If she wanted help changing the world for one forgotten child, she chose the wrong man. Seventy-two-year-old Francis Frick would scorn his own family to close another deal. But Bee doesn’t see the world like you or me. She is an optimist, searching for potential where none exists, and so she hovers above Frick’s bed every night, eating pomegranates and waiting for his eyes to open to the possibilities. One night, it finally happens. A rogue droplet of juice slips through her fingers and hits the sleeping Manhattan businessman on the forehead, thrusting him on a series of baffling adventures to some of the twentieth century’s most brutal regimes—all to help Bee save a forgotten child of history.
A Man Too Old for a Place Too Far is part one of The Forgotten Child Trilogy—a one-of-a-kind adventure that mixes time travel, magical realism, and historical fiction into a contemporary story about an old man, his estranged daughter, and a tiny flying person in a white robe, who chooses to believe that anything can happen with enough prodding and an endless supply of pomegranates.
Mark is a proud Western PA native but has lived most of the last twenty years in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia. His overseas experiences have redefined everything including his palate, his outlook on life, and naturally his writing.
He has written ten novels, including his brand new Forgotten Child Trilogy.
His interests cast a wide net - from politics to literature - to culture and language - to history and religion - making his writing infused with the unexpected as he seeks to tell authentic and engaging stories about people from all walks of life. His writing is straightforward and accessible to all, especially those who enjoy writing injected with doses of culture, history, adventure, and delightful humor. You never know what you might get when you pick up a Sasse novel.
Besides novel-writing, Sasse is a prolific dramatist, having written and produced more than a dozen full-length dramatic productions. He especially is fond of the short play format and has twice won the Best Script award at the Short & Sweet Theatre Festival Penang. His plays and short musicals have also been produced in New York City, Kuala Lumpur and Sydney. His play "The Last Bastion" was awarded the Greywood Arts Winter Residency 2018 in Ireland. Performances of his scripts also won Gold and Bronze medals at the Southeast Asian Forensics Competition 2014.
His professional background is as diverse as his writing. He holds Master's degrees from California State University Dominquez Hills and Azusa Pacific University in Humanities and TESOL respectively. His undergraduate degree was in English, which helped him develop his passion for creative writing. He has extensive experience in teaching English, history, and drama.
On top of all of this, he loves to cook everything from gourmet pizzas, to Mexican, to various Asian dishes. Flavor is the key of both his cooking and his writing. He very much hopes you enjoy the taste.
Published Novels and Short Stories of Mark W. Sasse
2021 A Diamond for Her: Myths and Tales of the Winasook Iron Horses 2020 Moses the Singer 2019 The Forgotten Child (Book 3) 2018 The African Connection (Forgotten Child Trilogy Book 2) 2017 A Man too Old for a Place too Far (Forgotten Child Trilogy Book 1) 2016 Which Half David: A Modern-day King David Story 2015 A Love Story for a Nation (coming in July) - Kindle & Paperback 2014 If Love is a Crime: A Christmas Story - Kindle only 2014 The Reach of the Banyan Tree - Kindle & Paperback 2013 The Recluse Storyteller - Kindle & Paperback 2012 Beauty Rising - Kindle & Paperback
A modern day scrooge encounters a mystical being when she drops some food on his forehead. He is transported to a desert island, with only one way off. There's some various adventures where the Scrooge learns the usual lessons his kind needs.
This book reminds me of A Christmas Carol since the main character is very much like Scrooge except in this one, he is going through time and actually changing things. I had a hard time staying interested and I didn't like the main character very much. I think that may be the intention but I hope that he gets better by the end of the trilogy because I still didn't like him at the end of the first book. There were parts of the book that got unexpectedly dark and the ending was pretty surprising but also left me with an odd feeling. I'm unsure it I will continue the series. The writing was good and it flowed well but I'm not sure if it engaged me enought to continue. For now, I will say this was an alright book.
