An Interview with Heather Rigney
Author Heather Rigney has made a name for herself with The Merrow Trilogy, which follows lovable screw-up anti-hero Evie McFagan as she deals with her nemesis/counterpart Nomia, a mermaid. Both experience self-discovery and both leave a path of destruction in their wake. All three books have garnered praise, and helped Rigney build a loyal fanbase.
Now that the trilogy is complete, I sent Rigney some questions about her thoughts on her work, the characters, the process and her future.
Bobby Forand (Motif): How did the idea for The Merrow Trilogy come about? Was it always meant to be a trilogy?
Heather Rigney: I was invited to collaborate on a now-retired, anthology called DIVE. It was a collection of short stories about mermaids or merfolk. Four authors were involved, and I wrote a story called “Mermaids are Not Nice.” That was the birth of both my antagonist, Nomia, and protagonist, Evie McFagan. The short story received a lot of praise and more than one person stated that I needed to expand the world I had created. From there, I thought, “I should make a trilogy out of this!” I had no idea what I was getting into.
BF: Who was your favorite character to write? Why? Did that character change as you continued to write?
HR: Evie was easily my favorite character to write because she is based on my worst behavior. She says all the things I want to say but don’t. Evie went through a lot of changes. Her evolution needed to happen because she’s at rock bottom when we first meet her. The only direction she could go was up. I tried to create an arc for her that worked with her bad habits and helped elevate her from unlikable anti-hero to unlikable, unlikely hero.
BF: Which book was the most fun to write? Why?
HR: They all had different vibes. Book one was a blast because it was my first real book and I had so much fun attempting to be a writer. Book two was a slog. I felt a huge sense of pressure to deliver, and it made the work feel like a burden. I got very sick after Hunting came out, and I think it was my body’s way of telling me I pushed my stress quota too far. Caging was the most fun. I felt confident and more carefree because I knew it was the last one.
BF: How did you feel once the third book came out, meaning The Merrow Trilogy was complete?
HR: I felt relieved. Here is a secret that I don’t want anyone to know: I don’t like mermaids and I never did. You know when you are little and you mention to a relative that you like owls and then next thing you know every holiday or special occasion finds you swimming in owl paraphernalia? That’s my connection to mermaids. I never liked them, I just thought it would be a marketable topic to write about (and coincidentally paint — I have several mermaid paintings because I thought they would sell). Once the last sentence was written, I felt a huge sense of release, a new freedom from mermaids.
BF: Have you thought about any of the characters during your daily life since completing the trilogy?
HR: I often wonder what Evie would think of Trump. Wherever she is, you know she has a pink hat and a RESIST bumper sticker.
BF: Looking back, is there any part of the story you wish you could change?
HR: There are a lot of mistakes in book one. I didn’t have a good solid direction and if I had the chance to rewrite it, I would. But that would be strange and almost like time-traveling. I’m sure I would mess up the known universe in some way.
BF: What are your plans now that the trilogy is complete?
HR: I recently took a job as the elementary art teacher at the Lincoln School in Providence, and I am loving it. I didn’t realize how much I missed teaching. It has become a full-on immersive compulsion that leaves little room for writing at the moment.
BF: Rhode Island plays a part in the story. How accurate are the locations you use as the setting? What made you choose the locations you did?
HR: The trilogy is my love letter to Pawtuxet Village, a unique area of both Warwick and Cranston on Narragansett Bay where I live. It’s such a great place filled with rich history, neighborhoods within neighborhoods, quirky individuals and a fantastic community that is always changing. I love being part of it and I really wanted to highlight all the wonderful qualities that I adore, such as Gaspee Days — a time where we honor colonial rebels who burned down one of His Majesty’s ships during Pre- Revolutionary War times. All of the streets and locations are as close as possible to reality unless I altered them slightly to fit with the story. For example, Little Falls Cafe in the Village has been renamed Heart Attack Heaven and is no longer a bakery/coffee shop but a charcuterie/coffee shop.
BF: What was your biggest challenge writing the trilogy?
HR: Not having any prior knowledge of how to write a trilogy. I had no idea what I was doing and the process almost broke me. At that point in my life, I was blessed with the gift of time. I had left teaching to stay home with my young daughter. I don’t think I could have written three books while I was teaching and raising a family. BF: Describe your writing process. How has it changed since you started writing?
