Plague Of Books

bookreview

The American Dream - Heroism

7:05 PM

authorinterview

Locust House Book Review and Author Interview with Adam Gnade

3:51 PM

Title : Locust House

Author : Adam Gnade

Publisher : Pioneers Press/Three One G (April 5, 2016)

Total Page Numbers : 60

Genre : Fiction

ISBN : 978-1939899248

Rating (Out of 5 Stars) : 5/5 (Seriously , it’s amazing)

Summary of Book:

“In his latest work of fiction, Locust House, San Diego-born author Adam Gnade writes about his homeland in the tradition of regionalists like Sherman Alexie, William Faulkner, and Willa Cather. Gnade’s chunk of Southern California is a place of border clash, of a glimpse of stormy sea from a top coastal hills or rollercoasters, of ratty beach apartments and punk shows.

Locust House is the latest in Gnade’s ongoing life-project, a series of books and “talking songs” that share characters and continue story-lines in an attempt to document a personal history of America. In its pages Gnade borrows the classic structure of teen films like American Graffiti and Dazed and Confused to tell the story of one night in the life of a group of young Americans.

Here we see Gnade’s characters en route to (and at, and after) a house show featuring their favorite band, The Locust. We see the strain of contemporary American life on those who want it the least. We are given a wide view of lives in transition, of youth on the wane, of candidly depicted sex and cathartic bloodletting, of life in the vigorous prime before the pains of adulthood set in.

We’re also shown a lush, encyclopedic portrait of a place, of seashore and streets, of bedroom and back alley. It is a story that asks, “What does it mean to hold fast to your dreams, ethics, and beliefs while the whole world tries to tame you?” Locust House is a time capsule and a warning, a call-to-arms and, at its very heart, a love-letter.”

Excerpt from Three One G

What I Thought:

Honestly, I’m at a complete loss for words. This single book blew me away hardcore. My friend, Rebecca, was the one to first show me the work of Adam Gnade and I was totally shocked. The rawness and the realness of the words I was reading made me squeal at some points while reading, because I don’t think I’ve ever read something quite like this before. I was underlining and tagging this book like crazy and I’m so glad that it exists.

Agnes’s story was a hard thing to read, rough times are always hard to read, but it was so great. Frances, James, and Tyler were all so different but so connected in ways I couldn’t even imagine. This view of America and society and community, it’s like all the things I’ve wanted to try to say right on the page in front of me. Although it’s short, it’s not sweet. It’s a look at the reality of relationships, the past, present, future, and world from the point of view of people living it, told through Gnade. Adam, you rock dude. This book is truly LIFE CHANGING.

Some of my favorite lines…

"That's one thing I've learned: People say there are things that can't be taken from you. Everything can be taken from you. The place you live, your friends, your family, your health, your youth, your sense of self or your dignity, your freedom, your confidence, your spirit, anything. There is nothing in you that's yours to keep if someone else wants it bad enough. You try to hold onto it but life is (inherently, unfairly) violent." (31)

"As I walked through the house alone I looked at everyone and I loved them all. Who were they? All those kids -- drunk, sober, laughing, bickering, smoking, hooking up, arguing. I wanted to be everyone's friend all at once, to take each one aside and say, 'Look, here we are; we're together for this one great thing. Why don't we all know each other? Who are we in this place and most of us strangers? I'm a nice person. Life is lonely. Let's be friends.'" (39)

“... America is this huge, vast, enormous place where everyone you know lives so astronomically far away from each other. There’s a deep, sad estrangement in Americans.We’re all so spread apart and isolated, living these remote, far-flung lives but we’ve chosen this. Maybe we could’ve chosen differently. I don’t know. But this is what we wanted.” (36)

“I work. I fight. I believe.” (45)

I was lucky enough to also get a much needed interview with Adam Gnade himself!

Where are you from?

San Diego, California. The first house I lived in after I came back from the hospital was a little beach-town cottage on 1319 Missouri Street. There were chickens and a garden. These days I live on a farm near the Missouri River. There are chickens and a garden here too.

Tell us your latest news?

The new book is out so I'm in the middle of the post-release madness--doing readings, radio stuff, interviews. I'm proud of the book of course but I'm still surprised at how much attention it's getting. It's an exciting time, for sure. I'm also glad as hell to be on the Three One G roster. That's a dream come true. One of my biggest.