Francis Frick is the typical Scrooge of the business world. He rules his empire with an iron fist, close-minded and ignorant to the happiness of others. The only thing that matters is money and making more money. His own needs and wants come in a close second. Francis is the king of his self-induced pitiful existence.
One night, Bee, a white-robed entity chooses him to be her next project, “knowing that if action ever did occur, it would be an action that didn’t matter, and that was all that mattered to her.” Bee is something of an enigma, part angel, part devilish child – I could never put my finger on her for sure. She could be one of the Fates assisting her progeny on his life journey, or not. And, that is her allure.
Nevertheless, Bee initiates the call to adventure and Francis has no choice but to participate in the pantomime of Bee’s choosing. With Bee, there’s a reason for everything. You just have to trust her instincts.
The old man disappears from New York in a series of strange and unusual experiences, each fraught with danger and life-threatening consequences. Bit by bit, the reason for his time travel reveals a path to redemption if he makes the right choices.
Magical realism is my favorite genre. Unlike most fantasy stories that occur in a fictional land, the magical part occurs in the normal world. Such is the case with Francis Frick. Imagine being thrust into the past and into a place where you had the opportunity to right a wrong. Would you do it? What if you had some magical help?
I have had the pleasure of reading most of Mark Sasse’s novels which like his characters have grown in expression, bursting with life lessons portrayed from living in an unsure world. The author’s descriptions are rich and vibrant placing the reader at the scene of the crime as it is being committed. His imagination is limitless!
The fact that Sasse has lived in various parts of the world figure prominently in his writing. His novels always make me think and weigh out the decisions of his characters. There is always a lesson, and I like that in a novel. It’s like a gift that keeps on giving.
The holiday season is the perfect time to acknowledge the magic that exists in your own life. A Man Too Old for a Place to Far is the perfect Christmas story and at $.99 is a steal. Stay tuned; there will be a sequel to this novel published in 2018. I can’t wait! ❤
*I was given an advanced reader’s copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review which follows*
In this book, you get to meet some really unique characters that keeps growing and evolve in this unique story. We get to follow Francis Frick, who is like a modern Scrooge, you know, the stingy character from Mr Dickens’s story “A Christmas carol”? Frick is a man who has lived his life in the purpose to make money. He hates everything and everybody and has no care for anyone but himself. Not even his daughter. He is a grumpy old man who one night meets Bree, who takes Frick through time and place and forces him to see others than himself.
Sasse has an great writing style. It is easy and refreshing and I would recommend the book to everyone I would think would appreciate this book.
I don’t really know what to say about this book other than it really captivated me. I was hooked, I wanted to know the purpose behind it all. I wanted to find out what it was all leading up too. I read it in one sitting pretty much and the pace was on point.
I found myself reading it and going well that just really weird, that too. What is going on? The book gave you same many questions that you wanted to answer, and thankfully the Author provided most of them the more you read. So, in essence, the more you read the more you understood the wackiness.
This is not my normal go-to genre but I am so glad I read it. It was different and interesting. The main character isn’t the normal guy you would root for, he a bit of an a-hole but at the same time you did feel for him.
My Review Francis Frick is a modern-day “Scrooge” who would do anything to make another business deal. He is friendless, and his only daughter is incessantly challenged by his callousness, but she made a deathbed promise to her mother to look after him. Bee, a fairy-like being, makes him her project, and what a project he is! Bee and her friend Ash thrust Frick into a series of journeys into the past where he is literally dropped into some of the most dangerous and ruthless moments in history. This story is well fleshed out with notes of magical realism, suspense, and history. For me, this is a perfect combination. In addition to several main characters, there are numerous auxiliary characters, but I had no trouble keeping track of who is who. I’ve read and loved all of Mark Sasse’s works and this book is possibly his best so far. There is no reason for me not to award five stars to A MAN TOO OLD FOR A PLACE TOO FAR. The ideas expressed in this review are my own observations.
