“Incredibly, this book is a tale told of relationships, politics, history, geography, crime, racial conflict, travel, music…all surrounding a story of enduring love and loyalty.”.
After personal disaster ends all her hopes and dreams in New York, Maria Romano sets out alone in search of a new life in the tumultuous world of 1960s America. Her quest for meaning takes her through numerous adventures and misadventures that create a lifetime of both beautiful and haunting memories. It is a journey that takes her from the blues clubs and political turmoil of 1968 Chicago to the music scene of San Francisco and the madness of Las Vegas. Now in her later years, she must reconcile what it all meant in order to move on. Her past has finally caught up with her…with a vengeance.
By the best-selling author of the Band in the Wind trilogy. (Band in the Wind, Sound of Redemption, and Brotherhood of Forever). Written as a stand-alone novel, The Other Side of the Wind may be read enjoyably either before or after that series of novels.
The Other Side of the Wind may be read independently of the other books in Cambria series.
ISBNs
979-8986900933
Genres
Biographical fiction
Coming-of-Age Fiction
310 pages
Caripathia Publishing
Language: English
William John Rostron (“Bill” to most who know him) is the author of a four-book series based on 1960s American culture and music. This series has received critical acclaim, and all four books are consistently rated 4.5 out of 5 or higher on Amazon. While sales have been recorded on four continents and all 50 states, the series has developed an almost cult-like following among Baby Boomers, musicians, New Yorkers, and lovers of mysteries.
Bill has also produced over three dozen published short stories. Most of these appear either in his first short story book, A Flamingo Under the Carousel, or his upcoming book, T-Rex Stole My Computer. Many of these have received recognition from the Writers Digest contests. Six of his stories have been presented either on the New York stage or made into short film productions by the Visible Ink program. Only about 3% of submissions per year achieve this status. These videos may be seen on the author’s website
In October 2023, a short proof of concept film based on his first novel, Band in the Wind, and his short story “Pretty Flamingo” won first place in the New York Long Island Film Festival.
This eight-minute film may be viewed on the website Pretty Flamingo Film website..
Bill splits his time between his Long Island home and traveling the country in his Tiffin motorhome. He and his wife Marilyn have logged over 2,000 days on the road in the last twenty years. In the process, they have visited all fifty states, all thirty major league baseball stadiums, over 100 national parks, two Canadian provinces, and numerous unusual locations. Many of their stops end up as location settings in his books.
In 2023, Bill edited the KAPOW anthology of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, illustration and photography for Red Penguin Books.
Novels:
Band in the Wind
Sound of Redemption
Brotherhood of Forever
The Other Side of the Wind
Dancing With the Lost (2025 release)
Short Story Compilations
A Flamingo Under the Carousel
T-Rex Stole My Computer (late 2024 release)
Short Stories Filmed Either on Live Stage or production videos:
Pretty Flamingo
The Garden of Eden
Ava’s Bubble
Fool on the Hill
The Last Chord
Senseless
Reviews
“This book is an almost perfect blend of music, nostalgia, a coming-of-age story…and tragedy! It really does have a bit of everything. Highly entertaining.”
– Online Book Review (4/4 stars)
“Rostron manages to capture the mood of this tumultuous time—a feat that takes skill, a great memory, and the ability to put emotion into words.”
– Writers Digest Self Published Book Awards
This tale told by Rostron succeeds…massively. It is a story told with dollops of nitty and gritty but also some blasts and burns that will thrill you as powerfully as…well…as a power chord. A giant power chord, amped up with emotions, friendship, cruelty, hate, revenge, and love.
– James J. Spina (contributor to Rolling Stone, Hit Parader, Creem, and Mojo)
“A must-read for book-lovers hoping to experience the lost, yet somehow lingering, days of 1960s American culture.”
Michael L. Burduck, – Professor of English – Tennessee Tech Universitywww.williamjohnrostron.com