Publisher: Baby Bingus Books (Nov 27, 2018)
Category: Literary fiction, humor, family life
Tour dates: Apr/May, 2019
ISBN: 978-1986937863
Available in Print and ebook, 258 pages
Description American Corporate by Jeb Stewart Harrison
A playful, big-hearted tragicomedy in the Russo/Irving mold, American Corporate chronicles the misadventures of middle-aged Jack Sullivan and his family as they bounce across the country in search of gainful employment, domestic tranquility, and a few people they can trust.
It is a story that working parents past, present and future will see as part of their own: the triumphs, the tragedies, the innocent mistakes and the not-so-innocent mistakes, and above all the forgiveness that keeps families together to face another challenge.
Praise Healing of Howard Brown by Jeb Stewart Harrison
“If you enjoy beautiful prose, complex themes of family and race, and a refreshingly original narrator, this book is for you. Harrison is among the select few contemporary fiction writers who still write for serious readers.” – Jim Heynen, author, best known for The One Room Schoolhouse , The Boys’ House, You Know What is Right , The Man Who Kept Cigars in His Cap and many more.
“This book starts off with a bang and keeps on going. Howard is a character with a specific voice and story. I’m sure you’ll be provoked and entertained.”- Jessica Barksdale Inclan, author of The Believe Trilogy, The Being Trilogy, and many more.
“In The Healing of Howard Brown, author Jeb Stewart Harrison weaves an intriguing contemporary literary. The author provides a wonderful mixture of drama, humor, and seriousness to the story that easily keeps the reader’s interest as Howard’s journey unfolds. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how much I really enjoyed the author’s rich and vividly descriptive style of writing, especially the wonderful descriptions of the California and Louisiana settings.
The Healing of Howard Brown is a thought-provoking contemporary literary tale that will draw you in, touch your soul, and leave a smile on your face.”- Kathleen Higgins-Anderson, Jersey Girl Book Reviews
“ I’m so happy that I read this book. It is beautifully written, wonderful imagery, and has such a heartwarming story as you follow along with Howard healing from the past. This is a wonderful story and one that I strongly recommend.”- jbronderbookreviews
“Jeb Stewart Harrison’s novel, THE HEALING of HOWARD BROWN brought to mind the novels of Roland Merullo, particularly, BREAKFAST WITH BUDDAH. Along the way, to his childhood home, and hopefully his sister, Howard finds more than expected and what he’s missing in the most unlikely places. The journey allows Howard to meditate on family relationships, issues such as love,life, death, fear and ultimately finding one’s personal peace. We the readers, if open, are able to learn from some of Howard, Mr. Booper and even the author, Jeb’s experiences.”- Cindy Roesel, Cindy Reads and Writes
Interview American Corporate by Jeb Stewart Harrison
TR: What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?
JSH: I think my favorite scenes are the ones I created entirely from my imagination (vs. a fictional extrapolation of events that actually occurred). And I like scenes where one of the characters has a life-changing epiphany that suggests the presence of divine forces in the universe. This happens to Jack Sullivan as he returns to his house over snow packed roads in the Connecticut woods from the hospital and hits a deer. Assuming that the doe is dying, Sullivan literally barks with grief (he sent his wife to the hospital after she fell from the rickety deck of his tree fort and is thought to be paralyzed) at the notion that he’s mortally injured two mothers: his wife, and the doe. But when the doe jumps up at the sound of his grievous wail, then runs into the woods with her babies, Sullivan has a palpable sense of divine intervention in his life, which, of course, changes everything.
TR: I always enjoy looking at the names that authors choose to give their characters. Where do you derive the names of your characters? Are they based on real people you knew or now know in real life? How do you create names for your characters?
JSH: Interesting question. It’s a bit chicken and egg. Sometimes I think of, or hear, a great name, and create a character that looks and acts like the name sounds. It was easy to name the characters in American Corporate because most of them are based on real people. In contrast, I chose the name of Howard Brown for the protagonist in The Healing of Howard Brown because of the alliteration of the “ow” sound, and because in my mind, a guy named Howard Brown would be a bit of a big, uncoordinated oaf. Same with Hack – Henry Griffin’s nickname reflects his own negative self-image while at the same time begging the question, “Is he really such a hack?”
TR: Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?
JSH: George Clooney (the comic version) would make an awesome Jack Sullivan.
TR: How long did it take you to write this book from concept to fruition?
JSH: 18 years
TR: Tell us about your cover. Did you design it yourself?
JSH: I came up with the concept. My daughter created the artwork.
TR: What writers have you drawn inspiration from?
JSH: John Irving, Richard Russo, Saul Bellow, Ernest Hemingway, Charles Dickens, Richard Ford, Jim Harrison, Denis Johnso
TR: You are sitting in a coffee shop. What does your writer mind see?
JSH: After taking in the environment – the smells, the sounds, the people – I am apt to imagine a “what-if” scenario playing out i.e. what if a herd of bighorn sheep came in, bleating and farting? What if the herder was one of Satan’s minions? What does the little girl in the polka dotted yoga pants do when a bighorn sheep eats her donut? Is the barista packing?
TR: What are you currently working on?
JSH: I have several novels in various stages of discombobulation. Chasing Byron, a magical realism novel about racism, justice, mental illness and golf, set in Louisiana at the end of WWII, is closest to completion.
About Jeb Stewart Harrison
Award winning author, Jeb Stewart Harrison is a freelance writer, songwriter, musician and painter in San Rafael, California. After many years as an ad agency copywriter, writer/producer, creative director, and director of marketing communications, Jeb now writes fiction and creative non-fiction, along with commercial works for hire. Jeb’s debut novel, Hack, was published by Harper Davis Publishers in August 2012. In 2015 he received his MFA from Pacific Lutheran University at the tender age of 60. His second novel, The Healing of Howard Brown, won the 2017 Independent Press Award for literary fiction. His third novel, American Corporate, was published in November, 2018.
He also records and plays electric bass guitar with the popular instrumental combo The Treble Makers, as well as Bay Area favorites Call Me Bwana. Jeb was born and raised in Kentfield, California, and has lived in Boulder, CO; Missoula, MT; Hollywood, CA; Scottsdale, AZ; Indianapolis, IN; Ridgefield, CT and Stinson Beach, CA.
Website: https://www.jsh-creative.com/writing/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jebstewartharrison
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BabyBingus
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JebdeLimboman
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jebhop/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jshcreativeinc/
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Giveaway American Corporate by Jeb Stewart Harrison
This giveaway is for the choice 3 print copies or ebook copies of the book , 1 copy per each of 3 winners. Print is available to Canada and the U.S. only but ebook is available worldwide. This giveaway ends on May 31, 2019 at midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.
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