The Will of the Creator

The Will of the Creator is the story of a serial killer in Philadelphia in the early 1980s. Charley, a Vietnam veteran who was sent home from the war after sustaining a gunshot wound to his head, is a main character. Charley, back in the States, receives brain surgery and is saved. Unfortunately, during his operation, Charley had a stroke. He opens a luncheonette along with his wife. The business fails, and Charley loses his mind. He blames homeless people for his failure and goes on a murderous rampage. The main character of the novel is Augie. He is a Philadelphia-area boxer who had his promising career obstructed by alcohol and drugs. Augie (based on a real boxer) made an unlikely and remarkable comeback in his thirties, going to the top of the charts. Augie got his chance at the title but lost it at the Philadelphia Spectrum. He fought once more and won a narrow decision but didn't look good. He retired and worked selling soft pretzels and water ice from a wooden cart in west Philadelphia just as his Greek immigrant father had. He was in his mid 30's and worked out at a local gym. One day while sparring with a younger boxer he was hit in the head with a jarring left-hook. He collapsed unconscious in the ring. Then, he was rushed by ambulance to the hospital. It was determined that a major blood vessel near his brain had been ruptured. A major surgery was performed and he was saved. However a severe stroke occurred during the operation and Augie came out of it unable to walk or even communicate. Augie learn to walk again first with a cane, then independently. He reads, listens to a lot of talk radio, plays the horses, and seriously follows baseball. He pursues his dream of being a baseball writer and even begins to write a book about his life and remarkable career. Augie learns from his best friend about a series of murders in the city. The victims are vagrants who are all stabbed in a unique way. There are four victims when Augie learns of them. Charley, like Augie, listens to a lot of local talk radio. Augie hears Charley inadvertently say things that link him to the murders. And by the condition of the bodies, which rise to the number of ten over three years, Augie determines that Charley is the killer. The book also tells the story of local and international R&B singer Teddy Pendergrass, who has a car accident and is paralyzed. His story post-accident fits into this theme of faith, rehabilitation, and hope.

Sammy Levitt was born and raised in Philadelphia. He graduated from Temple University. He is a former Philadelphia city employee. His articles have appeared in Gambling Times, Win, and American Turf Monthly magazines. He has been an officer in the Roxborough Lodge Son’s of Italy for over 25 years.

Parkway high-school , Temple University and a former city-worker who knows the pulse and unique rhythm of his hometown. his two thoroughly engrossing novels, " Ben's" and " The Will of The Creator", reflect his love for all things Philly, well many things anyway. sammy paints vivid word pictures that alternately reflect his unabashed devotion to a tough town without sugarcoating the more unseemly sides of it. philly homies will likely recognize his fictional character as facsimiles of their own acquaintance. and it won't take many pages for readers whether they're rooting for some and against others. In either case by then they'll be drawn into the narrative and will remain so for the duration. I am pleased to offer my endorsement of these books and no doubt any others that he may write.

-Bernard Fernandez, former sports writer (now retired) of The Philadelphia daily News