When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing as a teenager after reading a magazine piece set in a small fishing village in Portugal. I liked the style so I wrote a story about my own life in the same fashion. It was published in the San Diego Reader and they gave me more money than I'd made all month mowing my parents' lawn and doing yard work for the neighbors. I like to think that when they found out how young I was they didn't take any of my new pitches. But really, my new pitches were awful, kid stuff as you might imagine. Years later I was interviewed by a journalist from Portugal and at the end of it he told me I should visit his village if I were ever in Portugal. Of course I asked him what the name of the village was hoping to hell it would be the same, and it was. A few years after that I ended up staying with him after a disastrous trip through Europe. The village was called Ericeira. A good, lovely place. Big cliffs and beachside fishermen's bars. Hilly streets, blue and white painted walls. The very old Old World.

What inspired you to write your first book?

Wanting to show America as I know it which has been one of my big motivations for all the fiction since.

A lot of people have really been greatly affected by your work. You talk a lot about heroes and who not to have as heroes, how do you feel about being a hero for some people?

I don't know if I'm a hero to anyone but if I am I hope I don't let them down. Dead heroes are safer because you know what they've done and if you're going to be disappointed you'll see it in advance. There's much more room for disappointment with the living.

Do you have a specific writing style?

I don't know if I'm conscious enough of my own style to explain it but I have a format and structure I'm working on. That's something along the lines of a museum with lots of smaller displays next to the big exhibits, taxidermied shore birds and fish, a glass case with a village scene next to a plaque explaining where something came from, almost like a footnote. Then little dioramas with a button to press to turn the lights on, a lot of background information on signs, and all of it seemingly jumbled together but actually very intentionally placed.

How did you come up with the title/cover?

The titles come to me all throughout the day and I write them down on whatever's around. The covers are done by whichever designer is hired for the project. I'm lucky to have had good people working on these books.

What’s the difference between your writing vs. the writing from the beat generation (Jack Kerouac etc.)?

Hopefully a lot. I've read a good amount of their work but so much of it is really obnoxious. I like the cleaner, simpler reads like On the Road, the Yage Letters, and "A Supermarket in America," but when a lot of those writers get into religion, zen, jazz, "the burden of the poet," and druggy surrealism it loses me.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

In Locust House there are a few of them but the one I want people to walk away with is that you will suffer if you try to hold onto your dreams but that it's worth the struggle. I say this because there's a particular awfulness in disappointing yourself by going back on your plans.

How much of the book is realistic (are any parts based on someone you know, or events in your own life)?

Those are secrets I'm keeping. Unless I write a memoir one day and over-explain my history and how it connects with the books but I really hope I won't.

How is your most recent release, Locust House, different from other things you’ve written before?

Hopefully it's better. I want each thing I do to be better than the last.

What are your current projects?

There's a big, ambitiously-structured novel that's nearly done. I'm staying quiet on that until I know I can pull it off. I'm working very hard right now on a couple smaller projects and hopefully some of it will be good and worth paying attention to.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

I have a hard time keeping my story out of The Story but I try very hard.

You speak about loving the country but hating the government. We grow up in a generation where moderate patriotism is rare and skepticism tends to overwhelm the minds of kids, especially those in subcultures. Have you seen the progression up to this? Is there a way out?

Moderation in general is rare. We're living in radicalized times but it'll swing back the other way once the country is a little more stable. "If," I guess I should say. Because if Trump is elected I think we're due for ugly days.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Roberto Bolaño. When he writes well you feel as if you've gone a greater distance than you have. He gives you a lot in small spaces. A short book like Distant Star feels like six novels in one. I've also been reading a lot of Sherman Alexie, Louise Erdrich, Twain, and Victor Hugo.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Don't buy into the drunken writer thing. You won't write anything good if you try to be Bukowski. Also, most MFAs will never write a decent thing.

What is your view on the issue of the “American Dream”: putting down roots vs. going on the road?

I vote to abolish it. We have to find new ways to live and not follow formulas.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Accept that life is brutally awful and look for the sweeter, more satisfying moments. Never give up the search for them.

Where can we contact you / find you?

I'm doing a lot of readings this summer. Anyone interested should come on out. Next one is at Plan-It-X Fest in July.

Do you have any links to where we can buy your book?

Yeah, www.pioneerspress.com or www.threeoneg.com are places to be.

Once again, I hope anyone reading this considers reading Locust House, it’s a whole different literary experience!

