Massapequa resident S.H. Post's historical novel, Samsara Moon is set for the July 15 publication date.

In addition, book launch parties for Samsara Moon are doubling as charitable fund raising events for The Center For Hope, a Long Island organization based at Schneider Children's Hospital, one dedicated to providing grief counseling and bereavement support to area children who have lost a parent or parent substitute.

Samsara Moon layers the experiences of the author's own loss onto a historical milieu and period political landscape he has studied and researched for over 30 years.

"The Center for Hope provides such a critical service to children facing one of the most monumental challenges they'll face in their lives," Post said. "Having seen my children live through such a predicament, it's been a strong desire of mine to help others in this kind of situation. The folks at The Center For Hope do the best they can for the kids, but funding is scarce. Donor fatigue is a real issue, not just a buzzword. It's such a natural tie-in for our work on Samsara Moon to support Susan Thomas and her team of counselors, so I'm thrilled to do what I can. I'm also grateful to the venue owners and sponsors who have volunteered to support this worthwhile cause."

There will be book signings for the novel at the Barcelona Wine Bar in Fairfield, CT on July 23 and at The Red Lion Pub in Chicago on Aug. 1.

The Long Island book tour party will take place on Tuesday, July 18 at 7 p.m. at Butterfield's in Hauppauge.

Butterfield's is located at 661 Old Willets Path Road. The attendee list for the July 18 date is still in progress, but Ed Lowe, Long Island author Carol Hoenig, and New York area artist Kerri McKay are expected to attend.

In advance of its publication date, Samsara Moon has received high praise from the novelist Megan Chance.

"Samsara Moon is an engaging and atmospheric story of one man's search for meaning, set against the intriguing and richly imagined lands of India, South Africa and Great Britain at the turn of the 20th century. S.H. Post has crafted an honorable and appealing hero, and an emotional tale to savor," said Ms. Chance who is the author of several novels and the recipient of a Romance Writers of America RITA award.

Samsara Moon is published by Kirk House Publishers, Minneapolis, MN.