Reinheit
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Booktrope
Date of Publication: July 29,
2015
ISBN: 1513701673
ASIN: B013118P92
Number of pages: 184
Word Count: 62,200
Cover Artist: Travis Eck
Book Description:
Rebecca Moss never questioned the
purchase of the strange seductive armchair. She wanted to please Frank. But the
armchair has a dark purpose. Nazi officer Major Eric Schröder believed
fervently in Hitler's vision of purity. Now the chair has passed to Frank, an
abusive thug who has his own twisted understanding of patriotism. There are
those who want to destroy the armchair, to end its curse. But can the armchair
be stopped before it completes its work?
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/f6PWf_qW1Xg
Excerpt:
The Eastern Front, Lithuania. July 1941.
The armchair moaned delightfully as Major Erich Schröder
sat. Outside, the sun burst into the mountain ridge, filling the sky with
brilliant orange and red flames. Schröder watched out the open window from his
seat in front of a dormant fireplace. He poured a glass of Berentzen Doornkaat
schnapps from the decanter he had brought with him from home. Helen had packed
it for him, wrapped with last month’s funny pages. One of the strips discarded
in the waste bin revealed a valiant rosy cheeked Dutchman named Conrad,
demonstrating the power of solidarity in the factory workforce. The energetic
and turbulent rhythm of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony floated into the room
from some far off record player in the barracks. Love this performance. Schröder
closed his eyes and sunk farther into the armchair. The cool leather and
haunting harmony of Beethoven set his mind at ease, comforting his weary bones.
The comfort abated his thoughts, for the moment at least, of what lay ahead and
the unordinary expectations levied upon his young shoulders by high command.
Expectations? he
thought. God help us. Schröder lifted his glass and took a long gulp,
biting down against the burning sensation crawling in his throat. Expectations…
Horrible, horrible expectations… But it must be done. Himmler has given the
order, and so it must be. Ein Völk, ein Reich, ein Führer. For we are
one people, one nation, of one leader…
About
the Author:
Thomas was discharged honorably
in February 2008 and moved to Houston, Texas where he found employment and
attended night school. In 2014, Thomas graduated with a Bachelor in Arts in
History from University of Houston-Clear Lake. Thomas blogs at
www.machinemean.org, commenting and reviewing movies, books, shows, and
historical content. Thomas is living a rather simple and quite life with his
beautiful bride and amazing daughter, just south of Houston, Texas.
Interview
Where are you from?
Hmm…where should I start! My parents were in the
military, so as a kid, we moved around a little. We lived in RAF Chicksands,
England, and then to Maryland, and finally settled back in Roanoke, Virginia
where most of my family still lives today. I joined the Army at 19 and have
lived in Pusan, South Korea, and Fort Hood, Texas. I now reside in Houston,
Texas.
Tell us your latest news?
The latest news regards the upcoming release of my
new book series, Subdue. Two books
have been written thus far for the series. I’m currently working on the third
book now. The story for the first two focuses on a group of childhood friends
torn apart by war, who’ll be drawn back together to salvage what remains of
that old friendship. It’ll delve into issues such as PTSD, suicide, and living
with traumatic memory.
When and why did you begin writing?
I've been writing more or less since I was a kid. In
fact, I had submitted a poem of sorts to some magazine, of which I have long
forgotten the name of, anyways, my creative writing teacher was so excited
about the news she gave me a little award, of which I have also lost. The
memory is still there, though. I also painted and did drawings, however,
writing was always my preferred method of expression. I wrote poems throughout
my enlistment in the Army, writing a number of them during my first deployment
in Iraq in 2003. During my third deployment, my wife and I wrote dozens of
letters to each other, of which I'd like to publish someday, if she’ll let me.
After my enlistment was over, I began my college career. This reawakened that
old desire of storytelling, I think. I took several creative writing courses.
However, I focused almost exclusively on my history course work. When I
finished, I graduated with a BA in History and discovered that I had a huge
pocket of energy and time that I had no idea what to do with. This is when I
started writing for myself again, instead of just for school work. I had
previously been involved with a homeless ministry, collecting clothing and
first aid kits and journeying into downtown Houston to hand out. I took this
experience and combined it with my sudden renewed itch to write creatively. My first
short story, Hobo, was born from this event. Shortly following this, I wrote
"Are you hungry, dear?" and then "Reinheit." So, long story
short (too late?), there wasn't just one thing that drove me toward being a
writer. It was a series of experiences that propelled me toward it; shaped my
voice, defined it.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I think I’m just now coming to terms with it,
especially the Words of War aspect.
When I was on my own, I certainly did not consider myself a serious writer.
After being picked up by Booktrope and Limitless Publishing, I like I’m
becoming comfortable with the idea. I still have a day job and taking care of
my family takes priority, that goes without saying, but I’m getting used to
being a serious writer. I do not see myself ever stopping.
What inspired you to write your first book?
The news, for one. Plus, I have always loved
history. History was my focus in college, and it has transferred into my
writing. In Reinheit, my first book, I
wanted to focus those energies toward writing something about the banality of the
evils during the Holocaust, and how that ordinary
evil is not a singular event in history, contained within said era, but exists
in the here and now. I watched the news and became distressed with how people
were talking about these kids coming up from South America seeking aid, the
heartlessness I heard was distressing. The banality of evil, as Hannah Arendt
coined after covering the Adolf Eichmann trial, is a very human story about the
dangers of pseudospeciation and ethnocentrism which are and will probably
always be an issue within society. I was inspired to write Reinheit with the desire to talk about those problems today by
examining the past.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Every writer is molded by their favorite authors.
One of mine is Stephen King, and I’d like to think our styles are compatible. I
like to stuff my audience inside the minds of the characters, so I tend to
include internal monologue and desires, even something at random. I try to be
as descriptive as possible without condemning myself with an abundance of
adjectives. As anything, my style and voice is still evolving.
How did you come up with the title?
The title was originally The Armchair. Which may have been better then Reinheit; however, I wanted something more inclusive. While the
armchair is a significant vehicle for the story, it’s not really what the story
is about. Reinheit is Germanic for
purity. Purity, or the notion of purity and how people grasp for it, is really
what the story talks about.
Is there a message in your novel that you want
readers to grasp?
There are lots of messages, hidden in entertainment.
My biggest hope, though, is that while my audience is reading Reinheit, they question the news more,
they question what they see on social media. And above all, they form their own
opinions.
How much of the book is realistic?
Everything. One of my favorite directors is Wes
Craven because he writes and creates these stories that are strange and
horrifying but also very real. I like to keep within the bounds of realism.
Personally, I feel that true horror rests within the walls of reality. The
harshest reality in Reinheit are the
chapters about the Einsatzgruppen,
these ordinary men who followed the German army into the Eastern Front, herding
countless Jews from the ghettos and murdering them either on the streets or in
the forests. Though the names and characters are fiction, the Einsatzgruppen are terrifyingly real.
Are experiences based on someone you know, or events
in your own life?
Nothing from my own life, except as I said before,
pulled from my college years.
What books have most influenced your life most?
All Quiet on the Western Front is the most important
book ever written. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but still, it’s a damn
fine book everyone must read at least once. My copy is now quite worn with
marking and notes.
If you had to choose, which writer would you
consider a mentor?
Stephen King, hands down.
What book are you reading now?
Misery, by Stephen King.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your
interest?
Duncan Ralston is a fantastic up and coming writer.
I read his new book, Salvage, and found meaningful, bringing to mind topics of
depression and suicide and fundamentalism within a very haunting story.
What are your current projects?
I’m gearing up for the release of my new book series
while also tackling some new material. Book 3 in the series is in the works as
well as some new short stories and possibly a new Lovecraftian style book.
What would you like my readers to know?
If you’re a fan of realism in horror, please check
out my book, Reinheit. Also, don’t be
afraid to leave honest reviews. We writers need to hear your opinions as means
to honing our craft. Also, take some risks. The writing world is quite exiting
now, as it seems to be flooded with new material and new stories. Take a risk
on a new author who are not limited by a publisher to write something truly
grotesque and meaningful. Check out anthologies for certain, as this is
typically where new authors begin their journey into writing a full length
book. Thanks for reading and as always you can catch me on Facebook (Thomas S.
Flowers) or Twitter (@machinemeannow).
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThomasSFlowers
Twitter: https://twitter.commachinemeannow
Website/Blog: http://machinemean.org/
Tour
giveaway
2 Signed paperbacks (US and
Canada)
Thanks for having me!
ReplyDeleteAppreciate the props to Erich Maria Remarque!
ReplyDelete