{"title":"Mark Ristau","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"a-hero-dreams-1","title":"A Hero Dreams","description":"\u003cp class=\"x_xmsonormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA Hero Dreams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e has garnered the following awards:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"x_xmsolistparagraph\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNational Indie Excellence Awards\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e – New Fiction (Winner) and Visionary Fiction (Finalist)\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"x_xmsolistparagraph\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e – Popular Fiction (Silver Winner)\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"x_xmsolistparagraph\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNext Generation Indie Book Awards\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e – First Novel (Finalist) and Inspirational Fiction (Finalist)\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"x_xmsolistparagraph\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBest Book Awards\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e – Best New Fiction (Finalist) and Visionary Fiction (Finalist)\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_xmsonormal elementToProof\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDevastated by his father's sudden death eight-year-old Ricky begins to see things-a ghostly silhouette in his bedroom window a gruesome train accident involving four local teenagers a terrorist attack that won't occur for another twenty-five years. After a traumatic incident at a New England summer camp the visions become more frequent more vivid and more disturbing. A mysterious voice assures him everything will be okay if he crosses the \"threshold.\" But just what is the threshold? And what lies beyond?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn inspiring tale of hope faith courage and profound self-discovery \u003cem\u003eA Hero Dreams\u003c\/em\u003e takes the reader on an epic journey along the furthermost frontiers of human consciousness and into a miraculous realm where anything is possible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMark Ristau\u003c\/strong\u003e took a giant leap of faith when he left his career as a corporate attorney to tell a story that had burned inside him for years. Selling his house and most of his personal belongings he packed his car and migrated from Minnesota to the Gulf Coast of southwest Florida the setting for the story's prologue which recounts an actual event from Mark's childhood. Five years later \u003cem\u003eA Hero Dreams\u003c\/em\u003e the first novel in the Hero's Path series was ready for publication.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn avid reader and film buff Mark is particularly fond of stories that dare to fill hearts with hope and minds with dreams of possibility. His favorite book is \u003cem\u003eTo Kill a Mockingbird\u003c\/em\u003e and his favorite movie is \u003cem\u003eThe Shawshank Redemption\u003c\/em\u003e. He credits his daily yoga practice with keeping his head clear and his life in balance during the writing process. Born in Chicago and raised in South Orange New Jersey he currently lives in St. Paul Minnesota.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cem\u003eA Hero Dreams\u003c\/em\u003e is a stunning blend of the all-too-real life of little Ricky not yet ten years old and the surreal world he creates for himself to survive . . . Beautiful images and scenes contrast with the hardness and brutality of real life to create a montage of what existence and survival is like for one lonely little boy. A fine read for the drama and the poetry will stay with you for a long time.\"- Judith Koll Healey, author of \u003cem\u003eThe Canterbury Papers\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eThe Rebel Princess\u003c\/em\u003e and the forthcoming \u003cem\u003eBecket: The Murder Book\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"An elegantly written and heart-wrenching tale that transports readers to a time not so long ago and yet a lifetime away. Ristau leaves us wanting to devour the next installment in the series.\" - Stephen Yoch, award-winning author of \u003cem\u003eBecoming George Washington\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cem\u003eA Hero Dreams\u003c\/em\u003e takes us from the relatively normal childhood of Ricky Williamson-to a point where he must decide whether to allow the sorrows of the world to burden him or whether to step free into a magical place where all is possible. Mark Ristau has written a lovely book that tantalizes us with the line between reality and all that might be beyond.