The Waco Variations: a novel - Softcover

Rizzo, Rhonda

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1982930020 ISBN 13: 9781982930028

Publisher: Independently published, 2018

Synopsis

One woman's searing journey and the healing power of music.

On April 20, 1993, sixteen-year-old Cassie watches her world burn to the ground. A week later—far from Waco, TX and the Branch Davidean fire that claimed her family, friends, savior, and the only life she had ever known—Cassie enters a new life—a strange new ‘normal’ life after being ripped from a cult and forced to function in routine society with little knowledge of how to navigate reality.

Cassie has just two goals: to play the piano and to learn how to be normal.  Her love of music, especially the music of J.S Bach, is her only thread to a past she buries under her “normal” façade, the thread that holds her together where therapy and religion fail.  But Cassie’s habit of using music to hide from her emotions fails her and she must grieve the truth about losing her family and her world in the Waco fire and begin to let time, and Bach, heal her.  And only through Bach’s music can she dare to feel the loss of her parents.

About this title

About the Author

Rhonda (Ringering) Rizzo has crafted a career as a performing and recording pianist and a writer. A specialist in music that borrows from both classical and jazz traditions, Rizzo has released four CDs, Made in America, Oregon Impressions: the Piano Music of Dave Deason, 2 to Tango: Music for Piano Duet, and A Spin on It.  As both a soloist and a collaborative artist, her performances include several allclassical.org international radio broadcasts, Water Music Festival, Central Oregon Symphony, Oregon Chamber Players, Aladdin Theatre, Coaster Theatre, Ernst Bloch Music Festival, Bloedel Reserve, Newport Performing Arts Center, Skamania Performing Arts Series. In addition to her work as half of the Rizzo/Wheeler Duo, with pianist Molly Wheeler (rizzowheelerduo.com), Rizzo records and writes about the music of living composers on her blog, nodeadguys.com. 

Her numerous articles have appeared in national and international music magazines, including American Music Teacher, Clavier, Piano & Keyboard, and Flute Talk. Her novel, The Waco Variations, was released in the summer of 2018 and can be found on amazon.com. 

Rhonda Rizzo earned her undergraduate degree from Walla Walla University and her Master's degree from Boston University. 

Edition details

• Publisher: Independently published
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1982930020
• ISBN 13: 9781982930028
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 293