Brantingham, John

***Life, Orange to Pear follows a man and his daughter Cyndi as they deal with life, the occult, Santa Claus, boys, and death. This universe is a strange and rich place, and sometimes it takes booze and a surreal understanding of sex and The Rockford Files to get through life. Mostly though what it takes is a deep and abiding love for the richness of oranges and pears, how their scent can take you over and make everything in the moment all right. 45 pages. "In an age of superficiality, mediocrity, and sound-cliches, John Brantingham is a genuine throwback to when Men of Letters roamed the literary prairies: a scholar, novelist, poet, essayist, scriptwriter, public speaker, reviewer, professor, mentor, and festival organizer.  He is first-rate in everything he turns his mind and hand to.   His poems benefit from the breadth of his life experiences as well as his formal academic training.  His creative and intellectual emanations brim with his enthusiasms, his versatility, and the depths of spirituality and social conscience at the core of his soul.  There is no one of whom I could speak more highly, as a writer and as a person."—Gerald Locklin, poet "John Brantingham’s ability to convey the essence of his characters is unparalleled. The emotional truths on the page resonate deep within the reader. His ear for dialogue, his ability to render just the right details of a scene is an impeccable balance of control and sensitivity. Effortless authenticity. What a joy to read his words. He is one of my favorite writers. One of the very best working today."—Grant Hier, former inaugural Poet Laureate of the City of Anaheim and winner of Prize Americana