Volume 7- Issue 2, February 2007
Published by Llumina Press

LluminaLlumina Press           

Contact:  Mitchell Uscher, Director of Publicity

1-866-262-6253 (toll-free),  954-726-0902 (fax)

mitch@llumina.com          www.llumina.com

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

First Time Novelist Algernon Michael Roark

Publishes Unidentical Carbon Copies

With Llumina Press

 

New African-American Writer Sets His Story of Determination and Discovery

In His Native Country of Jamaica and in New York City

 

Tamarac, FL – First time novelist Algernon Michael Roark has just published his book Unidentical Carbon Copies with Llumina Press.  The African-American author has set his story of determination and discovery in his native country of Jamaica and in New York City.

 

The book tells the story of a young boy named Jerome who grows up in a poor section of Jamaica, and his family, including the father who abandons them and the mother who moves to Kingston and becomes a successful beautician.

 

Jerome grows up to be an excellent student and musician.  When he meets international pop star Alfonso Roshan, their relationship becomes professional--and personal.  Jerome eventually moves to New York City where he becomes a respected doctor.

 

Unidentical Carbon Copies touches on many topics of interest to contemporary readers including homosexuality, the Christian religion, family dynamics, mental illness, and emotional trauma.

 

Author Roark spent his early years in rural Jamaica just as his protagonist Jerome does in the book.  Roark describes his birth home as a mountainous estate filled with the haunting calls of birds and creeping creatures hidden in exotic plants. 

 

Like the character of Jerome in his novel, Roark also moved to New York City.  He was educated at Fordham University and now reaches people with developmental disabilities.  He feels that if the world were a different place, many of those labeled as “challenged” could lead productive lives side by side with the rest of mainstream society.

 

In the epilogue to his book, Roark writes, “In the popular Jamaican folklore, the donkey rolls on its back declaring that the world is not level.  It continued to roll throughout the years for it is yet to find a level surface.  The world is full of rugged spots, nourished with negativity of every sort and yet in all that jaggedness, there lies an oasis where positivity and goodness can flourish.  Then on that fertile ground, exists the possibility to construct a mirror, one that is only of its kind.  And in this looking glass of truth we will begin to see some likeness in ourselves and the people next door, a likeness which is a frightening carbon copy but in many ways unidentical.”

 

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Unidentical Carbon Copies

Religious/Christian

Publication: December, 2007

 

Author: Algernon Michael Roark

ISBN: 978-1-59526-770-2

Trade Paperback                                 Pages: 300

Price: $15.95                                       Size: 6” x 9”

 

Available from Llumina Press, Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Amazon, and other bookstores.

Toll-Free Orders Line: 1-866-229-9244

Or visit us at http://www.llumina.com

 

About the Author:

 

Algernon Michael Roark was born in rural Jamaica.  He now lives in New York City and was educated at Fordham University.  Roark teaches people with developmental disabilities.  He feels that if the world were different, many of his clients could lead productive lives side by side with the rest of mainstream society.