Welcome to TRB Lounge! We’re thrilled to host author Jack Lucci today, who will be unveiling a tantalising excerpt from their newest masterpiece, Loving & Leaving. Dive in and get an exclusive sneak peek into the intriguing world they’ve crafted in their latest work!

About the Book

Loving & Leaving

The first installment of Jack Lucci’s living memoir, Loving & Leaving spans five years, touching on themes of gratefulness and regret and stories of love for people, places, narcotics, and the effort it takes to sustain that love. Far from stable and rather turbulent, Lucci chronicles his life as he oscillates between hero and anti-hero, sharing lessons learned in the Italian countryside, mistakes made in America’s Second City, the angst and constriction of southeastern Washington, and observations on the miserable Oregon coast. Whether you find yourself rooting for or against him, Loving & Leaving is the result of bleeding over the keyboard.

You can find Loving & Leaving here:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Excerpt

The light coming in over the water’s edge was blinding. One must block a portion to see the subject clearly. She was a comet crashing through, a most delighted interruption. A shot and a beer sat in front of her, a half-full pack of American Spirit tobacco, and a single hand-rolled cigarette. While my initial impression would turn out to be partially incorrect, I doubt anyone could live up to the way she appeared to me in that moment.

Discovering love seems to be an instant, a flash, bulbs burst, an image captured forever. A single-minded drive to share a moment. My goal became to talk to her. Stan pumped fleeting courage into my spine, and I kept an eye on her. I waited like an alligator in the brush, on the edge of the water, lying completely still, aware that if she perceived any movement, it would be taken as a threat, and while she certainly may evade me, I had a smile to surprise her with. She began to move, taking a step toward the patio.

This was my moment to act. Other predators inhabit the environment, and they, too, stalk their prey. I drank my beer and positioned a pre-rolled cigarette, ready to light, attempting to appear natural, as if we serendipitously decided to step out at the same time. I stepped outside, and it was like stepping off a cliff. I imagine my face went white because my brain, right then, was completely empty. I struggled to offer a greeting; instead, I just stared, forcing her to acknowledge my presence and attempt to engage with the strange man in front of her.

She asked, “You need a light?”

I responded with words that, looking back, were purely instinctual, as there was no way I spoke on my own volition. She offered me a seat at the bench where she was sitting, which I accepted eagerly…

About The Author

Jack Lucci

 The American melancholic writer Jack Lucci was born in a valley at the base of the blues. Lucci has lived all over the world and shares stories from his travels with a deserved honesty concerning people, places, and things. Although Lucci may at times be his own worst enemy readers can expect honest introspection and vulnerability. His first book, Loving & Leaving is available now. His blog, Separation Naturalist can be found on his website, Jacklucci.com.

Author’s Website

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