Richard D. Greensfelder, a retired admissions director from Maryland, has published his debut novel, "50 Parachutes for 72 Virgins," a suspenseful tale that weaves together religion, spirituality, and a classic battle between good and evil. The book, now available on Amazon, has already sparked interest for its provocative title and its timely themes.
The title refers to a peace summit organized by the novel's protagonist, Archbishop Rooney, who assembles 72 clerics—12 each from Christian, Hebrew, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and Atheist backgrounds—to address the world's moral decline. The "50 parachutes" alludes to a futuristic escape plan for the Sears Tower in Chicago, known as "Plan Z," which serves as a metaphor for a last-ditch effort to save humanity.
Archbishop Rooney, described as an "old school, old hoot," is unflinching in his critique of modern society. He points to 1963 as a pivotal year when prayer was removed from public schools, and he poses a rhetorical question to his sidekick, Fr. Tommy Schaefer: "Do you think 13 trillion 'The Lord's Prayers' would have made a difference? Damn right they could have!"
The novel is a classic good-versus-evil narrative, where love and forgiveness are pitted against hate and revenge. Rooney has long warned that "evil fills the void whenever God is pushed away," and the story serves as a wake-up call for a world that he believes is drifting dangerously from its spiritual roots.
Greensfelder, a devout Catholic, says he wrote the book to remind readers of the virtues that made "the Good Old Days"—love, sound values, truth, forgiveness, charity, and helping others. "It's a call to move back closer to God where we all are safer," he said.
The book is available in both paperback and e-book formats at Amazon. For more information, readers can visit the author's official website.
