Mona Lisa and Mad Hatter
"They don't get more human or interesting than this, Ollie."
When syndicated columnist Oliver Caudle stops to gawk at a larger-than-life figure on a bone-chilling Chicago street corner, he expects a simple human-interest story. What he finds is Mona Lisa-a six-foot-two powerhouse in a royal blue satin dress-and her silent, dancing companion, the Mad Hatter.
In the seventh installment of The All-American Songbook, Oliver is drawn away from the Magnificent Mile and into "The Freq," a crimson-walled pub where the darkness is a physical weight and the music serves as a secular communion. But the real story isn't found under the strobe lights; it's uncovered over eight hours of coffee and relentless snow in a 1956 diner.
From a tragic Wall Street legacy and a father's dying wish of solidarity to a heartbreaking loss in Baltimore, Munson Lumpkin reveals the man behind the makeup. It is a journey through "strange times" where the lines between performance and reality blur, ending in a sunrise gospel performance that turns a city diner into a cathedral.
A lyrical exploration of paternal legacy, the weight of a name, and the life-saving power of grace.
Autorentext
Gene Strother lives in Texas with his wife. They have three daughters and four grandsons...and a lifetime of memories. He is the author of four other books, including the 2002 novel, The Preacher's Kid. All of Gene's previous works were released under the pen name L.A. Holly, which he contrived from the names of his daughters, Ashley, Lacey, and Holly.
Gene has successfully served in executive roles in nonprofit and for-profit sectors. He is currently president of a school that trains insurance claims adjusters.