Turns out readers are interested in what happens next to Sam Cohen. The book intentionally ends on an ambiguous note. Some readers have asked what or who influenced me to create such passive and yet assertive protagonist. Someone who happens to be at the right place, right time with the wrong people.
I have always enjoyed Jerzy Kosinkis’ book Being There. If you have never read the book or seen the movie, I would recommend you do. It is a great commentary on modern society. The main character, Chauncie Gardiner, a very simple minded, well meaning middle aged man is thrust into the position of greatness simple because he inherited a ton of money from a Wall Street tycoon. Anything he says is considered profound simply because people associate his wealth with wisdom, only in America.
Sam is not Chance ( Chauncie) but he learns that people with wealth and position are considered brilliant regardless of their actual deeds or IQ. Sam, like Chance, is passive to the events that are occurring primarily because, like Voltaire’s character Pangloss in Candide is an optimist, above all, as the world around him falls apart. I suppose Sam is more like Candide.
Where does Sam go from there? I have an idea and when I find the time and move on from my first novel Leaving Cleveland, I will start to write down that story. In the meantime, dear reader, let me know what you think and if you purchased and read Leaving Cleveland, write a review, rate the book and/or send a photo of the book to me of it’s geographical location. Let the adventure continue.
Finally, you can purchase the book NOW at Bookbaby or preorder it on Amazon on April 12th…
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Leaving Cleveland 