Thanks to Adam and Pioneers Press for graciously sending a copy of the novella for review.

miscellaneous

Books and The Bear Blog Tour - Author Spotlight With L.J. Epps

12:23 PM

I Wish I Could Remember You by L.J. Epps

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary Women's

Synopsis: A story of enduring love as romance goes all wrong and Emily Montgomery struggles to rebuild her life after a terrible accident changes everything.

Emily wants romance in her life—the kind of romance that leads to a perfect marriage. She dreams of having a husband who loves her and treats her with respect, someone she can spend the rest of her life with. She meets—and marries—Steven Montgomery, hoping he will make all of those things come true.

Everything is wonderful, at first; until things start to slowly change. Steven begins to mentally, verbally, and physically abuse Emily. Through it all, Emily tries to be the best wife she can be.

Finally, after so much devastation, Emily leaves Steven, files for divorce, and moves on with her life. Her sister, Monica, introduces her to a wonderful man named Robert. Emily falls in love with him. He is kind, gentle and sweet—all things now missing from her marriage. She is happy, in love again, and well on her way to divorcing Steven.

But, Steven doesn’t want the divorce; and, since he is a savvy lawyer, he tries everything to prevent it. Although Emily still has residual feelings for Steven, she knows that it could never work between them. She wants to move on with the new love of her life, Robert.

After a horrific accident, Emily can no longer remember Robert and all the things he has meant to her, and she can no longer remember all the horrific things Steven has done to her.

Emily has two men professing their love for her. She is confused; she doesn’t know where she belongs or who she should be with. And, she has a hard time deciding who to choose. Emily is being pulled in several different directions by her loved ones. They all mean well, but only Emily knows how she truly feels. She has to decide, on her own, what to do.

All Emily wants is to start over, but that isn’t so easy, since everything in her world is broken, and she isn’t sure how to fix it. All Emily wants is to be happy, healthy, and whole again, but that may not be in the cards for her, either.
Interview:

What inspired you to write your book? I had the idea for my book roaming around in my head for years. When I was growing up I would get different ideas in my head for a book or movie. One of the ideas I had was about a woman going through a messy divorce and losing her memory but only remembering the good years she shared with her husband. Since he claimed he had changed and she could only remember the good in him she had to decide if she was willing to give him a second chance.

Do you have a specific writing style? I usually write down all of my ideas on paper and then just jump in and start writing the story. Once I’m well into the story –which would be a couple of chapters in I try to make an outline. That way I can have some sort of idea where the story will end up as I’m writing.

How did you come up with the title? Funny but the working title was called Forgotten because I wanted to show that Emily has forgotten all of the bad things her husband has done to her and forgotten her new boyfriend, Robert because of her memory loss. But as time went on I wanted more of a sad romantic type title. That’s when I came up with I Wish I Could Remember You.

Do you have any advice for other writers? My advice is if you love to write you should write as much as possible. Even if you never make any money from your writing, if your proud of it or if one person likes it that makes it all worth it.

What books/authors have influenced your writing? One of my favorite authors is Nicholas Sparks. When I read his novels I always get emotionally involved. I’ve shed a few tears reading his novels, and that’s the kind of reaction I would like my novels to get when people read them. I love novels where I want to jump to the end to see what happens but I don’t because that would ruin the story for me.

What genre do you consider your books? I write fiction novels. My first novel is Contemporary Women’s Romance. I also write Young Adult Fantasy and Dystopian.

Do you ever experience writers block? Yes, I experience writers block sometimes, when that happens I listen to music. Sometimes music brings ideas flowing to my brain. I’m not sure why but it does.

Have you ever hated something you wrote? Yes, I’ve written scenes that I’ve hated so I keep rewriting the scenes until I feel better about them. I have even gotten rid of entire scenes and started over from scratch.

Where did your love of writing come from? When I was a child I day dreamed a lot and I had an active imagination. So I think it started when I was a child. I loved to dream up new worlds and new people and as I grew up I liked to write about them.

Do you write every single day? I try to write every day. It’s not always easy because sometimes time is limited. Some days I can get a lot written and other days a little. But as long as I can write down a few words here and there each day I can get my writing goals completed.

Which writers inspire you? I like Nicholas Sparks, Danielle Steel, J.K. Rowling, Susan Mallery, and Suzanne Collins.

What are you working on at the minute? I’m finishing up a Young Adult Fantasy-Dystopian novel I’ve been working on. It should be released in a few months.

What is your favorite theme/genre to write about? I have two favorites. I love to write Contemporary Women’s Fiction and I also like to write Fantasy as well.

