Even though I conceived House of the Rising Sun long before, I didn’t start writing in earnest until 2016. The bulk of the first draft was written on early weekend mornings, or late at night, against a backdrop of constant media coverage of the U.S. Presidential election. It may seem impossible now, but for most of the year the idea of Donald Trump becoming president was considered absurd. His MAGA rallies seemed more like amusing sideshows than a serious bid to be chosen for the most powerful political office in the world. Because of this, the media covered Trump’s campaign much like the might cover a freeway pileup where all the cars were driven by clowns: It’s a serious story and people are getting hurt, but why would you ever turn the camera away?
I wrote many scenes in House of the Rising Sun with the idea that Donald Trump was President, even though I didn’t believe it would happen. A lot of those scenes have played out in some form or another since I wrote them. And sometimes you have to wonder which reality is the real one.
If you’ve made it to this page, there’s a good chance you’ve now finished House of the Rising Sun or at least read the last page. I’m curious what you thought about the novel and invite you to post any feedback in the comments below.
-RC, 7.27.2020
Richard,
I’m currently on page 152 of HOTRS. Your author’s note at the beginning and the end…Wow! And look where we are today 11/6/2020!
I taught Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank for a number of years to 9th graders and I can’t help but think of that situation as I’m reading. It’s just a difference of about 70 years.
I’m spending the day with my nose in your book instead of the news. If we have a president, I don’t know who it is. After last night’s incendiary speech by the current president, I’m taking the day off from the news.
Now, back to see how this story might end.
Sincerely,
Dee Richardson
Hi Dee,
Thanks for reading. I hope you’re enjoying it. Alas, Babylon is the first post-apocalyptic novel I ever read (in high school!) and I still think about it even today. If you’re still reading you may have run across a reference to it, in fact.
Sorry I didn’t see this comment before, but at least we know who the next president will be!
Let me know if you have any thoughts about book. I’d love to hear feedback, good or bad.
Take care,
-RC
First – I loved the book – everything about it – the wonderful pace, characters, setting…
I’m reading a book a week this pandemic year and yours has been the best so far.
I really had to think an entire evening afterwards and then the last page really sank in – finding the typewriter brought the story full circle after all.
But as I always leave the Author’s Note, Intro, etc. until after reading the book I decided I had to comment since I picked this book from our booksellers catalog (Ziesings) based totally on the title as House of the Rising Sun was my first fave song and still one I love.
We’re ready to order Lawn Boy – another title with relevance to us & and of course Thomas World.
Suzanne,
Thank you so much for your kind note. I’m sorry I didn’t see it sooner (comments are few and far between). But anyway I’m glad you loved the book so much. Sounds like you got out of it just what I put into it, which is what every author dreams will happen. That’s cool about the song. We totally agree there!
Let me know if you liked Lawn Boy…and also Jonathan Evison has a new one coming out soon called Small World. Check it out!
Take care,
-RC
So YOU’RE the guy who brought this all about, with your smiling Magic City face!
Ha, you crazy writers think you can just make up a story and not have it be real?
I won’t trouble you further with my careless sarcasm. Words do have strengths and real impacts, and carelessness IS recklessness. As a radical liberal who believes humanity is ready to find the starting places for the ends of violent thinking, I would find your story very sad if dystopia had not become a genre.
Just finished HOTRS, and maybe glad to hear you had to borrow the rant, even though I think our largest problem really is the extent to which the elite are ready to commandeer resources as you have depicted.
Thanks for welcoming the commentary. Look for my book (Tulcidious) at Amazon.
Mr. Meng,
Thank you for reading HOTRS and for taking the time to share your thoughts about it. I hope we are looking for ways to stop thinking in violent terms because we definitely have it in us. Sometimes my hope falters but humanity has made it this far even as certain forces are always trying to impede progress.
Take care,
-RC