Local author’s first book a Number One bestseller

By Michael E. Powell, Editor

March 10, 2021

Original article: https://issuu.com/wayne.kmherald/docs/cherryville_eagle_3-10-21/1?ff

 

It takes a lot to inspire someone to write a book. It could be anything from just simply wanting to tell a story or see your name in print. For others it’s something much more personal; say a personal tragedy or a life- or soul-changing experience.

Local author Rob a Gentile’s just released book, “Quarks of Light” (2021/Ignite Press/Fresno, CA), is that last type of experience and better describes why he wrote the small, 235-page tome. The back cover calls the book “a self-discovery and spiritual awakening.” You see Mr. Gentile, the son of Italian immigrants and a steel industry sales representative by profession, had a massive heart attack at the young age of 56, followed by – as the brief “bio” on the back of his book notes – an NDE, or what is more commonly referred to as a “near death experience.”

His situation was dire; he needed a heart transplant and…, well, perhaps you should just read the book to see what all happened and how it came about that what happened did so in the manner it did.

For Rob, his wife, Melanie a registered pharmacist at Medical Center Pharmacy in Cherryville, and their dear daughter, Maria, who has a unique syndrome that requires pretty much 24-hour care, what transpired is nothing short of a miracle of God and a blessing for them all he never anticipated.

Never an easy process, writing anything let alone a book, is very time consuming. Gentile said it took him three years to write the book.

“I wrote from 4:30 AM to 7:30 AM every morning. It took me one year to find the right publisher,” he said via email to the Eagle. He describes his method of getting the copies as a “pay as you need copies” scenario, and one that works for him.

The unique cover art – “quarks” of light – comes from the publisher, he said. Gentile’s publisher uses a global artist network called “99 Designs.”

I wrote a summary page to describe the book and a general direction to send the artist in. The artists compete to provide the best design and it’s a three-week long process. Ironically, the artist that we chose lives outside of Rome, Italy, in the same province where my parents were born! He does not speak English, and used a translator to read my summary and review my comments during the process.”

Gentile’s book is also unique, he said, as his publisher has told him he “…had only three other books hit the #1 Bestseller list in the first 38 hours, and none of them were first time authors like myself.”

Rob continued, “We have now hit #1 Bestseller in 13 categories, passing up big names in Christian writing, like, Max Lucado, CS Lewis, and Joyce Meyer. The book is also #1 in near death experience, autism, heart disease, and the Psychology of Suicide titles.

Gentile describes his book’s theme as being spiritual, but not overly a devout, or theological book, though he said he is a Christian.

Gentile’s heart attack was on Jan. 26, 2016 and he is very zoned in on talking care of himself and his new heart. Said Rob, “My family and I eat as healthy as possible and exercise regularly. I myself meditate every morning. As a heart transplant recipient, I will be on anti-rejection medicine for the rest of my life. Exercise helps me combat the side effects, which are muscle pain and mild shaking.”

As for any plans for a sequel or even a movie deal, Rob noted, “I have another book in mind, (and am) just waiting for the spiritual prompting as to when I should start on it. Regarding a movie deal, that would be an incredible blessing – not sure how to pursue it but perhaps making myself available for interviews like this will help get some national attention.”

For those interested in purchasing the book and taking part in Gentile’s incredible journey, Rob said they may go to Amazon and purchase the book.

Also, Rob said Medical Center Pharmacy will be sponsoring a book signing event on Saturday, March 13, where they will have a tent set up in the parking lot with the signing from 10 AM to 1 PM. Gentile’s website is https://robagentile.com.