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Righting the Wrongs of the Past

Hattie’s World follows a young woman as she emerges from her father’s shadow, striving for independence and redefining her community amidst her father’s pursuit of power. What do you believe your novel conveys about the power of individual actions?

Human resilience and the importance of righting the wrongs of the past.

Hattie’s World delves into themes of family legacy and personal resilience. How do you approach weaving these themes into your narrative without overpowering the story?

I hope I simply allow the characters to grow, relate to others, go through the motions of life, and experience its highs and lows in as natural a way as possible.

What inspired the character of Hattie Winthrop, and how did you develop her journey from a marginalized figure to a symbol of hope and leadership?

Strangely, I was inspired by an abandoned mansion that had fallen into ruin and was falling apart. I tried to imagine its past and came up with a short story which is the basis for the epilogue, “Herbie Banks.” I thought there was enough in it to transform it into a novel. Hattie and her father’s story emerged from my imagination.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?

I’ve recently completed The Last Tryst, a historical novel of the Belle Epoque in Paris. In it, my protagonists, a young man who gains access to high society by romancing ignored wives of the very rich and a fallen socialite who becomes a successful courtesan, mingle with some of the period’s historical figures.

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Owen Winthrop, the profligate son of a New England business tycoon, has offended the town’s morals one last time. His father disowns him and sends him into exile with a sizable amount of money he can waste or use to make a life for himself. He comes to California where he discovers a small fishing village with an abundant harvest of sardines. The fishermen make very little money off the catch, since most of the profits go to the canneries in Monterey. Determined to build a cannery there, Owen goes to Monterey to learn the business. After a year of working in one of the canneries, he returns and builds his own cannery which brings him enormous wealth. Ruthlessly, he forces all the town’s businesses to share their profits with him. In complete control of the town, he builds other businesses, including a notorious brothel.
Convinced he needs a wife to be accepted socially, Owen marries a girl he met in Monterey. It is a loveless marriage, but when a daughter, Hattie, is born, he learns he is capable of love and becomes devoted to the child. She grows into a beautiful and confident young woman with a thirst for life outside of the confines of her home. Fascination with a Portuguese fisherman results in a torrid love affair that results in a grisly murder. To punish her, Owen confines her to their home, where she lives in isolation for twenty years until his death.

Made heiress by to a great fortune by her father as both a joke and revenge on a town that reviled him, she emerges from isolation determined to atone for the sins she discovered her father has committed. Her crusade takes her from pariah to sainthood as she molds the town in her own image. Her deeds and gifts to the town makes her everyone’s Aunt Hattie in this family saga that spans the Twentieth Century.

Posted in Interviews

Hattie’s World

Apr 8

Posted by Literary Titan

Thomas Bauer’s novel Hattie’s World unfolds in a small California fishing village, offering a deeply engaging exploration of familial legacy and personal resilience. Central to this narrative is Owen Winthrop, an ambitious and ruthless figure whose pursuit of power disrupts the lives of local fishermen and businesses.

Bauer artfully captures Owen’s journey from a dishonored family member to a powerful, controlling patriarch. Amidst this oppressive environment, the character of Hattie Winthrop stands out. Despite living under her father’s domineering shadow, Hattie’s indomitable spirit and quest for independence shine through. Bauer eloquently portrays her as a symbol of hope, steadily emerging from a marginalized figure to one of reverence and influence.

The novel meticulously details the complexities of a community entangled in conflicts of greed, affection, and the lasting impact of familial choices. Bauer’s writing excels in depicting Hattie’s growth and her journey toward rectifying her father’s wrongs, delving into themes such as forgiveness, the significance of empathy, and the potential for redemption. Hattie’s acts of kindness and generosity are especially poignant, redefining her town’s destiny and presenting a new paradigm of leadership and compassion.

Hattie’s World is a thoughtfully crafted story that leaves a lasting impression with its richly drawn characters and exploration of human nature’s multifaceted layers. Bauer’s narrative prowess provides a deeply immersive reading experience which makes the novel a compelling choice for those who appreciate character-driven stories set against the backdrop of societal and personal transformation.

Pages: 263 | ASIN: B0CVQS4DS3