Making Friends With Monsters

Written by Sandra L Rostirolla

Narrated by Tim Cox

An IngramSpark Bestselling Indie Young Adult Fiction Book 2023

"Why does everything have to be so complicated? Why? Monsters! That's why! They stick their scungy little noses into everything!”

In this gripping tale, twelve-year-old Sam's innocent quest to help his troubled older brother, quickly spirals into a battle with his own inner monster. After a life-altering accident awakens Sam's beast, his once well-intentioned actions wreak havoc on his relationships, including with the girl he loves.

When he uncovers the family secret that triggered his brother’s downward spiral, Sam realizes someone else also has a monster and the hideous beast did something really bad. With his world spiraling out of control, Sam struggles to find balance and along the way discovers hidden strengths and the power of compassion.

In this thrilling book, the stakes are high as Sam confront the truth about himself and those around him. Full of heart-pounding suspense and emotional depth, "Making Friends With Monsters" is a powerful story of self-discovery, resilience, and the transformative power of friendship. Readers of all ages will be captivated by Sam's harrowing journey as he grapples with the complexities of life and finds the courage to confront the monstrous shadows that haunt us all.

Themes include: Suicidal ideas, death of a family member, family dysfunction, and severe bodily trauma.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pinkus Books
• Release date: Apr 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9798368939933

Sandra L Rostirolla

Insightfully penned, with a plot that sizzles, Sandra L. Rostirolla’s CECILIA has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval. Born in Sydney, Australia, Sandra came to America on a professional work Visa, only to find herself studying theater and dance in Chicago. After moving to Los Angeles, she put aside her Bachelor of Applied Science and MBA to study film & entertainment at UCLA. Her talents as a lyricist led her to her now husband, composer Kurt Oldman, who co-wrote and produced her CD, THYME. Realizing that writing, rather than singing, was her passion, Sandra began writing screenplays, making the top 200 of Page International Screenwriting Competition, quarterfinals of the ASA Screenwriting Competition, and top fifteen percent of the Nicholl Fellowship. She wrote and directed the short animation, The Adventures of Gilbert the Goofball, which was runner-up for Best Animation at the Action on Film Festival, and her short story, Lucky Quarter, was a finalist for the Rick DeMarinis Short Story Award. Selected to participate in the Australians in Film Writers Room, Sandra work-shopped the screenplay version of her novel, Cecilia. She remains active with the core Alumni group, which meets monthly to review and critique each other’s work. Sandra presently works for a film production company, which recently released the Josh Hartnett starring film “6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain.” When she’s not imagining fantastical stories grounded by rules and reasoning, she’s usually renovating something around the house, sneaking away with her husband for a last minute ski-trip, or dealing with the unruly strays that seem to enjoy terrorizing her three cats.