THE DOMINO EFFECT is the story of Danny Rorro, a charismatic kid from Queens poisoned by the past. A series of painful defeats have left him scarred and isolated from his neighborhood, his parents, and, most significantly, the benevolent ways of his childhood when he was known as “Domino.” With great insight, imagery and wit, Danny recalls his past in Queens and his coming-of-age at Hamden Academy. His story includes being brutalized for moral behavior, heart break at the hands of a friend, falling for a girl with a secret, a conflicted African-American roommate, privileged classmates, hostile wrestlers, regretful behavior and a robbery that threatens not only Hamden’s fragile social structure but Danny’s plans for redemption, as well. This fast-paced and powerful story is rich with conflict, humor, tenderness and music – just like life, especially when coming-of-age.

The Domino Effect Book Review

Andrew Cotto is a writer and teacher who lives in Brooklyn, NY. He is the author of two novels: The Domino Effect is a coming-of-age story about a kid from Queens with a damaged past and a complicated present at a boarding school in rural New Jersey; Outerborough Blues: A Brooklyn Mystery is an unconventional noir about a drifter seeking a missing person and a remedy to his family’s curse in the dawn of urban gentrification. His novels are represented by Dunow, Carlson and Lerner Literary Agency. Andrew’s articles have appeared in many national journals, including the New York Times, Men’s Journal, Salon, the Good Men Project and Teachers & Writers Magazine. For the past six years, Andrew has taught composition courses and creative writing workshops in New York City. He has an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School and a BA in Literature from Lynchburg College.

“It was the hour of prowling bears, circling nightowls, vengeful spirits, and savage hearts. It was the hour of predators.”

Two murders have shocked and divided the Canadian community of Bella Coola, a small, isolated village in a remote river valley on the coast of British Columbia. The evidence points to a teenaged Nuxalk boy, and the simmering tension between whites and tribe members heats up. To find the truth RCMP Inspector Marcus Chao must sort through misleading clues, cultural conflicts, tangled relationships, sexual scandals, and even indications that the crimes might have been committed by a sorcerer.

Marcus is a man whose life has skidded into remorse and misery. His own infidelity has ended his marriage to the woman he still loves, and now he finds himself with only two things to keep his sinking spirits afloat: the need to serve justice and his eternal fascination with solving the mystery of the crime. This latest puzzle, however, is proving to be a maze of intrigue and suspense, and his mettle as a detective as well as his principles will be tested.

Photo courtesy of LaneStark.com

Lane Stark has had three enduring passions through her life: travel, art, and the written word. She has traveled the world, lived abroad in both Europe and Asia, and experienced many cultures. She holds a B.A. and M.A. in linguistics, has studied eight languages, and recently ended a career as a graphic artist. She has now turned her creative attentions to full-time writing and leisure-time photography. Travel provides a wealth of inspiration for books, and she finds herself weaving tales around the people she meets and the places she explores. She and her husband have indulged their love of the vagabond life by moving into an RV full-time and following the roadways to new adventures. She is currently working on a second novel featuring RCMP Inspector Marcus Chao, A Premature Death.

For more information about the author and her books, visit LaneStark.com

“You don’t normally wear hats, Em,” Eric commented as I met him outside the arcade. My cheeks flushed as I self-consciously pulled the beanie a little farther down my head to hide the bandage.

“Maybe I wanted to surprise you?” It didn’t throw him off the scent as I’d hoped, but he knew I wouldn’t admit what happened.

Eric took a deep breath and raised his eyebrows as we trudged down the street. “So...” He wasn’t going to make it easy for me.

“Who have you got for Registration this year?”

“Oh, Mr. Carter.”

“The Physics teacher?”

“That’s the one. The Bogeyman!” Eric swooped beside me and tried to dig his fingers into my sides.

I smiled as I dodged him and couldn’t help but give him a playful punch. “It wasn’t bad enough that you caught him digging for gold so now he has to put up with your face for the next year?”

Eric’s jaw dropped in mock disgust. “What’s wrong with my face?” His hands pawed at his perfectly chiselled jaw.

“Oh you know, you just have a little something,” I waved my hand in a circle in front of him, “right around here.”

“Your words cut me to the very core, Em.” A wry smile passed over his handsome face, and my stomach clenched in response.

“I’m sure you’ll survive. Maybe you and Mr. Carter could comfort each other?”

“Maybe you’re right. Maybe I’ll tell Mr. Carter about crying myself to sleep at night because you don’t like my face.”

“I didn’t say that.”

A wicked gleam leaped into his brown eyes, and a grin stretched at my cheeks. “So you like my face?”

“I didn’t say that, either.”

Experiences can make us or break us and it's no different for sixteen-year-old, Emily.

Living under the roof of her abusive Uncle, Emily is brutally attacked by a gang and wakes up from a coma with no recollection of the accident.

As the amnesia starts to clear, Emily realises that her memory is not the only thing coming back to her from the accident. There's also a wild, angry power that she has to control before it destroys her and everyone else.

So the question remains: Will Experience make her or break her?