Just published!
This was a work of love for me that began years ago, about ordinary people
who confront the extraordinary.
“LAKETOWN: a novel in stories”
** Available in paperback and e-book through Amazon and other online retailers **
In these four interconnected tales, residents of a rural Illinois lake town in the 1950s move through deep love, loneliness, great joy and the mystical, as they discover the truths that linger just below the surface of everyday lives. A farm couple, a young newspaper man, an aging sign painter, and a store owner, all carry us with them on their singular journeys.
"With themes of self-acceptance and connection to others, Gerald DiPego's expert, artful storytelling divulges the deepest yearnings of his small-town characters in the extraordinary Laketown, a gorgeous and memorable set of four novellas." - IndieReader 4+ starred review
"Swirling together the potent forces of nostalgia and the supernatural, DiPego revisits the rural Illinois of his childhood and bestows a mystical peace on his tormented characters." - Booklife by Publishers Weekly
“…a lyrical pleasure to read…” “…as compelling as it is unexpected.” - Kirkus Reviews
“Intriguing and mysterious!” - Rona Barrett, groundbreaking entertainment industry journalist, columnist, broadcaster and producer
“Magical and original, Laketown is filled with tales that open the mind and heart to feelings of longing and wonderment.” - Nancy Rae Stone, motion picture producer of Air Force One, The Family Man, Spy Game, and Thirteen Days
“With a touch of the metaphysical and an inspired imagination, DiPego takes us on a great ride.” - Michael Taylor, film and TV producer, professor, USC School of Cinematic Arts“Laketown keeps the reader intrigued and balancing on a fine wire of expectation and surprise in the superbly crafted atmospheres of DiPego’s penetrating imagination. A journey to be enjoyed and savored.” - Dan Gerber, award-winning author of novels, short stories, essays and poetry collections.
"Soulful, and romantic, Laketown instills a sense of peace, even as bold and magical events are happening before you.” - Jon Turtletaub, film producer and director of Cool Runnings, The Meg, While You Were Sleeping, Phenomenon, and National Treasure
“The read was fascinating. Highly recommended!" - Elayne Klasson, author of Love Is a Rebellious Bird
“In these stories, the genuine brilliance and full delight of a natural-born, finely-honed storyteller are on display.” - Ron Colone, author, essayist, and writer/columnist for California Central Coast newspapers; Artist Advocacy Foundation Director