'The House of Order,' a Collection of Short Stories, Is Released by Author John Paul Jaramillo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Aug. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- John Paul Jaramillo, associate professor at Lincoln Land Community College, Springfield, Illinois, is proud to introduce a new collection of short stories, "The House of Order."

Published by Anaphora Literary Press, "The House of Order" offers readers a stark glance into the life of American children and family life in Southern Colorado and New Mexico. The collection of fiction follows the character of Relles "Manito" Ortiz, a child with a sad, yet extraordinary ability to push down his emotions and tolerate psychological pain. "The House of Order" is not your typical "coming of age" collection, but rather a collection of "coming to terms" tales. Abandoned by his mother and living with his Abuelos and Tio Neto, who's currently between wives, Manito learns to deal with constantly changing living situations and lifestyles throughout the 16 composite short stories.

The stories stretch across several states and as far away as Vietnam as they follow the Ortiz family over the course of 50 years. Some of the stories are told by Manito in the first person, while others are told from the viewpoint of other characters.

The Ortiz family stories in "The House of Order" reflect sadness and broken hearts, but they also express strength and a great resolve. Manito does not simply recover painful memories from his family; he begins to see them again in different variations. This is how Manito finds his own individual direction to manhood and it casts a glimmer of hope of life outside of the county of orphans.

Mr. Jaramillo offers the inspiration in his writing "... the old neighborhoods I lived in and read about...they tell me where I come from and how I was formed. Fiction is a way for me to deal with family stories and stories that come from the old hometown."

While the "House of Order" offers its readers a glance into the life of American children and family life in Southern Colorado and New Mexico, the experiences of its characters and the life lessons it conveys are something that truly speaks to us all, a message that no matter what challenges life may put in our path, no matter how painful, they can be overcome.

John Paul Jaramillo spent his childhood years in the Southern Colorado steel town of Pueblo, Colorado and graduated with his MFA degree in fiction writing from Oregon State University. His stories have been published in several publications such as "The Acentos Review," "The Antique Childrens Arts Journal," Sleet Magazine, and Palabra Magazine.

"The House of Order" can be ordered through Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. For more information, visit his website at http://thehouseoforder.com.

Contact: John Jaramillo
Website: http://www.johnpauljaramillo.com

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SOURCE John Paul Jaramillo