All Roads Lead to Lawrence

Product Description

In this sequel to THIS WAS NEVER ABOUT BASKETBALL, a few months have passed since Zeke Archer saved basketball from extinction after the 7th Dimension—the otherworldly entity that brought the game to Earth in 1891—tried to take it away for good. Now Zeke is settling into life after high school, leading his team and running the point at Jefferson Community College. And there, on his home court, is where this strange tale begins . . . Tragedy strikes close to Zeke’s heart, and his world slowly begins to crumble around him. But when he receives a mysterious message that could only have originated from another realm, Zeke begins a journey like no other. Flanked by his trusted friend Lawrence—a math whiz who might have just discovered a top-secret inter-dimensional portal—Zeke crosses paths with a drop-kicking rugby aficionado, a sage and telepathic sea creature, and the possible inventor of basketball, all in the quest to find the true meaning of love, loss, and friendship, on and off the court.

Review

“It is rare that a series combines the earthiness of sports with the twist of theoretical physics, while also examining the daily grind of school, studies, work, and personal hardships. This truly original plot is centered in a credible and relatable reality, with all the odd moving parts of the existential subplot woven through like the oft-rehearsed moves of a finely tuned basketball team. Leener handles his keen imagination and his literary gift like a professional athlete — with ease and grace.” (Recommended) –US Review of Books
 
”
All Roads Lead to Lawrence is an intricate blend of several seemingly dissimilar ingredients that end up forming a fantastic novel. With confident, empathetic character development, Leener guides his protagonist through a gauntlet of increasingly gonzo predicaments, including encounters with a psychic dolphin and the ghost of an 18th-century Welsh rugby player. By the end of it, Zeke emerges a mature young man with a much greater sense of self, which is exactly the sort of stakes-raising storytelling you would expect from an entertaining sequel.” (5 Stars) –Red City Review
 
“The ‘Lawrence’ in 
All Roads Lead to Lawrence is both a character in the story and a physical place, the latter of which Zeke must get to before Dr. Naismith’s time on Earth expires. It’s Lawrence, Zeke’s autistic genius friend who specializes in math and inter-dimensional portal theories, who convinces the main character to make contact with Dr. Naismith and a loved one who recently passed on. Lawrence works furiously to prove that death is not the end of human consciousness, something that creates a fascinating, creative, and compelling narrative.” (IR Approved, 4.5 Stars) –IndieReader.com
 
“A sequel to the acclaimed 
This Was Never About Basketball, our protagonist is a bit older and wiser, but his heart still beats with every bounce of the basketball. Now the point guard for his college team, he may think he’s done with his extra-dimensional adventures, but his journey is only beginning. While this is a YA book, and written on that level, it is often engaging in a more adult and nuanced way. Many authors use sports as metaphoric tools, particularly because it is something so widely understood and socially present for young readers, but Leener isn’t heavy-handed in his messaging. Existential undertones are delicate things to express effectively, but they handily drive this book down the court from start to finish.” (4.5 Stars) –Self-Publishing Review

About the Author

Craig Leener grew up on the hardscrabble basketball courts of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, California. He has studied the game as a player, coach, referee, fan, and sportswriter. Craig earned an AA degree in liberal arts from L.A. Valley College and a BA degree in Radio/TV/Film from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). He subsequently worked in the entertainment industry in film operations, postproduct