Author Christian Fennell joins me today to talk about his literary fiction, LOVE, GUNS & GOD in America.
If you’re local to Montreal, you can meet the author in person this Wednesday, June 22. Details below.
Bio:
Christian Fennell is the author of the critically acclaimed collection of short stories, Torrents of Our Time, the novel, The Fiddler in the Night, and the forthcoming novel, LOVE, GUNS & GOD in America, Firenze Books Publishing, June 22/22. His essays and short stories have appeared in a number of international magazines, literary journals, and collected works. Christian was a columnist and the fiction editor at The Prague Revue. He resides in Montreal.
Please tell us about your current release.
Against the background of the religious right attempting to form the United Christian States of America, two young children flee a white nationalist upbringing. They meet a large, mythical man in the woods, who helps them on their journey to California. When captured, events take a horrific, racial turn.
What inspired you to write this book?
LOVE, GUNS & GOD in America is a portrayal of the violence, race issues, and ideological confrontations facing America today. In many ways, it is a dystopian view of America, one that is based on the possible conclusion of current events.The book completes my trilogy, The Real and the Imagined.
I started the trilogy because I wanted to examine the lives of people when viewed through a lens of what is real, and what is perceived as being real. This fascinates me—the blending of these two things. In a sense, it is how we all live our lives. And certainly, I think, it is at the root of many of the problems facing America, and much of the world, today.
Excerpt from LOVE, GUNS & GOD in America:
Independence Day. The United Christian States of America.
April 17th. A day of all days. A clear, beautiful day, with nothing but blue skies, as if He Himself had arranged it to be so.
A celebration of a sovereignty-association. A nation of God within a nation. This reconstructing of greatness; of destiny; of reaching far beyond anything ever seen before on these shores.
An execution of purity, in their beliefs, exhibited for all to see. Their pride in knowing they were right, and always would be, in these ways of God.
The unveiling of four giant crosses, one at each compass point, defining the geographical boundaries of God’s nation in America. This great, born-again nation.
The United Christian States of America.
At the podium, Sterling Spalding said, destiny. Here, now, and always. By His hand to ours, and he looked down at Hunter, in a suit, standing next to him, and he took his hand in his. By His will, to ours. And he said, humble before God.
And more than a quarter million people in attendance, said, praise Jesus.
What exciting story are you working on next?
More short stories, as I push forward on a couple of novel ideas.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I became a reader by the age of twelve, and from there, I was hooked on the form, and art, of storytelling. I guess, however, when I was first paid—for a screenplay, that’s when I considered myself a writer.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
Yes, I write full-time. I like to write first thing in the morning—early, from there, say by noon, I move to editing work, primarily, development editing.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I like to write, in the warm months, outside. Right now, mostly, Westmount Park.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A writer.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Yes. Thank-you. And I hope you continue to read.
Also, Nathalie (you can read Nathalie’s interview with Lisa here) and I are launching our books this Wednesday, for anyone local to Montreal. Here are the details:
Inhaled by Nathalie Guilbeault and LOVE, GUNS & GOD in America by Christian Fennell
Readings and lively Q&A: Wednesday, June 22, 7-9pm
Pub Burgundy Lion— 2496 Notre Dame O., free admission, refreshments, cash bar