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Alan Brennert

Goodreads Author

Born

Englewood, The United States

Website

http://www.alanbrennert.com/

Genre

Fiction

Influences

Victor Hugo, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ray Bradbury, Jonathan Strong, John ...more

Member Since

January 2010

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Alan Brennert is the author of the historical novels Palisades Park, Honolulu (chosen one of the best books of 2009 by The Washington Post), and Moloka'i, which won the 2006 Bookies Award, sponsored by the Contra Costa Library, for the Book Club Book of the Year (and has sold over 600,000 copies since publication). It was also a 2012 One Book, One San Diego selection. He has won an Emmy Award and a People's Choice Award for his work as a writer-producer on the television series L.A. Law, and his short story "Ma Qui" was honored with a Nebula Award. His new novel, Daughter of Moloka'i, will be published by St. Martin's Press on February 19, 2019. Follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/alan.brennert.

http://us.macmillan.com/palisad ...more

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When you researched Moloka'i were you able to meet with any residents or their decedents of Kalaupapa? If so did it change the story for you as you initially imagined it?

Alan Brennert I visited Kalaupapa as part of the official tour, which is very closely escorted and is designed, rightly, to protect the privacy of the residents; I …moreI visited Kalaupapa as part of the official tour, which is very closely escorted and is designed, rightly, to protect the privacy of the residents; I met one or two people in passing, but there was no opportunity for a long exchange. Later I contacted the authorities at Kalaupapa about returning for a visit on my own, but I was told that any visitor outside the tour had to have a sponsor who could escort him/her, and they didn't have anyone to sponsor me. So I had to make do with what was in the public record. This turned out to be quite a lot: aside from fine biographies like Mel White's MARGARET OF MOLOKAI and Olivia Breitha's OLIVIA: MY LIFE OF EXILE IN KALAUPAPA, I read dozens of oral histories of patients as well as every file about the settlement in the Hawai'i State Archives. The latter went all the way back to 1866, and included letters sent by some of the very first exiles sent to (at that time) Kalawao. The archives held letters, journals, logs of incoming patients--a staggering amount of information that in toto presented a vivid picture of the history of the settlement. What I found in my research did inevitably change the story from my original conception, but always for the better; if a fact or incident surprised me, I figured it would surprise readers too, and I wove it into the story. But my biggest takeaway from the research were the people themselves, some of whom, like Ambrose Hutchison, became characters in the story...and some inspired fictional characters (there is more than a little of the amazing Margaret Kapuni in my protagonist Rachel). And even though I didn't get that personal visit to Kalaupapa, I'm moved and humbled to be told that today, in the Kalaupapa museum and gift shop, there's a big stack of MOLOKA'I for sale...the best kind of validation I can imagine.(less)

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The way you captured Hawaii-based characters was so real. Did you spend much time on O'ahu and Moloka'i? Do you have family connections to any of the residents of Kalaupapa? Will we see any other Hawaii-based books in the near future?

Alan Brennert No family connection, but I fell in love with Hawai'i on my first visit in 1980 and developed a passionate interest in its history, its people, its cu…moreNo family connection, but I fell in love with Hawai'i on my first visit in 1980 and developed a passionate interest in its history, its people, its culture and mythology. I've spent considerable time on O'ahu doing research at the State Archives, the Public Library, the Bishop Museum, et al, and have also made several trips to Moloka'i, a lovely island that's unique even for Hawai'i. And yes, I do have another novel I'm researching that will be set (at least partially) in the islands. Thanks for the question.(less)

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Combine Editions
Alan Brennert’s books

Average rating: 4.15 · 195,771 ratings · 19,469 reviews · 74 distinct works • Similar authors

