Virtual Book Tour: American Odyssey by Michael De Stefano

 

AMERICAN ODYSSEY

Michael De Stefano 

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GENRE:  Coming-of-Age

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BLURB: 

Set in Philadelphia in the mid-1970s, American Odyssey chronicles the coming-of-age journey of Addison Caldwell, Cillian James, and Joey Brosco. In their quest for independence, our trio encounters the recently widowed Leila Bennett, a former prostitute turned farm owner. For Leila, a sultry summer blossoms into an odyssey of hope and healing; for the boys, work and awakening. Leila—a girl discarded and rescued—teaches the threesome that virtue does not lie in the struggle for independence or what one must sacrifice for its behalf but in love that reinforces enduring friendship.

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EXCERPT:

From Cyndy Pytlewski to Claire Caldwell, I went. Claire was waiting for me at the front door, or so it seemed, assuming her demeanor was any indication. Her mission was clear: to annoy me in a way only a mother can. She handed me a piece of paper known as “the dreaded checklist” and then proceeded to go over it one strenuous item at a time, and the list was longer than my goddamn arm! Next, Claire escorted me to my bedroom, where, waiting for me atop my bed was an open suitcase surrounded by an apothecary smorgasbord: eyedrops, nasal spray, mouthwash, nail clippers, sunscreen, ointment in case I forgot to use the sunscreen, aspirin, Band-Aids, talcum powder, and a dozen other items including what first captured my attention: a flat, rectangle-shaped yellow box containing anal suppositories. Able to follow my gaze, Claire defended this idiotic purchase by citing, “The water is sure to be different on a Western Pennsylvania farm, well water, most likely, and if you’re not used to well water, it’s liable to irritate your bowels and cause you to have some difficulty … down there.” Claire shilly-shallied with a schoolgirl’s embarrassment when pointing at my posterior; it was all very un-Claire-like. Then she unnecessarily added, as though somehow it could have slipped my mind: “Remember, you’re a city boy.” 

I held my ground while wearing my game face; my expression was akin to Carlton glaring in at a nervous rookie. I rarely display such discipline. But had I let loose even a single utterance, the matter of the flat rectangle-shaped yellow box might have qualified as a conversation, and whatever misadventures that could potentially befall my hindquarters three hundred miles west of Philadelphia was not a subject I was willing to broach. Then, upon listening patiently to Claire’s rationale in support of her first aid just-in-cases and what-ifs, I handed her the checklist and escorted her from my bedroom. As I expected, she got all huffy and moaned, “Fine! I was only trying to be a good mother. But if you don’t want me to be a good mother, then hell with it!”

For a second, I felt a pang of guilt for having pooh-poohed Claire’s due diligence concerning motherhood, then called to her in the hallway while reexamining the smorgasbord, “What’s the matter; was the drugstore all sold out of Trojans?” If ever there was a just-in-case or what-if item meant to travel with a teen on his first summer away from home, it was a box of Trojans. Moreover, it was challenging to imagine Claire Caldwell too embarrassed to have condoms rung up at the local apothecary, which meant that she had every reason to suspect that I would begin and end the summer of '77 a virgin.  

“It’s not too late, Addie,” she called to me from the hallway, somewhat apologetic for the oversight. “I can still run out and get some if you think you’ll need them.”

“Never mind,” I sourly replied. I did not want condoms as much as I wanted Claire to believe I needed them.

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Author Interview

Tell me about yourself. Where are you from?

MDS: I was born and raised in Philadelphia but currently live in New Jersey.

What genre do you read? Who's an author you read? Name your top 5 authors.

MDS: I prefer general and literary fiction. My Mount Rushmore + 1 is as follows: John Irving, John Updike, John Steinbeck, Somerset Maugham, and Fyodor Dostoevsky.

What book are you reading right now, and what do you like about it?

MDS: John Irving's "The Last Chair Lift." It's Mr. Irving's swansong. The way the novel blends irony and human disarray is magical.

Favorite sports.

MDS: BASEBALL!

Favorite thing about your state you live in.

MDS: New Jersey is primarily flat thus it makes for easy road biking.

How long have you been writing?

MDS: Seemingly forever, I've always expressed myself best using the written word. As a novelist? Since 2008.

What is your writing process like? Are you more of a plotter or a pantser?

MDS: I don't care for plot-driven novels. Typically, I observe, take in observations, and allow them to marinate with my sensibilities. Before I realize it, I'm walking around with a novel in my head.

How did you come up with the ideas for your series?

MDS: It's said that encrypted in a novelist's works is their autobiography. Ideas don’t come from thin air.

How do you celebrate finishing a book?

MDS: Writing “The End” is no celebration. “The End” means the fun has ended and real work begins: finding a publisher, editing, etc.

What would you tell a writer who is just starting out? What program do you use for writing? What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book? What's your writing software of choice?

MDS: Write from the heart and don’t worry about who it might offend. Think like an artist and never apologize!

How do you organize everything and finding the time to sit down and write?

MDS: Understanding the concept: There’s no time like the present.

As an author, what would you choose as your spirit animal?

MDS: A dog.

Who has been the biggest supporter of your writing?

MDS: My bride of thirty years, Kathy.

How do you name your characters?

MDS: Names tend to take on a persona. For example, Emma is sweet, and Claire is sexy.

Can you describe a typical day in your writing life?

MDS: I tend to work from a discipline: I wake at five, let the dog out, make coffee, and begin writing. My session ends at eight. Later that night, I’ll look over and edit what I wrote in the morning.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Michael DeStefano runs a hairstyling salon, where he has spent the past four decades beautifying the super people of Philadelphia. His past titles include the historical family saga The Gunslinger’s Companion, the comedy/tragedy Waiting for Grandfather, and The Bohemian. You can find these novels and other writings such as his love essays and perspective pieces at his blog site Michael’s Corner.

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