Christmas Reading Recommendations from Author, Craig Hart: Midwestern Books

Another holiday reading list, this time from author CRAIG HART, whom we've interviewed here. I'll let Craig take it from here.

The American Midwest has a rich literary history often overlooked in favor of other regions. These books are set in the Midwest. I hope they'll what your appetite.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

Set in Iowa, Robinson’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel examines faith,  relationships—in particular those between fathers and sons—and reconciliation. It captures the flavor of the Midwest during the first half of the 20th century.

Buy it here

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

The story of eleven-year-old Reuben Land, an asthmatic boy who has reason to believe in miracles. The Detroit Free Press’s Marta Salij says this book “restores readers' faith in the kindness of stories.” It is a book heavy with nostalgia that may cause your eyes to water just a little.

Buy it here

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

A coming of age tale set largely in Detroit, Michigan, Middlesex tells the story of Cal Stephanides, an intersex man of Greek descent. Won the Pulitzer Prize in 2002.

Buy it here

Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson

A collection of interconnected stories centered on the life of George Willard, from childhood to his time as a young adult. It depicts the loneliness and isolation of small town living like few novels of its time, while simultaneously breaking new ground in terms of literary style.

Note: You can find a Kindle illustrated edition of this classic for .99 Buy it on Amazon

(And last, but not least)

Becoming Moon by Craig A. Hart

A coming of age story of a Michigan boy caught between his desire to pursue a writing career and the strict discipline of a highly religious family.

Buy it here

Interview with novelist Craig Hart, author of BECOMING MOON

Today’s interview is with writer Craig A. Hart who has released his debut novel, BECOMING MOON, a coming-of-age story about a boy struggling to become a writer.  Craig also edits THE RUSTY NAIL.    

First, here’s some background:

Craig A. Hart is the stay-at-home father of twin boys, a writer, editor, Amazon bestselling author, lover of the arts, and only human. He has served as editor-in-chief of THE RUSTY NAIL literary magazine, manager of Sweatshoppe Media, and director of Northern Illinois Radio Information Service. He lives and writes in northern Illinois with his wife, sons, and two cats.

SARETT:  BECOMING MOON  is about a boy struggling against a repressive childhood to become a writer.  In any coming-of-age novel like yours, the reader suspects (often accurately) that the story is part autobiography.  How true was this in your case?

HART: There is certainly an element of that. It isn’t a memoir, but I did draw from my own experience of being raised in a highly conservative, largely withdrawn environment. While it was acceptable to write in my church, you were only supposed to write certain things. BECOMING MOON, while it does touch on religion, is certainly not a religious book. It is my hope to get the book banned by at least one or two conservative groups. As far as the rest goes, the book took up so much of my life over the past three years and went through so many different manifestations that even I sometimes have trouble separating fact from fiction. But I suppose that’s par for a fiction writer. There is one area I’d like to distance myself from, but to do so would be something of a spoiler, so I guess I’ll take my chances.

SARETT:  You’ve edited and now, you’re written a novel.  I imagine there’s a side of your that’s an “editor” still.   Were there aspects of editing that you had to throw away?

HART: Absolutely. I have a tendency to edit while I write. That slows down the creative process and can sometimes halt it altogether. Additionally, I often over analyze what I’m writing, which is okay in editing but deadly when trying to get words on paper.

SARETT: Novelist Jonathan Franzen (confession: haven't read him) said that fiction is a messy business -- and that it's dangerous for a writer to be too perfectionist.  I'm wondering how you respond.

HART: I suppose he could mean a couple of different things, but if I know what he intends then I agree (mostly). Art can only achieve perfection according to standards it devises for itself. To apply extraneous standards on any art form is dangerous. Look at various artists who are now viewed as masters of their form, but in their day faced resistance. Picasso, Kerouac, Ginsberg...the list would go on for a long time. Trying to achieve perfection in a work of art is dangerous because it is impossible to see it clearly as perfection prior to it being finished, which means it will never be finished if perfection is the goal. (And now I have a headache.)

SARETT:  When you’re developing material, which comes first -- story or character?

HART: I get scenes in my head and the ones that stick around are usually the ones I end up writing down. During those scenes, I discover the character and make his/her acquaintance. And then they begin telling me their story.

SARETT:  Did you have any literary muses that influenced the way you approached this novel?

HART: Hemingway’s THE SUN ALSO RISES and Capote’s SUMMER CROSSING were huge influences on me during the writing of BECOMING MOON. It’s interesting, because the Capote book wasn’t even supposed to be published (a whole different story), but I’m glad it was because it helped me connect with something deep inside myself.

SARETT:  BECOMING MOON won a contract with Kindle Press, through the Kindle Scout Program.  Congratulations!  Tell us how this process worked.   

HART: The idea behind Kindle Scout is to get readers to tell the publisher, in this case Kindle Press, whom they want to read. To this end, each book goes through a nomination process. Books that receive good support are then looked over by the Kindle Press editorial board and a few are chosen for publication. It was a fun, stressful, and educational experience. I’m glad I did it and I’m also glad it’s over. My fingernails are short enough already.

SARETT:  BECOMING MOON is a slender novel -- 155 pages.   Do you think traditional publishers shy away from shorter books?

HART: Without a doubt. Most traditional publishers don’t consider something a novel until it’s over 50,000 words. That is the minimum. BECOMING MOON just barely reaches that threshold. And they don’t often publish novellas because the market is smaller. One of the issues with traditional publishing is that it is first and foremost (most often exclusively) a money game. And longer novels are selling right now. Partly because of a trend and partly because people want to feel like they are getting more for their money. I understand that, but as in most other areas of life, quantity doesn’t mean quality. I would rather read a shorter book that had something real to say rather than 400 pages of high-octane text that I forgot the minute I was finished. Give me something to walk away with.

