Release of "Somewhat Close to Normal": A Native New Yorker Examines September 11th's Impact on the Lives of Minorities
Author Ebonye Octavia Gussine began writing about the events shortly after witnessing the towers fall.
OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, native New Yorker Ebonye Octavia Gussine's debut novel Somewhat Close to Normal was released by August Rose Press. The book is a carefully drawn portrayal featuring a cultural mosaic of interconnected characters and how their lives were impacted by the horrific events on September 11th 2001. It follows lifelong residents of New York City and explores how their worlds are transformed. The characters focus not only on their losses, but also what it means to live in a world with heightened prejudices.
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A 2011 article in Commentary Magazine entitled "Complete Annotated Guide to 9/11 novels" breaks these works into two categories, namely, "Living in the Aftermath" and "The Global War on Terror." While Gussine's book falls into the former category, it goes beyond that simple distinction. Somewhat Close to Normal not only addresses the subject of loss, it also addresses hope. The characters find ways of healing through various artistic mediums. Characters grieve and heal in their own unique ways, as they challenge what it means to move forward in the face of tragedy.
With her goal to publish stories that are firmly grounded in the American experience, Gussine founded August Rose Press on September 11, 2013. Beginning in 2014, the company will start publishing the works of author clients.
About the Author:
Ebonye Octavia Gussine is a Jamaican-American who was born and raised in Queens, New York. She earned a B.A. from John Hopkins University and a M.S. from CUNY School of Professional Studies. Two years after she witnessed the fall of the Twin Towers, she began writing about the impact of that experience. These drafts evolved into her debut novel, Somewhat Close to Normal. She has one child and lives with her husband in Northern California. More information on August Rose Press, as well as book tour dates, can be found at www.augustrosepress.com.
BOOK SUMMARY:
Title: Somewhat Close to Normal
Author: Ebonye Octavia Gussine
Publisher: August Rose Press
Pages: 296
ISBN: 978-09899862-0-5
Contact Person: Andre Wilkins
Email Address: [email protected]
SOURCE August Rose Press
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