Go to Page Content
Cover for 'Pushing Leaves Towards the Sun'

When Oso gets yanked off his motorcycle and killed by a closed parking lot chain, Billy feels guilty for having taught him to hop curbs and shortcut traffic lights. Billy’s survivor’s guilt drags him down a spiral of excessive alcohol, one-night stands, body painting, and reckless driving. He’s now all too aware that life is short—play hard.

Meanwhile, Oso’s former girlfriend Lindy pours her grief into her new folk-rock album as she struggles with whether she can ever let herself love again. Can she turn this personal tragedy into something meaningful through her music?

Pushing Leaves Towards the Sun explores survivor’s guilt and grief through reckless adventure, a dozen original songs, and fiction. When you’ve lost someone you love, there are no easy answers. Know that you’re not alone in your struggle. Billy and Lindy are here.

This novel is intended for adults. It includes some graphic language, sexual situations, and questionable behavior. Recovery from intense loss is a rough road -- 100 miles-per-hour on two wheels with no regard for oncoming traffic, as an example.

Like Alot of other listners said, this isn't my usual faire but I decided to give it a try and I'm really glad I did! I ended up really loving the characters and the phenominal music. I'm looking forward to Street Justice!
I spent last evening replaying various chapters of the audio version of "Pushing Leaves Towards the Sun", and by visiting the author's website (marklberry.com) to study the lyrics and listen to many of what have become my favorite songs. Earlier this week I listened to the audio book in its ...
As a songwriter and musician I was more interested in hearing how the author incorporated original music into the story rather than the story itself. To be brutally honest, the story was not something I would be interested in reading - there's no gun fights, swords or sorcery, no time ...
Everyone who suffers a loss of a loved one, spouse or best friend, grieves in different ways for different lengths of time. This story is about the accidental death of a member of a group of close friends. It deeply examines how two handle and recover from his death. It ...
A fantastic concept and audio book. Strong story line with well developed characters, the music brings it to life. Professionally produced, it keeps you engaged and is hard to turn off. Give it a listen; the music alone is worth it.
I was actually somewhat reluctant to utilize my precious time listening to an audio book just for entertainment but once I started with "pushing leaves" I couldn't stop. I found it to be not only interesting but a very unique way of getting all from a book by hearing the ...
This is no ordinary audiobook. The original music adds to the reader's understanding and enjoyment as the story unfolds. All three readers are excellent and believable, but I especially liked the woman who read Lindy's part. She has a thoughtful, educated voice. Give it a listen!
Mark Berry deserves big congratulations for his audio book. The new release of his novel shows an interesting perspective and deep meanings - sides that allowed me to purvey and seek more thought on my own. I suggest that everyone have a listen/look at his work. It was fascinating in ...
Something about this book perked my curiosity and I ended up listening to the audio podcast, which turned out to be an interesting experience. I like the vivid imagery and the way which the writer crafted current language and thought to the slice of life vignettes of regular people. The ...
  • PushingLeaves01

    Curb Hopping: Part I begins. POV–Billy. Summer of 1984. Friday Night. Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich, Connecticut. Racing, death and survivor’s guilt.
  • PushingLeaves02

    He Loved to Ride: POV–Lindy. Hospital tears and lost relationships.
  • PushingLeaves03

    Last Call: POV–Billy. The payphone inside The Fallout Shelter and broken weekend plans.
  • PushingLeaves04

    Oso’s Last Ride: POV–Lindy. Oso’s BMW motorcycle, a Sony Sports Walkman, and shortcutting through a parking lot. Companion song - One Down and Four Up
  • PushingLeaves05

    Formidable Force: POV–Billy. Locker trouble and a hallway fight.
  • PushingLeaves06

    Kassi’s Diner: Part II begins. 2 Years Later—Summer of 1986. POV–Billy. The daily hangover and a stranger in bed.
  • PushingLeaves07

    Bubble Hockey: POV–Lindy. Wrestling with music and lyrics, plus an unlikely muse. Companion song - Can’t Say Goodbye
  • PushingLeaves08

    The Battle of Breakfast: POV–Billy. Bedroom games and basement blues. Can’t Say Goodbye reprise.
  • PushingLeaves09

    High School: POV–Lindy. Vodka and Pepsi at the Icebreaker Dance. Rock, paper, scissors.
  • PushingLeaves10

    Around The Loco Beer Fridge: POV–Billy. 100 m.p.h. motorcycle Pac-Man. Back-porch gathering. Jules’ double walk of shame.
  • PushingLeaves11

