Arthur: The Beginning (Paperback or Softback)

Arthur Berndt is fighting to survive his childhood but the odds are stacked against him. He lives in two worlds-the violent one he shares with his father at home and the confused one outside his house, where he continually gets into trouble in a futile attempt to gain acceptance at any cost.

Every day of his life Arthur finds himself trapped under the same roof with a mortal enemy-August Berndt. Though terrified of his abusive father, Arthur dares not share his fears with anyone. Instead, on the street, he becomes a follower in his desperate effort to be accepted. His need to please would-be friends compels Arthur to commit antisocial acts that suck the young boy into the legal system, make him an alien in his own neighborhood, and only heighten the tension and violence he endures at home. Despite further complicating his life with his own self-defeating actions, subconsciously( and on the very rare occasion consciously), Arthur rationalizes his criminal behavior-if no one cares about what happens to me, why should I care about what I do to anyone else?

Is Arthur doomed to meet the dark fate he seems headed for or will he live to see his life get better? You'll be captivated by Arthur-the embodiment of the human struggle to survive.

Walter Stoffel is a freelance writer and publisher who specializes in human interest memoir and fiction. His newest book, Arthur: The Beginning, is a work of historical fiction that describes a young boy's struggle to survive his childhood. His debut dog rescue memoir Lance: A Spirit Unbroken has achieved five-star book review status on three continents. The author has a rich work history that includes teaching GED and substance abuse counseling at correctional facilities. He also has experience as a certified mental health screener. For many years, he lived and worked in various South American countries. Most unique occupation: chipping excess concrete off the undersides of bridges in Virginia. All his coworkers were wearing prison stripes. Mr. Stoffel is a member of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group, Pennwriters and Barbara's Writing Group, a critiquing association. When not writing, he loves to read, travel, work out, and watch bad movies. The author has a B.A. in psychology and is a credentialed alcoholism and drug counselor. He lives in Canadensis, PA with his wife Clara and their rescued dog Buddy. Personal accomplishment: after having hip replacement surgery, Walter entered a marathon and finished it-dead last.