New York/New Jersey The Tunnel - Michael Lubrano
When Felicia passed away, the writing stopped. The words no longer came. For a few years, the pages stayed empty, untouched, as life took over and grief settled in. Eventually, Mike found his way back to the story—not just to finish a book, but to honor her memory. This book became a tribute to Felicia and the love they shared, a way to keep her presence alive through the words they once dreamed up together. With the encouragement, support, and belief of his new family and children, Mike found the strength to return to the manuscript and see it through to the end. Mike—better known as “Lubes,” the nickname he carried growing up in North Bergen, New Jersey—was part of a close-knit group of guys and girls known simply as “The Boys.” They were inseparable, bound by friendship, loyalty, and shared memories of growing up together. Mike played football and wrestled in high school, but his true passion was boxing, which eventually led him into the world of martial arts. What began as an interest turned into a lifelong commitment. Mike went on to train in the martial arts for over thirty years. If you ask him how good he is, he’ll tell you with a smile, “I’m just good enough to get out of trouble—but not smart enough to know it.” Mike grew up in a small three-bedroom ranch in North Bergen with his mom, dad, and two brothers. It was a modest home, but it was filled with lessons that stayed with him for life. His dad taught Mike how to box at a very early age, but more importantly, he taught him restraint—telling him to only fight to protect others, never for ego or pride. His mom ran the house and held the family together, teaching them to put Jesus first in their lives. Those early lessons—discipline, faith, family, and protecting what matters—became the foundation of the man Mike would grow into, and the heart behind the story he would one day write. This is the first book Michael has ever written, and for a New Jersey boy who failed English almost every year, it stands as a tremendous accomplishment. Writing was never supposed to be his strength, yet here it is—finished, real, and in his hands. The idea for this book lived in Mike’s head for many years, waiting patiently for the right moment. A few years ago, he finally began writing it alongside his wife, Felicia, sharing ideas, scenes, and late-night conversations about the story they believed in together.
GENRE: Fiction
Blurb:
They drink coffee. They argue with the radio. They think about work, family, dinner plans, or the game on television later that night. They trust the concrete above them, the lights ahead of them, and the strangers driving just feet away. They believe they are safe. The Tunnel is a story about what happens when that trust is tested. Set against the familiar backdrop of New York and New Jersey, this novel explores the thin line between ordinary life and sudden chaos.
