New Orleans, LA -- (SBWire) -- 10/31/2014 --While most authors use their first novel to do nothing but simply test the literary waters, Vincent B. “Chip” LoCoco is quickly proving that a debut release is also an opportunity to hit the bestseller lists. It’s no surprise, because his work tells a coming-of-age story that is far from the norm.
Tempesta's Dream: A Story of Love, Friendship and Opera whisks readers over the Atlantic to Milan, where one young man, Giovanni Tempesta, struggles with life and love while doing all he can to live his dream of becoming a successful opera singer. Written in a vivid and almost cinematic style, the novel is causing quite a song and dance of its own.
Synopsis:
Tempesta's Dream: A Story of Love, Friendship and Opera, is a novel by New Orleans writer, Vincent B. "Chip" LoCoco. It is the inspirational story of an aspiring opera singer coming-of-age in Milan; a tender and moving love story; a testament to the bonds of friendship; and, at its core, a tribute to the beauty, majesty and miracle of opera.
Giovanni Tempesta always dreamed of becoming an opera tenor and one day singing from the stage of the La Scala Opera House in his hometown of Milan, Italy. But with no real training, his dream has little chance for fulfillment . . . One day, he meets and immediately falls in love with Isabella Monterone, a dark-haired beauty, whose father, a very rich and powerful Milanese Judge, refuses to allow his daughter to date a penniless musician . . . At the lowest part of his life, Giovanni comes upon the Casa di Riposo, a rest home for musicians established by the great opera composer, Giuseppe Verdi . . . It is at the Casa Verdi that Giovanni meets Alfredo del Monte, a blind, retired opera singer with a secretive past who gradually becomes his mentor . . . Could Alfredo be the one person who could assist Giovanni in finding the break he needs? Or is Giovanni destined to be on the cusp of reaching his life long dream, only to find failure? . . . Tempesta's Dream, at its core, is an Italian opera love story. The author tells the story simply and swiftly with an ending that is both an emotional and poignant moment of both "amicizia e amore" (friendship and love.)
“The coming-of-age literary format is extremely powerful, but I wanted to go beyond the norm with a narrative on a subject that doesn’t often hit the shelves. I have a deep passion for Opera and, with a knowledge of the industry and how those looking to ‘make it’ will give anything to fulfill their dream, I thought following the pursuit of an operatic career by a young Italian man would be an interesting scenario for readers, all the while telling a touching, romantic story,” explains the author.
Continuing, “Feedback has been fantastic and the book has been named by Amazon as a Top Rated Novel in Italian Historical Fiction and it’s a Bestselling Kindle Novel. What more could a new author want?!” LoCoco went on to say, “However, the one response that means the most to me was the one I received from the President of the Casa Verdi, the nursing home that is depicted in the novel. He congratulated me on my novel which he loved and stated that ‘it enhances the Casa Verdi and it’s guests.’”
Reader reviews have also been overwhelmingly positive. D. Donovan from Midwest Book Review comments, “A Powerful novel . . . Tempesta's Dream is all about the music, it's all about the passion; and it's all about pursuing one's dream . . A moving, engrossing story..."
Penn Book Review called it “An intelligent and entertaining lyrical journey.” Italophile Book Review adds, "The author brings opera to life on the page…"
An Amazon Top Reviewer, Grady Harp, reveled in the author’s knowledge of opera, writing, “LoCoco flavors his novel with many portions of arias, references to opera libretti, musical terms, and at times information that pleads explanation for the opera uninitiated. But the novel sings and for anyone who is passionate about opera, this book will remain a favorite long after the story is over.”
And finally, as should be with a historical fiction novel, the reader is transported to Milan, and as stated by one reviewer, “LoCoco skillfully brings to life the streets of Milan, so much so that I could taste the espresso and smell the flowers on the table.”
‘Tempesta's Dream: A Story of Love, Friendship and Opera’ is available now in print, eBook and audiobook formats: http://amzn.to/1nMZLas.
About Chip LoCoco
Chip LoCoco was born and raised in New Orleans. He is an attorney, with an emphasis on estate planning.
He graduated from Jesuit High School in New Orleans, and pursued a BA degree in History at Loyola University of New Orleans, graduating in 1990. In 1993, he was awarded his JD degree from Loyola, and went into the private practice of law.
Chip is married to his wife of 15 years, Wendy. They have two children, Matthew and Ellie and a beagle, named Scout. They reside in their beloved city of New Orleans, where if you try to find them on a Sunday in the Fall, they will be somewhere rooting on their Saints.
