Sculptor Boy: The Journal
of Jack McRose by Chris Craig
Jack
McRose is great at being average.
Needing
to ace his finals in order to graduate from the University of Illinois, he
plans to bust loose from college and, well, live with his mom while working at
his family’s business - a collection agency, managed by his father. His
girlfriend is off to Africa for two years. His friends have moved away or are
getting married (or both).
Jack’s
plans are set, until he takes a road-trip to Colorado to attend the wedding of
an old friend. There, he meets Hamish, a clever, charismatic, womanizing New
Zealander. Through their friendship, Hamish introduces Jack to a different
philosophy and a broader perspective. Hamish helps Jack realize that plans and
expectations are great, as long as they’re your own.
Cold Coffee Review: Unlike some young men,
Jack McRose has a plan for his life. With graduation from the University of
Illinois in his sights, his family look forward to him coming home to work in
the family business.
It
is 1989, in all its glory. However, Jack’s lifelong friends are getting married
and moving away. His girlfriend Kate joined the Peace Corps and has moved to
Nairobi (capital city of Kenya) for her two-year commitment.
Jack
decided to get out of his comfort zone and take a road trip from Chicago to
Colorado to attend a friend’s wedding. While in Colorado, Jack meets a young
man from New Zealand, who challenges neatly packaged view of reality, the
world, and his expected place of duty within the family business.
In
this well thought out story, the author, Chris Craig, nudges Jack and his
readers to explore an alternative life direction. After all, nothing has been
set in stone. His new friend Hamish, brings Jack from a ridged, narrow mindset,
into broader perspective, that opens Jack’s mind to the possibilities in life.
I
like stories like this, because it reminds the reader that the world is full of
new experiences and an array of possibilities that can make the journey of life
far more interesting than first imagined. If you like strong characters who are
willing to break from the norm, you will enjoy this fast-paced, narrative where
the taboos in life become the experimental ground. I purchased this book in
Kindle and posted this review on October 29, 2018. I purchased this book from
Amazon Print. The review posted on 11/08/2018.
Genre: Literature, Fiction, Coming of Age
Product Details:
Paperback:
204 Pages
Publisher:
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; First edition (April 13, 2018)
Language:
English
ISBN-10:
1986283348
ISBN-13:
978-1986283342
Product
Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
Amazon Customer Review:
Amazon Print:
https://www.amazon.com/Sculptor-Boy-Journal-Jack-McRose/dp/1986283348/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1538853133&sr=1-4
https://www.amazon.com/Sculptor-Boy-Journal-Jack-McRose/dp/1986283348/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1538853133&sr=1-4
Barnes and Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sculptor-boy-chris-craig/1128506405?ean=9781986283342
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sculptor-boy-chris-craig/1128506405?ean=9781986283342
Cold Coffee Press
Spotlight Interview With Chris Craig
Author Chris Craig lives
in central Indiana with his family.
Sculptor Boy is his first book.
Interview:
What World Region are you
in? I
live in central Indiana, but my family moved frequently while I grew up. I was oftentimes a new kid in school in
different areas of the U.S. Being
exposed to different regions and people instilled a desire to travel. Different people like different styles of
living, but I like staying mobile and being willing to follow
opportunities. It is a lifestyle that I
recommend to my daughters.
What inspired you to
become a writer?
Writing and reading are great ways to take my mind off work and
responsibilities. Writing is an
escape. It’s instant decompression.
Who inspired you to
become a writer? I have an older brother that majored in
English and was a great creative writer.
I always wanted to be like him.
When we were both in college, he sent me a funny poem he wrote about a
trip we were about to take together over Christmas break. I received it just before finals week. I loved it, so I decided to write one back to
him. I became consumed, writing a stupid
poem when I should have been studying.
It was the first time I’d written anything creatively. In Sculptor Boy, Jack and his older brother
are adversaries. I’ve always admired my
older brother. We’ve always been best
friends.
When did you begin
writing with the intention of becoming published? When I’ve written, it has been just for
fun. When one of my daughters found out
I’ve written some fiction, she asked to read some. I said okay, but that I’d need to clean
something up, first. I decided to really
try to impress her. That led to a
makeover of Sculptor Boy. The “clean up”
took 2-years!
What has been your most
rewarding experience with your writing and publishing journey? I wrote the book 4-months ago and haven’t
talked about it much. My brother and dad
don’t even know about it. Nonetheless, a
subtle compliment from someone that has read it is rewarding.
How many published books
do you have? Sculptor Boy is the first.
Please introduce your
genre and why you prefer to write in that genre? I enjoy literary fiction. I like the art of writing, and appreciate the
work of authors like Donna Tartt. Her book The Goldfinch is a favorite. I like the classics. Reading Hemmingway, Steinbeck, and all the
books that you had to read in school… I
love those books.
Please list the title of
your book you want featured and promoted?
Sculptor Boy, The Journal of Jack McRose
What do you like to do
when you are not writing? Spending time with my family, reading, and watching
sports. I exercise quite a bit, not
because I love it, but because I love the benefits. Oh yeah, I enjoy having a cocktail!
What one positive piece
of advice would you give to other authors? I’m the person who should be receiving
advice rather than giving it. My only
advice is to be concise.
Who is your favorite
author and why?
Donna Tartt. She is a literary
genius. Her words flow perfectly, and
her characters are interesting and complex.
I believe she’s written three books in thirty years. She must be meticulous, which serves her well
with her writing.
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