Today we welcome author Ed Londergan and his new work: "The Devil's Elbow" a thrilling historical story.
THE DEVIL'S ELBOW
Quick Facts
Release Date: July, 2012.
Genre: Historical Fiction, history, action/adventure, romance.
Formats Available: Paperback, Kindle
Book Synopsis
Set in colonial Massachusetts, The Devil’s Elbow follows Jack Parker from his orphan childhood days as an apprentice to a greedy and brutal Boston merchant to the isolated pioneer settlement of Brookfield, where he ends up in the fight of his life to protect the people and place he loves.
The knowledge Jack’s father gave him, that the measure of a man is how he deals with the worst life can throw at him, the support of the powerful man who becomes his friend, and deep, unshakeable love for the childhood girlfriend who becomes his wife, fuel Jack’s determination and will to survive. All Jack has learned on his eight year journey meets its greatest test when he and ninety-eight others are trapped in a four-room tavern for three hot, humid August days, fighting for survival against 400 once-friendly Indians, who are determined to wipe them out and reclaim their land and way of life.
PRAISE FOR "The Devil's Elbow"
Brings the 1600's Bay Colony alive.
A rousing story about tragedy, triumph, perseverance, and love. Rich in historical detail with well developed characters you will come to know. An enjoyable read from start to finish.
A rousing story about tragedy, triumph, perseverance, and love. Rich in historical detail with well developed characters you will come to know. An enjoyable read from start to finish.
- Jeff Lubs- August 9, 2012
A very good story:
This book is a wonderful read. Mr. Londergan brings history to life. His depiction of life in colonial Massachusetts is right on. It reminded me of Kenneth Roberts classic story "Arundel" but much easier to read. One of the best historical novels of this era. I hope there are many more coming.
Lawrence J. Murphy - February 25, 2013
Lawrence J. Murphy - February 25, 2013
Excerpts
Excerpt 1
July 7, 1695
In the following pages, I will tell you a story. I am older now and some of the things I’ll relate happened more than 30 years ago although to me, it seems as if they happened only yesterday.
While I do not consider myself an accomplished teller of stories, I will do what I can with the abilities I have, so that you will know all that happened and why. And while I do not have what many call a formal education, as mine stopped at the time this story begins, my curiosity and attention to detail has always served me well.
Certain memories from this time make me smile, and though it was a difficult existence, there were many simple things and many people that brought me great pleasure. We tend to forget details as the year’s progress, and our memories of the good tend to outweigh the bad and I, like all other men, am subject to the same influence.
Excerpt 2
On many a night, I’ve stood outside watching the stars twinkling and shining in the dark sky. I saw them that night through the window in the west-facing second floor room and the feeling it gave me was altogether different from past times. Instead of a pleasant sight that made me marvel, for I was always fascinated by nature’s displays, I felt a pervading sense of loneliness and despair. There we were, 99 of us, crammed into a hot, stinking house surrounded by hundreds of Indians who wanted to kill us and see us dead. Instead of being just 25 miles from Springfield to the west and Marlboro to the east, we might as well have been hundreds of miles from any civilized place.
- For people who haven’t heard of The Devil's Elbow, make a brief
description.
The Devil’s Elbow, a historical fiction novel set in colonial Massachusetts ,
follows Jack Parker from his orphan childhood days as an apprentice to a greedy and brutal Boston merchant to the isolated pioneer settlement of Brookfield
The knowledge Jack’s father gave him, that the measure of
a man is how he deals with the
worst life can throw at him, the support of the powerful man who becomes his friend and deep,
unshakeable love for the childhood friend who becomes
his wife, fuel Jack’s determination and will to survive. All Jack has learned on his eight year journey
meets its greatest test when he and ninety-eight others are trapped in a four-room tavern for three hot,
humid August days, fighting for
survival against 400 once-friendly Indians, who are determined to wipe them out and reclaim their land
and way of life.
- When did you decided to become a writer?
I never made a conscious decision.
It was just something I did. I sat down, started
writing, and haven’t stopped yet. I do know now what I want to do when I grow up – I want to write for a
living.
- Do you have specific habits when you write?
To overcome writer’s block, I write
anything even total nonsense right in the body
of whatever I am working on. It can be anything from an opinion on something I read, to a letter to someone I do
not know, to cranking about someone
or thing that ticked me off. It doesn’t matter what it is; it is the act of writing
that pulls me through. Usually, after a few minutes, I will find myself back into the story and I am off and running.
- Are you an early bird or night owl?
Night owl. I like to write when the
house is quiet and stay up late writing for two hours or more every night.
- Where do you get your inspiration?
I find inspiration in little
everyday things. A woman tenderly touching her husband’s
arm, a look of determination on a man’s face, the smell of wood smoke on a frosty autumn night, a phrase in a
book, a scene from nature, all act as
triggers to my imagination.
- Would you like your book turned into a movie? Do you have any
actors in mind?
I would love to have my book turned into a
movie. Many people who’ve read it, people I do not know, tell me that it would
make a great movie. I would like Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Matt Damon, and Tommy
Lee Jones to be in it.
- What are you reading right now?
‘Salem ’s
Lot by Stephen King. I have read it several
times over the years and re- read it now
and then to study the character development. King is a master of that to the point where you can think of someone you
know who is like the character
he is describing.
- Name your favorite books.
The Grapes of Wrath, Arundel, Rabble
in Arms, The Alchemist, The Stand, Mark
Tidd’s Citadel.
- Name your favorite authors.
John Steinbeck, Kenneth Roberts,
Stephen King, Paulo Coelho, David Baldacci, Clarence
Budington Kelland
- Best reward as a writer?
Having someone I do not know
recognize me and tell me how much they enjoyed
my book and ask when the next one will be coming out.
- How do you react to a bad review?
I crank and complain for a bit, then
go back and re-read it to see if there is any truth
to it, then absorb it and move on.
The Author
Ed Londergan is an author and passionate storyteller who enjoys sharing his work with everyone.
He loves to write, is working on a sequel to The Devil's Elbow, and is an avid reader and an amateur colonial historian. A graduate of Holy Cross, he lives in Central Massachusetts with his wife Barbara and cat Duncan.
Find more about him at: www.edlondergan.com
Follow the tour:
Tour Schedule
April 11: Black Lion Tours Blog: Tour Kick- Off.
April 12: Laurie's non Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews: Interview.
April 13: Ky bunny's Blog: Guest Post.
April 15: Kimberly Lewis Novels: Guest Post.
April 17: Jody's Book Reviews, Giveaways & Tours: Guest Post
April 18: My Devotional Thoughts: Guest Post.
April 19: A Writer's Life: Guest Post.
April 20: Pure Jonel: Review.
April 21: Bookworm Babblings: Review.
A Novel Idea Live: Live Interview.
April 22: Makayla's Book Reviews: Guest Post
A Novel Idea Live: Promo.
April 23: I know that Book: Interview.
April 24: The Self Taught Cook: Review.
April 25: Black Lion Tours Blog: Wrap- Up.
Good luck on your tour. Sounds like a very interesting book. Love historical fiction.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy your tour. I'm a night owl too. I love historical fiction and The Devil's Elbow sounds like a book I would enjoy.
ReplyDeleteWonderful interview :)
ReplyDelete