Hockey Karma

by Howard Shapiro, Andres Mossa (Illustrator)

Overview

The highly anticipated sequel to the award winning “The Hockey Saint” taking place ten years after “Saint” ends. The legendary Jeremiah “Jake” Jacobson, now thirty two, has been the world’s best hockey player over his fourteen year career because of his out of this world talent and his smart play. But he can’t stay on top forever, and when he starts making mistakes on the ice, his career and family life start to crumble.

At the same time, Tom Leonard, his agent and best friend, is completely overwhelmed by a project that he and Jake were supposed to be working on together. A project that could have a huge impact on people throughout their city in need of a helping hand. As Jake sinks deeper into a funk over his lost status due to his deteriorating play and the emergence of teammate and rookie phenom Barclay Pedersen, Tom realizes he’s on his own. At the same time he rediscovers someone from his past who he never thought he’d see again. In that burgeoning relationship, Tom discovers the importance of taking chances and starts to believe in himself.

Can Jake break out of his downward spiral and Tom finally find the courage to step out of Jake’s shadow?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780986148934
Publisher:	Animal Media Group LLC
Publication date:	11/01/2016
Series:	Forever Friends Series , #3
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

Howard Shapiro: Howard Shapiro has written four children's books, two graphic novels and a biography. He lives in Pittsburgh, PA where he runs the day-to-day publishing side of Animal Media Group LLC bringing ten years of indie publishing experience to the role.


Andres Mossa: Andres J. Mossa was born in Venezuela and his family moved to Italy when he was 10 years old. He earned a degree in Painting from the Accademia di Belle Arti of Bari where he graduated summa cum laude. He is the official colorist of Deadpool and Avengers World as well as Star Wars and Inhumans.

Read an Excerpt

Hockey Karma

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By Howard Shapiro

Animal Media Group

Copyright © 2016 Howard Shapiro
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-9861489-4-1

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CHAPTER 1

Tick Tock (Part 1)

RECOMMENDED LISTENING:

"MY OWN WORST ENEMY" LIT

"BORN TOO LATE" The CLARKS

"MOTHER'S LITTLE HELPER" THE ROLLING STONES

WHAT ARE YOU DOING, JAKE?

THIS CERTAINLY ISN'T THE WAY He WANTED TO START THE SEASON. EVER SINCE HE GOT BACK FROM THE OPENER IN MANCHESTER HE'S BEEN REAL MOODY AND SECRETIVE. ANY IDEA WHAT IT COULD BE?

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS HELPS. BUT I DON'T THINK HE'S DRINKING.

THAT DOES HELP, BUT WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE?

MAYBE AN EARLY MID-LIFE CRISIS?

MAYBE. I JUST WISH HE'D TALK TO ME. I'VE TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT NOW I JUST FEEL LIKE A NAG.

DO YOU WANT ME TO TRY TO TALK TO HIM?

I WISH HE'D TALK TO ME TOO.

IF YOU COULD, I'D APPRECIATE IT.

WE'RE WORKING OUT AT HIS RINK TOMORROW. I'LL NUDGE HIM THEN.

THANKS, TOM, HOPEFULLY HE'LL OPEN UP TO YOU.

WHEN ARE YOU HEADING BACK TO YOUR HOMETOWN TO VISIT YOUR PARENTS?

THANKS POP ASKING. I WAS GOING TO HEAD THERE THIS WEEKEND.

DO YOU HAVE TIME TO STOP BY THE HOUSE BEFORE YOU GO? I HAVE SOME WHITE ROSES PROM OUR GARDEN THAT YOU COULD TAKE.

FELICITY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO Say!

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING. JUST COME BY THE HOUSE.

THANK YOU.

WELL, I'VE GOT TO PICK UP THE KIDS FROM THE SITTER. MAKE SURE JAKE DOESN'T KILL HIMSELF. ALL RIGHT?

WILL DO.

RICHIE MARKS WITH HALL OF FAMER ROLAND DALTON ALONG WITH PAUL DAVID KENNEDY WHO'S BETWEEN BOTH BENCHES.

PAUL, THE BLADES HAVEN'T LOOKED SO GOOD DURING THE FIRST TWO PERIODS HERE IN BAY CITY, JEREMIAH JACOBSON IN PARTICULAR.

I AGREE. ON THE BRIGHT SIDE FOR THE BLADES, ROOKIE PHENOM BARCLAY PEDERSEN HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING. HE'S SCORED BOTH BLADES GOALS AND HE HAS NOW SCORED IN EACH OF THIS SEASON'S FIRST FIVE GAMES.

YES, HE'S PLAYING WITH INCREDIBLE POISE AND CONFIDENCE FOR AN 18-YEAR-OLD. HE'S SECOND IN THE LEAGUE IN SCORING, BUT YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT HE'S ONLY BEEN PLAYING ABOUT FOURTEEN MINUTES A GAME ON THE BLADES' THIRD LINE.

