"Jeff raised the gun to shoulder height. He closed one eye, focused his other on the pistol's barrel sight. "Shooting's almost... sensual," he said. [...] Jeff handed the pistol to me. It weighed more than I'd expected, between two and three pounds. I turned the pistol here and there, admiring its sleek contours. The grip felt cold against my palm and a shiver ran through me. I'd never fired a handgun, never thought to.
"Is it loaded?" "
Description:
It's 1976, and Anita Bryant's homophobic "Save Our Children" crusade rages through Florida. When Andy Hunsinger, a closeted gay college student, joins in a demonstration protesting Bryant's appearance in Tallahassee, his straight boy image is shattered when he's "outed" by a TV news reporter.
In the months following, Andy discovers just what it means to be openly gay in a society that condemns love between two men.
Can Andy's friendship with Travis, a devout Christian who's fighting his own sexual urges, develop into something deeper?
GUEST POST
Talks about his Edgy Young Novel
Becoming Andy Hunsinger:
Hi, folks, I'm Jere' M. Fishback. I primarily write Young Adult fiction, and you can read about my titles at my website. My latest release is a novel titled Becoming Andy Hunsinger; it's narrated by the title character, and on the book's first page Andy says this:
"On my seventh birthday, my parents gave me a Dr. Seuss book, The Cat in the Hat.
"I still have the book; it rests on the shelf above my desk, along with other Seuss works I’ve collected. Inside The Cat in the Hat’s cover, my mother wrote an inscription, using her precise penmanship. 'Happy Birthday, Andy. As you grow older, you'll realize many truths dwell within these pages. Much love, Mom and Dad.'
"Mom was right, of course. She most always is.
"My favorite line in The Cat in the Hat is this one: "'Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don’t mind.'"
Becoming Andy Hunsinger is all about having the courage to be different in a society that places far too much value on conformity. The story takes place in north Florida during 1976-77. It's not autobiographical, although I did attend law school at Florida State University in Tallahassee during those years, and certain events in my book actually occurred while I lived there.
People always ask me, "Where do you get your ideas for the stories you write and the characters you create? Are they based upon real-life events and people you have known?"
I always answer by saying, "None of my characters are based on individuals I have known. I might borrow certain personality traits in folks I've met, but that's about it. Certain incidents I've experienced might inspire me to write a story including them, but they certainly don't dictate plot or outcome. They're just a starting point." And it's true.
I think trying to base fiction on real-life events can hamper a writer's creativity. Fiction comes from the "creative" side of our brain, and I have to give this side of me freedom to roam and explore.
I'm what fiction writers call a "pantser"; I don't outline a book before I start writing it; I get an idea for a story, and then I start by writing a scene that begins the story. I never have any idea how any of my stories will end. In fact, I don't plan any "plot twists." I don't prepare character profiles in advance, either. I write "by the headlights" as E. L. Doctorow once called it; I only know what's going to happen in one or two scenes beyond the one I am working on.
Thanks to Mythical Books for hosting me today, and thanks to readers who follow this blog for taking the time to get to know me. If anyone has questions or comments for me, feel free to send them via this blog; I'd love to hear from you.
Happy reading, everyone ….
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About the author:Jere' M. Fishback is a former news editor and trial lawyer. He writes Young Adult novels, short fiction, and memoirs. A Florida native, he lives on a barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico, west of Tampa/St. Petersburg. When he's not writing, Jere' enjoys cycling, surfing, lap-swimming, and watching sunsets with a glass of wine in hand.
Author's Giveaway
5 comments:
This story really sounds great. No one should be criticized, or worse because of their sexuality ! I would love to read a print copy of this. Thank you for the opportunity !
Hi, Deanne: Thanks for your kind comment about "Becoming Andy Hunsinger". I worked hard on the book and I hope readers will enjoy it. Good luck in the giveaway drawing.
Jere' M. Fishback
Want to read this one. The "Save Our Children" campaign isn't something I'm familiar with. It wasn't taught in our history classes in school (but maybe it was different elsewhere), and I wonder if it'll start joining the books as people become more accepting of those who aren't as heterosexual as you can get. I wasn't around to see when segregation/apartheid entered the history texts used in schools, but I'd bet it would be after people became more accepting. When the topic became something those around during the time regretted. Would love to read a book that gets into this part of our history :) These kinds of things make me hopeful that eventually, the majority of people will stop judging people on some part of themselves that's integral/that can't be changed/that doesn't cause harm to anyone else. That's my big problem with all of this. I'm atheist, and I kept it quiet throughout school because of the overwhelming majority of students being Christian and known to judge anyone who differed from the norm. College let me break out of it. I've let my parents know, gently, this past year and had no problems, but my grandmother... Oh boy. I think it's important for us to know about our history of prejudicial thinking, so this sounds like an interesting way to express it. Plus, great Dr. Seuss quote!
Hi, Smiles:
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. When I realized I was gay, at the age of eighteen, the year was 1969, the same year of the Stonewall riots in NYC that began the gay liberation movement. I was terrified someone might find out I was gay and I fought my sexual orientation for several years before I finally accepted who I was. Finally, at the age of 24, I came out to all my friends and family, and I am proud to say I have lived my life openly and honestly ever since. "Becoming Andy Hunsinger" is not autobiographical, but it deals with many of the obstacles I faced in the mid-1970's as I let myself become who I am. I hope you'll enjoy reading it.
By the way, being gay isn't the only way a person can be different. Atheism is still frowned upon in many communities and social circles. I was raised Methodist; I spent a great deal of time at my church as a child. But at age thirteen, I gave up church and the Bible. I took a good deal of crap form some people for doing so, and I get where you are coming from. Look, you have to be yourself, as Dr. Seuss said. Otherwise you won't be happy.
Hi thank you for the giveaway, your book sounds good.
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