The Painting and The Piano, by John Lipscomb and Adrianne Lugo,
is an improbable story of
survival and love.
Title: The Painting and the Piano
Authors: John Lipscomb & Adrianne Lugo
Genre: Genres: Literary Nonfiction / Romance
Memoir / Addiction and Recovery
Expected Release: February 2016
BLURB supplied by Book Publicity Services
Growing up more than a thousand miles apart and worlds
away from each other, Johnny and Adrianne seemed to have all that a child could
ask for. However, the demons of their respective mothers would tear their
young, fragile lives apart.
Eventually, destiny would bring Johnny and Adrianne
together, but first they had to endure the painful toll that alcohol, drugs,
and a negligent court system would take on them. With parts of Adrianne’s story
ripped from national news headlines, their story takes them from the depths of
despair and near death, to their first serendipitous introduction and the
moment each knew they were finally safe.
Filled with hope, inspiration and humor, The Painting and the Piano is an
unforgettable story of pain, loss and the undying human quest for happiness. Told
as a tandem narrative, Adrianne and Johnny’s stories are unique, but share
parallels that create a taut and emotionally compelling narrative.
I’m in an office in Manhattan. There’s a large mirror
embedded in one wall. The furniture is small, a table and two chairs built
especially for children. There are a few toys, but none of them are very
interesting.
The room is bare and cold, even though it’s mid-summer in
Manhattan. Honey, we have to go, but we’ll be back soon, okay? Mom says.
Where
are you going? I feel fidgety and kick at the kiddie chair next to me. Just
for a little walk, not too far.
My tummy hurts and I don’t want to be there. Okay, Ady
Maidy? Dad asks.
We’ll be back in a jip, Mom adds.
Jiff,
Dad says.
Wha?
Jiff! We’ll be back in a jiff.
Good grief. She knows what I mean, don’t you honey?
Mom and Dad look at the woman who brought us to this
room. I don’t remember her name, maybe it was Ms. Abramsky, but she’s wearing
beige polyester pants and a sky blue short-sleeved blouse with a ruffle running
along either side of the buttons.
Her arms are folded across her belly. It’ll be okay.
Your mom and dad will be here in a minute. I look at my parents. Mom
and Dad are right here.
Mom’s eyes are sharp, head tilted, arms across her chest,
purse grasped tightly in her right hand. Dad’s eyes are soft, moist. His hands
are in his pockets.
I guess I mean Mr. and Mrs. Schoenowitz, Ms.
Abramsky says.
Can we step out into the hall? Mom asks.
Yes Mrs. Cahn, replies Ms. Abramsky.
Will, why don’t you stay with Ady, Mom says to
Dad. She and Ms. Abramsky step into the hall. The door shuts solidly behind
them.
I couldn’t hear what they said, nor do I think I wanted
to, but when I was older Mom rehashed the conversations she’d had with the
agency.
Everything was fine until I called to say we wanted to
adopt Adrianne, Mom remembered saying. I know, responded Ms.
Abramsky.
When we first came into this agency we were very clear
that we were looking for a baby girl that we could adopt—
I wasn’t here then—
I know that, but it should be in the file because when
we were called we were told that you had a little girl from drug-addicted
parents and that it would be a long-term foster parenting opportunity that
probably would turn into an adoption.
At that time the mother was in jail and the father was
nowhere to be found, said Ms. Abramsky. Right...and all the time your
agency is telling us, ‘Don’t worry, everything is fine—’
And it was. When you asked about adopting Adrianne we
had to try and contact the biological parents, which we did—
Uh huh—
—When Adrianne was born Mrs. Schoenowitz voluntarily
put Adrianne into foster care, so we had to try to speak to both Mr. and Mrs.
Schoenowitz—
So that’s why we’re here now—
—and
they wanted to meet Adrianne.
What about adopting Adrianne? Is that
still in the picture?
Mrs. Cahn, we’re a foster agency and in no way an adoption
agency. We have certain guidelines.
Does one of those guidelines include
telling Mrs. Schoenowitz she has the right to take Adrianne back? It took a
long time for Mom to get an answer to that question.
Johnny and Adrianne reside in South Florida with their
Yorkie, Holly. Both are involved in the AA/Recovery community. Adrianne
currently works at a recovery house and Johnny continues speaking, sponsoring
and helping others in recovery.
Readers can connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, and
Goodreads.
To learn more, go to http://www.paintingpiano.com/
PRAISE FOR THE BOOK
“A vivid, moving account of addiction, trauma, and
hard-won triumph by two survivors.” – Kirkus Reviews
“I really couldn’t put it down.
Johnny and Adrianne’s stories are a story of loss, fear, suffering and true
growth that is told in a beautiful format.” – Wally Klein
“Any reader who enjoys a great work of non-fiction, an
autobiography, or a story of redemption and triumph in the face of great odds
and a difficult history, should absolutely read The Painting and the Piano.” – Tracy Slowiak
“Although it is a non-fiction memoir, the book reads much
like a novel: intense and at points, almost unbelievable.” – Red City Reviews
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