Sitting Dead Red

by J.D. Dudycha

For Royce Thorne, baseball is a release. The ghost of his mother, the death of his teammate, the abuse of his father, and the impending outcome of an alleged cheating scandal bring him to a critical juncture in his young life.

If not for a mentor noticing a talent in him that Royce himself does not see, as well as the love of that mentor’s young daughter, Royce may not care to survive. Sitting Dead Red is a coming of age tale that is more than a baseball story. It’s a story of a redemptive life.

Royce must find the power of forgiveness. Not in others, but in himself.

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 15, 2016

About the author

J.D. Dudycha believes the best stories are written with characters overcoming real life struggles and everyone deserves a shot a redemption.

After a long stay in the baseball world, both as a player and a coach, J.D. has turned to his real passion, creating gritty, in-your-face characters who leap off the page and ooze practicality. You can’t help but continue to read because you don’t know where the story will take you next. J.D. is in the middle of creating two new action/adventure series.

J.D. spends his time with his wife and children in the sunshine of Florida. When he is able to step away from the world of writing fiction, he enjoys golf and fly fishing, and he never met a mountain he didn’t want to climb or an ocean he didn’t want to explore.

His inspiration is drawn from many different authors. Some of his favorites are C.S. Lewis, Clive Cussler, and Lee Child.

Reviews

[Ian Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I’ve never met a sports film I didn’t like. Strange, since I’m not really a sports fan and I don’t follow any sport closely. But I guess that’s what the films do for me, allow me to connect with the sport in a way I wouldn’t ordinarily. The drama surrounding the game, the characters, all the camera angles that bring you in close so you can feel the things you can’t feel on the sidelines. So, along comes this book, and honestly I’ve never read a sports book, and I thought, “Well, maybe a well-written sports novel will do for you what those films did.” And I was pleasantly surprised to find I was right.

Right from the first chapter you know you’re in very capable hands with this writer. His style is fluid, and his ability to immerse you in what you’re reading, profound. It didn’t just play like a movie, it played like a movie with me in it, as the starring player. The author has a background in baseball and it shows in the attention to the countless small details that bring the story to life. That are part of its authentic flavor.

The author’s lead character is a compelling one. Growing up with an abusive alcoholic father, his one chance of escape into a life he actually wants to live is baseball. But he has to overcome some character flaws of his own to be the kind of baseball player and the human being he wishes to become. Turns out becoming a star player, no small challenge, might be the least of his problems. At least that’s a mountain he wants to climb for all the hardship implied. Considering how easy it was to get inside his head and how realistically his character was portrayed I can’t see this book not going over well with the YA and new adult/college crowd. Considering how much kids are up against these days, our hero’s struggles would make him as relevant today as ever.

[Mary Yarde · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is only one place in the world where Royce Throne can forget about his personal loss, his alcoholic father and the threat of expulsion from school - the baseball pitch.

But what would happen if baseball was taken away from him as well?

Sitting Dead Red is a real heart-wrenching story. Royce struggles with his emotions throughout this book. Dudycha has created, not only a very believable character but also someone who I think many young adults would be able to relate to. Royce has so much flesh on him that he actually bleeds ~ there is no other way I can describe it. His story is not an easy read, but it so needs telling. They say the darkest day is before the dawn, and Royce certainly finds himself in the deepest darkness. It is here that he has to face one of the most important questions in his life. Should he give up or find the will to carry on?

The plot was so engaging that I hardly noticed the pages turning. A great deal happens in this story, and it was certainly a compelling read that kept me on my toes. I loved the portrayal of Royce, but also of Ryan O’Sullivan ~ the one man who not only saw the potential of Royce but who also believed in him. If it weren't for Sully and his daughter Emma, then Royce story would have had a very different ending.

I loved this book. I could not put it down, and I read it in on sitting. I recommend this book without any hesitation. This is a book that needs to be read.

[Deb Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Royce Thorne, J.D. Dudycha's protagonist in Sitting Dead Red, is a tortured soul with a difficult past and an uncertain future. Royce's experiences will resonate with readers in many ways, one of which being the way his passion, baseball, gives him purpose and direction in the midst of chaos and confusion. In his second novel—as in his first novel, Paint the Black, published last year—Dudycha has succeeded in capturing the excitement of the game of baseball as well as the intensity of his main character's situation. The characters are engaging, and the plot is intriguing, all the way to the very end.

[Jana Petken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading Paint the Black and being surprised at how much I enjoyed it.

Not knowing much about Baseball, I wasn’t sure if I would get bogged down with ‘the game’ in this “Sitting Dead Red”. But, no, this was another great, easy read with the main characters, especially Royce, being spot on. The portrayal of his emotional and physical hurdles was heartfelt.

I also appreciated that although there was romance in the story, it did not overpower the plot, which was how Royce was going to deal with his problems. A great book. I really enjoyed it.

[Melissa Craven · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters make it!
I’m not a huge sports fan by any means, but I enjoyed this story behind the game. I liked the sound of the book based on the summary, but Royce is what kept me reading. He struggles a lot in this book, and that makes him incredibly real and relatable. His love for baseball and his desire to succeed, despite all the issues and obstacles around him, create an intriguing conflict and makes you root for him.
I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a great sport themed tale with lost of unexpected twists and turns.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was such a quick easy read.