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The Whims of the Natural World
An Empty House Doesn’t Sneeze follows a 15-year-old boy navigating the challenges of adolescence while the world around him is engulfed in chaos. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Because my father was killed in WWII, the war has always been an interest. At some point, the idea of somebody lighting fires during the mandatory blackouts in Seattle captured my imagination. As a former sixth-grade teacher, I understand how inadequate we are at teaching civics and history, especially to young people, hence teenage readers became my target audience.
Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?
The novel is set in my Seattle neighborhood, which by the way, still looks almost exactly like it did in 1943. Much of the story reflects my own lived experiences, though slightly updated to the nineteen fifties. I grew up near the “wilds” of Ravenna Park – in terrain that shaped my mind as much as my appreciation of nature. This experience cultivated my habits of listening, observing, and yielding to the whims of the natural world.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The central idea of An Empty House Doesn’t Sneeze cried out to become a mystery. It was also a vehicle to portray the homefront in a way most young readers had not been exposed to. I merely hope readers enjoy An Empty House Doesn’t Sneeze and learn a little history along the way.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
The children’s stories I noodled around with years ago are brewing on the back burner, and I’m waiting to see if they spark my interest. An Empty House Doesn’t Sneeze follows my debut novel (published in September 2023) – River’s Reach: Coming of Age Amid the Fish War – a coming-of-age adventure (for “kids” of all ages) that highlights the tensions between the Washington State Game Department and the Nisqually Indians over tribal fishing rights in the Nisqually Valley. With River’s Reach, I hoped to open minds, encouraging people to question beliefs and prejudices that might otherwise settle in for a lifetime.
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Into this fragile balance a neighborhood threat emerges: Someone is lighting fires during the mandatory blackouts. Scotty, whose father is an air raid warden, is soon caught up in the firebug mystery and tries to smoke the arsonist out. When the local bully throws suspicion on Scotty’s draft-age brother, and when even his best friend’s actions don’t seem to add up, Scotty must navigate a moral and ethical thicket while treading a path toward maturity. Even as scarcity slips into every nook and cranny, An Empty House Doesn’t Sneeze celebrates a youthful spirit and hearkens to simple pleasures, where free time and family abound.
David Scott Richardson’s An Empty House Doesn’t Sneeze is a work of historical fiction set in 1943 in the Pacific Northwest. A heartwarming and playful coming-of-age adventure, this novel is suitable for MG/YA and the young at heart. It contains no gratuitous language, but there are a few slurs that are true to the historical setting and swear words-in keeping with the characters and story.
Conflict Within a Conflict
River’s Reach follows a high school senior who is torn between his family’s beliefs in conservation and the rights of the Nisqually tribe in the Fishing Wars, and he must decide what side to stand with. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
During the late 1960s, I began paying more attention to the news, probably because of the conflict in Vietnam and the Civil Rights movement. The Fish Wars became part of the news cycle in the Pacific Northwest and garnered my interest. At some point, I had the idea of a story wherein a kid whose father was a Washington State Game Department officer begins to gravitate to the tribe’s point of view. The conflict within a conflict seemed like a viable storyline. For many years, I’ve been concerned about declining salmon stocks and what might be causing the drop. The fishing scenes are reminiscent of my attempts to catch steelhead. I have always been impressed with Billy Frank Jr., who was often interviewed in connection to news reports on the Fish Wars.
Are there any bits of you in this story?
As I think back on it there are quite a few autobiographical influences. The fish egg caper is something that I actually did, although it was with the Nooksack rather than the Nisqually. The Steilacoom fishing trip is recounted almost as I experienced it in real life. I’m sorry to say that the drunk-tank scene is something that I also lived through, although not for drinking or any other heinous crime (perhaps the subject for another story). “What you are to be, you are now becoming” was my High School motto, but I didn’t attend North Thurston HS. The snowstorm in the story loosely fictionalizes an event that took place while I was teaching sixth grade in the Snohomish School District.
What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?
The most salient research/inspiration is simply living in the northwest during the mid-1960s about sixty miles north of the Nisqually River. I visited Frank’s Landing (or what’s left of it since the Fish Wars) several times and checked out the tribe’s relatively new casino, which partially funded the new tribal center and contributes to many of the tribe’s current aspirations. I reviewed multiple online reports from the Fish Wars as well as several local histories of the tribes. I think it’s also fair to say that time spent on a river trying to catch a steelhead qualifies as research for this book.