SARETT:  What’s next for you?  

HART: I am currently working on another novel. While it isn’t a sequel to BECOMING MOON, it is a variation on the same themes of self-discovery, rebellion against the status quo, and personal redemption.

You can follow Craig Hart on:

Goodreads : https://www.goodreads.com/craigahart

Twitter: https://twitter.com/craighartonline

Blog: www.craigahart.com

FIND the novel on on Amazon by clicking here:  http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Moon-Craig-A-Hart-ebook/dp/B00XV5R3OW/

Interview with Craig Hart, Editor of The Rusty Nail and Sweatshoppe Publications

Today’s interview is with Craig Hart who founded the magazine, The Rusty Nail as well as the publishing company Sweatshoppe Publications.  

First, here’s some background on Craig:

Craig Hart is a writer, editor, and publisher. Early in 2012 he founded The Rusty Nail literary magazine for which he serves as editor-in-chief. He is also the publisher for Sweatshoppe Publications. Hart lives in Rockford, Illinois with his wife Kimberly in a house owned by their cat, Gracie.

SARETT: There are thousands and thousands of literary magazines-- and they do come and go. What was your impetus for starting The Rusty Nail?  

HART: My hope for The Rusty Nail is for it to remain true to the tagline, “Your words, your way.” A lot of literary magazines become extensions of the staff. They choose what they like, edit them down, and the reader ends up with a sanitized version. I want to preserve the raw feeling of words directly from the writer’s mind.       

SARETT: As an editor, are you sensitive to the experience of reading online?  Do you feel that reading online places special burdens on stories?  

HART: I tend to be a traditional reader. I like paper copy, which is why The Rusty Nail offers a print version. However, I know that many people like reading online and it does increase the accessibility of the work. There’s a place for both.

SARETT:  I’m amazed that editors can read as much as they do-- and you not only have a magazine, but a publishing company.  In your mind, what are the ingredients that make a good editor?   

HART: An editor should know the audience. I think an editor does well to keep in mind not only what they like, but also what the outlet’s audience will like. There are pieces that have appeared in The Rusty Nail that, as a reader, I wouldn’t choose. But if I know there is an element of TRN’s audience that enjoys that form of writing, then it has a good chance of making it through.

SARETT: We all know that writers read literary magazines, or at least some writers like me do -- but is that the only audience for them? Or put another way, is there a way to make that audience more diverse?

HART: I agree that the biggest audience for literary magazines are writers or, at least, people with literary interests. The Rusty Nail has addressed this by offering a diverse range of selections. But I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having a defined audience. I think one mistake other magazines have made is trying to be all things to all readers. It can’t be done. By trying to make sure everyone is equally represented and served, it’s easy to end up representing nobody, at least not well.

SARETT: You’re also a writer (although how you find the time baffles me.) Has the process of being an editor has changed the way you approach your writing?  How?

HART: It has caused me to be more cognizant of the errors I see in the writing that I go through on a regular basis. It’s easier to find faults in writing other than your own, of course, but I’ve made a concerted effort to practice my preaching. Having said that, I think it’s important to run your work past an outside source. Being an editor doesn’t necessarily make one qualified to edit one's own work.

SARETT: You’ve started a publishing company, Sweatshoppe Publications (love that name!). How would you describe its editorial focus?   Is there a specific type of writer you’d like to attract?

HART: So far, Sweatshoppe Publications has published mostly poetry and short story collections, with a couple of novels thrown in. We’ve been pleased to publish a couple of non-traditional novel forms and first-timers. The writing we tend to lean toward is intimate and, in the case of fiction, with fully developed characters. We love honest writers who write without reservation, without holding back.

SARETT: Lots of us, including me, have chosen the self-publishing route.  What are the advantages, in your mind, of using a publisher like Sweatshoppe are versus self-publishing?

HART: One of the greatest benefits of self-publishing can also be its greatest flaw. Namely, the fact that anyone can do it. There are writers, like yourself, who are capable of putting out quality writing via self-publishing and I think that’s great. I’ve used self-publishing in the past myself.

The main advantages of a publisher like Sweatshoppe are that 1.) There is oversight. We don’t publish everything we get so if your work is accepted you can know that we’ve seen value in it. 2.) We don’t charge authors. The cost of design and getting the book onto the marketplace are assumed by Sweatshoppe. 3.) A lot of writers prefer to be able to say they’ve had their work accepted by an unbiased entity. It suggests an air of legitimacy.
None of this means that I think any less of those who self-publish, mind you. I love that industry. In fact, the parent company of Sweatshoppe Publications has begun a self-publishing option called Coffee Ring Publishing. You can find all our publishing options at: www.sweatshoppemedia.com

Available on Amazon

SARETT: You are a busy guy -- and I see that you’re also published a book on writing exercises. Are these exercises designed for the neophyte or the more advanced writer?  

HART: There is something in there for both. Some exercises are more complicated than others. The exercises address the most common writing issues I see as an editor/publisher, little things that can make the difference between acceptance and rejection.

SARETT: Have you used the exercises in your own book?  (Just checking!)

HART: Haha...I’ve used versions of them, yes. I wanted to make sure they worked, after all!

SARETT: Any other projects that you’d like to tell us about?

HART:  I am writing a novel entitled Mosquito Bay, which is about a boy named Jimmy who discovers troubling things about his family, including his mother’s death. It’s a gritty tale, but honest, as we watch Jimmy struggle to grow up in the shadow of his family’s dark past.

You can visit Craig on Facebook, Twitter. His blog is at http://craighartonline.com/