The Darren Groth Blog
December 6, 2021
News Authors, Books, Boy in the Blue Hammock, Coming Soon, Crossover Fiction, Darren Groth, Guide Dog Training, Guide Dogs, Labrador Dogs, Literary Fiction, Literary Novels, Service Dog Training, Service Dogs, Spring 2022, Tao, Taoism, Writing, YA Fiction, YA Lit Leave a comment
Tao: In Confucianism, the way, or the path to be followed.
For anyone who knows me and has read the teaser for Boy in the Blue Hammock, it will be no surprise to you that my son was the inspiration for the character of Kasper. What might be a surprise is that failed service dog, Tao, is also grounded in real-life. For over a decade, a goofy, gold-coated Labrador was part of our family due to ‘incomplete training’ with the BC Guide Dogs.
And, yes, his name was Tao.
November 19, 2021
News ASD, Authors, Autism, Books, Boy in the Blue Hammock, Coming Soon, Crossover Fiction, Disability, Diverse Books, Diverse Voices, Diversity, Intellectual Disability, Literary Fiction, Literary Novels, Neurodiversity, No Voice, Spring 2022, Writing, YA Fiction, YA Lit Leave a comment
Readers familiar with my background know that I have an intellectually disabled, neurodiverse son, and readers familiar with my work know that intellectual disability and neurodiversity feature in the novels Kindling, Are You Seeing Me? and Munro vs. the Coyote / Exchange of Heart.
Inevitably, the question has arisen:
“Is that your boy on the page?”
The long answer is I used aspects of his manner, language, attitude and interests as a jumping-off point to create characters that assumed their own living, breathing, authentic fictional lives. The short answer is no.
My new novel Boy in the Blue Hammock will be out next spring and, surprise surprise, it centres an intellectually disabled, neurodiverse protagonist. And already I can hear the question again, distant but persistent, making its way towards me like I’m a destination on Google Maps:
“Is that your boy on the page?”
My answer this time around?
Yes.
Absolutely, yes.
MoreNovember 4, 2021
Navel Gazing, News Ableism, Authors, Bad Fit, Books, Boy in the Blue Hammock, Intellectual Disability, Literary Fiction, Literary Novels, New Release, No Voices, Publishers, Publishing Contract, Publishing Deal, Publishing Rejection, Spring 2022, Square Peg 1 Comment
“Not a great fit for us…”
“Doesn’t really fit our list…”
“You’ll find a better fit elsewhere…”
Any author who’s ever had work rejected is familiar with these statements. Over 20 years and eight novels, I’ve had my fair share of ‘fitness’ fails and I’ve come to understand it’s sometimes literal, more often publisher shorthand for ‘We don’t think it will sell’ or ‘We don’t love it’ or ‘We don’t love it enough’. Typically, I would shake it off and saddle up for the next response, hope springing eternal from decisions not yet made.
The eighteen months of contractual futility that haunted my upcoming 2022 novel, Boy in the Blue Hammock, though? It was different. The parade of passes based on fit seemed to be communicating a new shorthand, not so much a situation of square peg / round hole.
It felt like square peg…no hole?
MoreOctober 26, 2021
News Adult Fiction, Book Cover, Book Jacket, Boy in the Blue Hammock, CanLit, Coming Soon, Cover Love, Cover Reveal, Crossover Novel, I Read Canadian, Literary Fiction, Spring 2022, YA, YA Lit Leave a comment
An imaginary jacket worn by failed guide dog protagonist, Tao, plays a key role in Boy in the Blue Hammock. It gives him courage and strength in moments when he might falter. It brings with it the voice of Trainer. It permits him to do things beyond the limits of his lesser self.
He is proud of the jacket.
As I am of this one:
Many thanks to the Nightwood Editions team and their designers for this beautiful cover. And to my CAN/US agents, Olga Filina and Ali McDonald for their expert input during the process.
Boy in the Blue Hammock will be published April 30, 2022.
It is available for pre-order here.
Myperbole 