I had a little trouble getting into this book because the main character reminded me to much of someone and I was having trouble getting past that but once I stopped myself from comparing him with the person I was able to get into the book.
Francis Frick is not a pleasant person to his family or the people that work for him.
He goes on what I call adventures with a mythical creature named Bee and sometimes Ash is there to help him. The situations that he gets into are not exactly nice ones but you will find out how they weave together before the end.
In some places I could figure out what would happen but Mark W Sasse surprised me with the ending.
I think the title caught my interest because I am of Medicare age. Though not the type of book I would normally read (mysteries and thrillers) I really did enjoy the book and was able to become emotionally invested in the story. If I find the time I will do reread and check out others in the series.
It starts off fairly interesting with a unique style and premise, reminiscent of A Christmas Carol, a cynical old man is given a supernatural opportunity for redemption or something.
Unfortunately, it falls apart midway with one-dimensional and unbelievable characters. By the third act, the prose falls apart entirely and the characters and plot becomes ridiculous. Feels like an editor liked the pitch and decided to stopped reading about five chapters in. It has an unlikeable protagonist, which would be fine if they were also believable, but it really doesn’t work in this story.
The writer tries to build mystery around the supernatural elements of the story but it just comes off as incomprehensible and frustrating.
The writer also uses tone deaf language when it comes to describing Cambodia (“gibberish language”) and women....and just people in general. The main character is an old white guy, so sure, it is believable that he could have outdated beliefs about women and race. But under no circumstances would a self-respecting Cambodian-American woman, a character I assume the writer is trying to paint as respectable and sympathetic, just gloss over being addressed in a creepy AF tone, like “an attractive asian women as yourself, unmarried?” (Something along those lines, seriously?) and still fall over herself being nice and accommodating to the guy.
I really regret wasting my Kindle first pick on this book. I don’t expect great fiction from the selection and I like light reads, especially when they’re “free” but this book wasn’t worth it.
Two stars because I did at least feel the need to finish it, and it had potential ... but screwed it up.
A Man Too Old for a Place Too Far (The Forgotten Child Trilogy) (Volume 1) by Author Mark W Sasse
Expect the unexpected! Talented Author Mark Sasse does it again. In "A Man Too Old for a Place Too Far" Sasse takes his readers on a suspenseful roller coaster ride along with his unique cast of characters.
Francis Frick is a present day Scrooge with what appears to be a heart of stone. He treats everyone like dirt including his only daughter Ruthie who, at her mother's deathbed, has agreed to care of her aging father. Much to her chagrin and frustration, it is an endless task and impossible to please him.
Frick, a seventy-two year old Manhattan business man, is visited on a regular basis by a small, white flying creature named Bee. She is a delightful optimist who enjoys eating pomegranates and flitting around from place to place. She thinks there is hope in her efforts to melt the heart of Frick who is financially successful as a result of his shady deals and ill-gotten gains with the likes of H.U. With the assistance of Ash, another ethereal being, Bee proceeds with her plan to create an opportunity for Frick to perform the noblest of acts. The biggest challenge is allowing Frick to figure out what that good deed might be as he travels back in time. It appears that what really "doesn't matter" is of the utmost importance...
It is wonderful to know that this is the first novel in a trilogy because I can't wait to read Volume II in this captivating series. In my opinion, it is a rare combination of fact, fiction and fairy-tale. I couldn't put it down!
Not exactly sure of all,that happened in this book dealing with a man with little emotions other than greed and indifference rimed with anger. Francis Frick has been given the chance to “right” things but he is unclear how to do it. The process to getting him where he needs to be is interesting and sometimes confusing.....and apparently is up to two mystical and mysterious characters, Bee and Ash.
I read this books in stages as it was a freebie and I had to stop it several times in order to read a digital library book on which there is a time limit. That said, I was able to easily pick up where I left off because quite frankly, the book didn’t interest me at all in the beginning. However, this last time I picked it back up, I could not leave it. The story line did draw me in and I had to know what would happen.