HR: For starters, I use the writing program Scrivener. It has revolutionized my writing. Being a visual person, I needed to lay out all my chapters and see them in multiple ways — not just one linear format as it is with Word. Scrivener allowed me to write multiple story arcs and then jumble them into one cohesive novel. I color-coded everything so I could see how the different threads wove into the braided final product. Another change was my ability to start with the ending first and work toward it. After I finished the first book, Waking, I wrote the final chapter of Caging. I used that as my finish-line marker while writing book two, Hunting and book three, Caging.
BF: What is your favorite and least favorite part of writing?
HR: My favorite part of writing is creating characters. I love crafting beings with subtle quirky traits, unique physical properties, and the nuances of how someone would speak. We are all, in the real world, wonderfully different. We all have our own way of doing things and reasons for why we do them. I like watching and observing people in the real world and then translating that into a fictional character.
My least favorite part of writing is editing. God, how I hate editing. I hate re-reading something I have already read a thousand times, fully knowing that I am most likely missing a glaring error that some reader will point out just to embarrass me.
BF: How have you marketed The Merrow Trilogy? Have you noticed its popularity grow?
HR: I did everything I could afford, and a few things I couldn’t, to promote my trilogy. I have gone to almost every event I have been asked to do — library signings, book fairs, comic and horror conventions. I have done virtual book tours, countless interviews for blogs and newspapers. I called all local newspapers and sent out press releases every time I released a book. I have thrown huge parties for each book release. I put first edition copies of Waking in Little Free Libraries around the state. I have left my books in airports and other public places. When I travel I put bookmarks up in Starbucks. I am shameless in my promotion! This summer I will be doing a sunset cruise of Providence Harbor with the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council. Yes, I will be on a boat, trying to sell books.
BF: What are your thoughts on self-publishing? Please discuss both the pros and cons.
HR: Pros: You are in control of everything from writing, to cover design, to marketing, to branding, to accounting, to promotion, to quality control. It’s all you, all the time. No one will tell you that what you are doing is wrong.
Cons: See above. It’s exhausting wearing all those hats when all you want to do is write. Giving up creative control when you write for a publisher, and not yourself, allows you to focus on your craft. However, in today’s market, you still have to self-promote no matter who signs your paycheck.
BF: Please give a tip to anyone interested in writing and releasing work of their own.
HR: Do it. If you want to write and you have something you want to share with the world, just do it. There are so many resources out there for DIY publishing right now. Why not see if you’re any good? Once the reviews start coming in, pay attention to what they’re saying and fix the issues. You’ll only get better with practice. Sitting around saying, “I could write a book,” does not make you a better writer. Putting the time in and practicing is what makes it happen. BF: Please state an interesting and unknown tidbit about The Merrow Trilogy.
HR: I am proud to say that I have created my own little feminist manifesto. I attempted to examine the way women were perceived in the past and in the present by both society and themselves. Each of my female characters represents a different stereotype. I included the female pariahs such as the sloppy failure of a mother, the cougar, the adulterer and the aggressive alpha. I included the rape victim and the sex worker. I explored issues of the glass ceiling throughout time and issues of the sublimation of women by men. To some degree, both my parents were feminists and they raised me to recognize that I would always be fighting against the fact that I was female. My dad always said that I could do anything, no matter what, because I was strong and I was a fighter, being female should never be a drawback, it’s a superpower. You just have to fight twice as hard. I’d like to think the women in my book did just that — they fought twice as hard to be themselves as I fought to be something I never trained to be: a writer.
Learn more about Heather Rigney by checking out her Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/HeatherRigney/e/B009GSPRPU/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
Stillwater Books, Pawtucket, opens Mar 1
Stillwater Books, the first bookstore in Pawtucket for many years, opens with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:45am, Thursday, Mar 1. Located at 175 Main St on the corner of Roosevelt Ave, in the same building as the visitor center for the Blackstone Valley National Historic Corridor and the RIPTA Pawtucket Transit Hub, it is across the street from Slater Mill and a short distance off I-95 via exit 28. Plentiful free parking is available in the visitor center lot as well as in the lot across from City Hall.
Dawn and Steven Porter unpack inventory as they prepare to open their new bookstore, Stillwater Books in Pawtucket (Photo: Michael Bilow)
Owners Steven and Dawn Porter plan a grand opening weekend Mar 17-18, but will keep regular hours after the Mar 1 ribbon cutting. The store will carry all 125 current titles from their own Stillwater River Press, which provides services to help authors self-publish (and whose offices will be relocating to the store). New releases and best sellers will be available, but about three-fourths of the inventory will be a curated selection of heavily discounted remainders and high-quality used books.