\" - Mary Logue, author of the Claire Watkins mysteries and \u003cem\u003eSleep Like a Tiger\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Beaver's Pond Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41321599041686,"sku":"9781592988037","price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0477\/8731\/1254\/products\/img_proxy_67c77ad2-cfc3-4f59-8f34-43b9d6b16838.jpg?v=1642158347"},{"product_id":"beyond-the-threshold-book-2-of-2-heros-path","title":"Beyond the Threshold: Book 2 of 2: Hero's Path","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this highly anticipated follow-up to the award-winning \u003cem\u003eA Hero Dreams\u003c\/em\u003e, Ricky Williamson is now a seemingly well-adjusted adult and loyal corporate employee, working diligently in a ten-by-ten cubicle—a mere breath away from executive row. Under the surface, though, he's haunted by memories of an incident that occurred twenty-five years ago at a Maine summer camp. Consumed by rage and hell-bent on revenge, he's ready to execute a deadly plan. Regular trips to the gun range have sharpened his skills. His arsenal is fully stocked. It's just a matter of choosing the right moment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut something extraordinary occurs when Ricky discovers the body of a young boy floating along the grassy shore of a neighborhood lake. The boy wakes, and their eyes meet. It's impossible, yet he's a spitting image of Ricky at the age of ten.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat happens when parallel universes collide? Are we inescapably bound by circumstance? Or do we have within us the power to rise above the past and choose a different path?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMark Ristau\u003c\/strong\u003e is an award-winning author whose life took a sharp turn when he was downsized from a corporate attorney job he'd held for nearly fifteen years. Instead of sending out his résumé, however, he decided it was time to pursue his dream. Selling his house and virtually all his belongings, he packed the car and migrated to a town on Florida's Gulf Coast, setting for the prologue to the first book in the Hero's Path series, \u003cem\u003eA Hero Dreams\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSix years later, \u003cem\u003eA Hero Dreams\u003c\/em\u003e was published, followed by \u003cem\u003eBeyond the Threshold\u003c\/em\u003e, which chronicles the journey of Mark's protagonist, Ricky Williamson, into adulthood and the days leading up to 9\/11.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Our choices in life, and the power of forgiveness, are the themes in this absorbing bildungsroman, the follow-up to 'A Hero Dreams,' that follows troubled hero Ricky Williamson from his childhood in the 1970s up to the dawn of the new millennium. The assault he endured as a child has left its mark on his personality, and he has had deep problems at work and eventually looks to get back at the people who have hurt him. But a mysterious boy named David suddenly appears in his life—or at least in his mind—forcing Ricky to face his past and helps him remake his life for a better future.\" - BookLife Reviews\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Mark Ristau's 'Beyond the Threshold' is a provocative, enlightening read. [His] well-crafted writing takes both his characters and readers to the edge.\" - IndieReader Reviews\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Following in the footsteps of Charles Dickens, Mark Ristau takes a young man on an intense and magical journey, revealing what his life had been, what it has come to, and what it might be. In this novel we come to see the stories we tell ourselves and how to break out of them by going 'Beyond the Threshold.'\" - \u003cstrong\u003eMary Logue\u003c\/strong\u003e, author of the Claire Watkins mysteries and \"The Streel\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Author Ristau deftly entwines memoir-like realism with a mysterious supernatural plotline. Vivid prose and deeply emotional scenes draw you in, and the mystical storyline sets the hook. Ultimately, a poignant and introspective journey of self-discovery.\" - \u003cstrong\u003eKevin A. Kuhn\u003c\/strong\u003e, award-winning author of \"Do You Realize?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"'Beyond the Threshold' reveals the extreme pain and daunting struggles many young people face daily as they battle the invisible pain of adversity. Author Mark Ristau masterfully exposes the trauma, gnawing pain and invisible damage so many people encounter. A true challenge in writing such a story is to make it palatable to the reader. Ristau succeeds beyond expectation by using his words to masterfully paint beautiful scenes and intriguing, believable characters. 'Beyond the Threshold' exposes the challenge of invisible wounds for all to see.\" - \u003cstrong\u003eCapt. Jim Kosmo\u003c\/strong\u003e, author and speaker\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Beaver's Pond Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41925984616598,"sku":"9781643437941","price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0477\/8731\/1254\/products\/9781643437941ita.jpg?v=1657212121"}],"url":"https:\/\/itascabooks.com\/collections\/mark-ristau.oembed","provider":"Itasca Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}