Serpents and Doves
by G. Lloyd Helm
GENRE: Literary Fiction
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G. Lloyd Helm will be awarding 10 paperback copies of the book to 10 randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour. (international giveaway) Please visit GoddessFish.com to follow the tour, remember the more you comment better your chances on winning.
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BLURB:
Stephen Mitchell did not know what he was getting into at a small church college in Tennessee. Sex, protest, friendship, and Civil rights. The title “Serpents and Doves” comes from the warning Jesus gave to his disciples as he sent them out to preach the gospel, knowing the dangers they were going into. He said “I send you out as sheep among wolves, therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” Stephen Mitchell learns first-hand what that warning means when he goes to a Tennessee church college in the midst of the turbulent 60’s. He learns about friendship, war, protest, the sexual revolution, and civil rights.
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Excerpt:
Ethan’s suicide rocked the school, but not nearly as much as Stephen expected. The New Jersey and New York folks mostly didn’t know anything about Ethan or the BSU so they noted the suicide as a bit of news, but it didn’t effect them much. There was some anti-homosexual noise and the inevitable nasty jokes, but Ethan Patrick’s passing caused no more than a ripple for the most part.
There was some noise and protest from the Mason First Baptist Church when Billie Jo asked them to hold the funeral service, but finally they said they would bury him, but not in the church cemetery. They ignored the fact of his suicide and the reasons for it and held a small service. Stephen debated with himself whether he should go. He had about decided not to when Cathy Powell cornered him and asked if he would go with her. “I really don’t have the strength Steve,” she said. “I’m just a wreck. Can’t you please come with me?”
Stephen seriously thought about saying, Why don’t you go ask David Hall? But didn’t say it. “All right. I’ll meet you at the church.”
She smiled sadly, but Stephen thought he saw just the smallest glimmer of triumph in it.
The coffin was set across the aisle in front of the altar. Closed. It was silvery gray and looked more like a large tin can than a coffin. The congregation was small, mostly people from the BSU but a few from Beacon’s faculty including Dr. Conners and Dr. Marchant. Having the Pope there was no surprise. Probably here to make sure the sumbitch is really dead, Stephen thought, and then felt bad about thinking it.
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Q & A with G. Lloyd Helm
What books/authors have influenced your writing?
Hard to say as I am a voracious and omnivorous reader. Early in my life I read a great deal of Science fiction, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, but later I began getting interested in the more classic literature, Steinbeck--especially this one because I am from Okie blood living in California--Hemingway, Mark Twain--still one of my favorites-- J.R.R. Tolkien. Again I am pretty much omnivorous
Tell us something you hate doing. Why?
Washing dishes. Never been my favorite job, but when I was in college I washed dishes for the cafeteria. We fed more than a thousand students three times a day. I didn't have to wash them all but many of them. Coming into the dish room to find plates in three stacks all higher than my head --I'm 6' 3" -- was more than a little daunting. I wash dishes for a soup kitchen now. It is rather like the old monks who flogged themselves as atonement for their sins.
Share a funny incident in your life.
Lots of funny stuff in my life, but one I remember the most was going up the Eifel Tower. It was hot and sticky as only Paris can be, My family and I were trying to ride the elevator up. My wife and kids jammed onto the elevator but the operator would not let me on. My wife protested saying," but he's my husband," The operator "Oui Madame, I know." and being the born smart aleck I am I said in my best Peppy La Pew accent, "He knows, but he don't care." The operator looked squarely at me and said, "Oui, I don't care." Closed the door and went up. Made me mad at the time but later in the shower the situation came home to me and I almost fell down laughing. My sons thought I had finally lost my mind.
What's your pet peeve?
People who can't/won't read. I have a "No solicitation" sign above my door bell, but people still ring or knock to try to sell me something or change my mind about something. I have taken to simply opening the door and pointing at the sign then closing the door.
When you are in writer mode, music or no music? If music do you have a playlist
Depends on my mood. Usually I like the radio. I have a constant ringing in my ears and music helps deaden it--probably makes it worse when I shut it off but anyway...Don't really have a play list. Again depends on my mood. I love classical but the radio is mostly on an old rock and roll station--nostalgia radio.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
G. Lloyd Helm has been writing for 40 years, having published poetry in a wide variety of magazines and newspapers including “The New York Poetry Anthology,” “Stars and Stripes News,” “The Los Angeles Times,” “The Antelope Valley Press,” and “The Antelope Valley Anthologies,” among others.
… Has published short stories and memoirs both in the US and in England in such journals as “Pligrimage” which published the memoir “Football” in spring 2005, and a second memoir “4 April, 1968” in the winter of 2008. He has published short stories in “Citadel” the literary magazine of Los Angeles City College,” “Delivered Magazine,” which is based in London, “Short Story Library,” The University of S. Illinois’ “Eureka Literary Magazine,” “Tales as like as not,” and London’s “Black Gate Magazine.” Recently published “Even Up” a Civil War Ghost story at www.ruthlesspeoples.com, an English on line magazine, and the short story “A Lovely Elephant” in “Delivered Magazine” an English fiction journal. “The Other Fellows Shoes,” Pulp Empire III, Metahuman Press, Cedar Rapids, IA Nov. 2010. Is being published in an on line experiment from Alfie Dog Publishing in England. May 2012.
…Has published three novels in the F&SF field, 1) OTHER DOORS, From MousePrints Publishing, and 2) DESIGN from American Star. 3) WORLD WITHOUT END from Rogue Phoenix Press, www.roguephoenixpress.com OTHER DOORS, originally published in 1997, was published electronically by Rogue Phoenix Press in July 2010. Also Published a literary Romance novel called SOMETIMES IN DREAMS, from Siren’s call. Most recently a volume of short stories called TRAIN WHEELS, FLYING SAUCERS, AND THE GHOST OF TIBURCIO VASQUEZ. Many of these stories appear on the Alfie Dog site.
…Is in process of publishing an adult literary novel called SERPENTS AND DOVES with Rogue Phoenix Press, which will be out in May 2016.
LINKS:
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Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteGreetings Blog travelers. I'll be back from time to time to answer questions. If you wish to buy any of my books they are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Rogue Phoenix, or directly from me at mouseprint@earthlink.net.
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