What is your latest book about? My latest book is about a woman named Emily. She in her thirties and is going through a terrible divorce. Her husband, Steven is abusive and controlling and he doesn’t want the divorce. Emily is trying to move on with her life and during her separation she meets someone new named, Robert. Before the divorce can take place Emily is in a terrible accident that robs her of some of her short-term memories. She can only remember the good times with her soon to be ex-husband not the bad, and she cannot remember Robert at all. Both men profess their love for her and she has to decide who she wants to be with. Will she choose the man who claims he has changed even though she has heard about the terrible things he has done to her from her sister, but can’t remember? Or will she choose the man she’s been told she’s in love with now but can’t remember him at all.

Author Bio:

L.J. Epps is a lover of all things related to books: fiction and nonfiction novels, as well as biographies and autobiographies. She has also been known to sit and read comic books from cover to cover, several times over.
Over the last few years, L.J. has written several manuscripts; her mission is to self-publish all of them. She enjoys writing fiction in several genres, including contemporary romance and women’s fiction, as well as young adult dystopian, science fiction and fantasy. She loves to write because it immerses her into another world that is not her own.

Her novel is called, I Wish I Could Remember You. She came up with the idea for this book years ago and finally pushed herself to write it. Once her journey into writing began, she spent four years writing and rewriting this story.

L.J. Epps has always wondered how it would feel for a woman to be torn between two loves. What if one of those loves had hurt you in the past, but you were in an accident and couldn’t remember? What if that love professed that he had changed, and you wanted to believe him because you couldn’t remember all the bad things he had done? Would you decide to give him a second chance? How would you make the choice between your soon-to-be ex-husband, who you can only remember as good and kind, and your new boyfriend, who you can’t remember at all?

Epps has always wanted to read a book where the main character had a difficult choice to make because she had lost her memory. She wanted to explore the hardship the character would go through while trying to make that decision. She is sure there are other books on the market similar to this one; but she decided to jump in and write one herself, hoping that this one—with her own unique writing style—gives a little different perspective than all the others.

The novel’s original title was called, Forgotten, to show that Emily had forgotten the abuse she suffered at the hands of her husband, Steven, and now only remembered the good in him. Forgotten also showed that she had forgotten all the love she had felt for her new boyfriend, Robert. But, L.J. decided she wanted a title that was softer and had more of a romantic, sad feel to it. That is when she came up with the title, I Wish I Could Remember You.

Epps loved to read books, and comics, as a child. She has an active imagination and likes to daydream of imaginary worlds. She always has different storylines running around in her head. When she watches movies, she always dreams up different endings if she doesn’t like the way the stories progress.

L.J.’s favorite authors are Nicholas Sparks and Susan Mallery, among many others. She likes the way Nicholas Sparks pulls you into a story and makes you want to cry while you anticipate what will happen on the next page. She also likes how Susan Mallery shows you the power of friendship between women and how strong a love between a man and a woman can be, even through ups and downs.

L.J. always wanted to write a novel; but, she didn’t think she could, until she heard about self-publishing. Then, she finally decided to dive in, take the plunge with other self-published authors, and live out her lifelong dream of being an author.

Epps’s method of writing is to just write and write and let the ideas flow. Once she is two or three chapters in, she constructs an outline; that way, she has some idea of how the story will go and where it may end up.

L.J. was born and raised in Michigan, and currently spends the majority of her time in Florida. She is a member of Critique Circle Online Writing Workshop and Scribophile Writing Group and Online Writing Workshop.

Books that helped Epps with her writing are: Writing with Emotion, Tension, & Conflict: Techniques for Crafting an Expressive and Compelling Novel by Cheryl St. John and Say What?: The Fiction Writer’s Handy Guide to Grammar, Punctuation, and Word Usage by C.S. Lakin.

If you love to write, follow your dreams. But always remember to find a good editor, as well as a good cover artist and formatter, because their help will be invaluable.

You can find out more about L.J. Epps on her website: www.ljeppsauthor.com and from her LinkedIn profile: www.linkedin.com/in/l-j-epps-3556ba32. You can also follow her blog posts on her website, on Facebook.com, and on Goodreads.com. And finally, you can follow her tweets on Twitter.com: @ljeppsauthor.

L.J. Epps is currently working on her next novel, Extinction of All Children. It is a Young Adult Dystopian Fantasy that will be released in the summer of 2016.

