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German author Patricia Koelle used Ralph’s painting “Winterwind” from his Peaceful World Series as cover art for her new book “Der Weihnachtswind” (“The Christmas Wind”). In a letter from her, about the painting:

“In sunlight it is absolutely beautiful and in dim lamplight the colours are just right, but in a certain sort of diffuse daylight it has a greenish tinge … I want to thank you again for letting me use the picture.  Every time I look at it I can smell the clean country air and the snow and feel the wind rushing around my ears and hear the music it makes, and think I can almost touch the play of light on the snow …”

The book, currently only available in German, can be purchased HERE.

Cover artwork and design for the upcoming novel “Always Faithful: A Marine’s Tale” by Carl P. Marchi.

This book gives a realistic view of the anguish a young person endures in becoming a United States Marine as well as the trauma of war.  The story also helps the reader understand a certain Italian faction, as well as the Italian-American culture as it pertains to the Goomba perspective.  It is not a story about the Marine Corps, nor a story about the Mob.  It is simply about an eighteen-year-old young man of Italian descent from Trenton, NJ, whose life is touched by both. 

For this teen, there is more to life than the customary demands placed on people of his age.  These demands put him on a rollercoaster ride destined to resolve uncertainty.  Peer pressure sets the main character Joseph Mommalione — Joe Momma for short — on a journey that tests his honor in the Marines, loyalty to strong Italian family traditions, and the ability to bear confinement.

Joe Momma’s year long venture before, during, and after the 1991 Gulf War show the way to heroism, imprisonment, vengeance, and love.  He goes from the typical teen back on the block to the traumatic experience of Marine boot camp to the theatre of war where his few days of combat lead to heroism and everlasting friendship with two Marines.  After the war, he and his comrades are recuperating from their wounds back in New Jersey while Joe Momma is being groomed into his uncle’s crime family.  Circumstances land Joe Momma in the county jail where he is threatened by the FBI to reveal information about his mob connections.  Rather than face three to five years in the Trenton State Penitentiary, he plans and successfully completes a daring escape from  jail with the help of two former Marines and his mentor Carmine Scalia who is also a former Marine.  Before he blends into the criminal underworld, he seeks revenge on the cop who put him behind bars.  In doing so, he discovers a plot by a Tucci crime family crew boss to destroy him.

Although the story portrays an adolescent from Trenton, it is targeted toward a mature audience and will touch the hearts of men and women alike.  While the book is Marine hardcore, as well as street savvy, it is sensitive to family values and portrays heroic deeds.  The book is easy reading, full of wit, sorrow, happiness, conflict, compassion, romance, crime, and adventure including a twist which will capture one’s interest from beginning to end.

Available now at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, AuthorHouse.com, Borders.com or by contacting the author at 716-896-1014.

The Denver Center Theatre Academy, of Colorado, will present the play “4.48 Psychosis” by Sarah Kane. This performance will be part of The Boulder International Fringe Festival.  It will run from August 18th thru 27th. “Suicide” from the War Themes collection will be used for the poster and other promotional material for this play.

• Cover artwork “O. P. Frisco” featured on May-June issue of The Old Breed News. This is the official publication of the 1st Marine Division Association

 

• “Jimi For A Friend” has been selected to represent the 9th Convention Hendrixiana-Saturnia 2005. This is an annual event, held in Tuscany, Italy, where musicians from all over the globe gather to commemorate and perform the music of Jimi Hendrix.

I am excited to be able to share my talent with Wendell Rivera, a gifted musician and friend.  The cover art for his new album “Among Friends” (WPR Productions, 2002) was inspired by my first Wendell Rivera show.  The pulse of his music stayed with me through the night and early hours of the morning, during which time I created my interpretation of his sound on canvas.

The back cover features another piece of mine, “Africa“, which preceded my African Angels & African Masks Series.