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. Born into a Great-Gatsby-like party, old-money wealth and privilege defined Johnny's childhood in Ladue, Missouri--the Beverly Hills of St. Louis. Born addicted to heroin in New York City, Adrianne was placed as an infant with loving, middle-class Jewish foster parents on Long Island. However, the demons of their respective biological mothers would eventually tear their fragile young lives apart as told in this compelling tandem narrative.

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 journeys take them for 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.
About the Author: John Lipscomb (Ocean Ridge, Florida) celebrated 18 years of sobriety on January 5, 2017. Fully immersed in the South Florida recovery community, he is passionate about it and is constantly reaching out to help others. Since becoming sober, John has sponsored many men in recovery, written and blogged about recovery, fundraised for The Exodus outpatient program, and spoken at their annual meeting. He has also been on the board of several men's recovery homes. John brought Alcoholic Anonymous program meetings into prison and, with Catholic Church Ministries, worked with men and women in maximum security prison including those on death row. He speaks to book clubs, has done podcasts, and radio and TV interviews. John is a graduate of Columbia College. Adrianne Lugo (Ocean Ridge, Florida) celebrated 11 years of sobriety on July 7, 2016, and is very active in the South Florida recovery community. She worked for a recovery home company, sponsors women in Alcoholics Anonymous, and blogs about recovery. Adrianne also participated in a Catholic Ministries program working with prisoners on death row. She has appeared on podcasts, and has done radio and TV interviews discussing recovery from opiate addiction. She was born addicted to heroin and was put into foster care as an infant. At the age of nine, her biological parents started a year-long court battle to get her back that made national news. Today, she works to help the public understand the foster care system and its future. Adrianne is a graduate of San Diego State University, and the proud mother of three girls who are all out in the world doing wonderful things.