Asked whether this is a market niche that has to be brick-and-mortar local, Steven Porter said, “You can buy anything on the web, but you’ve got to know what you want. If you know you want a specific book – a specific author, specific title – you can go to the internet, you can go to Amazon, you can go to a variety of other sites.”
He is optimistic about the future of bookstores. “The independent stores that have survived are good merchants; the bad merchants left and got pushed under. Bookstores bring a lot of things to a community: that literary presence, that intellectual presence – it’s good for every town to have one, but it’s also a business and a lot of these independents were more into their mission than they were into their business, and they didn’t make it. Tides have turned a little bit, and the independent stores that are out there now all seem to be very well run and very efficiently run.”
The Porters founded the Association of Rhode Island Authors (ARIA), a non-profit organization now including over 340 published local authors and best known for its annual December book expo at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet in Cranston that in 2017 attracted 135 sellers and about 1,300 buyers. The Porters, both published authors themselves (Confessions of the Meek and the Valiant, Manisses, Searching for Rhode Island), said they invite all local authors to sell their books at the store, regardless of publisher.
Community events, including author readings and signings, are planned over the coming months and will be announced as they are scheduled, the Porters said.
Event info: facebook.com/events/1716711071683508
Roots Report: Better Than a Bad Date
Okee dokee folks… Are you single? Lonely? Well, we just got past the dreaded V-Day, and some of you may be looking for love or as Eddie Murphy’s Buckwheat says, “Wookin’ Pa Nub.” A local author sent me a copy of her book and asked me if I would be interested in writing a little about it. At first I was reluctant, but seeing as I had some experience with the subject matter I agreed. The book is called Stupid Cupid: A Survivor’s Guide To Online Dating and was written by Allison O’Donnell about her personal trials and tribulations with the process. I am sure that most people who have gone through this have some bizarre stories to tell. O’Donnell actually made hers into an enjoyable book. This tome chronicles O’Donnell’s foray into online dating and is divided into chapters that recount the individual dates or category of date type such as: “Houdini,” “The Psychotic,” “The Lurker,” “Pennywise,” “Mr. Clean,” “Coupon Carl,” “Mr. Roboto,” Ramblin’ Man” and lots and lots more. There are about 125 mini- chapters about these undertakings. O’Donnell puts a comic spin on already comical events. Having personally experienced the world of online dating, I can attest to the validity of these kinds of dating adventures. I probably could have written a book about the world from a male point of view. Man, do I have some stories! Most think that the guys on dating sites are bad, well, let me fill you in, there is equality in online dating! This is not a book that you need read only if you are single and want to date, though it should be a required tutorial before embarking on the crusade. It is an entertaining collection of stories about human interaction that will keep readers engaged. So, don’t let the title fool you, Stupid Cupid is not just for dating wannabes, it could also be used as a separation deterrent. Once you read what it is like in the land of 21st century courting, it may just scare you straight into permanent and blissful monogamy. The book is available to order online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble or at your favorite local bookstore. Read on…
Common Fence Music is continuing to celebrate their 25th year of presenting folk and world music concerts and their winter/spring 2018 season begins with shows featuring Latin artists at both their Portsmouth and Warren venues. On Friday, February 16, Boston-based Brazilian/American folk group SÃ SOL bring Tropicalia-meets-Americana sound to the CFM Warren Sessions stage at Hope & Main. Formed eight years ago by the husband and wife duo of Jessica DaSilva (vocals, percussion, banjo) and John Garrett (vocal, guitar), the group performs original songs, transitioning effortlessly between lyrics in English and Brazilian Portuguese. Opening the show is Westerly singer-songwriter Glenn Kendzia of Wild Sun. Glenn performs with an honesty and passion that speaks to audiences and artists alike. On Saturday the 17th CFM presents their first-ever Valentine’s Latin Dance Night with Obertico Arias Y Su Alebreke at their Portsmouth Mainstage. Leading the seven-piece ensemble is Dominican Latin percussionist, vocalist and bandleader Luis Robertico Arias, who has been performing professionally since his teens. He has toured internationally with such bands as Los Hijos del Rey, El Equipo de Dioni Pernandez, Boni Cepeda, The New York Band and La Gran Manzana, and recorded with such artists as David Byrne. Audience members are invited to attend a free preshow salsa lesson with Sara Barker from 7:15 – 7:45pm. For more about the two shows, cha-cha-cha to commonfencemusic.org.
