Hemingway

by Travis Erwin, Dan Johnson

Hemingway, a collaboration by singer-songwriter Dan Johnson and acclaimed novelist Travis Erwin, is a collection of stories inspired by Johnson's album of the same name. The gripping narrative follows five unique tales and five wildly diverse characters, whose lives are unpredictably interwoven across time. A modern-day soldier, running from the confining paradise of the Florida Keys, finds himself crushed by guilt and unable to acclimate to the civilian world around him. A reluctant Texas outlaw makes his living on gunpowder and lead, selling his only real talent across the Old West, until a hit turned tragically wrong makes him face what he has become. A privileged teenage girl's first love abandons her, leading her to a heartbreaking, coast to coast journey of self-discovery. A jaded smuggler succumbs to the Siren’s Song, but his last chance at love and redemption threatens to rip him apart like a ship on the jagged rocks. And a half Native-American love child of a Pentecostal preacher is wagered in a deal with the Devil, chasing his mother's soul through a battleground of conflicting cultures and his father's rage. The stories serve as a companion to the music and expound on the dialectical impact of decisions made or passed up. What is Good? What is Evil? And can we ever really know the difference until years, even generations have passed? The book includes a forward by legendary Texas songwriter, Walt Wilkins, as well as a download code for the digital, mp3 version of the album.

Kindle Edition

First published July 26, 2018

About the author

I am a native Texan who now calls sunny Southern California home. Long before I figured out I wanted to be writer, I was an avid reader. I write humor books and articles about sports and music and food and anything else that strikes my fancy. But mostly I write Women’s Fiction.

Yes, I know it's a little odd for a six-foot-five, two- hundred, and too-many-pounds man to write “girly stuff” but what can I do. I have to write the stories that fill my head, because I’m obligated to be the voice for these characters since they’re not going to shut up either way. At least on paper I can act like they exist for a reason. Otherwise, I’m just a guy with multiple personalities.

Reviews

[Maranda Gillum · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Hemingway” has a fascinating premise- five short stories written by Travis Erwin that were inspired by music penned by Dan Johnson. The collaboration was unlike anything I had read before. With each book purchase you receive a download code for the album so that you may read the story while listening to he song that inspired it. Lyrics for the songs are also printed in the novel after each short story.

The short stories are just long enough to wrap each plot up. My favorite was “Heirloom.”

I was also impressed that 20% of the proceeds from “Hemingway” go to operationhemingway.org to fight veteran suicide. I love reading and reading for a cause makes it even better.

I highly recommend this collection of short stories.