Living Suddenly

Author Chris Rodell is the two-time winner of the TINARA Award for outstanding satire. His non-fiction books include "Arnold Palmer: Homespun Stories of The King," about his oddball friendship with one of the world's most beloved men, and "Growing Up in the REAL Mister Rogers' Neighborhood,"about another famous hometown neighbor, legendary children's TV host, Fred Rogers. He's a popular and inspirational keynote speaker sought to instill runaway creativity into employees and students throughout America." He and his wife Valerie live in the woods above Latrobe, Pennsylvania, with a small, loud, blind dog named Snickers who is the object of much affection from their grown daughters, Josie and Lucy. Chris Rodell was 55 and living life with a swashbuckling optimism that long elusive career honors and meaningful income would soon, finally, be his. But instead of achievement and six-figure book deals, a botched foot operation left him hobbled and led to debilitating back pain that required complicated spinal surgery. Then to top it all off (for now) he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Debts rose, his marriage was tested and friends who once looked to him for inspirational examples of cheerful perseverance soon began to suggest out loud it might be time to consider suicide. Not on your life. Or his! Whenever he hears of anyone dying suddenly, he vows to live suddenly "They say you only live once," he says. "They're wrong! You only die once. Do it right and you can live each and every day." At times hilarious, always heartfelt, "How to Deal With The Stuff That Sucks," will have you reconsidering the priorities, ambitions and all you've been taught about all that matters.