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Jim Puskas
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A note about the cover art
by
Samantha Clark
for
“Until This Soul Departs”
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Working from the manuscript, Samantha
sought to capture some of the character
of the protagonist, Teddy McCoy —
and his state of mind at a moment in time.
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As has been the case throughout most of his life,
Teddy is a solitary figure,
a man accompanied here only by his dog.
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As he strolls along a city street at dusk,
Teddy recalls his former life,
in the world of development and construction,
while he contemplates his current state,
and wonders if he still has a future.
About the Author
Jim Puskas grew up in a fractured family, which included relationships with several emotionally troubled family members. He has worked for many years in a variety of businesses involving major construction, steel fabrication, and execution of major contracts. Jim is officially retired but remains very active, taking a leading role in his immediate community. He is deeply engaged in volunteer work with Kiwanis, seeking to improve the lives of children, both locally and worldwide.
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He reads very widely, often touching on matters of philosophy and metaphysics. Often, when reading, he’s been prompted to think, I could write something better than this! He has enjoyed literature all his life and felt a need to tell a very unusual personal family story, which resulted in his first book, Eastwind (2015), available through AuthorHouse.
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A member of both Kiwanis International and OACETT, Jim’s other interests include gardening, travel, and a lifetime of learning new things and exploring new ideas. He lives in Ottawa with his second wife, Ruth, and a troublesome cat.
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Explore More Books by Jim Puskas
About "Eastwind"
Eastwind is a very personal story, told in her own words by Louise Howard, a farm girl who grew up in a simpler age, a time and place where farms were much smaller than today, communities were close knit and everyone knew their place in the scheme of things.
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Girls like Louise were expected to marry, raise a family and accept the limitations and conventions of her time and place.
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But Louise was never destined to fit within those confines, and when she goes her own way she achieves much but pays the price for doing so.
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As the title implies, Louise often finds herself sailing against the prevailing westerly winds that dominate in her part of the world. She lives by her own set of rules and her desperate acts place her at odds with her family and the surrounding community.
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In this story, we encounter Louise as she is—imperfect, unyielding, a troubled soul. Many readers will find Louise a difficult person to like, or even to understand. But few readers are likely to forget her.
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Finally, sensing that she is approaching her final days, Louise decides on one last venture—to right some wrongs, overcome a bitter enemy and possibly leave a legacy.
About the Book
Until This Soul Departs is the life story of a man called Teddy McCoy, as told by his resident soul.
The ultimate outsider, Teddy is, by both nature and nurture, an iconoclast. He views mainstream traditions and institutions as impediments to be circumvented. He resents the privileged position of established figures, while at the same time wishing to gain a social foothold in the community that he denigrates. If challenged, his first reaction is to push back aggressively. He embraces his underdog status while striving for personal empowerment.
Teddy’s lack of advanced education and social refinement are disadvantages that he strives to neutralize by learning to think more quickly and unconventionally than those he sees as his rivals. Teddy achieves remarkable business and financial success but pays a very high price for it.
The resident soul, intimately aware of Teddy’s inner conflicts, seeks to positively influence Teddy on his life journey. But that soul arrives with baggage of its own and also suffers from its own failings.
This story is about Teddy’s success, his downfall and his ultimate redemption. And what becomes of the soul thereafter.
Get your copy today at 206 Main Street in Ottawa!