Johnny Mac

About the BookI met Johnny Mac when he was a young man. Over a period of time we became friends and he began to share his story with me.Johnny Macs life exploded against the backdrop of the peaceful Heartland of America. When he was ten years old his alcoholic mother dropped Johnny and his little brother off at an orphanage shortly after their father had abandoned the family.Years later she would reappear to snuff out the life they had managed to piece together and return Johnny and his little brother home to live with her and her sadistic lover.After witnessing one particularly brutal whipping of his little brother Johnny struck out at his mothers lover; that violent act cost Johnny years on the run from the law. Armed only with the name of one relative in California and the wild hunch that somehow he would find his father there Johnny hitchhiked West working odd jobs and sleeping in Mission flophouses along the way.On the road he encountered the bizarre the brutal and the beautiful. He was assaulted by a sexual predator in Arkansas and befriended by a grieving father who maintained a macabre shrine to his dead son.Eventually Johnny Mac arrived in California where he met his aunt who helped him put together the shocking pieces of his family puzzle.I have always believed Johnny Macs story was too interesting and moving not to be told. Over the years I retained my notes and had even drafted the outline of his tale.Recently Johnny gave me the green light to publish a novel based on his story. It tells of the very best and worst that can happen. I hope you find it as compelling as I do.John Knowles ProbstAlthough this is John Probsts first novel he has been a prolific writer and composer throughout his life. John has composed numerous choral compositions and has recently authored a mass based on famous Gregorian chants with varying rhythms.Johns professional life has always been as a teacher. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor and Masters Degrees John began his teaching career in various parochial high schools throughout the Bay Area. His expertise was in the fields of music drama and English 1980 John became an instructor of fine arts at Feather River College in Quincy California where he continues today teaching a wide spectrum of classes in music drama English film and philosophy. As part of his drama instruction John has directed numerous stage productions ranging from Shakespeare plays dramatic presentations to musicals like The Sound of Music. John has also authored and directed two of his own full-length plays Environmental Alternatives and Abuse. John who is widowed has four children four grandchildren and resides in Quincy.