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Back to Tonic: Raw & Searing Memoir Recounts Author's Faith-Twisting Journey of Losing a Son. Was It All Really "God's Plan"

Heartfelt, honest and emotive, Gene Kiepura’s ‘Back to Tonic’ fuses a bold memoir with Christian themes to tell the author’s story of facing a life in which the God he worshipped broke his heart. This wasn’t the God Kiepura signed up for, and he refused to believe that the death of his fourteen year-old son in Mexico was part of His plan. But Kiepura’s conscience wouldn’t allow him to reject God, serving as the catalyst for a life-changing con-frontation that would force the author to learn cold truths about himself and his convictions. This is that story, written to provide solace to those walking their own lonely road.

 

Steger, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/24/2014 -- In 1992, Gene Kiepura faced every parent’s worst nightmare; a call to inform him the van carrying his fourteen year-old son on a youth mission in Mexico had collided with a semi-truck, killing him and five oth-ers. While this tragedy changed his family’s life forever, Kiepura didn’t expect it to completely alter his view of and relationship with God. He refused to accept fellow Christians’ declaration that “everything happens for a reason” and he was too bereaved to become a strong and resilient example of the Christian faith.

In ‘Back to Tonic’, Kiepura takes his entire story public for the first time. A fusion of searing memoir and Chris-tian faith, the book captures the reality of losing a child and its heartbreaking experiences through simple, yet powerful observations. It’s also a vital portrait of faith that will provide new perspective to those who have re-signed all hope.

Synopsis:

MEMBERS OF A SMALL CHURCH GATHERED TOGETHER TO PRAY FOR their youth leader and four boys who were about to embark on a mission trip to Mexico. Seventeen days later, all five of them were dead. Life painfully changed after the accident. After the horrific experience of recovering the bodies and evading a greedy Ameri-can Embassy in Mexico, I returned home to find little in the way of solace from the church family I was counting on. Instead, I was expected to be a strong example of Christian faith for everyone else. Attempting to conceal my emotional struggle would eventually cause me to question both my sanity and relationship with God. Being assured that the accident was all part of "His plan", my concept of God turned into one of a cold and callus monarch. This wasn't the God I had signed up for.

“It was seemingly-impossible to find peace in the wake of what happened, while struggling with the fact that God would allow something so evil to a family just trying to live a good and simple Christian life,” explains Kie-pura. “It didn’t lead me to deny that God existed, but my concept of Him did shift from all-loving to callous. I came to know a very different God – one who didn’t stop the United States Embassy in Mexico from demanding $15,000 to release my son’s body, forcing me to smuggle his cremated remains back into the country in a suit-case.”

Continuing, “But it’s not just about me. This book is for the millions of people who face terrible circumstances and quickly come to realize that they previously took their faith for granted. I was once one of them and was forced to face cold harsh truths about my convictions. It’s a lonely road and I hope this book can become a companion for those in need of it. It’s a story you won’t find anywhere else.”

Readers agree, leaving a string of five-star reviews. A representative of Midwest Book Review comments, “In-tensely personal, absolutely candid, and as thoughtful as it is thought-provoking, "Back To Tonic" will prove to be a deeply engaging and insightful read for Christians regardless of their denominational affiliation. Exception-ally well written and dealing forthrightly with one of the most horrific events any parent (Christian or non-Christian) can experience -- the death of their child -- "Back To Tonic" is strongly recommended and informative reading, especially for anyone having suffered a similar trauma within their own family or their own congrega-tion.”

Aaron L. Overkamp adds, “I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever lost someone close to them or know someone who has. This book shares very raw emotions the author experienced on his journey. I was able to relate to him on many levels and hope that others read this book so they can understand how to help when someone they know experiences a tragic loss. Buy this book and share it with others!”

‘Back to Tonic’, from Faith Books and More, is available now: http://amzn.to/1un9J3u

For more information, visit the author’s official website: http://genekiepura.com

About Gene Kiepura
Gene Kiepura grew up in the Chicago south suburbs, married his high school sweetheart and completed a forty year career on the Railroad. Gene is an artist, musician and avid fisherman. His first objective in retirement was to tell the story he held within him for twenty years - Back to Tonic is his first book.