The Carolina Chocolate Drops
Some of you may remember the Carolina Chocolate Drops. They burst onto the music scene about a decade ago. I first heard them on NPR and was transfixed by their version of “Hit ‘Em Up Style.” I was fortunate to see the original line-up as well as a couple of the members perform solo. Nowadays, two of the founding members, Rhiannon Giddens and Dom Flemons, are touring solo. Though the CCD technically may still exist, Dom Flemons is no longer part of the group. I have seen Flemons perform solo at Common Fence Music as well as Rhythm and Roots Festival and both times he put on an amazing show. We are fortunate that Flemons will be in the area again on Thursday, March 1, as part of the Route 44 Music Series at the Harmony Lodge. Route 44 Music Series shows are intimate and designed to work for those of you who don’t like late nights or to rush to make dinner before heading out. All bases are covered. Food and drinks are available for purchase at the show, and they let out by 9:30pm. For more, “Hot Chicken” to hearinrhodeisland.com
There are a bunch of shows I want to let you know about but not a lot of room, so here goes! (Taking a deep breath…) The Knickerbocker in Westerly has Dave DeAngelis playing in the Tap Room on February 15, and in the main room on Saturday the 17th it’s Josiah Johnson from The Head and The Heart with Widower (KnickMusic.org). At Nick-A-Nee’s: Feb 15 is Nate Cozzolino; Feb 16 is Dan Lilley & The Keepers; Feb 17 is How’s About Charlie, youandeverything, The Guest House; Feb 21 is Rick Meir & The Ricktones; Feb 24 is Millrats; Feb 25 is Unity Trio with Max Goldman, Clay Nordhill and Marty Ballou; Feb 28 is Lizzy James & The Greystone Rail (facebook.com/nickanees). Get some “Green Grass and High Tides at The Greenwich Odeum on Feb 15 with the Outlaws; Feb 17 is Vagina Monologues, and on Feb 23 it’s the Slambovian Circus (GreenwichOdeum.com). At Blackstone River Theatre, on Feb 18 is Seamus Egan Project; Feb 24 is The NY Mandolin Ensemble with Barry Mitterhoff with the L’Esperance Mandolin Ensemble; Mar 3 is RUNA; Mar 4 is Robbie O’Connell and Rose Clancy (riverfolk.org). The Pumphouse Open Mic Potluck happens on Feb 24; Seth Burkhart is on Feb 16; Ian Fitzgerald is on Feb 17; Horse Eyed Men is on Feb 23; and on Mar 2, The Folk Support Group (Ed McGuirl and Mike Fishman) celebrate 30 years of music making together (pumphousemusicworks.com). The Stadium Theatre has Pink Floyd Tribute The Machine on Feb 24 (stadiumtheatre.com). The Garde Theatre in New London has Andrew Bird on Mar 2 and Lyle Lovett with Shawn Colvin on Mar 3 (gardearts.org). The 19th Annual Rhode Island Pride Goddess Show is at Stout Irish Pub in PVD on Mar 4 (prideri.org).
The Narrows in Fall River is auctioning off an electric guitar signed by some of the most respected guitarists and hosted at the Narrows. Signatures include those of Ronnie Earl, John Mayall, Walter Trout, Tab Benoit, Big Al Anderson, John Jorgenson, Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen, Leo Kottke, Coco Montoya, David Bromberg, Charlie Hunter, Reeves Gabrels, Mike Zito, Larry Campbell, Quinn Sullivan, Marty Stuart, Kenny Vaughan & Los Lobos. Send your bid to: [email protected] org. Auction closes on February 28.
