Confessions of a Farmers Market Romeo Media Kit
Cover Graphics:
Summaries:
30 Words: Set in Gettysburg during the 70s and early 80s,
"Confessions of a Farmers Market Romeo" chronicles the misadventures of
an unlikely Romeo as he searches for true love against the backdrop of
small town farmers markets.
100 Words: Set in Gettysburg during the 70s and 80s, Confessions of a Farmers Market Romeo
tells the story of Jim, an unlikely Romeo, as he pursues
"complete unfetteredness” in eight binge-worthy episodes spanning two
decades. From his ill-fated encounter with first love at fat camp
(“Pilot Episode”) to his six-hour romance of a traveling gospel singer
(“I Never Knew How Much a Man Needed a Woman”) to his disastrous season
of excess with a sexy animal-rights activist (“Decadent Times Part 1
& 2”), "Confessions of a Farmers Market Romeo" will leave you laughing as Jim navigates the cosmic irony of love, farmers markets, and life’s most perplexing road trip question: What if the wrong Elvis died?
Q & A:
What is the book’s genre?
The novel isn't written to satisfy any particular genre's
expectations. Really, it's a throwback to what, thirty years ago, would
have been called "mainstream." By this, I mean that the story either
stands or falls based on the writing and the characters and the uniqueness of the idea.
The novel chronicles the main character's life from
conception until his early twenties. Did that create any problems from a
story-telling aspect?
I think it's one of the novel's strengths. I like to keep the story moving. My idea was to write a
novel that visited the main character every three years or so--at the
moment when his life suddenly tilts and he has to figure out who he is
all over again. Also, I wanted the novel to be episodic, and I
wanted its structure to mimic binge-watching a television series. So
each of the eight chapters takes about 50 minutes to read; they're all
self-contained stories (or episodes); and each episode builds on the
protaganist's (Jim) overall character arc. That said, I would argue that
the reader could read the chapters in a random order and still get
basically the same story.
You make your living at farmers markets, is the novel based on real life?
Yes and no. The novel is a work of fiction, but I share a
lot with the main character. I grew up in Gettysburg during the 1970s
and 80s--the novel's setting, and I think that anyone who grew up in
Gettysburg during that time will recognize the landmarks and
feel at home in the book. More importantly, though, having earned my
living for the past decade as a farmers market vendor, I bring that
first-hand knowledge to the story.
Who is the publisher?
Confessions of a Farmers Market Romeo is published by Sunbury Press. The Sunbury website is https://www.sunburypress.com/
Author Bio:
Before finding success as a novelist, James R. Dubbs,
earned a living in a myriad of jobs, including factory worker, newspaper
writer, realtor, liquor store clerk, groundskeeper, customer service
representative, and self-employed baker. During the 1990's, he left his
Gettysburg home to study creative writing for two years at The
University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau, Alaska. When not writing, you'll find him listening to Led Zeppelin, practicing Tae Kwon Do, or strumming his beloved Taylor six-string.
Author Photos:
