Bonus Book September: ‘Blue Graffiti’ by Calahan Skogman
BOOK DESCRIPTION
A love letter to Johnston, WI, a small town in middle-of-nowhere Midwestern America.
Living in the home he inherited from his mother and abandoned by his father, painter and construction worker, Cash, has never known anything beyond the fields of Johnston, WI—never particularly wanted to, either. Why would he when his friends are there, his work is there, his history is there. He loves Johnston. But when an emerald-eyed stranger named Rose blows into town one summer evening in his favorite local bar, everything changes. It's love at first sight. For Cash, anyway.
What follows is an intimate reflection on the love, faith, and tragedy that courses through the blood of America’s backbone. Cash and his closest friends find themselves vital threads in the fabric of their community, the memory of those forgotten, and partners in a new enterprise: adventure.
A bluesey ode to the Beat generation for the modern era, Blue Graffiti is Wisconsin-raised writer Calahan Skogman's poetic debut imbued with an essential freedom, romance, and longing for a bygone era.
MAUDE’S BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS: ‘Blue graffiti’:
How did the idea for Blue Graffiti come to life?
The book opens up being smacked in the feels. Do you believe in love at first sight? How vulnerable was it for you to write romance?
Music (and beer?) play an important role in this book.
The process of introducing a new character and being met with a nostalgic trip through their shared past
They say you’re supposed to write about what you know, this has an autobiographical feel to it so how much of a crossover is there from Cash to Cal?
Cal has a very tumultuous relationship with his father, and the first thanks you give at the end of your book is for your supportive parents. How was it writing about that dysfunction?
In your book, which character came to you the easiest and why
This is a love letter to the mid-west, how much of the relationship with your hometown has changed since writing this book
Audiobook version - narrating it yourself! How was it - makes it feel more autobiographical
What books have you read that changed your life (for better or worse!) and why was it Harry Potter…?
Let’s talk Shadow & Bone - we covered the whole series for Nerdist Book Club, then Maude’s Book Club did Six of Crows - how was that whole experience as a fan of the fantasy genre
You know first hand what it’s like having to bring a character to life, did that help you when writing a book?
S&B didn’t get renewed, and if you’ve read the books, you know that Mattias’ fate is pretty heart-breaking. We’re you devastated to not see the entirety of the character through?
Whose style of writing helped shape your voice
At what point in your life/journey did you finally consider yourself a ‘writer’
What were the hurdles and surprises you found when publishing your first book?
Is this the beginning of many? Any ideas for the next?
Best advice you’ve received
Paint us a picture of how you write - what music is playing (if any), what is the drink of choice, what are your ideal surroundings for best results