Entries are now accepted for the 23rd Annual USA Songwriting Competition. Songwriters and composers vie for a chance to win a top prize of $50,000 worth of cash and merchandise, such as music gear. Winning songs will receive radio airplay. Songwriters can enter in 15 different song categories such as pop, rock/alt, folk, R&B, hip-hop, jazz or instrumental. For more, lyric to songwriting.net
It was a very sad day for many, many folks in the RI music community when we learned of the loss of our friend Sarah Good. She was a RI mainstay as a bandleader with her group, The Goods. Besides being a musician, she was an artist, entrepreneur, fashion and jewelry designer, ballerina, dog lover and all around great person. We will miss her tremendously. RIP Sarah.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading. JohnFuzek.com Heather Rigney’s Caging the Merrow
I’ve been both anticipating and dreading the arrival of this book. I was a huge fan of the first two books in The Merrow Trilogy (Waking the Merrow and Hunting the Merrow), and couldn’t wait to read how the story was going to end. On the flipside, I was coming to grips with the fact that this is (probably) the last I will know of this eccentric and lovely cast of characters. Love or hate them, I became enthralled with each of them, their own individual stories and the current story they are all connected to. This was something that I selfishly didn’t want to end.
Everyday antihero/alcoholic Evie McFagan finds herself in the crisis Hunting the Merrow ended in. She had no clue where her husband (Paddy), child (Savannah) or best friend (Rachel) are, she had (unhappily) reunited with her brother (Richard) and was directly responsible for the capture of Nomia, Nix and Ronan (mermaids and mermen, respectively). Sitting alone in a cell overwhelmed with guilt, she tries to devise a plan to help fix this mess that she inadvertently created, until she discovers that this is all out of her hands and decides that she will abide by her brother’s request to travel to Maine to assure the safety of her husband and child.
Nomia, a prisoner of Samnlung (a place where a great white shark is the least interesting attraction), just learned disturbing news about Richard, her lover and now captor, who is in for a crazy ride. She spends time reflecting on the definition of a monster and the consequences of the actions she tried to take in the name of revenge. Nomia had become a sympathetic character in Hunting the Merrow, and that continues with this book. Though she wants to escape, she mostly wants to save her sister. She makes some sideshow friends who agree to help her. She also learns more about her origins from Cliodhna, owner of Samnlung and the one who paid Richard to capture her.
Cliodhna is the main antagonist, but her story (minus her initial conversation with Nomia) starts with a heartbreaking origin that builds immediate sympathy for her. She is evil, but the reason for her evil is understandable. I tried to hate her, but she’s fascinating and has been through so much that I just couldn’t help but (sort of) root for her (at least until the end). Herein lies the strength of Heather Rigney. She has the uncanny ability to create characters who are sympathetic, lovable, chock full of flaws, evil, funny and real (these simple descriptive words don’t nearly do her character development justice). The adventures her players go through are great, but it’s the cast I fell in love with. Even the minor and seeming insignificant characters (Ephron is the best example) are well thought out, giving a full glimpse into who they are. It is clear that she spent significant time on character development, and it pays off. I would gladly read a full novel about each individual.
Caging the Merrow has a huge cast and a lot going on. The story jumps around from character to character instead of being linear, following the same path of Hunting the Merrow. I enjoyed this approach and got excited reading how everything was going to come together. Rigney set everything up nicely for the pummeling finale. No questions were left unanswered and the climax, while not what I was expecting, was incredibly exciting. The last scene was a fitting ode to the benefits of strong friendships, while leaving me craving a doughnut.
Rigney has struck gold with all three books of The Merrow Trilogy. She has created some of the best characters I have read in a long time. More importantly, they became a part of me — fictional people who I developed feelings for, and I was full of emotions as their stories played out. Rigney is not only my favorite Rhode Island author, but also one of my favorite authors in general. She’s right up there with Kurt Vonnegut, Haruki Murakami and Christopher Buckley.
Richard Walton E-Book Now Free on 5th Anniversary of Death
Richard Walton
Herb Weiss and Nancy Carriuolo, co-editors of The Selected E-Mail Correspondences of Richard Walton, a commemorative collection of writing from the universally respected advocate for social justice, have released the e-book for free download on the fifth anniversary of Walton’s December 2012 death. “We hope that this book brings back fond memories of Richard and that you will consider [telling] all your friends, colleagues and family members who knew him, his good work and deeds,” said Weiss.
Originally published in 2014, it was a fundraiser to equip the English Department Conference Room to be named in Walton’s honor at Rhode Island College, where Walton taught for 25 years and of which Carriuolo was then president. Weiss announced the book in a Motif article (motifri.com/e-book-to- memorialize-richard-walton): “The beloved social activist and educator who put tireless energy and effort into supporting many worthy causes began emailing and connecting to his family and vast network of friends electronically in the early 1990s. Over 20 years, he would literally write thousands of correspondences on a vast array of topics including serious social causes, baseball and boxing, politics and even entertaining observations about Rhode Islanders and local events.” You can find the E- book here: RichardWaltonE-bookFinal.
