Think no one is writing about great single dads? Meet Michael Mullen, the devoted father that men-and particularly women-have taken to their hearts.
"This is a laugh-through-your-tears kind of novel-a story of fathers and sons, family and friendship, and the frequent tragedy of romantic love. An absolutely wonderful achievement."
-KATHERINE TAYLOR, author of Valley Fever and Rules for Saying Goodbye
Michael Mullen is a young air traffic controller at New York City's LaGuardia Airport dedicated to two things-his work and his 2-year-old son Ben. After he and his wife separate, divorce leads to a custody struggle and eventually abduction. Over four consecutive summers, Mike soon faces bankruptcy, homelessness, potentially catastrophic errors at work, and suicidal depression as he fights to find his son. Yet he steadfastly refuses to consider a life spent apart from Ben.
"Smart, funny, and deeply moving, HALF THE CHILD offers a fresh and refreshing take on the perils of parenthood and the healing of damaged families."
-JUDITH STONE, author of When She Was White: The True Story of a Family Divided By Race
Novels about parenting and custody are almost never told from the perspective of a loving, caring dad. HALF THE CHILD chronicles an unbreakable bond between parent and child. And it's a bond that one father is determined to keep alive-at any cost.
"William J. McGee conveys the rapport between a father and his young son by relating their thoughts, words, hopes, fears, and activities over four summers. In a remarkable way, they teach each other the meaning of trust and love."
-Dr. WILLIAM BERNET, President, Parental Alienation Study Group
Critics and readers alike are heaping praise upon HALF THE CHILD...
- Semi-Finalist, James Jones First Novel Competition
- Semi-Finalist, William Faulkner Creative Writing Competition
- Honorable Mention, New England Book Festival Competition
- Named in "The Books That Every Modern Man Needs to Read," Boove.co.uk
- Named in "5 Best Books To Give To Your Dad," Fupping.com
"This is the real thing: a fine, smart novel with the sharp, ringing sound of truth. I loved everything about it...And it may just be the best novel I've ever read about a father's love."
-TOM De HAVEN, author of It's Superman! and the Derby Dugan Trilogy
HALF THE CHILD is the rare novel that combines drama, suspense, dark humor, and heart-breaking emotion-with even a little romance thrown in. Find out why readers are falling in love with Michael and Ben. Ultimately, father and son will write their own love story.
About the Author: WILLIAM J. McGEE was born in New York City and received an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University. Among other pursuits, he teaches undergraduate and graduate Creative Writing; represents travelers as a consumer advocate in Washington; and is an award-winning investigative journalist and columnist. He is the former Editor-in-Chief of Consumer Reports Travel Letter and currently contributes to Consumer Reports and writes a monthly travel column for USA Today. His journalism and essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time, Money, Parents, Good Housekeeping, Condé Nast Traveler, Yahoo.com, DailyBeast.com, HuffingtonPost.com, and many other print and online publications. He also worked in airline flight operations management and served in the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary. McGee is the author of Attention All Passengers (HarperCollins, 2012), a nonfiction exposé of the airline industry, and is developing AirFear, a scripted television drama. He lives in Connecticut, where he is a member of a boxing club. He is, of course, at work on another novel, Bush. He is also a father.
