The Keeper's Son
by Homer Hickam
List Price: $24.95
Pages: 352
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 0312301898
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Homer Hickam was born and raised in Coalwood, West Virginia. He is the author of six previous books, most notably the #1 New York Times bestseller Rocket Boys, which was made into the acclaimed movie October Sky. He is a Vietnam veteran, a scuba instructor, a retired rocket scientist, and an amateur paleontologist. More than anything else, he loves to write. He and his wife, Linda, and their three cats divide their time between homes in the Virgin Islands and Huntsville, Alabama. For more information, please see www.homerhickam.com.
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New York Times bestselling author Homer Hickam has departed from his successful memoirs to embark on a series of novels featuring Coast Guard Lt. Josh Thurlow, beginning with The Keeper's Son. In this interview Hickam talks about his inspiration for this latest work, the importance of humor in his books, and his next novel, which will continue the adventures of Thurlow and his diverse crew.
Q: Why have you turned from writing your very successful series of memoirs to fiction?
HH: Actually, it's not as big a change as one might think. I wrote the trilogy of Coalwood memoirs (October Sky, The Coalwood Way, and Sky of Stone) in the form of novels. In fact, I coined the term "novoirs," short for novel-memoirs, to describe them. Every character and event, though real, were part of an unfolding drama that I crafted to keep the reader turning the page. Writing fiction requires the same pacing and care. In any case, I always meant for my memoirs to be a trilogy of life in little Coalwood, the town of my youth. That's been done and now I eagerly look forward to writing fiction for the rest of my career.
Q: How did you get the idea to write The Keeper's Son, a story of life on a little Outer Banks island in 1942? I suppose many readers will wonder why you don't write about rockets or space.
HH: Unfortunately, I sometimes labor under the misperception that space and rockets are my principle areas of interest. This is most probably the result of the movie October Sky, which was based on my first memoir. I did use building rockets as a metaphor in October Sky (aka Rocket Boys) to tell the story of growing up in Coalwood but my true passion in life has always been writing. My third grade teacher, Mrs. Laird, told me some day I'd make my living as a writer so very early on, people noticed I had some talent in that direction. The story in The Keeper's Son is one that has been in my head for a very long time.
My first book was Torpedo Junction, a history of the U-boat battles along the east coast during World War II. It came out in 1989 and, I am pleased to note, is still in print. To research it, I spent months on the islands of the Outer Banks of North Carolina, including scuba diving on many of the wrecks put down during the battle. Along the way, I got to know the wonderful folks of the Banks and knew some day I'd write a novel that would capture their unique way of life.
Q: Would you characterize The Keeper's Son as a war novel?
HH: Not at all, although there are certainly some stirring battle scenes within. I call it a story of love in a time of war. Many fans have written telling me how much they enjoy the rather peculiar romance between Josh Thurlow, the novel's principle character, and Dosie Crossan, a spirited horsewoman who comes to Killakeet looking, as she says, "for herself." What she isn't looking for is a man who stirs her blood. Enter Josh Thurlow, a widower, and therein hangs part of the tale.
Q: I notice a surprising amount of humor in The Keeper's Son. Is that true for all your books?
HH: It certainly is. If I don't wring a chuckle or two from my readers every other chapter or so, I don't figure I've done my job. I give a lot of speeches to various groups around the country and I think I pleasantly surprise them by being a humorous story-teller. I got that from growing up in Coalwood where story-telling was an art form.
For instance, I love to tell the story of Albert, Mom's pet alligator. It was given to her as a wedding present by an ex-boy friend, one Buddy Ebsen later of Beverly Hillbillies fame. After it chased my Dad around the yard once too often, he insisted that it was either him or Albert. After Mom gave that a day or two of thought, she agreed to release Albert but only in Florida. After several days of hard driving from West Virginia, I think they let it loose on a golf course near Orlando. Years later, Dad would be reading the paper and spy an article about a Florida alligator chomping on a golfer or eating a poodle. He'd yell out, "News of Albert, Elsie!" and my mom would just smile.
Q: What's next after The Keeper's Son?
HH: This is the first of a series of "Josh Thurlow" novels. The next one moves to the South Pacific, specifically the Solomon Islands. I'm already about a third of the way through it and am enjoying writing the story, which is a dramatic chase through those islands of head-hunters and cannibals. There is a special surprise in this novel in that a couple of the characters will be actual historical figures shown as in a manner never before portrayed but very much based on fact. And, of course, there will be romantic situations, battle scenes, and humor. Also a megapode named Dave.
Q: What in the world is a megapode?
HH: You'll just have to keep reading the series to find out!
© Copyright 2003, Homer Hickam. All rights reserved.
Excerpted from The Keeper's Son © Copyright 2012 by Homer Hickam. Reprinted with permission by Thomas Dunne Books. All rights reserved.
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