Favorite Books of 2017
I didn’t read nearly as much as I should in the past year, and hope to do better next year. Of the books I did read in 2017, here are my Top 5, in order.
5. Laura Jane Grace’s Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock’s Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout: I’ve always been a huge fan of Against Me!, so reading this was a no-brainer. While it discusses Tom Gabel’s transition into Laura Jane Grace, the reasoning is sprinkled throughout the memoir instead of told in one fell swoop. She does a great job showing how she became to be who she currently is, but it’s the oral history of Against Me! that was truly compelling. Grace comes off as pompous and arrogant, but real and not afraid to show her true self. That’s bravery.
4. Russell Hoban’s Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas: Yes, this book was published in 1971 and turned into a TV movie in 1977. I have loved the movie since I watched it at my elementary school, but didn’t know it was a book until this year. The book gives some details left out in the movie, and has some sad moments, but Emmet and Alice Otter maintain a positive outlook throughout, which is sometimes all people have to keep them going. It’s a great story with an inspiring message.
3. Rick Massimo’s I Got a Song: A History of the Newport Folk Festival: This is a wonderful telling of the history of the Newport Folk Festival. Massimo, in great detail, discusses its start and the ups and the downs, revealing how it came to be such an important part of both musical and Rhode Island history. This is well-researched with a ton of great stories from the people who were there. As I’ve mentioned before, my favorite part is the unique way he told the tale of Dylan going electric.
2. EA Mann’s One American Robin: This is about as real as a piece of fiction can get. Mann takes a few months of protagonist Robin’s life and paints it on the page as if it were a family member telling a story. There are true emotions and mistakes that people make. There’s a reason One American Robin won an award for Best Literary Fiction. This is real life.
1. Heather Rigney’s Caging the Merrow: I’ve been waiting to find out what would happen to Evie, Nomia, Nix, Paddy, Rachel and Ronan for about two years, and I haven’t been disappointed. Rigney is my favorite local author and Evie McFagan is one of my favorite literary characters. I tore into this book like Nomia used to tear into her prey. The final installment of The Merrow Trilogy had me turning every page as fast as possible, eager to learn how everything would turn out, but not wanting it to end.
Share Rhode Island with Young Readers
Books are always wonderful gifts for kids, especially if they’re meaningful to the child. This year, why not pick up an RI-themed book for the little reader in your life? It’ll make local kids feel a little more connected to their state, and kids who live far away will feel a little more connected to you.
Mark Perry has put a festive, Rhode Island spin on Christmas, history and tourism for kids. His newest children’s story, ‘Post’ Mark – The North Pole Postman Visits Rhode Island, is the charming tale of ‘Post’ Mark’s little journey through Rhode Island to collect letters to Santa from local kids. On his quest, he stops at historical sites across the state such as Slater Mill, the Providence State House, Roger Williams Zoo, the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Block Island and more. He goes to WaterFire, rides the Flying Horse Carousel at Watch Hill, sees a PawSox game, and even gets to sit down and have a bowl of clam chowder with all of the kids.
This story is wholesome, cute and educational for any kid who wants to learn something new about what makes Rhode Island so awesome. Lia Marcoux’s illustrations are warm and bright. She adds small details to the pages that would make any RI native smile. Keep an eye out for the RI mailboxes in Santa’s mailroom, the cups of Del’s lemonade and the coffee milk. Perry creates a twist on the classic Christmas tale with ‘Post’ Mark, a unique elf at the North Pole. How do you spark an interest in American History in your kids? With puppies! Lauren E. Kelley’s Tuggie The Patriot Pup is a story about a British Yorkie who takes a big journey across the Atlantic to Rhode Island, one of the American colonies. In Providence, he helps the colonists sink a ship, the HMS Gaspee, in their fight for independence from England and the rule of King George III. Along the way, Tuggie meets Half-Moon O’Riley, another Yorkie puppy who quickly becomes Tuggie’s best friend. The two become honored Patriots in their protest against Britain.
This little book is not only educational, but fluffy. It also has some drama, which adds excitement to the tale. Rick Shier’s illustrations of Tuggie and Half-Moon are detailed and adorable, and mimic colonial paintings. The back of the book provides pages of supplemental information about the American Revolution, as well as a glossary of terms that a younger child may not understand at first. Tuggie’s story is the perfect way to introduce a child to American History.
