FROM RATS TO CADILLACS received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Fred Anthony Lemac.
What’s the name of the book and when was it published?
FROM RATS TO CADILLACS ; Published October 2019.
What’s the books first line?
Harold Robbins said, “Hemingway was a jerk.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
This story is about a boy’s violent childhood and his survival. This book takes a look at his life in a less than desirable upbringing. But as a welcome turn of events, his take on life and his experiences are light and sometimes dark. It tells the cards life dealt him and how he made the very best out of grim circumstances. With his take on life, it makes it easy to keep turning the page. It will leave you wanting to know if he is going to become a victim of circumstance or something better. The thoughtful imagery will draw you into a life many of us can’t imagine. Reading this book allows you to reflect on your own life, and perhaps be more thankful. Recognizing the strength it takes to decide to do and be better is nothing less than inspirational. Coming out of a rat infested Chicago neighborhood, he emerged from a youthful existence filled with disappointment, to a life he could only imagine as a child. He survived a childhood and as a young man he fell in love with a pretty soft spoken rich girl that would have a sudden, unexpected, and sad ending.
As Stephen King said in JOYLAND: “People think first love is sweet, and never sweeter than when that first bond snaps. You’ve heard a thousand pop and country songs that prove the point; some fool got his heart broke. Yet that first broken heart is always the most painful, the slowest to mend, and leave the most visible scar. What’s so sweet about that?”
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
My close friend Hector Cafferata was a Medal of Honor Marine who fought in Korea. When they were almost over-run by thousands of Chinese soldiers, he ended up in a ravine with three severely wounded Marines. They were so badly wounded they couldn’t fire their rifles. Hector recognized one of them as Corporal Iverson. Coming over on the troop ship, Iverson confided to Hector that he spent his entire life in an orphanage. When he got out he met this wonderful girl. They married and now are expecting their first child. Iverson told Hector, “For the first time in my life, I finally know joy.” Iverson was bleeding out of his nose and mouth. Hector fought and protected those three severely wounded Marines, Parker, Farley, and Iverson. All three died of their wounds. Iverson never got to see his new baby or experience the joy he so proudly told Hector about. My close friend Hector went to his rest on April 12th 2016. With the loss of this great friend, is when I decided to write my manuscript.
Why should someone read this book?
Many people have suffered a dysfunctional childhood. This book shows, in spite of that, how we are blessed to have the many opportunities our great country offers.
If they made my book into a movie, who would I like to see play the main character?
Matt Damon.
When did I decide to become an author?
When my friend Hector Cafferata went to his rest April 12th 2016.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
This is the first book I’ve written
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
I usually spend two to three hours writing — sometimes it comes to me at 2:00 am.
What advice would I give to share with fellow Indie Authors?
KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING.
What author living or dead do I most admire?
David Benioff.
Which book do I wish I could have written?