner, "Dancing, right?”
About the Author
Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at seven universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ljambrosioauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorlambrosio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louis.ambrosio
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Blog: https://ljambrosio.blogspot.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI2XkCETDOj_VUtCFcB74ig
Buy the series on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C79G6BB3
The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card, a print copy of the book, or a dragonfly necklace to three randomly chosen winners.
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4 comments:
Welcome back to Beyond Romance, Louis, and thank you for sharing a bit of your heart.
Thank you so much for featuring this series and this author.
This sounds like a book that I would really enjoy.
This looks like a great series. Thanks for sharing.
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