An autobiographical testimony of faith, wrongful conviction, and redemption published by Parker Publishers
Parker Publishers announces the release of The Deal Is Real: GODS Pension Plan For Man, the debut book by Johnnie Robert Capers. The autobiographical testimony traces Capers’ journey from a turbulent childhood in Elyria, Ohio, through wrongful incarceration, a murder trial ending in full acquittal, a stroke, and his path to spiritual restoration through faith in GOD.
About the Book
The Deal Is Real is a first-person account spanning more than 5 decades of Capers’ life. The narrative begins in Elyria, Ohio, where Capers grew up as the only son among 6 sisters and left home at age 13. He spent 4 years and 9 months at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield for a crime he did not commit before relocating to Saint Paul, Minnesota, in 1985.
The book documents 2 separate criminal cases in which Capers maintained his innocence. In 2009, he was convicted of 5th Degree Possession of Cocaine after his court-appointed attorney failed to file a motion for DNA testing of the evidence. The Minnesota Court of Appeals overturned the conviction in 2010, citing ineffective assistance of counsel. In 2019, Capers was charged with 2 counts of 2nd Degree Murder in connection with a decades-old homicide. After a trial in August 2022, a Ramsey County jury returned a unanimous verdict of Not Guilty on both counts.
Capers also writes about his recovery from crack cocaine, cigarette, and alcohol addiction, which he describes as a miraculous deliverance on August 8, 2008, and a stroke he suffered in October 2022, 2 months after his acquittal. Throughout the book, he frames each chapter of his life through the lens of what he calls “GOD-dependence” versus the self-reliant mindset he terms “I’m-ma-do.” The narrative is grounded in extensive Biblical scripture and positions faith as the central force behind his survival and restoration.
What Distinguishes the Book
The Deal Is Real is not structured as a conventional memoir with a redemptive arc leading to material success. Capers writes without self-pity or condemnation of the individuals involved in his legal cases. He names actions and circumstances but does not assign personal blame. The book’s title refers to his conviction that GOD’s provisions for those who trust in Him constitute a guaranteed “pension plan” that surpasses any worldly compensation. Every reference to GOD in the text appears in full capitals, reflecting the author’s personal practice of honoring the Name.
About the Author
Johnnie Robert Capers was born and raised in Elyria, Ohio. He has lived in Saint Paul, Minnesota, since 1985. He is a songwriter and guitarist whose lyrics center on GOD and Jesus Christ. The Deal Is Real: GODS Pension Plan For Man is his first published book. The book is written for readers aged 12 and older.
Book Details
Title: The Deal Is Real: GODS Pension Plan For Man
Author: Johnnie Robert Capers
Publisher: Parker Publishers
Genre: Autobiographical Testimony / Faith / Memoir
Availability: Amazon (Kindle and Paperback)
Contact Information
Dean W.
Parker Publishers
Orlando, FL
Voice: (689) 219 – 8883
Email: info@parkerpublishers.com