Links to where you can find the book:

Information Provided by Books and The Bear

authorinterview

Author Interview With Robert Eggleton

3:43 PM

Rarity from the Hollow by Robert Eggleton

Synopsis:

Lacy Dawn's father relives the Gulf War, her mother's teeth are rotting out, and her best friend is murdered by the meanest daddy on Earth. Life in The Hollow isn't great. But Lacy has one advantage -- she's been befriended by a semi-organic, semi-robot who works with her to cure her parents. He wants something in exchange, though. It's up to her to save the Universe.

To prepare Lacy for her coming task, she is being schooled daily via direct downloads into her brain. Some of these courses tell her how to apply magic to resolve everyday problems much more pressing to her than a universe in big trouble, like those at home and at school. She doesn't mind saving the universe, but her own family and friends come first.

Will Lacy Dawn's predisposition, education, and magic be enough for her to save the Universe, Earth, and, most importantly, protect her own family?

Rarity from the Hollow is adult literary science fiction filled with tragedy, comedy and satire.

Q&A:

Where are you from?

I was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1951, but I grew up around Charleston, West Virginia. Shortly after I was born, my father graduated from television repair school in Cleveland. My family returned home to West Virginia. Even though I didn’t remember living in Cleveland, during my childhood I would brag to my peers that I’d been out-of-state since I was born in Ohio. It boosted my social status because very few of my peers had been anyplace other than their own ghettos.

Similar to the protagonist’s father in Rarity from the Hollow, my own father had PTSD caused by World War II traumas that he treated with alcohol. Before I started elementary school, he had become so dysfunctional that my mother would run him off. He would return when sober, “fall off the wagon” and my mother would run him off again, and again. Since we couldn’t pay the rent regularly, we moved frequently — shacks and dilapidated houses in one impoverished neighborhood after another, into and out of the rural hollows outside of our small town. Typically, I would change schools three or four times a year. Everyplace that we moved, I would brag to my peers that I’d been out-of-state, and they were impressed. Neither fathers, my own nor the protagonist’s, could hold down a job for very long – also incorporated into the story.

In early chapters, the theme, “out-of-state” was prominent in Rarity from the Hollow. The protagonist’s mother, Jenny, begins the story as a down-trodden victim of domestic violence. After an off-planet comical adventure, Jenny doesn’t need to brag anymore about having once gone out-of-state because she had also been born in Cleveland, like me.

“Out-of-state” was also an element of a scene during which Lacy Dawn delivers psychotherapy to classmates at school. In this scene, a boy’s father is unemployed because the coal mine had shut down. The boy is being treated by Lacy Dawn for anxiety related to the family’s intention to move out-of-state so that the father can look for a job in Cleveland.

“Out-of-state” was also used in two scenes involving the android. In the first scene, the android had been assigned by Universal Management to perform a job on another planet. He had to leave Earth, leave Lacy Dawn. At this point in the story, the android was beginning to fall in love and to modify his programming so that he could feel more human-like emotions. In this scene, the android sheds his first tear because he has to leave the Hollow and go “out-of-state” for a new job.

The last scene that mentions “out-of-state” involves the android’s return to the Hollow from the out-of-state job. In this scene, he is introduced to Jenny as Lacy Dawn’s fiancé for when she’s old enough to marry. Following is an excerpt showing, in relevant part, Jenny’s head thoughts at one point in the scene:

“…It’s unusual for a man to promise to come back home and ever be seen again…They’ve been together for a while and I ain’t seen a mark on her. That’s unusual too. He ain’t got no private parts and that’s another good thing. Hell, if I get in the middle, she’d just run off with him anyway. I‘d better play it smart. I don’t want to lose my baby….”

Tell us your latest news?

Rarity from the Hollow is nearing its 2016 republication. Dog Horn Publishing has the line editing about half finished, the cover was changed a little to emphasize that it’s a children’s story for adults, and an editorial reviews section has been submitted to Amazon. One of my poems recently won first place in an international competition: http://wildcat.wsc.edu/clubs/willycon/zine/poetry/2015/Our_Real_Warmth.php Mostly, I’ve been looking for promotional opportunities to set the stage for release of my next novel, Ivy, and most exciting, I’ve been writing every day.

When and why did you begin writing? 

I began writing as a child, on any paper that I could find, including paper grocery bags, looking back, as an escape from harsh reality. I’ve never stopped writing, but once written, the catharsis had been effective and I lost track of whatever / whenever. As I mentioned before, we moved a lot and paper was the lowest priority to save.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

That’s a tough question, Kaitlyn. I’m still working on it. Once Rarity from the Hollow was accepted for publication, I weighed the possibility that I’m a writer. Every glowing book review reinforces this belief, but every critical review has challenged it.

