New Novel, 'The Gorilla,' Tells Epic Tale of Self-Discovery and Australian Adventure

PERTH, Australia - Jan. 15, 2018 - PRLog -- Utilizing donations from his successful GoFundMe campaign to publish his first book, author and cancer survivor John Karelis embraces the art of storytelling in his absorbing novel, 'The Gorilla.' Crafted from the compelling details of his own life and infused with fantastical elements, 'The Gorilla' is an evocative tale of courage, love, adventure, survival, and the strength to face not just the past, but the truth.

Karelis's protagonist is Jon Gorelis, an Australian bricklayer and rhyming wordsmith who grapples with experiences from his childhood and a devastating stage four cancer diagnosis at the age of 18. Despite suffering from a severe hearing impairment as the result of his torturous chemo treatments, Jon moves forward in his life, starts his own business, and falls in love with Kat — an aspiring writer he meets while traveling in Asia.

When Jon and Kat embark on a long-distance coastal road trip from Perth to Darwin in an attempt to reinvigorate Jon's not-so-booming business, their adventure quickly becomes an emotional journey as they share their stories, face their ghosts, and struggle to come to terms with the experiences that have hurt them the most. As their individual emotional battles unravel the bond between them, Jon looks deep within to find the self—The Gorilla—he's been searching for.

'The Gorilla' is a powerful narrative and Karelis is masterful at moving seamlessly between the present and the past. His descriptions of Australia's unique and breathtaking landscape are both haunting and pure, and he is skillful and authentic in his use of Australian vernacular. He maintains a steady dose of suspense, and uses elements of fantasy (magic and ghosts) to enhance his plot twists and deliver meaningful messages till the last page.

"I wrote 'The Gorilla' to help raise funds to fix my hearing that was damaged during chemotherapy when I was 20," explains Karelis. "I wish to inspire people in similar positions, that if you work hard enough you can achieve anything."

'The Gorilla'is published in ebook format by eBookIt.com and is also available at popular online retailers including Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, and Apple's iBookstore.

Review copies of 'The Gorilla'are available to media contacts upon request. John Karelis is available for interviews.

About the Author

John Karelis was born in Perth, Western Australia to parents of Greek heritage. Diagnosed with stage four cancer in 2004 when he was 20, John suffered months of chemotherapy and as a result, was left with severe hearing impairment and debilitating tinnitus. Since 2011, John has run a successful bricklaying business, and in 2016 he decided to write 'The Gorilla' with the goal of raising funds to help correct his hearing impairment.

About eBookIt.com

Since 2010, eBookIt.com (based in Sudbury, Massachusetts) has helped thousands of authors and publishers get their books converted to ebook format, and distributed to all the major ebook retailers, including Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Apple iBookstore, Kobo, Sony Readerstore, Ingram Digital, and Google eBookstore.