Local author Jill Austin has fun with her RI heritage in her two children’s books RI Loves, an ABC book
of all the wonderful things about our state, and Where Did All the Rs Go?, a story about an R who moves to Rhode Island, excited to meet lots of R friends, and disappointed that he can’t find any. Maybe they’re all pahking the cah. The simple stories are perfect for young readers and the colorful illustrations make them eye-catching gifts for baby’s first Christmas.
Pick up a copy of any of these fun kids books from your local bookstore and delight the little bibliophile in your life. Support Local Authors with the Gift of Reading
The holidays are a good reminder that a new year is quickly approaching and provide the opportunity for self-reflection and thought about the year ahead. For 2018, I challenge you to create some goals for yourself. Write them down, occasionally check your progress and take pride in your accomplishments throughout the year. If you plan to make reading more books one of your 2018 goals (raises hand), let this list of (mostly) local authors serve as your guide. Buy two copies of each so you can give the love of reading to someone else.
The Declaration of Independence and Other Great Documents of American History, Edited by John Grafton: I bought this for my boss years ago as a Secret Santa gift, and she is still talking about it. While this is the only non-local book on this list, it may be the most important. In today’s contentious political climate, it may be a good idea to read about the foundation upon which this country was built. Maybe it will help all the animosity, even if just a little.
The Loved Dead and Other Tales by C.M. Eddy, Jr: These 13 tales of the macabre and strange were written between 1915 and 1922 and were published in the years after that. The author, a Providence resident, was good friends with HP Lovecraft and Harry Houdini, and their influence is apparent in his writing. The stories are relatively short, minus the novella “Sign of the Dragon,” his first published work. My favorite story is “An Arbiter of Destiny,” about a hypnotist who runs into an old acquaintance.
The Stocking Dead by Dean Calusdian: Santa’s winter wonderland becomes an undead wasteland in this graphic novel that definitely shouldn’t find its way into your kid’s stocking.
One American Robin by E.A. Mann: This could be considered historical fiction, as it takes place in 2009 when an I-95 underpass was famous for being “Tent City,” a community of homeless people. It was a giant story at the time. While Tent City plays a role in the story, it is a small one. The focus instead is on Robin, whose life becomes an uncomfortable balancing act as she tries to juggle work, a relationship and her family, which includes a father suffering from Alzheimer’s and living in a nursing home. The realism of this story is fascinating, as these moments could happen to anyone. It’s a well-told glimpse into everyday struggles.
I Got a Song by Rick Massimo: Massimo writes an in-depth history that shows the ups and downs George Wein and company went through, and how Newport Folk Festival became one of the most important and iconic festivals this country has seen. There are plenty of stories about all the main players (including many of the current day contemporaries that arguably helped revive the festival) and an entire chapter dedicated to Bob Dylan going electric (see review at motifri.com/i-got-a-song).
Morning Glory Blues by Christopher Roe: Roe puts forth an 80-poem effort, full of simple, easy-to- read and enjoyable poems that mostly seem to be stream of consciousness writing. Thirteen of these poems make up “The Water View Series,” which were written at the rehabilitation center he was living in while recovering from a horrific fall. The struggle and frustration are evident in these works, serving as a reminder of how frail our bodies can be and how the mind must stay strong, regardless of the circumstances (see review at motifri.com/morning-glory-blues). Book Review: Rick Massimo’s I Got a Song
The Newport Folk Festival is arguably one of the most important American music festivals ever. Founder George Wein, with the help and guidance of many notable figures, including legends Pete Seeger and Alan Lomax, created more than just a festival full of money- spending crowds watching a gathering of musicians. They created a movement, a community, a forever legacy. Though everything has changed since its inaugural year in 1959, the initial vision of the Newport Folk Festival still shines through. In his book I Got a Song, Former Providence Journal writer Rick Massimo gives an in-depth history of the event.
Massimo puts his journalism background to good use, crafting a well-researched book. His 24 pages of notes and two-and-a-half-page bibliography show just how much time and passion Massimo put into I Got a Song. After meeting with Wein for a day back in 2009 to write an article about the 50th anniversary for The Providence Journal, Massimo realized that this topic deserved more than a few articles. About eight years later, this comprehensive book was released.