What inspired you to write your first book?

I’ve worked in the field of children’s advocacy for over forty years. Almost a year ago, I retired from my job as a children’s psychotherapist for an intensive mental health, day treatment program. Many of the kids in the program had been abused, some sexually. Part of my job was to facilitate group therapy sessions. One day in 2006 during a group therapy session, I was sitting around a table used for written therapeutic exercises, and a little girl with stringy, brown hair sat a few feet away. Instead of just disclosing the horrors of her abuse at the hands of the meanest daddy on Earth, she also spoke of her hopes and dreams for the future: finding a loving family who would protect her. This girl was inspiring. She got me thinking again about my own hopes and dreams of writing fiction, an aspiration that I’d held in since I was twelve years old. My protagonist was born that day – an empowered victim who takes on the evils of the universe: Lacy Dawn. I’ve been writing ever since about the most powerful human ever to have been born on this small planet. Rarity from the Hollow is her first full-length adventure.

Do you have a specific writing style?

I love the use of internal thoughts. While it could be a little head hopping for some readers, I don’t believe that straight narrative in third person can come close to introducing characters. “…The author has created a new narrative format, something I’ve never seen before, with a standard third-person narration, interspersed, lightly, with first-person asides. This makes me think of Eugene O’Neill’s play “Strange Interlude” where internal and external dialogue are blended….” Affiliate of Fantasy Fan Federation, posted on Amazon.

How did you come up with the title?

The title of the novel comes from a scene in the middle of the story: “Yard Sale in the Hollow.” Lacy Dawn, the eleven year old protagonist, an empowered victim of child maltreatment, had organized a team to help her save the universe in exchange for the alien intervention that had been provided to cure her family of mental illnesses and distress. The team was still in its analysis of the threat phase when it went to planet Shptiludrp (Shop Until You Drop), a giant shopping mall that was the center of universal governance. To establish Earth’s right for continued existence, the team had to compete in a standard event involving the negotiation of the best prices, the biggest discounts for merchandise sold in the planet’s shops. After the shopping trip, the merchandise, most of which had unknown identification or purpose to team members, was brought back to Earth and put in the barn. Lacy Dawn decided to have a yard sale to get rid of it. The yard sale grew up into a “Woodstock” by advertising the event on the internet: Rarity from the Hollow – rare and unique merchandise most attractive to connoisseurs of weird stuff. I picked it among a few other options as the title.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

There are many messages in Rarity from the Hollow. I think of it as adult literary social science fiction. The messages will likely not be interpreted by one reader the same as interpreted by another. I don’t write or want to read anything that is “preachy.” Heck, I don’t even think that religious literature, like the pamphlets that one finds on the floors of public toilet stalls, should be so preachy. I wouldn’t want to touch such content, even if it would have been delivered under more sanitary conditions. I want to write about important issues that one person may think support a particular position but the next reader finds the opposite. I don’t have the answers to the most important questions and challenges that humans face.

Rarity from the Hollow addressed: poverty, domestic violence, child maltreatment, local and intergalactic economics, mental health concerns – including PTSD experienced by Veterans and the medicinal use of marijuana for treatment of Bipolar Disorder, Capitalism, and touched on the role of Jesus: “Jesus is everybody’s friend, not just humans.” These messages do not advocate for anything specific. In my opinion, it is critical that such messages be in every piece of literature, even comics and erotica, but each of us have to find truths within our own hearts and minds.

One of my personal truths is that enough is not being done to prevent child abuse / exploitation in the world. Author proceeds from Rarity from the Hollow have been donated to Children’s Home Society of West Virginia: http://www.childhswv.org/

How is your book different from others like it?

Frankly, I didn’t realize that Rarity from the Hollow would be received as an unusual novel while I was writing it. As book reviews started rolling in, the opinion that my novel was regarded as unique became apparent – most reviewers have used the term “unique” or a synonym in their reviews. One of the most prominent statements about the uniqueness of the novel was by an Awesome Indies reviewer resulting in a God Medal:

“…The author has managed to do what I would have thought impossible; taken serious subjects like poverty, ignorance, abuse, and written about them with tongue-in-cheek humor without trivializing them. In fact, the rustic humor and often graphic language employed by Lacy Dawn and her compatriots only serve to highlight their desperate lives, and their essential toughness and resilience….”

