J.D. Netto’s anthology Saved by the Page is now out and we have an interview with J.D. as well as an exclusive excerpt from Frolic’s own Aurora Dominguez!
About Saved by the Page via Amazon:
Do you remember the last time a book changed your life?
Maybe you had just lost a loved one? Or an unexpected turn of events had left you overwhelmed? No matter the reason, the book you’re thinking about right now changed the course of your life in a way you can’t put into words.
But these people have.
Saved by the Page is an anthology written by readers for readers about the life-changing power of books and the impact they have on us. Profound, thought-provoking, personal, and heart-wrenching, these stories are giving a voice to people all around the world.
Get ready to crack the spine and flip through the pages of this whirlwind anthology as readers take you on their journey.
They’ve been all been saved by a page, and hopefully this one will save you too.
Frolic: Where did the idea for this book come from?
J.D. Netto: The idea came to me last year when I was flying back from NYC’s Comic Con. I had just finished touring my last book, The Whispers of the Fallen: Descent and I kept thinking about the stories people had shared with me when talking about books. They’d often tell me of these beautiful moments where they picked up a book and their lives were forever changed. I’m talking about stories where people went from being extremely ill to feeling healthy again. It was then I decided to use my platform to give them a voice—a chance to share their stories. So over Christmas break last year, I created the SBTP website and launched the movement. I was humbled by all the support from readers around the world. We received so many stories in such a short amount of time.
What are five books that have been life-savers for you?
Oh, this is a tough one, but let’s give this one a try.
1 – The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
2 – The Shack by William P. Young
3 – The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
4 – Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
5 – The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
What inspired you to make this an anthology versus a personal memoir?
I wanted to give readers a voice. I wanted them to write their personal stories and share them with the world. I’ve heard so many powerful stories in the last five years at events and signings. They needed to be shared with the world in some way.
You refer to “Saved by the Page” as a movement – where do you see this movement going in the future?
I see this movement as a gathering of people who stand for justice, freedom, and for each other; individuals who encourage one another and understand the power of the written word. At the end of the day, we all want to be loved and accepted.
What kind of positive feedback have you gotten on this book?
Many people have praised the anthology for showing the world the power of books. These are real stories lived—and written—by real people.
What do you hope this book will give readers?
Just that—hope. When we feel lost or confused, our vision of the world narrows and we tend to focus in our struggles. I hope this project can help the world see beyond grief and despair.
Exclusive Excerpt:
Harry Potter and My Angel by Aurora Dominguez
I remember being in college at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón and walking into Plaza Las Americas in San Juan, Puerto Rico after a tough college day to enter the, still existing, Borders bookstore. My uncle, Angel Aguilar Jusino, and I were meeting for a movie and some coffee, and he ended up purchasing Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone for me as a gift. The rest is Hogwarts-based history for this Hufflepuff.
I grew up on the ethereal tropical island of Puerto Rico and my uncle was my hero. Not only did Harry Potter save me that day, with its captivating story, but my uncle did as well, just as he’d always done whenever I had a bad day or didn’t believe in my writing or my talents. Thanks to him and his inspirational ways, I became a journalist, and now a professor and a teacher. He believed in education and made sure we discovered new gems by subscribing us to magazines, such as Rolling Stone. Books were his life, he instilled a love of reading into the hearts of my cousins, my brother, and me. I still clearly remember that day we saw the first film together and how much we truly enjoyed it. After that, I continued reading the series that has now become a pop culture gem.
My uncle passed away from pancreatic cancer in February 2018. His spirit and love for us is eternal. I think of him whenever I read about Harry, Hermione, and Ron and watch the films. Thank you, Angel. I will remember you and your love for reading. No matter how much time passes, I will always be grateful. Always.
Make sure you pick up your copy of Saved by the Page, out now!
