GIVEAWAY!! Blog Tour – Spotlight: Echoes from the Infantry by Frank Nappi with a guest post

Echoes from the Infantry
written by Frank Nappi          

find it here: Amazon, Goodreads

About the book: Echoes From The Infantry is the tale of one Long Island World War II veteran, the misery of combat, and the powerful emotional bonds that brought him home to Rockaway Beach and the love of his life, Madeline Brandt. It is about a father and son, and their ultimately redeeming struggle to understand each other’s worlds – one a world at war, the other shaped by its veterans. Nappi moves artfully between the present and past, weaving a fictionalized tale of this Long Islander’s struggle to reconcile with the demons from long ago and his family’s neverending battle with many of the intangible burdens caused by the private life of a man they never really knew. He touches our hearts with a story of courage and perseverance…a story of men who faced the greatest challenge of their generation. 

My motivation for writing anything has always been simply a genuine interest in the human condition — more specifically, what makes us act and react in the manner that we do. Human beings are so very complex and are often immersed in situations that result in a struggle of sorts. This sort of drama exists all around us. Whenever I observe a facet of this condition or struggle, I am intrigued and ultimately compelled to explore it further through fiction.

In light of this, I have become very versatile in my literary endeavors. While many writers remain faithful to one genre, mostly because they possess an affinity for that type of writing, my inspiration comes from a true penchant for exploring that about which I am most passionate. Consequently, I have traveled down a rather eclectic path, ranging from the horrors of WWII and the insidious residue of war that destroyed so many veterans and their families, to a 17 year old autistic baseball player in the 1940’s who inspires others around him to become more tolerant and understanding, to a young teacher whose indiscretions lead him down a dark and self-destructive path. Clearly these stories are all unique in their own way, and fall into very different genres. However, what binds them together is that same basic element that really defines who I am as a writer – someone who is moved by the human struggle.

So many of my life experiences have inspired me. It began with a most fortuitous encounter with two very special WWII veterans with whom I became very close. Mr. Bill McGinn and Mr. Eddie Hynes changed my life forever. Their willingness to share with my classes their poignant reminiscences of their time in war torn Europe and also the subsequent obstacles they faced once they came back home was truly the most compelling moment in my classroom. They visited for years, and the three of us became very close. The time I spent with both men, both in and outside of my classroom, was life altering for me. I have had other moments like this as well, each which has found its way into my fiction. My work with Challenger Baseball and Best Buddies brought my Mickey Tussler series to life and my twenty five years teaching in a high school exposed me to some of the difficulties that our young people sometimes face – difficulties that make leading a “normal” life an impossibility.

I remain a student of human behavior and will continue to pen stories that are inspired by my experiences and observations.

About the author: Frank Nappi has taught high school English and Creative Writing for over twenty years. His debut novel, Echoes From The Infantry, received national attention, including MWSA’s silver medal for outstanding fiction. His follow-up novel, The Legend of Mickey Tussler, garnered rave reviews as well, including a movie adaptation of the touching story “A Mile in His Shoes” starring Dean Cain and Luke Schroder. Frank continues to produce quality work, including Sophomore Campaign, the intriguing sequel to the much heralded original story, and is presently at work on a third installment of the unique series. Frank lives on Long Island with his wife Julia and their two sons, Nicholas and Anthony.

Find Mr. Nappi here: web, blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads

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