Of course, the concept of something being unique is relative. I’m certainly not the first author to use a child’s voice for social commentary. Heinlein used juvenile voice to address serious race and gender issue of his day. All kinds of novels contain colloquial dialogue, i.e. The Color Purple. Maybe Rarity from the Hollow is somewhat more literary than most speculative fiction, but Ursula K. LeGuinn gave folks a lot of food for thought after the last page of her novels had been turned, and even Harry Potter made an antiracism statement when he freed Dobby, the House Elf that is still under consideration by millions of fans.

How much of the book is realistic?

Most of Rarity from the Hollow is realistic, even the most outrageous fantasy and science fiction. I could have conformed, fit into cookie-cutter, but it would have been so dishonest that I wouldn’t have appreciated my accomplishment – writing a novel that was published by an independent house. Yes, I realize that some readers want a total escape, as if protagonist never use the bathroom, sleep, and, perhaps, are devoid of sexual drive – our procreation. That’s just plain silly to me. If a hero goes an entire novel without addressing basics, that’s unrealistic to me, and I’ll pass on reading it.

 Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Yes, Kaitlyn, all characters in Rarity from the Hollow are based on real-life people, most of them I’ve met during over forty years of working in the field of child welfare, including the android. As I’ve mentioned, the novel also incorporated events in my own life by fitting them into a science fiction backdrop.

I’ll share about the real-life role model for the android. In the story, I named this genderless creature DotCom, a “silly” name that is a recurring pun in the story, but I don’t want to spoil that. In any case, I know a boy in high school who, looking back, must have had autism. Some of the other kids would make fun of him, but I developed a genuine affection for him. Of course, back then nobody had heard of autism, so people thought of Mike as weird. He was brilliant, showed no emotion, would respond to direct question related to facts, but never imitated conversation or relationships – self-absorbed and hyper-task focused. In Rarity from the Hollow, DotCom, prompted by a small spark of love, began to evolve toward humanity and his body followed by developing increasing organic functions:

“…I pooped.”
“Well, did you wash your hands, young man?” Lacy Dawn asked the android.

I’m not saying that falling in love is the cure for autism. On a personal note, the first time that it happened to me, however, it sure prompted consideration of self-improvement. lol

What books have most influenced your life most?

Tom Sawyer was the biggest influence on my life because it was the first book to which I became addicted, a condition which had persisted to this day.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Gosh, that’s a tough question that probably changes with mood – a mentor. Right now, I’m working on improving my puns to lighten serious content so that they are less subtle, so I’ll pick Piers Anthony for a mentor.  

What book are you reading now?

As I just mentioned, I’m working on lightening my puns so I’ve decided to again read A Spell for Chameleon by Anthony. I loved it the first time, but his time I’m going to read for more than enjoyment – to study the technique.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

For pure escapism, I just downloaded A Universe Between Us by Gissel Brito. I’ve not started on it yet, and I haven’t actually enjoyed stories which merely entertain in the past but maybe I’ve grown up a little as I get older. I’m interested in giving it a try – something to take my mind off of everything real for a few minutes.

What are your current projects?

The 2016 version of Rarity from the Hollow should be out soon. I’ve been working with the editor to rework the internal dialogue, and a few other relatively minor modifications. The next Lacy Dawn Adventure is named, Ivy and asks the question: how far will a child go to save a parent from addiction? Of course, it also has a science fiction / fantasy backdrop.

Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

Dog Horn Publishing in Leeds is a traditional small press. It paid for all the upfront costs to make publication of Rarity from the Hollow possible. Without that support, this novel would still be on my hard drive as I simply didn’t have the funds or expertise to move forward on the project. While the press doesn’t have much money for promotions, it continues to be supportive including with the republication of the novel as I just mentioned.

Do you see writing as a career?

I’m a recently retired children’s psychotherapist with over forty years in the field of children’s advocacy. I hope to spend retirement writing and promoting my fiction. Over half of author proceeds have been donated to child abuse prevention. I would love for my work to raise significant funds for that cause, but I’m not sure that I would call it a second career.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Every time that Rarity from the Hollow has received a book review I’ve second guessed my writing, the content, etc. Some days I wish that I had done this or that, perhaps to have written a better fit to mainstream titles. As a bottom line, however, I’ve decided that honesty to your own self when writing is imperative and I’ve decided not to make significant changes for the novel’s republication in 2016. Adding it all up, what one reviewer criticized, another has loved. So, I try to remind myself of that fact instead of driving myself crazy trying to please everybody – an impossible goal.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I’ve written for as long as I can remember. As a child, it was my primary recreation. My interest really took off when others, not family members, would compliment my stories. By the time I was twelve, an entire neighborhood, mostly adults who worked at stores, service stations, etc., near my house would read and comment on my stories.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

My biggest challenge when writing has been forcing myself to cut great scenes because they just don’t fit the flow of the story. Especially when it’s a standalone scene that I love, I tend to waste time trying to make it fit.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

I read in all genres, so picking a favorite author is problematic. I admire Kurt Vonnegut who, after writing science fiction and being “pegged” in that genre, he spent years proving that he wouldn’t be constrained.