Still a little confused on the characters of Bee and Ash and Zette, introduces at the end, but I guess they will be further explained In the sequel.
This book gave me a serious Christmas Carol vibe; a rich, selfish, curmudgeon, that deserves a hard lesson in kindness. Francis Frick is an absolute scrooge and Sasse does a great job establishing this character and his traits. As things unfold the ghost figure, Bee, starts the real adventure. Despite the similarities to Christmas Carol this book does have an original feel in other aspects, particularly the time travel and Bee as a character. I would certainly recommend this book because I was drawn in and whipped right through it.
Sort tof like Scrooge but not at Christmas, & involves time travel, beings only the cranky, belligerent, old protagonist can see, pomegranates, a birthday party gone wrong, people cowed by him who somehow still care what haooens to him, a deatroyed romance, in a way, a deateoyed woman, trevel by a man who hates it, lessons learned slowly, & what is important may not matter, but what doesn't seem to matter may be important. It makes more sense when you read the book. I highly recommend doing so..
Sometimes you want to go back in time and make some changes. several times Francis Frick is sent back in time challenged to do a good work that doesn't really matter. This story keeps you reading to find out what exactly needs to be done that won't really matter. This is a very entertaining read. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
I highly recommend reading this book. I am an avid reader and wasn't sure what to expect from this novel (got it for free). The book stands alone but is part of a triology. Fairies that deny being fairies, an old grump who denies caring, parts of the past that are hard to look back at, and a future that looks lonely for all. The order of things that matter (and things that don't) and unseen forces that influence all are cleverly woven into this wonderful story, enjoy it!
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway a while back, sorry it took so long to get to this book.
You've probably read other reviews that say this is a Scrooge book, and they aren't wrong. This twist on the classic Dickens' story had a nice flow and pacing that kept me coming back. The main character is pretty miserable but there is a great supporting cast. Not sure if I'll pick up the rest of the series but this was an enjoyable read.
A really great book. As it stands it wasn't a bad read until the author used a certain city in New Jersey. Sorry but this something that somebody should have caught. Paterson, NJ is a real place. It is pronounced Pater-son not Pat-ter-son. I know because I come from the town next door. Paterson has a rich history too. Look it up.
This is one of the strangest books I have ever read. Didn't think I would like it.It is mysterious. Well written. I never leave reviews. I HAVE PROBABLY READ OVER500 book this year. This was a challenge, a must read!
I recommend this book to those whose like to figure out a twisting plot. GIVES HOPE TO THE TWISTED SOUL!
Strange premise of a not-fairy being and a truly grumpy old man with no discerning redeeming qualities being entwined for whatever reason. I just had to give up a quarter of the way through. I so disliked the main character and the rambling story, I decided there are too many books waiting to be read to waste my time on this.
There is a description of childhood sexual abuse. Some mild language. Francis Frick is the meanest man you will ever meet. A couple of ‘fairies’ appear to him and take him back in time to see what his anonymous business deals have caused worldwide. Can he figure out what they want from him? Rated PG17
I bought this book because it sounded intriguing, with a bit of mystery, romance and some history to boot. What I got was all of that from an author who can dream and make a wonderful make believe story . It was like reading a modern day fairy tale. Mark Sasse has a brilliant talent that makes for a truly enjoyable time reading.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. It was wonderful. I found myself laughing out loud multiple times. The whimsical and bizarre storyline sucked me in and had me reading until the end. Great book!
Did you ever want to go back and right a wrong? Would you know which wrong needed to be changed? Well Francis, an old bitter man gets this chance but can he make the right changed? Very well written, I felt I was right along for the journey.
In this book an old dog DOES learn new tricks, although complaining the whole way. The characters are interesting and well described - even the ones that aren't human. The plot will grip you and keep you reading until done.
What a strange little book this was. Time and space travel and unique beings hoping to find redemption for a cantankerous old man. Not sure I care enough to read the second novel. We will see