	Moloka'i (Moloka'i, #1) 4.20 avg rating — 139,269 ratings — published 2003 — 36 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Honolulu 4.09 avg rating — 25,299 ratings — published 2009 — 19 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Daughter of Moloka'i (Moloka'i, #2) 4.14 avg rating — 19,562 ratings — published 2019 — 14 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Palisades Park 3.80 avg rating — 6,928 ratings — published 2013 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Batman: Holy Terror by Alan Brennert (Goodreads Author), Norm Breyfogle, Lovern Kindzierski (Goodreads Author) 3.50 avg rating — 695 ratings — published 1991 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Time and Chance 3.63 avg rating — 371 ratings — published 1990 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Tales of the Batman: Alan Brennert by Alan Brennert (Goodreads Author), Jim Aparo (Illustrations) 4.19 avg rating — 113 ratings — published 2016 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Skin Deep 4.07 avg rating — 96 ratings — published 2021 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Hawaii Novels: Moloka'i and Honolulu 4.58 avg rating — 69 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sub-Mariner: Marvels Snapshot #1 by Alan Brennert (Goodreads Author), Kurt Busiek, Alex Ross (Cover Art) 3.90 avg rating — 40 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Series by Alan Brennert

Moloka'i (2 books)
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Alan Brennert (Goodreads Author)

4.19 avg rating — 158,818 ratings

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Alan’s Recent Updates

Alan Brennert is now friends with Tracy Hayden
Jun 12, 2025 03:05PM · like
Alan Brennert rated a book it was amazing Honolulu Noir by Chris McKinney (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 09, 2024 11:35AM · 4 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Honolulu Noir by Chris McKinney. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Honolulu Noir by Chris McKinney <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Alan Brennert made a comment on Alan is a friend of wendy " Thanks Wendy! Nice to hear from a fan of Palisades Park, that was a special story for me. I'm writing mostly short stories right now -- I have one in ...more "
Sep 09, 2024 11:34AM
Alan Brennert rated a book it was amazing Honolulu Noir by Chris McKinney (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jul 26, 2024 04:15PM · 4 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Honolulu Noir by Chris McKinney. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Honolulu Noir by Chris McKinney <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Alan Brennert answered Dana Gouin's question: How about a story on the paniolos and origins of Hawaiian slack key guitar? There are so many great players!! My the favorite was Dennis Kamakahi, but there are so many great musicians from Hawaii. Thank you! I've been doing some research into the paniolos but so far haven't found anything dramatic enough to sustain a novel. Mahalo for the suggestion though.
Jan 19, 2024 12:16PM · 2 likes · like

More of Alan's books…

Quotes by Alan Brennert (?)

“Fear is good. In the right degree it prevents us from making fools of ourselves. But in the wrong measure it prevents us from fully living. Fear is our boon companion but never our master.”
― Alan Brennert, Moloka'i

103 likes

“Surrounded by darkness yet enfolded in light”
― Alan Brennert, Moloka'i

tags: darkness, darkness-and-light, light

75 likes

“She already felt dead in everything but name. What remained to be taken from her? She longed to be enfolded, welcomed, into the earth - to breathe no more, love no more, hurt no more”
― Alan Brennert, Moloka'i

tags: death, earth, lost, sleep, suicide

63 likes

See all Alan Brennert's quotes »

Polls

BoTM- September- Book Set on an Island- 2nd poll

Moloka'i

by Alan Brennert

21 votes, 35.0%

The Summer Girls

by Mary Alice Monroe

15 votes, 25.0%

Anne of Green Gables

by L.M. Montgomery

11 votes, 18.3%

Ember Island

by Kimberley Freeman

9 votes, 15.0%

And Then There Were None

by Agatha Christie

4 votes, 6.7%

60 total votes

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Alan’s Quotes

“A personal journey is part of the generational relay. Live your legacy then pass it on.”
― Jo Ann V. Glim

tags: family-relationships, genealogy, legacy

14 likes

Alan’s Friend Comments

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message 1: by Karen

Oct 02, 2018 02:00PM

Just finished Daughter of Moloka'i which I won in a giveaweay. I loved Moloka.i and this was another great read. You are truly a gifted writer. I can't wait to see what you write next...

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