Who designed the covers?

Rarity from the Hollow has had four book covers. Two additional artist have given covers a try. Since the novel is a genre bender, it’s difficult to project the story in a cover – realism, tragedy, comedy, science fiction, fantasy, fantasy / magical realism, everyday horror…. The current cover was done by Adam Lowe, owner of Dog Horn Publishing. It uses a caricature with “a children’s story for adults” at the bottom.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Writing, itself, comes easy for me. As I mentioned before, cutting out great scenes because they don’t fit the flow of a story is difficult. Self-promotion is the difficult but essential part of writing and has become a barrier to my productivity.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

You don’t have enough bandwidth for me to list everything that I’ve learned from writing Rarity from the Hollow. I guess the main thing that I’ve learned is that fitting into genre expectations aids marketing. However, just because I’ve learned how fitting in helps get reach readers doesn’t mean that I will pursue that path:

“…beautifully honest. Rarity from the Hollow is different from anything I have ever read, and in today’s world of cookie-cutter cloned books, that’s pretty refreshing… whimsical and endearing world of Appalachian Science Fiction, taking you on a wild ride you won’t soon forget….” -- http://kyliejude.com/2015/11/book-review-rarity-from-the-hollow/

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Well, I’m certainly no expert on writing for publication. I have spent a lot of time looking for self-promotional opportunities for novels on the internet and my primary finding is that tons of authors and book bloggers have gone down – quit. It took Andy Weir a decade of self-promotion on a blog to get The Martian off the ground. So, my best advice to others involved with books is, in a word: persistence.

 Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Rarity from the Hollow starts out a little harsh but the early tragedy serves to amplify subsequent satire and comedy. I think this review excerpt sums up what I’d like to say to readers about the book: “a hillbilly version of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy…. Eggleton sucks you into the Hollow, dunks you in the creek, rolls you in the mud, and splays you in the sun to dry off. Tucked between the folds of humor are some profound observations on human nature and modern society that you have to read to appreciate…it’s a funny book that most sci-fi fans will thoroughly enjoy.”

http://awesomeindies.net/ai-approved-review-of-rarity-from-the-holly-by-robert-eggleton/

Where can we contact you / find you?

I’m easy to find. There’s direct link to my personal email on: http://www.lacydawnadventures.com

I also reply to messages on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Lacy-Dawn-Adventures-573354432693864/

And, I’m on Twitter:

@roberteggleton1

Do you have any links to where we can buy your book?

http://www.amazon.com/Rarity-Hollow-Robert-Eggleton-ebook/dp/B017REIA44

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rarity-From-Hollow-Robert-Eggleton/dp/1907133062

http://www.doghornpublishing.com/wordpress/books/rarity-from-the-hollow

About the Author:

Robert Eggleton has served as a children's advocate in an impoverished state for over forty years. He is best known for his investigative reports about children’s programs, most of which were published by the West Virginia Supreme Court where he worked from 1982 through 1997, and which also included publication of models of serving disadvantaged and homeless children in the community instead of in large institutions, research into foster care drift involving children bouncing from one home to the next -- never finding a permanent loving family, and statistical reports on the occurrence and correlates of child abuse and delinquency.

Today, he is a recently retired children's psychotherapist from the mental health center in Charleston, West Virginia, where he specialized in helping victims cope with and overcome physical and sexual abuse, and other mental health concerns. Rarity from the Hollow is his debut novel and its release followed publication of three short Lacy Dawn Adventures in magazines: Wingspan Quarterly, Beyond Centauri, and Atomjack Science Fiction. Author proceeds have been donated to a child abuse prevention program operated by Children’s Home Society of West Virginia. http://www.childhswv.org/ Robert continues to write fiction with new adventures based on a protagonist that is a composite character of children that he met when delivering group therapy services. The overall theme of his stories remains victimization to empowerment.

To read an excerpt from Rarity from the Hollow by Robert Eggleton, please click here

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