BUT FIRST, A WORD FROM OUR BLOGGER:
Considering the woman I married, I have no choice but to be a kinda-sorta baseball fan. Nancy won't miss a game on TV, especially the playoffs. So smack in the middle of MLB Playoffs, I get to read ONE FINE SEASON to her. It's the fictional story of a young man with a dream, and a commission, to play in the majors. Without spoiling the story, I can say that Danny Grace fulfilled both, with strikeouts to spare. ONE FINE SEASON has everything from drama to suspense to romance to gentle humor, all mixed together in a feel-good story with a live-right message. A self-published project of Authorhouse, Sheehan's book shows quality craftsmanship in both its assembly and its content. One reason conventional publishers seldom touch DIY literary works is authors with complete creative control of their projects rarely execute the ruthless editing necessary to make a good book great. Though I sensed from the outset that ONE FINE SEASON could have used tighter editing, Sheehan did a creditable job of proofing the manuscript, allowing just a couple of spell-check errors into the final gallery. Since I'm passing out back-handed complements, I must mention that fiction needs conflict to work its spellbinding magic. If Sheehan's book lacks anything, it is such interpersonal conflict among the main characters. Sure, some dirty dealing goes on along the way, but the good-guys are only good, and the bad guys only bad, keeping the story a tad simple, and keeping me waiting for the other shoe to drop right on the protagonists' heads. Said shoe is still lost somewhere in the creative ether. Now for the hard stuff. I am not used to fowl language in "Christian" literature, and this book had language to spare. If a potential reader is easily offended by it, avoid polluting your eyes on this one. As to its world-view, one must be patient and discriminating to glean an evangelical Christian perspective from Sheehan's book. As a thoughtful Christ-follower, I actually enjoyed reviewing the plentiful, New Age and alternative Christian thought contained within these pages. It is a prime example of Satan speaking under the guise of an angel of light. Yes, it made me think. No, it didn't shake my faith in, and my relationship with, my Savior. And as to the sexual relationship between the protagonists, this story reveals the church's ugly little secret: Christians fornicate, which is one reason the divorce rate among church folks is as high as among non-church-goers. I do, however, take exception to this story including no consequences for the illicit sexual encounters it described. Truth is, Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8) And the other side of that equation showed that even in the tempting world of professional sports, some folks remain faithful to their spouses. That nit-picking now complete, I desperately hope Sheehan's first novel will grab the publishing industry's attention, so that his next work will benefit from the perilous process of conventional publishing. Talk about drama and conflict ...
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Michael Sheehan is CEO and founder of BioResource, a company that distributes natural remedies including the popular INFLAMYAR ointment for sports injuries. He wrote One Fine Season to honor the memories of two childhood friends who died young, before they could realize their dreams.One Fine Season is true to life. It draws on Sheehan’s religious education at a Catholic seminary and his experience as a high school baseball and collegiate soccer player. A graduate of Santa Clara University, Sheehan also earned a master’s degree in science journalism from Boston University. He lives in Northern California.
ABOUT THE BOOK
ONE FINE SEASON tells the story of a promising young athlete who must rise from the ashes of devastating personal loss to fulfill a pact made years earlier with his best friend.Best friends Pete O’Brien and Danny Grace are gifted college athletes, both hoping for careers as professional baseball players. When tragedy strikes, Danny struggles to cope with his overwhelming grief and fulfill a pact the young men made years earlier: to play in the World Series.
Events unexpectedly thrust Danny into the spotlight with the new expansion team in Sacramento. Three guides – an aging catcher, spiritual centerfielder and wise manager – plus a beautiful woman lead him on a healing journey, revealing that even death cannot break the bonds of true friendship.
If you would like to read an excerpt from the first chapter of One Fine Season, go HERE
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