The Coming of a Man by Will Lonardo

About the book

Leon Vincenti, hardened by abandonment as a child, becomes a talented but struggling artist in the big city. He lives the life of a recluse, believing relationships eventually lead to heartbreak; but when he meets up with Vito, an old vagabond, he uncharacteristically befriends him. When Vito is found brutally beaten, Leon's feelings for the old man turn almost obsessive, which is puzzling to him.

While Vito lies in the hospital recuperating, his two cats and supernatural winds guide Leon to the old man's cardboard shack. There he uncovers a box with intriguing contents -- including a highly ornate ring. The ring holds far more value than its gold and jeweled settings, which will later convince Leon that Vito is not an ordinary man.

When Vito suddenly discharges himself from the hospital after having an ominous visitor, Leon and Rosa, the owner of the neighborhood cafe, brave a raging blizzard to look for him. They find the old man, but not before having an encounter with three villainous hoods that would have resulted in Rosa's rape had it not been for a band of street people, led by Reverend Jack. Vito refuses to return to the hospital, so Leon reluctantly takes him in. This disruption of his private life triggers one of Leon's drunken rages, and Vito leaves in the middle of the night. Leon is overcome with guilt and goes out on the streets again to look for him. During the search, the same evil three that he and Rosa had met accost him in Bumtown. The leader, Judah, demands the ring, which Vito now has back in his possession, but Leon feigns ignorance. They bludgeon Leon and leave him naked in the street.

After being helped once again by Reverend Jack and his "apostles," Leon stays with them for a while but then leaves to continue his search for Vito. Upon returning home, he finds that it has been broken into. During the night Rosa's screams from across the street awaken him, and he sees Judah with his two henchmen exiting the cafe. He runs over to find Rosa and her brother beaten and stabbed. When the police arrive on the scene, Leon retreats back to the loft totally distraught and disgusted with life and prepares an alter of drugs and alcohol to commit suicide. In Leon's semi-conscious state, Vito appears and takes him on a dreamlike journey through time and space that reveals the fate of Leon's mother, Vito's divine mission from another era to prepare a chosen preceptor of good, Judah's kinship to Vito, and the prophetic possibilities of humankind's future.

Leon arises from his trancelike state not knowing whether or not the visions were real, but he feels transformed by the experience. Once again led by Vito's magical cats, he discovers the old man at the same outdoor amphitheater as before, and a confrontation between good and evil ensues. Reverend Jack, now revealed to be Leon's father, is slain, and Judah, along with his evil disciples, is banished. Vito is granted the Paradise that he had so desired, and Leon's life begins anew in service to his fellow man.

About the author

For over a quarter of a century, Will Lonardo's experience as a Communicator has encompassed every creative regimen the word COMMUNICATIONS defines. As a promotional designer/writer, marketer, publicist, and event producer, he has served as a professional consultant to a diversity of clientele.

Attending The Philadelphia College of Art, he majored in Visual Communications/Advertising. Recognized as an expert in "People Communications," Mr. Lonardo has provided expertise in the areas of College Relations & Development, Product & Service Presentation, Capital Fund Campaign Packaging, Employee Quality Programs, Business-to-Business Promotion, Consumer Sales & Awareness Events, Corporate/Institutional Identity Campaigns and People Management.

While President/CEO of The Lonardo Group, a $2 million Advertising Agency, Mr. Lonardo administered and directed the firm during 17 years of client marketing successes. Example, - LeHigh Valley Bank's name change (prior to Wachovia) and tri-county consumer image campaign was recognized by the Pennsylvania Bank Marketing Association for which the agency and Bank received The Penn-Jer-Del Chapter "Penny Award" (Marketing the company). Example - For Chevrolet the AGency pioneered the Dealer Association concept which created a group advertising revenue base for joint regional group promotions. The Agency received marketing awards, industry recognition and nationwide editorial coverage from the N.A.R.B. for effective retail marketing.

Mr. Lonardo's innovative Communication style is further reflected by college lectures on visual communication, ongoing community commitments, plus six authored books and a screenplay.

WRITING ENDEAVORS:

Authored the memoir Walls, based on an abandoned little boy's affliction with a rare disease and his abused and troubled years in a boys' home

Where Have You Been Billy Boy?, a screenplay adaptation of Walls

The Coming of a Man, an inspirational story of a struggling young artist who befriends a mysterious old vagabond from another time

Early American Shu-Bop, a '50s adventure novel centered around a gang of teenagers who befriend a radio DJ. The first of a series, it is replete with American History, mystery and the paranormal.

Mama's Boy, The Family Within, a '40s period fiction about a young boxer, who takes a dive, and his mother, who flee from the Mafia's vendetta and find sanctuary in an old monastery with Franciscan priests

Cape Song, contemporary fiction about a true but broken 1700s love affair, and an unemployed 55-year-old adman's attempts to rewrite its history, which involves his daughter's troubled life in the present

The Painter, sequel to The Coming of a Man, tells of the artist's moral rebirth and his prophetic paintings that bring him notoriety for their reflection on contemporary times (a work in progress)

An ongoing series of magazine articles for KidsPeace (Kids in Crisis), along with newspaper editorials that are devoted to the subjects of parenting and childrearing. Also researched and wrote a published piece in conjunction with the United States Air Force on the history of their Military Art Collection and Aviation Artist program.