The Soul City Salvation

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Pub Date Mar 24 2020 | Archive Date Apr 08 2020
Almendro Arts | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles

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Description

Ten months—that’s how long twenty-six-year-old writer and aspiring actor Jay Sakovsky decides to stay and teach in the bohemian beach town of Soul City, California, to save up cash and overcome his anxiety before moving on to Hollywood.

But after several “friendly chats” with the vice principal about hangover sweats and black eyes from barroom brawls, Jay sees a therapist who helps him connect his self-destructive tendencies and artistic blocks to his undiagnosed OCD, setting him on a ten-year healing journey that drives him to near madness as he explores the limits of his heart, creativity, and psyche.

A surreal, darkly comic, and psychologically epic novel, The Soul City Salvation explores mental illness, friendship, aging, masculinity, modern love, the creative process, spiritual awakening, and fighting for respect in an uncaring world.

Ten months—that’s how long twenty-six-year-old writer and aspiring actor Jay Sakovsky decides to stay and teach in the bohemian beach town of Soul City, California, to save up cash and overcome his...


A Note From the Publisher

Paperback (9780998840383) - price is $18.95 and will be available on Ingram in February.


Author photograph by Caja de Luz Photography

Paperback (9780998840383) - price is $18.95 and will be available on Ingram in February.


Author photograph by Caja de Luz Photography


Advance Praise

“Jay is revealed to be an intriguing soul to follow, and LaPoma seamlessly depicts aspects of Jay’s mental illness as well as his attempts to get successfully published. Along the way, the author effectively plays with the theme of control—specifically, Jay’s lack of it, in both his classrooms and in his personal life . . . Readers who are looking for . . . a good character study of an educator yearning for more will be satisfied . . . A . . . highly readable tale of a struggling but well-meaning schoolteacher.”
—Kirkus Reviews, Recommended Review

“Picking up one of Jonathan LaPoma’s novels feels to me like coming home . . . Like somebody understands and isn’t afraid to tell it like it is . . . Jay’s struggles are  so honest that it hurts . . . Even being over 400 pages long I absolutely devoured this story! It’s one of those “Just one more chapter!” books . . . that just emphasizes the realism of dealing with mental disorders. Healing isn’t a linear path. And sometimes the things we do to try and better ourselves do more harm than good . . .The Soul City Salvation had me in tears as it hit me over and over again that other people think the way I do, and that, if it can be okay for them, I can survive too . . . This novel preaches hope and understanding in these blasé fast times. . . if you are looking for one of those books that deals with real issues, mental health, or slightly psychedelic self healing, The Soul City Salvation  is definitely worth a read. . .The passion that this author has for his work pulses through the story . . . The passion doesn’t come across feeling forced, either . . . Jonathan LaPoma has insane talent in writing and I wish more than anything that he were more popular because he deserves the recognition so, so much! (I’ll stop gushing now—sorry!)"
—Audrey, Warped Shelves

"A philosophical story of growth, insight, and discovery . . . that moves beyond the usual focus on young adults to consider an adult's evolutionary process . . . Readers looking for an introspective journey will relish The Soul City Salvation for its ever-changing evolutionary realizations which offer rich food for thought long after Jay's story concludes.”
—Diane Donovan, California Bookwatch

“Jay is revealed to be an intriguing soul to follow, and LaPoma seamlessly depicts aspects of Jay’s mental illness as well as his attempts to get successfully published. Along the way, the author...


Marketing Plan

Author is available for interviews, blog tours, autographed book giveaways, contests, and book club discussions.

Jonathan LaPoma is an award-winning, best-selling novelist, screenwriter, songwriter, and poet from Buffalo, NY. In 2005, he received a BA in history and a secondary education credential from the State University of New York at Geneseo, and he traveled extensively throughout the United States and Mexico after graduating. These experiences have become the inspiration for much of his writing, which often explores themes of alienation and misery as human constructions that can be overcome through self-understanding and the acceptance of suffering.

LaPoma has written five novels, thirteen screenplays, and hundreds of songs and poems. His screenplays have won over 160 awards/honors at various international screenwriting competitions, and his black comedy script HARM FOR THE HOLIDAYS was optioned by Warren Zide along with Wexlfish Pictures (AMERICAN PIE, FINAL DESTINATION, THE BIG HIT) in July 2017.

LaPoma's novels have been recommended by Kirkus Reviews and Barnes and Noble (B&N Press Presents list), have hit the #1 Amazon Bestseller lists in the "Satire," "Urban Life," "Metaphysical," "Metaphysical & Visionary," and "Religious & Inspirational" Kindle categories (USA, Canada, and Australia), and have won awards/honors in the 2018 Eric Hoffer Book Award, the 2016 and 2017 Florida Authors and Publishers Association President's Awards, and the 2015 Stargazer Literary Prizes. He lives in Mexico City.

Author is available for interviews, blog tours, autographed book giveaways, contests, and book club discussions.

Jonathan LaPoma is an award-winning, best-selling novelist, screenwriter, songwriter...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9780998840390
PRICE $4.99 (USD)

Average rating from 14 members


Featured Reviews

This book reminded me of two things; one- we are all on different journeys and two- we don't get there at the same time worse off the same way. I love how easy it was to relate to Jay, because he was human- he was imperfect, difficult, weary, sweet, hopeful, creative, loving, scared- everything in one and on top of this he did not know how to find his way to the inner peace that he was looking for, because what he saw on the surface as anxiety turned out to be much more.
There's a part in the book where he asks "How long will it take to fix me?" and it tore at my heartstrings.
So, honestly speaking, this is not one of those books you can say will make you feel a certain type of way, and that's refreshing. It will however make you feel different things at different times and you may or may not fancy it.
Major shout out to the cover designer!
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.

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This was such an emotional read, as Jay was an extremely relatable character. So many of us are not where we want to be in life when we want to be. The author conveyed this struggle with Jay and his journey, along with how people come into your life just when you need them to. Jay's journey was an interesting read and I found it to be realistic.

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Wow, I loved this book way more than I anticipated. I knew I would enjoy it because I love a book that gives an honest depiction of mental health and the struggles that come along with it, but LaPoma knocked this one out of the park.

The main character’s struggle with his mental health was written with such passion and felt so heartfelt that it almost felt at times that I was just having a conversation with a friend about our struggles. It was a deeply honest and compassion depiction of OCD and mental health struggles, and is one I’ll definitely be recommending to everyone.

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