    The Fallout Shelter: POV–Dog. The nightclub life. Dog can’t find a date. One Down and Four Up revisited. A sneak peak at the original unplugged version of From a Long Way Away. Companion song - If I’m Only Dreaming about a menage-a-trois gone way-wrong.
  • PushingLeaves12

    Ship of Fools: POV–Billy. The JFK roadtrip begins. Roadies from the Loco Beer Fridge. Toll booths. Periodic Captain’s reports. The crew goes missing. Preview of Man-Made Roadblocks.
  • PushingLeaves13

    Officer Huskador: POV–Lindy. Boarding-door dilemma.
  • PushingLeaves14

    Guests of the Crew: POV–Billy. I think this road trip is starting to get out of hand.
  • PushingLeaves15

    Concert Plans: POV–Lindy. How Puerto Rico happened.
  • PushingLeaves16

    Misery Loves Company: POV–Billy. Chicken wings, breakfast cocktails, beach time, and coping strategies.
  • PushingLeaves17

    One Day: POV–Lindy. Live at the Fallout Shelter. Companion songs - One Day about the anger stage of grief, and Screwed at the Drive-thru that aks, "Where's the rest of my food? Dude!"
  • PushingLeaves18

    Dog Houses: POV–Dog. The boys return home.
  • PushingLeaves19

    Spy’s Surprise: POV–Lindy. Beer-bottle label lyrics. Companion song - Man-Made Roadblocks
  • PushingLeaves20

    Don Q and Phoenix for Two: POV–Billy. Back porch brews. Caribbean recap.
  • PushingLeaves21

    Zodiac Signs. POV–Lindy: IDs and the ABC.
  • PushingLeaves22

    What About Lindy?: POV–Billy. Jules, and you are what you eat. Egg toast. Is Lindy fair game?
  • PushingLeaves23

    Hey Young Lady: POV–Lindy. Companion songs - Hey Young Lady and Organized Anger (drum solo)
  • PushingLeaves24

    White Horse Diner: POV–Dog. After hours, and friends don’t let friends drive drunk.
  • PushingLeaves25

    Back in the Saddle: POV–Billy. Sunday at the Leaki Tiki, Kassi’s Diner, and someone gets back in the air.
  • PushingLeaves26

    At Least It’s Paid For: POV–Dog. Another back-porch gathering.
  • PushingLeaves27

    Cockroaches of the Sea: POV–Billy. The woes of lobstering with Dog.
  • PushingLeaves28

    About ‘Just Dan’: POV–Lindy. Discount shopping, country-club waitresssing, and the origin of Just Dan’s name revealed.
  • PushingLeaves29

    From a Long Way Away: POV–Lindy. An unexpected basement interview. Companion song - From a Long Way Away.
  • PushingLeaves30

    The Silent Treatment: POV–Billy. Jules undresses (again). Introducing Lindy to other forms of art besides music.
  • PushingLeaves31

    Next Move. POV–Lindy: Steaming chowder, Billy’s surprise creative effort, look who is doing shots of Jack, and what lies ahead. Companion song - Just Another
  • PushingLeaves32

    Pushing a Couple Leaves Towards the Sun: POV–Billy. Sour Mash encounter. Companion song – Pushing Leaves Towards the Sun
  • PushingLeaves33

    Restless Sleep: POV–Lindy. Roulette balls, organ grinders, and reaching out across the bed.
  • PushingLeaves34

    Encore: Part III begins. 2 Years Later—Summer of 1988. POV–Lindy. The arena. Need I say more? Companion songs - The Family Tree and Cats
  • PushingLeaves35

    Epilogue: POV–Billy. Like a yearbook, what happened to everybody. Musical collage of all 12 songs. Visit my website: www.marklberry.com
  • PushingLeaves36

    Episode 36 - This is the Q & A Episode. Questions and comments from fellow podcasters Seth Harwood, Mike Bennett, Kenn Crawford; my fellow readers Alison Leston and Christopher Madden; numerous collaborative musicians who brought the companion songs of this audiobook to life; as well as listeners from near and far. I hope you liked my audiobook novel, and please check out my website: http://marklberry.com or send me an e-mail mark@marklberry.com Huge thanks to Evo and Podiobooks.com

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Logo This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 license.

Powered by Libsyn.com

Text and Layout Copyright © 2005-2012 Podiobooks.com. All rights reserved.

See legal notes for audio file rights.