After The Sucker Punch

"A realistic and profound journey of realization and forgiveness...a solid novel that admirably explores the fragile, fraught relationship between parent and child." --Publishers Weekly

"Wilke writes with razor-sharp wit and radiant flair, and the prose's high quality is the novel's principal strength. She also sensitively portrays how real love and affection can survive and even flourish in an otherwise dysfunctional family." Kirkus Reviews

They buried her father at noon, at five she found his journals, and in the time it took to read one-and-a-half pages her world turned upside down... he thought she was a failure.

Every child, no matter what age, wants to know their father loves them, and Tessa Curzio - thirty-six, emerging writer, ex-rocker, lapsed Catholic, defected Scientologist, and fourth in a family of six complicated children - is no exception. But just when she thought her twitchy life was finally coming together - solid relationship, creative job; a view of the ocean - the one-two punch of her father's death and posthumous indictment proves an existential knockout.

She tries to "just let it go," as her older sister suggests, but life viewed through the filter of his damning words is suddenly skewed, shaking the foundation of everything from her solid relationship and winning job to the truth of her family, even her sense of self. From there, friendships strain, bad behavior ensues, new men entreat, and family drama spikes, all leading to her little-known aunt, a nun and counselor, who lovingly strong-arms Tessa onto a journey of discovery and reinvention. It's a trip that's not always pretty - or particularly wise - but somewhere in all the twists and turns, unexpected truths are found.

Author and longtime Huffington Post contributor, Lorraine Devon Wilke, takes an irreverent look at father/daughter relationships through the unique prism of Tessa's saga and its exploration of family, faith, cults, creativity, new love and old, and the struggle to define oneself against the inexplicable perceptions of a deceased parent. Told with both sass and sensibility, it's a story wrapped in contemporary culture but with a very classic heart.

"With bare-bone honesty and fiery dialogue, Wilke explores the loaded relationship between parents and their adult-children, examining the brave and lonely journey of self-discovery, reinvention, and healing...raw and brave--a great read."--Tracy Trivas, author of The Wish Stealers (Simon & Schuster)

Cover design by Grace Amandes.
Cover photographs by Lorraine Devon Wilke

Media & Reviews for this and Lorraine's other books available HERE.

Author: Lorraine Devon Wilke
Publisher: Lorraine Devon Wilke
Published: 05/15/2014
Pages: 342
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.11lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.76d
ISBN: 9780996423038

About the Author
Devon Wilke, Lorraine: - BORN IN CHICAGO, raised in the rolling farmland of northern Illinois, surrounded always by the music, art, books, and theater her parents insisted be brought to the table, Devon Wilke learned early the pull of her creative Muses. Never willing to pigeonhole her artistic pursuits, she's designed a career that has swung from theater and rock & roll, to photography and design, to screenwriting, journalism, and long-form fiction, bringing the sum total of her creative experience to each medium in which she's engaged. A longtime contributor to The Huffington Post and other news and media sites, her trademark "sass and sensibility" infuses her op-eds, essays, and social commentary with wit, candor, and occasional provocation. Her novels, short stories, and screenplays are rich in vivid characters, plot lines both unique and recognizable, with always an elemental mix of heart and soul. Several of her book covers were designed with her photography, and her debut novel, AFTER THE SUCKER PUNCH, includes a downloadable version of the book's theme song. Along with this title, her second novel, HYSTERICAL LOVE, is also available here at Ingram and in select bookstores. Her screenplay, A Minor Rebellion, was an "official screenplay selection" at the 2018 Beverly Hills Film Festival, and her third novel, a contemporary drama titled, THE ALCHEMY OF NOISE, is set for early-2019 publication with She Writes Press. She continues singing, songwriting, and theatrical performances concurrent with her writing projects and whenever possible (which, she'll tell you, is never enough!). You can follow her updates at the "Latest News" page at her website (www.lorrainedevonwilke.com), and via her blog at www.RockPaperMusic.com. info@lorrainedevonwilke.com