GIL MERRICK
Author
"The Birmingham Chronicles"
Forgiven picks up where Come September leaves off—in the wealthy suburbs of Detroit, as newlyweds Kip Reynolds and Claudia Kinzler struggle to accept Kip’s infertility and the prospect of a childless future. While Kip wrestles with a stalled career, unresolved guilt over the murder of two friends in Hong Kong, and the unraveling of his father’s life, Claudia’s mother, Sophia Serrano, is summoned back to her hometown in Barcelona to uncover a secret buried for more than half a century: She was stolen at birth during Franco-era Spain—one of countless children taken from their mothers and sold for adoption by the Catholic Church. Kip and Claudia join Sophia in Spain and unknowingly put their lives at risk as they embark on a perilous journey to find her birth parents and do battle with an evil priest intent on making them—and the scandal he helped perpetrate—disappear forever.
Layered with emotional intensity, Forgiven follows its characters from Detroit, Palm Beach, and Manhattan to Barcelona and the villages of Catalonia as their families confront hidden histories, impossible choices, and the lingering consequences of reprehensible acts. The story explores the devastating costs of betrayal and the fragile hope of reconciliation, showing how even the deepest wounds may one day be named, understood, and healed through forgiveness.
Ryan Jackson is a shy, scrappy teenager from a poor Appalachian town. Kip Reynolds is a talented high school polo player from a wealthy family living in the suburbs of Detroit. Sharp and stunning, Claudia Kinzler wins the admiration of both young men before her world is shattered by her father’s death in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks.
What follows is a sprawling, deeply human journey through grief and rage, addiction and healing, and the struggle to attain retribution for unfathomable acts of cruelty. Over the course of seventeen years—from the stables in Bloomfield Hills to the Appalachian Mountains, from corruption on the docks of Hong Kong to the underworld of South American drug cartels—Come September is the story of three people’s journey to maturity, told through the lens of love, loss, and hardship, all tarnished by the long shadow of terror.
With unforgettable characters and emotionally charged storytelling, this novel explores what binds us and what breaks us, the power of strength and perseverance, and how truth and forgiveness can be the key to reconciling the pain of our past and building a new life.
Memoir
A small and effeminate boy—bullied for years while growing up in an alcoholic family in suburban Cleveland—Gil finds refuge in the equestrian world. A coach instills in him the dream of going to the Olympics and becomes his mentor, his guide—and his predator.
Gil survives rape, betrayals, setbacks, and the loss of family and friends—all while on a quest to fulfill his dream. This book is not only about surviving; it's about the resilience of the human spirit and the pursuit of dreams against all odds. Gil makes it to the Olympics, but not in the way he imagined. He discovers what happens when a dream ends, and all you have left are your addictions.
What does it take to finally realize that our lives can’t go on as they are? How do we put an end to our self-destructive ways? Is it even possible to grasp the complexities of untreated and unrealized trauma? How do we come to terms with the cost of the abuse we suffered?
Gil tells his story with a breadth of detail and thought-provoking insights rarely shared by male victims of sexual abuse. Readers will find a story of hope, determination, and the transformative power of confronting one's past.
Author's Bio
Born in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Gil Merrick attended Hiram College, earning a BA in International Finance and German. Upon completing his MBA at Cleveland State University, he began a forty-year career managing companies throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia. An avid horseman with credits as Team Leader for the U.S. Equestrian Federation at the 2007 Pan American Games and the 2008 Olympic Games, he now devotes himself full-time to writing in South Florida.
WHAT READERS SAY
"The Birmingham Chronicles"
FORGIVEN
"A lot of sequels don’t make sense without having read the first book, but Forgiven can stand on its own. Seeing the characters from Come September dealing with their new, grown-up problems made the story feel very real. I especially liked that nobody’s life turned out neat or easy. It felt honest. You can tell the author cares about these characters and knows them really well."
"What stood out most to me was how well this story addresses the issues many families face. It delves into the parents’ relationships with their adult kids, old resentments, guilt, loyalty, and all the complications in dealing with that. Many of the scenes really hit home because they felt so true. I loved how the story of Sophia’s childhood in the 1960s was woven into the present-day storyline. It kept me guessing at how it would all turn out."
"The Spain baby-stealing storyline was a real eye-opener. I had never heard about that before, and now I want to go read more about it. The author did a great job telling a fictional tale based on the facts about this shocking scandal. It was fun to see how the characters from the first book solved the big mystery of Sophia’s birth mother while navigating their own personal struggles. A complex storyline made simple. I highly recommend this, even to readers who missed Come September."
COME SEPTEMBER
“Come September is a book that I hated to see end…I came to care for each of the characters and the trials and successes of their lives. I am looking forward to hearing more of these characters’ stories in the future.”
“The four protagonists of this book embark on an exhilarating and perilous adventure in the wake of 9/11, and the reader can relish in witnessing how each of them surmounts their individual challenges. Chock full of pathos and ethos, twists and turns, the depth and complexity of this narrative make for an engaging read that tugs at your soul. Can’t wait for more!”
“The author brilliantly intertwines multiple themes and storylines in a believable and gratifying way, with an ending that brought me to tears. Now that my new friends are all grown up, I am dying to know what fate has in store for them - when is the sequel?”
“I did not want this book to end! I already miss the characters now that I’ve finished it. There was drama, thrills, secrets, and crime. One of my all-time favorite books I have ever read!”
HAUNTED VICTORY
“For anyone grappling with their past, or those simply in search of a story that champions the human spirit’s capacity to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Haunted Victory offers not just solace but also inspiration.”
“…this book is a triumph—a triumph of storytelling and the human capacity for healing and growth. It reminds us that even in the darkest moments, there is the potential for light and that whatever we experienced in the past, we can turn around and create a new life of health, peace, and fulfillment.”
“Despite the sad stuff, his story is also one of redemption, and following dreams, no matter how rocky the path.”
“What sets this book apart is its honest and raw depiction of the complexities involved in confronting one's past while trying to forge a path forward. The narrative gracefully addresses the psychological impacts of abuse and the often-circuitous path toward recovery, painted against the unique and picturesque backdrop of the equestrian world.”
Contact the Author
© 2026 by Gil Merrick