While the artists, the behind-the-scenes moments and the music are a main focus, Massimo brings many other aspects of the festival to light. He interviews concertgoers to get an observer’s take on the festival and what it meant to them. The times and their impact on the music being played (going from 1959-2015) are underlined in every chapter.
The biggest underlying theme is challenge of defining folk music. It is directly discussed in several chapters and subtly raised in others. Most contributors give their opinions, with some discussing it at length. Defining folk music was a big topic of discussion among the festival’s organizers throughout the years, as it had a direct impact on the artists invited to perform, whether it be someone they found while searching through unknown America or the wildly popular The Decemberists. Folk music is never truly defined, which is exactly how it should be, but it’s fun reading so many takes on it.
Dylan going electric in 1965 ultimately affected every Newport Folk Festival that followed. A lot of words are dedicated to this moment, which may be one of the most important moments in American musical history. While mentioned in many other parts of the book, Massimo dedicates an entire chapter (“A Limited Amount of Time”) to the 15 minutes that changed everything. It is the best chapter in the book, as Massimo tells the story using “taped evidence, the recollections of participants and audience members, both in the moment and decades later.” These few sentence snippets, sprinkled with lyrics from the three electric songs Dylan played that night, told the story with many contradictions, depending on who was telling the story. Exactly what happened that night is never truly identified, which makes the legend even greater.
I Got a Song is a great read about an historically and culturally important event that has helped shape music and (to a much lesser extent) the country. The research is thorough and it’s written like an in- depth newspaper article. More importantly, it had me listening to the artists who have played the festival throughout the years. This book will be particularly interesting to anyone attending the Newport Folk Festival because it will give the experience a much deeper meaning.
Book Review: David Aiello’s Twilight’s Last Gleaming
This book plays out like a summer movie. Set in the near future, Twilight’s Last Gleaming is a political action thriller that brings to light the inner workings of the government (those that are really pulling the strings from behind the curtain that is behind another curtain) and the chess game that is played to keep everything moving in their best interest. There is also the flipside, with a group of highly trained rogue officers trying to tear a small piece of it down to save the name of one of their own.
Billy Ray Blu is a former wartime marine and current award-winning vineyard owner in Southern California. He lives in a small, close-knit town where everybody knows each other, and his brother (Junior) just got engaged to his old flame. Things were status quo until Senator Bryant, a star on Capital Hill with a vice-presidency in his future, visits the town to assure the residents that he won’t be taking their land to build a hydroelectric dam that will net him millions of dollars. A chess move by a string puller nicknamed The Prince of Darkness leads to a near riot in which Blu ends up getting arrested for assaulting members of the Internal Security Surveillance (ISS), a government-run clan meant to keep order, at least on the surface. This landed him a 38-month prison sentence and enough injustice propaganda for his former marine comrades to try and break him out.
With Blu in prison, life went on in Silver Verde Valley. The town grew as the dam was built, the ISS moved in to help “maintain order” and Blu’s friends did their best to try and clear his name, but to no avail (thanks to the powers that be feeling their agenda would be better accomplished with him in prison). Obviously, this all unravels as the story climaxes. I could pretty much sense what was coming from the first few chapters, but I still enjoyed the read.
Author David Aiello wrote what I consider a good popcorn book. It’s a fun and wild ride, full of action and a little bit of drama. There’s not a whole lot of untapped substance and it played out predictably, but I still couldn’t turn away and was eager to see what happened.
I think Aiello wanted the reader to know that there is a sinister aspect to this country, though that is old news. He may have been trying to paint a bleak picture of what America could be (the back of the book says that this takes place in the “near future”), but things have seemed bleak for years. He may have been trying to show how bad the inner circle of politics are, but “House of Cards” (to name one of many) has already hammered that home.
The thing that bothered me most about this story was Blu. Even though he was a sympathetic and likable character, he was ultimately a criminal. While a set of circumstances may have been set up in hopes that he would react the way he did, he still committed a crime. His revenge plan was absolutely horrific as it played out, and I was never sure why he was trying to accomplish his endgame.
While I have some complaints about “Twilight’s Last Gleaming,” I still enjoyed the book as a whole. The characters, even the unlikable ones, were all relatable. I liked the fact that there were some characters I hated. I also had trouble putting the book down, as I needed to know what was going to happen next. A story that keeps you reading is the epitome of successful writing.