Gene Hale

Mercy Gene Hale

Publisher Marketing: Mercy follows the life of Gil "Mercy" Aller, a small-town boy from Michigan who, against all odds, becomes the light heavyweight boxing champion of the world. Leaving behind his friends and family in the close-knit community of Iron Mountain, Gil sets off for New York in pursuit of his dream to become a Broadway dancer. Unused to "big city" ways, Gil enlists the help of a priest to find lodgings and then secures employment with a local florist. He settles into a comfortable routine, pleased that he is one step closer to realizing his dream. A chance encounter in a neighborhood bar disrupts that dream and leads to a lifelong friendship. While defending a lady's honor against a couple of thugs, Gil attracts the attention of Louie, a slick boxing promoter, and his partner, Huey, an ex-fighter. The two friends witness Gil's superior fighting skills, and a reluctant Gil suddenly finds himself thrust into the unlikely, often times shady, world of boxing. Louie and Huey have big plans for Gil-they see his potential as a future champion and make him an offer he can't refuse. Gil goes along with their plans, if only to help pay for his expensive dancing lessons, and agrees to adopt the fighting name of Mercy. Under Louie and Huey's expert tutelage, Mercy wins fight after fight, rising to the top of the boxing profession and eventually earning the coveted title of light heavyweight champion of the world. His Broadway dream forgotten, Mercy is now firmly in the clutches of the boxing world, loved by his fans and hated by his enemies. Along the way, he meets Victoria, the love of his life, only to lose her in a tragic car accident. After Victoria's death, Mercy hits the depths of depression and tries to find solace in the bottle. Losing his title, his self-respect, and almost his life, Mercy is rescued by Jane, a savvy sports reporter, who brings him back from the brink of destruction. Mercy finds love again and regains his title, but he never forgets Victoria. This is a feel-good story of strength and determination, of good overpowering bad, but most of all, it's a story of the strong bond of friendship and the power of love.