The Lions of Buffalo

People in their 50's and older, believe that the best years of their lives have already been lived. Not so, for Lenore Burns, her twin brother, and their closest friends. Their successful lives, which they were happy enough with, were shaken out of complacency by a series of shocking revelations, mental disorders, and struggles to find their true purposes in life. Set in Buffalo, New York, a real city going through a renaissance after 50 years of decline, the characters in this fictional story, find their own rebirth, through struggles between withdrawing from new challenges or finding inner strength to face them, head-on. No matter what their backgrounds as youths, the people in this novel have chosen different paths, arriving at an age in their lives where their choices still matter in making them happy, fulfilled "seniors," or failures at living useful lives. The author has used real settings in Buffalo, as well as fictional places as backgrounds against which the characters cope with their own re-births while past secrets are revealed, and emotional landscapes are dramatically changed. There are people whose bodies age, but whose minds and feelings remain vital and in need of others to continually find new challenges. Life of the spirit never ages, and these characters prove just that. Troubled families going through the ravages of alcoholism, mental illness, personal loss,and youthful indiscretions are nothing new. This novel shows that with the help of each other, fall-out can be contained. It also shows that even with financial security, great schooling, successful careers, and plenty of support, some people still cannot make it unscathed through life's journey. Since everyone and everything is connected, the actions and inactions of others greatly affect the lives of people for good or bad. The author tries to answer the question of why some people, despite having great families, great opportunities, and great social networks still choose paths of self-destruction, affecting the lives of those around them. And why the opposite is also true: how the lives of people brought up in poverty, ignorance, and horrible home lives can rise above all that and become happy, useful, and successful. Lenore and her brother, James, have been in both situations. Their emotional lives, however, have determined how they are able to cope with life's ever-changing challenges and dilemmas. It is true that many of the events occurring in this story could not have happened anywhere but in a city like Buffalo. It was once one of the most vibrant places in the country. Economically, it fell apart when heavy industry died there, leaving a wealthy class of people who did not need industry any longer to increase their fortunes. These wealthy people became the surviving backbone of the city and the catalyst for how and why the author chose to write about them in a fictional way, to bring to life the characters' struggles. Their conflicts are unique to this story, but their emotional lives are universal. The wealthy of any community determine its vitality through support of institutions and charitable donations. This does not guarantee success in their personal lives, as conflicts occur in rich and poor alike. The reader will find enough plot twists and common ground in the lives of the people in this story to conclude that ultimately, happiness is a personal choice. Being a strong lion in the jungle does not guarantee it will be protected from predators.