Freedom Quest

Published by: Atmosphere Press
Release Date: Spring 2026

 
Synopsis

In 1965, a chance meeting between two young artists leads to a romance spanning over fifty years. The music scene is exploding with the new sounds of rock ‘n roll while the Vietnam War is raging. Michael Griffin is on the verge of rock 'n roll stardom when he loses everything. His best friend dies in Vietnam. When a marijuana drug bust sends him to jail, Grace leaves him, the band breaks up and all hopes of a record deal disappear. Torn apart by outside forces of deception and betrayal, Michael & Grace lose track of each other. Michael spirals downward into a strange world, brainwashed and conned by a cult leader in Hawaii who promises him the elusive stardom he desperately wants while Grace moves on and marries. After a harrowing escape from the cult, Michael returns home and begins the slow journey back to reality, redeeming himself to his family and friends. But will he ever see Grace again? Can two star-crossed lovers torn apart by the tumultuous period of free love, psychedelics and the Vietnam War find each other again?

Destiny intervenes in a serendipitous encounter when Grace goes looking for a guitar teacher for her youngest son. The two star-crossed lovers discover they have been living a few miles from each other and are still very much in love. Together again and still true to their ideals, music ignites them and life is exquisite until illness steps in. As Michael's health declines, success as defined by the material world becomes once again unattainable. Grace lovingly takes on the role of full-time care giver and the life lessons they learn the second time, are not at all what they expected.

FREEDOM QUEST is a story of redemption and a testament of hope to those who long to believe that true love can be found.