Title Synopsis:
When life supplies eleven-year-old Tommy Grant with some unfavorable circumstances intruding on his otherwise tranquil life in 1980's Ohio, he retreats into the spell-binding Order of Cosmic Champions. When he discovers that the largely successful animated program and toy line is holding a nationwide "Create-A-Character" contest where applicants submit their action figure designs, Tommy knows he has to enter as surely as he knows his own name. But when Tommy's character design fails to win the contest, he finds his world crumbling from all sides. And there is only one way he knows to fix it. What follows is a whirlwind coming-of-age adventure of righting wrongs, overcoming perilous obstacles, confronting our inner demons, and challenging the limits of reality. In this waxing nostalgic and imaginative fantasy, readers will discover what excitement lies waiting when you take risks and conquer your fears. Only one question remains: In the final hour when you heed the call, the courage to give your all, will you stand or fall?
Author Bio:
About Anthony J. Rapino:
Tony R. resides in Northeastern Pennsylvania with his cats Luna and Poe. When he's not writing speculative fiction, Anthony can be found in the classroom teaching English or crouched in dark alleyways sculpting horrific autumnal creatures out of clay. His work has appeared in On Spec, Acapella Zoo, Black Ink Horror, Madhouse, Liminal Spaces, and others. His novel, Soundtrack to the End of the World, and story collection, Greetings from Moon Hill, are both available now.
Tony G. lived through the '80s, from ages six to sixteen, by surviving on steady doses of Masters of the Universe, Kool-Aid that he put way too much sugar in, and BarNones. Occasionally he put pencil to paper and created comic strips to entertain his friends. He dreamed of one day working for Marvel or DC. Once out of college, however, he found himself selling furniture. Life sure is funny. After a few failed attempts to use a new thing called ''the internet'' to find a nice lady to share life with, a nice lady found him. They married and soon found themselves raising four children together. Meanwhile, in his spare time, Anthony tried desperately to appease the creative spirit dwelling within him. Comic strips, websites, books, board games, interactive online games . . . you name it, he probably gave it a shot. Nowadays, Anthony juggles the responsibilities of a husband, father, business owner, and creator pretty well--or at least he thinks so. He lives in the same quiet corner of Ohio that he always has, with no plans of changing that. The guy's not much for change, which is probably why he still watches Masters of the Universe and eats too many BarNones. He did ditch the Kool-Aid, however.
Author: Anthony J. Rapino, Anthony D. Grate
Narrator: Jon Vertullo
Publishers: Greenleaf Book Group
Copyright: 2022 Anthony D. Grate
Running Time: 12:24:22
ISBN: 9781953598875
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Captivating adventure seasoned with nostalgia
I enthusiastically recommend this touching story of a boy overcoming the obstacles of growing up through a captivating adventure that kept me up reading way past my bedtime! The writing is immersive and vivid and made me feel as if I was in the metaverse watching the story. Tommy’s inner monologue reveals a person that many identify with and evokes empathy and inspiration. But this book is much more than the riveting story that unfolds. Anthony Rapino and Anthony Grate built a time machine dialed into the formative years that we all share in common. Yes, it is awesome to experience the 80s so faithfully expressed in this story! Even more impactful is the opportunity to travel back to the thoughts, feelings, uncertainties, triumphs, and joys of adolescent years. No matter the decade you grew up in, this novel speaks to the resilient spirit that overcomes life’s challenges. A professor once told me “If you put good things in your head, good things will come out.” This book is a good thing - entertaining and enriching. Get it and read it.
