A novel by Mark L. Berry
When Oso gets yanked off his motorcycle and killed by a closed parking lot chain, Billy feels guilty for teaching him to hop curbs and shortcut traffic lights. Billy’s survivor’s guilt drags him down a spiral of one night stands fed by excessive alcohol and reckless driving. Life is short, play hard!
Meanwhile, Oso’s girlfriend Lindy pours her grief into her new music album, Studying Psychology—Mostly as a Patient, and struggles with whether she can ever let herself love again. Can she turn this tragedy into something productive and meaningful through her music?
Pushing Leaves Towards the Sun explores survivor’s guilt and grief through music and fiction. The lyrics for eleven original songs are developed within. So, this novel rocks—literally! When you’ve lost someone you love, there are no easy answers. Know that you’re not alone in your struggle.
Available here are the Prologue and First 3 Chapters to get you started. You can either download them or read them online.
As you are reading, listen to this novel’s eleven songs here, sorted by the chapters in which they appear.
This is a story that you don’t just read, you experience it through music!
#1 from Chapter 1- One Down and Four Up performed by Kim Smith
Lyrics / Kim Smith’s MySpace Page / VIDEO (coming soon)
#2 from Chapter 3- Can’t Say Goodbye
Lyrics / (Lyrics only so far—Music artists please contact me)
#3 from Chapter 5- If I’m Only Dreaming
Lyrics / (Lyrics only so far—Music artists please contact me)
#4 from Chapter 8- One Day
Lyrics / (Lyrics only so far—Music artists please contact me)
#5 from Chapter 8- Screwed at the Drive-thru
Lyrics / (Lyrics only so far—Music artists please contact me)
#6 from Chapter 11- Man-Made Roadblocks
Lyrics / (Lyrics only so far—Music artists please contact me)
Bonus from Chapter 13- Organized Anger (Drum Solo) performed by Brian “The Kid” Hilgert
#7 from Chapter 13- Hey Young Lady
Lyrics / (Lyrics only so far—Music artists please contact me)
#8 from Chapter 17- From a Long Way Away performed by Kim Smith
Lyrics / Kim Smith’s MySpace Page
#9 from Chapter 19- Just Another
Lyrics / (Lyrics only so far—Music artists please contact me)
#10 from Chapter 22- The Family Tree performed by John Scuba Linneman
Lyrics / Scuba’s MySpace Page / Scuba’s Best Bar Tricks
#11 from Chapter 22- Cats
Lyrics / (Lyrics only so far—Music artists please contact me)
Be sure to browse the Tabs to read the: Thanks and Dedication, Reviews, Reader Feedback, About the Author, About the Artist, and more.
This 208 page paperback is available for $20.00 plus $3 S&H within the Continental USA via PayPal or by check. Click the Buy the Book Tab (64,000 words. Available 05/03/2008).
Please send me an email with your comments: mark@pushingleavestowardsthesun.com
If you are a Literary Agent or a Publisher I’d love to hear from you!
Cheers! Mark L. Berry
