The Painting and The Piano

The Painting and The Piano is an improbable story of survival and Love. Growing up more than a thousand miles apart and worlds away from each other, Johnny and Adrianne seemed to have all that children could ask for. However, the demons of their respective mothers would tear their fragile young lives apart. Eventually, destiny would bring Johnny and Adrianne together, but first they had to endure the painful toll that alcohol, drugs, and a negligent court system would take on them. With parts of Adrianne's story ripped from national news headlines, their story takes them from the depths of despair and near death to their first serendipitous introduction and the moment each knew they were finally safe. Filled with hope, inspiration, and humor, The Painting and The Piano is an unforgettable story of pain, loss and the undying human quest for happiness.

The Painting and The Piano is an improbable story of survival and love. The childhoods of Johnny and Adrianne couldn't have been more different. Not only were they born more than one-thousand miles apart, but the cultural and financial contrasts between their respective childhoods are equally as stark. Old-money wealth and privilege defined Johnny's childhood in Ladue, Missouri, which is to St. Louis what Scarsdale is to New York City or Beverly Hills to Los Angeles. From the moment of his birth, Johnny's world was private clubs, private schools, private jets, high-society etiquette, and a loving nanny named Lizzy. Middleclass Jewish values, bickering but loving parents, and the distinct character of Long Island defined Adrianne's early life. It was public school, public transportation, Jones Beach, and Lawn Guyland rather than Long Island or tawk instead of talk. However, Johnny and Adrianne's childhoods share a tragic parallel that damaged each to the core of their psyche, their emotional well-being, and brought both to the brink of death. Where their story diverges from so many others is that rather than fall into the darkness, Johnny and Adrianne reached for the light. Thus began their respective journeys of healing, which led from the slow death of addiction to a serendipitous meeting, falling in love and building a shared life dedicated to the service of others. Told as a tandem narrative, Adrianne and Johnny pass their respective stories of childhood trauma and abuse, addiction, healing, and final triumph of love back and forth in alternating chapters. Their stories are unique, but share parallels that create a taut and emotionally compelling narrative. The book is divided into two acts with seven scenes in the first act and four scenes in the second act. A brief Prologue introduces the reader to the story. Placed at the head of each chapter is a brief quote reflecting a key element of the story in that chapter.

John David Lipscomb Jr., is an award wining published author. His first co-authored book The Painting and The Piano has won numerous awards and was picked up by HCI Publishing Chicken Soup for the Soul fame which instantly gained worldwide attention and acclaim for this inspirational book concerning his life and his wife's, Adrianne. Both John and Adrianne have traveled the country supporting The Painting and The Piano and have spoken to very large audiences, appeared on radio, TV, podcasts, magazines and newspapers. At one point, it was even being considered as a movie. John graduated from St. Louis Country Day School in St. Louis, Missouri and graduated from Columbia College with a business degree. He went on to start and run a successful underground dog fence business, Dogwatch Hidden Fence Systems, which he sold in 2012. He moved to Ocean Ridge, Florida with Adrianne and their Yorkie where he started his second career, writing. With the popularity of The Painting and The Piano John wrote a second book titled Through Jasper's Eyes, which was published by Electio Publishing about his work with residents in maximum-security prisons with an emphasis on his experience on death row. At this point, it is in the beginning stages of being made into a musical. Currently John is working on a fictional trilogy Semicolon. The first book in the trilogy is due out shortly and has the working title: Semicolon, The Awakening of Chelsea Andersson. It is about a thirty year old former addicted model that turns her life around and reaches out to help others with her vast resources. The story lines are ripped out of today's headlines.