Alternative Book Press is proud to release Christina and the Whitefish - the debut work of fiction by award-winning filmmaker and author, Stephen Vittoria. The book takes place in 1994. Christina, a young Gulf War veteran struggling with PTSD and the loss of both parents, drives cross-country in a borrowed car, desperately seeking relief and redemption in Asbury Park, the seaside mecca of her childhood.
In 1994, the shore town is a place well past its prime and reigned over by the self-proclaimed King of Asbury Park: The Whitefish—a disabled Vietnam vet, tavern owner, artist, and philosopher. It’s here, on the Jersey shore, that a chance meeting leads to a profound and life-altering connection.
Rewind to the eighties: two girls, best friends, falling in love was something to be kept secret. Reaching adulthood, Christina and Jaime move to Las Vegas to escape prejudice and build a new life. Unable to cope with her parents’ deaths and convinced she’s doing the right thing for herself and her country, Christina enlists in the U.S. Army, only to find herself racked by a further and compounding wartime trauma.
Christina and the Whitefish is a powerful novel that questions the conventional treatment and care methods veterans receive in an inadequate, pharmaceutical-driven system, bringing to light just how critical human connection is to wellbeing and survival. The book asks tough questions about how to love and when to leave, questions that reveal a critical truth: family can be birthed from circumstance. And then, even in the pain and the stumbling, if you don’t give up—keep seeking and moving toward something better—friends and healing will find you—and love, no matter how battered, can endure even the darkest of times.
"Brutally honest and unexpectedly tender, with characters you root for… This isn’t one of those books you bail on – you need to know how it ends. (Never thought I’d say this, but now I need to visit the Jersey shore!)" — Katy Farzanrad, Executive Producer, “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars”
"I love this book. It’s hard to let go of the characters… Masterfully delivered with twists and U-turns… Buckle up and hold on tight to arrive at the place called redemption… an intriguingly subversive work." — Paul Rabinowitz, Author & Founder of ARTS By The People
"Christina and the Whitefish" is a joy to read. If Bruce Springsteen wrote fiction, it would read a great deal like this." — Dave Zirin, The Nation Magazine, Author of "The Kaepernick Effect"
"A gifted filmmaker brings his storytelling prowess to the pages of this book… what a dramatic and beautiful journey." — Sonali Kolhatkar, Award-winning Journalist, Author, Broadcaster
"The characters of this stunning novel will stay with you... a high-spirited and humorous voyage… it will give you chills." — David Swanson, Author & Journalist, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee
Stephen Vittoria is an award-winning filmmaker and author. His last two feature documentaries – Mumia: Long Distance Revolutionary and One Bright Shining Moment: The Forgotten Summer of George McGovern have been embraced by moviegoers and audiences worldwide. Vittoria was also a producer on two feature documentaries by Academy Award winner Alex Gibney – Gonzo: The Life & Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson and Magic Trip: Ken Kesey’s Search for a Kool Place.
Along with journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal, Vittoria co-authored the three-book nonfiction series Murder Incorporated: Empire, Genocide, and Manifest Destiny with forewords by Angela Davis and Chris Hedges.
Vittoria is the founder and creative director of two Southern California production companies: Street Legal Cinema and Deep Image.
Alternative Book Press was established in October of 2012 by Columbia and Cornell University graduates. They originally offered a powerful and straightforward mission: to identify and disseminate genuine, groundbreaking work that stands the test of time. In fact, their mission grows stronger with each passing year – publishing captivating books, both fiction and nonfiction, from intriguing voices that reflect various points of view. In addition, our pursuit of excellence champions new writers, diverse cultures, and important works of intellectual and literary merit.
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