What is the next book you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
The next book is set in Seattle during the blackouts in 1943. As the war rages in Europe, the home front is portrayed through the eyes of fifteen-year-old Scotty Johansen. When an unknown party begins setting fires during the blackouts, Scotty, his sister, and some of Scotty’s friends set their minds to solving the mystery of who’s igniting them. I’m hoping to release the book next spring.
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Life is good for high school senior Alex Haugen. He has a group of buddies to fish the Nisqually River with, his membership on the football team guarantees status with his peers, and he’s recently set his sights on Amanda Schneider – an engaging blend of brains, beauty, and personality. He’s beginning to think that the lead cheerleader and star lineman go together like burgers and fries.
Learning that his dad participated in the latest fishing raid at Frank’s Landing, Alex’s curiosity is piqued. The more he reads, the more he realizes how little he knows about the deep-rooted conflict between the Washington State Game Department and local tribes. The state claims the right to enforce conservation measures and the tribes claim that their treaty rights supersede state regulations.
Alex has strong convictions about conservation but wonders if there’s more to the story. Indian netting can’t be the only reason fish are in decline. Strident and entrenched certainties dominate both sides of the fishing controversy, and Alex begins to resent that a side may have been chosen for him at birth.
Chancing conflict with his dad – an officer with the game department – Alex’s quest for understanding rouses discovery of his own voice and the courage to stand apart from his parents and peers. Along the way, he befriends Charlie McCallister, a Nisqually Indian his dad arrested in a raid.
Amanda, whose mom does pro bono work for the tribe, is a social justice warrior at heart. As the fish war heats up, her readiness to support the tribe clashes with Alex’s reluctance to rock the boat with his father and threatens to drive a wedge in their blossoming romance.
Charlie, Amanda, and the Nisqually River form the key catalysts for Alex’s awakening as the story unfolds against the backdrop of a nation gripped by the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and the seismic tunes of rock ‘n roll.
This novel is suitable for MG/YA and the young at heart. It contains no gratuitous language, but there are a few swear words, in keeping with the characters and story.
River’s Reach: Coming of Age Amid the Fish War
Prepare to embark on a transformative journey through the pages of River’s Reach by David Scott Richardson, a compelling coming-of-age novel that introduces us to Alex Haugen, a high school student on the cusp of self-discovery. Set against the backdrop of a long-standing conflict between the Washington State Game Department and local Indian tribes, this captivating story unfolds as Alex stumbles upon a revelation about his father’s involvement in a historic fishing raid at Frank’s Landing. Intrigued and spurred by a thirst for understanding, Alex delves deep into the history of the Nisqually tribe, a journey that raises thought-provoking questions about the narratives that shape our beliefs and values. Along this enlightening path, he forges unlikely friendships that open his eyes to the multifaceted nature of truth.
River’s Reach is an educational and enthralling tapestry that artfully weaves together historical context with themes of environmental conservation and civil rights. As readers become immersed in Alex’s personal odyssey, they are simultaneously drawn into a broader exploration of history, social justice, and cultural complexities. The evolution of Alex’s character is nothing short of commendable, as he evolves from a conforming teenager into an independent thinker. The relationships he forms throughout the narrative add depth and nuance, underscoring the significance of empathy in bridging cultural divides. Through Alex’s journey, the book challenges the notion of birthright and opens the door to new perspectives. While River’s Reach is well-suited for a younger audience, it does contain occasional strong language. However, this minor caveat should not deter readers of all ages from delving into this enriching tale that seamlessly balances entertainment with deep reflection. At its core, the book imparts a valuable lesson: true growth springs from questioning the status quo and discovering our own voices.
River’s Reach by David Scott Richardson, while rich in historical detail, may occasionally veer toward excessive exposition, which can momentarily slow the narrative’s pacing. Nevertheless, the story remains authentic to its characters and their experiences, ensuring a memorable reading experience that will leave its mark on its audience.
Pages : 326 | ASIN : B0CCSSKK73
LITERARY TITAN 