L. A. Carastro

In The Bus Ride Back, Carastro tells the story of an embattled cop who finds himself the scapegoat for misconduct within the police force. Feeling jaded and wrestling with unanswered questions, he shifts careers in an effort to move on with his life. Unfortunately, his seemingly successful career within the Miami club scene ultimately lands him in prison on drug trafficking charges. After serving his sentence and upon his release, he boards a bus back to Miami, and the fateful journey triggers a significant flashback. Recalling his passion at a young age for becoming a police officer in order to protect and serve his community, he emerges energized with hope for a fresh start. For Carastro, art imitates life as he draws from his own experiences to create his protagonist, reminding readers that as long as there is hope, there is a future.

Born and raised in Miami, L. A. Carastro worked as a police officer for several years before working in the bar and night club industry. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and in 2002, he earned his Ph.D. (all in Electrical Engineering). While at Georgia Tech, he was a graduate research assistant, specializing in Radio frequency, Microwave passive device modeling and design, and Analog/Mixed signal IC circuit design. Dr. Carastro is a member of the IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional organization for the advancement of technology. He is listed as inventor on three patents and has authored or co-authored many published articles in IEEE Proceedings and trade publications. He resides in Windermere, FL with his wife Sheri and three pets.