Sentiments of Blue VBT July 2011

About Sentiments of Blue


Set in a Michigan factory, the title story takes readers inside a workplace dominated by a ruthless bully and his cronies. While explaining the actions taking place around him, it becomes clear that the narrator yearns to escape the blue-collar life handed down to him from his father. “Perfect Game” unfolds during a minor league baseball game with Chi-Chi Gomez on the mound, a fearless pitcher who never fails to brush a few batters back from the plate–a space he considers his personal property. Along with other stories, the book also features original poems including “Uncle Nardo’s Store,” “My Father’s Foot,” and “The Malediction of Miss Holstein.”

Read an Excerpt!


The Careers of My Mother

When I was a boy
she was a secretary.
Her nights were filled
with filing groceries,
taking phone calls,
posting notes
around his office
to remind him of things
he always forgot.

Then, when I turned fourteen,
My mother earned her law degree.
As a defense counselor,
she became a dazzling chief litigator,
furious with her polished tongue,
bullying us with verbal assaults,
clearing his name with brilliant oration
while drilling her steely finger into my chest
with every point she made!

Today, she’s a nurse.
From the den I watch her
slowly lean over to turn him,
stroke his hair, cut the drool that sways,
from the corner of his mouth,
kiss his hand that trembles
between the tubes that feed him.

About Garasamo Maccagnone

Garasamo Maccagnone is a writer and entrepreneur. The founder of a successful airfreight business, Maccagnone now focuses on his literary career. He is the author of the novel St. John of the Midfield, the novella, For the Love of St. Nick, a collection of short stories entitled, My Dog Tim and Other Stories, and a children’s book titled, The Suburban Dragon. Sentiments of Blue is his latest short story collection. Maccagnone currently lives in Shelby Township where he is working on his second novel, The Sorrows of Pebble Creek.

Find the author online at http://garasamomaccagnone.com/.

If you missed last week's tour stops you can find them at:

Monday, July 11th

Guest blogging at Review from Here

Tuesday, July 12th
Book reviewed at J.W. Nicklaus’ Blog

Wednesday, July 13th

Guest blogging at Lori’s Reading Corner

Friday, July 15th
Interviewed at Examiner

Here is this week's schedule so you can follow along:

Monday, July 18th
Book trailer featured at If Books Could Talk

Tuesday, July 19th

Guest blogging at AllVoices

Wednesday, July 20th

Book spotlighted at American Chronicle

Thursday, July 21st

Radio interview at 6:30 PM Eastern at A Book and A Chat

Friday, July 22nd
Book spotlighted at Broowaha

For the author's complete schedule, please visit http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2011/05/17/sentiments-of-blue-virtual-book-tour-june-july-2011/

Sentiments of Blue VBT July 2011

About Sentiments of Blue


Set in a Michigan factory, the title story takes readers inside a workplace dominated by a ruthless bully and his cronies. While explaining the actions taking place around him, it becomes clear that the narrator yearns to escape the blue-collar life handed down to him from his father. “Perfect Game” unfolds during a minor league baseball game with Chi-Chi Gomez on the mound, a fearless pitcher who never fails to brush a few batters back from the plate–a space he considers his personal property. Along with other stories, the book also features original poems including “Uncle Nardo’s Store,” “My Father’s Foot,” and “The Malediction of Miss Holstein.”

Read an Excerpt!


The Careers of My Mother

When I was a boy
she was a secretary.
Her nights were filled
with filing groceries,
taking phone calls,
posting notes
around his office
to remind him of things
he always forgot.

Then, when I turned fourteen,
My mother earned her law degree.
As a defense counselor,
she became a dazzling chief litigator,
furious with her polished tongue,
bullying us with verbal assaults,
clearing his name with brilliant oration
while drilling her steely finger into my chest
with every point she made!

Today, she’s a nurse.
From the den I watch her
slowly lean over to turn him,
stroke his hair, cut the drool that sways,
from the corner of his mouth,
kiss his hand that trembles
between the tubes that feed him.

About Garasamo Maccagnone

Garasamo Maccagnone is a writer and entrepreneur. The founder of a successful airfreight business, Maccagnone now focuses on his literary career. He is the author of the novel St. John of the Midfield, the novella, For the Love of St. Nick, a collection of short stories entitled, My Dog Tim and Other Stories, and a children’s book titled, The Suburban Dragon. Sentiments of Blue is his latest short story collection. Maccagnone currently lives in Shelby Township where he is working on his second novel, The Sorrows of Pebble Creek.
Find the author online at http://garasamomaccagnone.com/.

Visit the author's tour stops this week at:

Tuesday, July 5th


Book reviewed at Paperback Writer


Wednesday, July 6th

Book spotlighted at The Writer’s Life

Thursday, July 7th

Guest blogging at The Story Behind the Book

Friday, July 8th

Guest blogging at Authors and Appetizers

Book Review: Sentiments of Blue by Garasamo Maccagnone

An edgy, emotional collection of poetry and short stories awaits you in Sentiments of Blue by Garasamo Maccagnone.

Opening with a series of five poems, Maccagnone drives deeply into the hearts and minds of his characters. From a mother, to a teacher, to memories of an uncle's butcher shop and dear old dad, the author provides a provocative look at life.

"Sentiments of Blue," the title story, gives the reader a glimpse into blue collar America, as the narrator navigates a world dominated by a bully and his cronies, wishing only to break free of the shackles handed down to him by his father.

The other stories in this collection peer into our human existence with a sometimes touching, and other times cynical view. "The Note Giver" takes place over several days, where a mysterious note giver upsets the congregation of St. Isidore's. "The Conversion" finds two minor league hockey players sent up to the majors, followed by chaos and life changing decisions. Also included  are "Holy Thursday" and "Perfect Game."

Sentiments of Blue is a manly collection. The talk is rough and many of the happenings aren't pretty. Maccagnone has mastered the first person narrative with these stories, connecting the reader with his main character and drawing him right in.


Title: Sentiments of Blue
Author:  Garasamo Maccagnone
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN-10: 1456549979
ISBN-13: 978-1456549978
SRP:  $12.45

The author paid me to promote his book with a virtual book tour through Pump Up Your Book! This fee did not include a review. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I received no monetary compensation.