RD, WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED SO FAR ABOUT PEDERSEN?

WELL, WE'VE LEARNED THAT BARCLAY PEDERSEN IS THE REAL DEAL. COACH EMMA SCHELL AND HER STAFF HERE DESERVE KUDOS FOR BRINGING HIM ALONG SLOWLY AND LETTING HIM GET HIS BEARINGS DURING THESE OPENING GAMES OF THE SEASON.

JAKE, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS MOVING AT HALF SPEED. HE'S BEEN ONE OF THE BEST AND SMARTEST PLAYERS IN THE WORLD, BUT RECENTLY HE'S BEEN PLAYING N. SLOPPILY.

HE'S SUFFERED NUMEROUS INJURIES OVER HIS FOURTEEN YEARS IN THE CAHL. COULD WE BE WITNESSING THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR THE 32-YEAR-OLD SUPERSTAR?

THE MOTRIN AND ADVIL HAVEN'T SEEN DOING THE TRICK, MAYBE TWO OF THESE WILL.

ALWAYS REMEMBER, JEREMIAH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE THE BIGGEST, STRONGEST OR FASTEST PLAYER ON THE ICE. YOU JUST NEED TO BE THE SMARTEST PLAYER ON THE ICE.

OK, THANKS DAD.

LET'S GO WITH ONE LAST DRILL. I WANT YOU TO GO AROUND ME, BOTH ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES.

HOW AM I GOING TO GO AROUND YOU? YOU'RE TWICE MY SIZE!

WELL, I GUESS YOU'LL HAVE TO OUTSMART ME, RIGHT?

OK, I'LL try.

I WANT NOTHING LESS THAN YOUR VERY BEST. COME ON!

COME ON, JEREMIAH! AGAIN!

AGAIN!

AGAIN!

ARE YOU OK? DID YOU HURT YOUR ANKLE?

I'M FINE, GOTCHA!

NOW YOU'RE GETTING IT! IT'S ALL ABOUT OUTSMARTING YOUR OPPONENT!

CHEERS, DAD.

CHEERS TO YOU AS WELL, KEITH RICHARDS. YOU AND MICK GOT IT RIGHT WHEN YOU WROTE "MOTHER'S LIME HELPER" ALL THOSE YEARS AGO.

GETTING OLD IS A DRAG.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Hockey Karma by Howard Shapiro. Copyright © 2016 Howard Shapiro. Excerpted by permission of Animal Media Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Editorial Reviews

More than just a hockey story, “Hockey Karma” touches on themes that everyone deals with such as finding your voice, aging gracefully and maintaining personal relationships. The characters are all relatable and don’t talk at the reader, they talk to the reader. A fitting conclusion to the "Forever Friends Trilogy.”
Bill Clement
2-Time Stanley Cup Champion, Broadcaster, Author of "Everyday Leadership”

Howard’s done it again... another great book. We can all empathize with Jeremiah - wanting to stay on top as long as we can. And we’re also a lot like Tom - needing to take risks to realize our full potential

Christine Lisi
ESPN Radio Anchor and lifelong NHL fan

In Hockey Karma, Jeremiah Jacobson would seem to be spiraling downwards, fast as he is facing the end of his career and dealing with a drug problem brought on by a hockey injury. But darkness doesn’t engulf him, because he has hope—to play again, to heal, and to succeed in an urban renewal project which will revitalize the city where Jake’s Blades play. His reward? Hockey Karma that leads to renewal and triumph, both on and off the ice.

Brian Kennedy, author of Facing Wayne Gretzky




More than just a hockey story, “Hockey Karma” touches on themes that everyone deals with such as finding your voice, aging gracefully and maintaining personal relationships. The characters are all relatable and don’t talk at the reader, they talk to the reader. A fitting conclusion to the "Forever Friends Trilogy.”
Bill Clement
2-Time Stanley Cup Champion, Broadcaster, Author of "Everyday Leadership”

Howard’s done it again... another great book. We can all empathize with Jeremiah - wanting to stay on top as long as we can. And we’re also a lot like Tom - needing to take risks to realize our full potential

Christine Lisi
ESPN Radio Anchor and lifelong NHL fan

In Hockey Karma, Jeremiah Jacobson would seem to be spiraling downwards, fast as he is facing the end of his career and dealing with a drug problem brought on by a hockey injury. But darkness doesn’t engulf him, because he has hope—to play again, to heal, and to succeed in an urban renewal project which will revitalize the city where Jake’s Blades play. His reward? Hockey Karma that leads to renewal and triumph, both on and off the ice.

Brian Kennedy, author of Facing Wayne Gretzky

From the Publisher