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A Virtuoso in America blog tour includes an exclusive excerpt. Read, share, comment, follow.
Book Title and Author Name:
A Virtuoso in America: Adrian
by Fred Raymond Goldman
Blurb:
How do you reconcile a decision you made in the past when the world erupts in war, threatening the life of someone you love and believe you were protecting?
Adrian Mazurek immigrated to the United States from Krakow, Poland, 14 years ago and is now a successful violin soloist and concertmaster of The Eleventh State Symphony Orchestra in New York. But despite his outward success, Adrian is inwardly harboring a shameful secret, one he has not revealed to anyone.
However, that is about to change. Adrian plans to propose marriage to Suzanne, but he knows he must tell her the truth about his past before doing so. Riddled with guilt and shame, Adrian can barely look at himself in the mirror. How can he look Suzanne in the eyes and tell her that he left his infant son, Simon, in the care of his aunt and uncle in Poland 14 years ago? If only confessing the truth to Suzanne was the most difficult part.
Adrian soon learns that Germany has invaded Poland and World War II has begun. Fearing the Germans will learn that his son is of Jewish heritage, Adrian must do something to ensure Simon’s safety. But what? And will Suzanne stand by his side or will she turn away because of his deceit?
Excerpt 1:
Adrian had been attracted to Suzanne immediately at a welcoming party for Alistair McGowan in November 1937. The occasion was Mc Gowan’s selection as music director and conductor of the symphony. Suzanne was with her fiancé, Bill Henderson. A hunting accident resulted in his death three months later, a month before their scheduled wedding. Adrian waited for what he considered to be a respectable time to ask her out to dinner. They dated intermittently until this past April when they became exclusive.
Adrian studied Suzanne. Her dark brown hair fell softly to her shoulders, accentuating her skin, clear and creamy. The bright red of her lipstick defined the fullness of her lips. He looked into those deep brown eyes of hers and thought of Chana. She, too, had been beautiful like Suzanne, with the same smooth skin and full lips. Had she had survived, would she have felt comfortable being driven in a limousine to the home of a count and contessa, where I’ll perform to a hand- picked array of New York’s elites. Would she have been able to bask in this moment with me, like Suzanne?
I’ll come to realize Chana and Suzanne were different people. Suzanne was mature, a person in her own right, well established in her career and secure in herself. Unlike Chana, she could manage whatever came her way, including the demands of his profession. What’s more, he and Suzanne shared many of the same interests and values, which, to me, made them compatible. There was no reason not to propose to her. He wouldn’t hurt her like he had Chana and leave behind a mess as he had in Poland.
Suzanne interrupted his reverie. “What are you thinking?”
He turned his attention back to her. “Nothing. What’s that perfume you’re wearing? You smell delicious.”
She gave him a playful punch on his arm. “It’s Joy. You should know my favorite perfume by now.”
“Be careful. My arms are my fortune. I’ve got to play well for the contessa and her dinner guests if we’re going to raise enough money to meet the orchestra’s contractual demands.”
Mr. Reitman patted his daughter’s knee. “Amen,” he said smiling. “Perhaps you’d better keep your hands off Adrian tonight, my dear.”
Adrian leaned over and gave Suzanne a light kiss on the cheek. He knew she’d be fussy about getting her lipstick smeared. She immediately pulled out her gold compact to check her lipstick and hair.
Buy Link:
Universal Buy Link: https://geni.us/6TOaPa
Author Bio:
Fred Raymond Goldman graduated from Western Maryland College in Westminster, MD (now McDaniel College) in June 1962 with a B.A. in psychology. In 1964, he earned an M.S.W. degree from the University of Maryland School of Social Work.
Most of his career was devoted to the Jewish Communal Service. He served as the administrator of Northwest Drug Alert, a methadone maintenance program at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, where he also became the community’s reference point for steering drug abusers to Jewish resources. The work focused on helping individuals achieve abstinence, receive counseling, and find employment.
Following this role, Fred was hired as Assistant to the Director of Jewish Family Services in Baltimore.
The final position in his professional career was with Har Sinai Congregation, a Jewish Reform synagogue in Baltimore, where he served as Executive Director for 23 years before retiring in October 2005.
In retirement, Fred pursued his interests in hiking with The Maryland Hiking Club, exploring nature, and volunteering at The Irvine Nature Center, where he guided schoolchildren on nature hikes and assisted in the Center’s nature store.
Writing had been an interest since childhood, though Fred did not pursue it seriously until retirement. Beginning with children’s books, he became a member of the Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Association. Among the works he wrote were Vera and the Blue Bear Go to the Zoo, Never Bite an Elephant (And Other Bits of Wisdom), The Day the School Bus Drivers Went on Strike, If You Count, and The Day the School Devices Went on Strike. Although these works were never published, Fred hopes that if the CONCERTO books gain recognition, opportunities for these earlier works may follow.
The journey of writing the CONCERTO companion books began after Fred noticed a note on the local library bulletin board announcing the formation of a writer’s group led voluntarily by a local author. Joining the group with nine others, he learned the essentials of writing—maintaining the protagonist’s point of view, building tension toward a climax, rewriting, and developing complex characters with flaws, peculiarities, and unique personalities.
Over four years, Fred devoted significant time to writing, researching, rewriting, and submitting the manuscript. Originally one book titled The Auschwitz Concerto, the project was later divided into two volumes and self-published. For a time, the title The Box was also considered.
Encouragement from the teacher and fellow writers in the group played a pivotal role in shaping the novels, as Fred also contributed to the successes of others through critique and support.
In the Author’s Notes, Fred explains the purpose of making the books available to the public. Before embarking on the project, he knew little about the Holocaust beyond its staggering toll of nine million lives and its place as one of history’s darkest chapters. In writing the novels, he not only gained deeper knowledge of history and human suffering but also developed a heightened awareness of current issues that demand attention. As he notes, what affects one group of people has the potential to affect all of us.
Author Links:
Author Page on Publisher’s Website: https://www.historiumpress.com/fred-goldman
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Fred-Raymond-Goldman/author/B0C2QMBZ9X
Thank you so much for hosting Fred Raymond Goldman today, with an excerpt from his moving novel, A Virtuoso in America.
Take care,
Cathie xo
The Coffee Pot Book Club