This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Chris Six will be awarding a $15 Amazon/Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Joe Zizzi's childhood in the 1950s had everything a kid could want--pro athlete dad, wonderful mom, cool big bro. When the '60s kick in, this ideal life is violently shaken: a car crash claims his mother's life and his father's career, and brother Matt becomes distant and disturbed. Over the years, Joe learns to cope and carves out a niche for himself as a college sports star, and later as a coach and writer, but he can't quite shake the family legacy. Diagnosed with kidney failure, the semi-pro husband and devoted dad has life-and-death decisions to make--and life wins, though perhaps only by a slim margin.
Enjoy an excerpt:
Dr. Fabian—his first name, nobody uses his last name—referred Dad to Dr. Reilley, a nephrologist. Reilley’s got a brogue a mile wide and recognized Dad’s name from the Bruins.
First visit, he asked general health questions, kidney questions, and hockey questions, ending up by giving Dad an orange plastic urine collection jug in which to insert 24 hours’ worth, which has to be kept cold until next week’s visit. Imagine being confronted with this baby when you open the fridge for your juice.
Dad’s kidneys are functioning at thirty percent.
Next visit, Reilley reads the blood test results and gives Dad the list of the six foods to stop eating.
Bananas.
“What? I’ve eaten one every day since birth.”
Orange juice.
“What do I drink with breakfast?”
Potatoes.
“You’re not making this easy, doc.”
Avocados.
“Wait, I’m still working on the spuds. Okay, I’ll eat yams.”
That includes yams. Chocolate.
“Doc, you trying to kill me?”
And tomatoes.
“Doc, you know I’m Italian, right?”
And he told him to lay off fried foods. Dad said, “As a frequent fryer, I’m gonna find this difficult.”
Outside: “How do I manage? How do I survive? He’s got my five basic food groups.
What was the sixth thing?”
“Avocado.”
Dad patted me and chuckled. “Good thing you’re not the patient.”
About the Author:Chris Six is a writer, the chief everything officer of The Chris Six Group, and the recipient of somebody else's kidney: "I narrated the story onto tape before I ever wrote a word. I even brought my recorder to dialysis and upset the technicians. Nowadays, I'm in awe of indie authors doing hands-on marketing. I couldn't imagine doing this even five years ago."
facebook.com/TheChrisSixGroup
@TheChrisSixGrou
thechrissixgroup.com
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good morning--this is the first stop on my first blog tour, and I'm honored! Thanks to It's Raining Books and Goddess Fish for setting this up and hosting me and my novel I, Kidney. I'm looking forward to seeing what any visitors have to say, but right now I'd better start spreading the word about what's doing here~~
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting book. I would like to learn more about the kidney's functions as well as an appropriate diet and looks as though I can learn that here in a more fun fashion.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Robert--I tried to make it as informative as possible without hurting the narrative (or the fun). The way the narrator learns things about kidneys is roughly how I learned them as a patient. I've included a resource section in the back so readers can find out more. Stay well!
DeleteI'll be offline around 1:15 Eastern time--my sinuses have to see the doctor, who was good enough to squeeze me in. But I'll check back when I'm home...I promise/
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt, thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rita! Even though the subject matter is harrowing at times, I couldn't approach it without some humor. More excerpts elsewhere on the tour--please enjoy. And the whole book's out on Amazon, which still amazes me even after staring at a bunch of finished copies for a week...
DeleteI'd like to thank my new friends at It's Raining Books: my hosts, those kind folks who commented, and those who entered the contest. Enjoy a great night--see you later on the tour--and if you think of it, check out the Look Inside feature at http://www.amazon.com/dp/0989918246
ReplyDeleteLoved the excerpt. Well done!
ReplyDeleteHi, Carole! I've been sidelined by a vicious cold for a whole week, so today should be the 9th... Glad you like the scene I picked out--the Zizzi family are a lively bunch, and it was hard to choose excerpts.
DeleteI hope you get a chance to look at more of I, Kidney on thechrissixgroup.com. Enjoy the holidays--and don't catch any colds (or if you do, throw 'em back)!
Thank you, Carole! I've been down w/a cold all week, so by rights it should be the ninth...
DeleteI wrote the Zizzi family to make readers laugh even as they break their hearts, and it wasn't easy to choose a excerpt. If you want to see more, check out thechrissixgroup.com and the Look Inside section on Amazon.
Enjoy your holidays and be well!
nice excerpt
ReplyDeleteThanks, bn! I wrote I, Kidney so people would know more about kidney disease and its treatment, and did my best to make it interesting as well as informative--sounds like I did a good job! Happy holidays~~
DeleteAn interesting story line.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like it, Mary--as a kidney patient, I have a good bit of experience with the medical details, but sometime I wish I had some of Joe's family in my tree!
DeleteBest wishes for this festive time--and if you're stuck for a last-minute gift for an avid reader...
Great excerpt...looks like a great read.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! Here's hoping you have a great Christmas, and that Santa brings you a copy of I, Kidney!
DeleteI liked the excerpt best. This book sounds like such an interesting and intriguing read. I will definitely be adding this book to my "to-read" list.
ReplyDelete