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The Unknown Forces Of His Life
The Burden of Memory follows a retired professor and aspiring author as he moves to South Carolina to write his first novel who unintentionally witnesses a murder. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I was walking on a rather desolate road one day and I stopped and said “What if?” to myself and began imagining a scene. And it went on from there. The narrative sort of blew up and the characters came along.
Robert is a recluse who struggles to break out of his shell after witnessing a horrible crime. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
The shy, heartbroken man comes out of his shell one way or another and nothing he really does causes it to happen. The unknown forces of his life, if you will? And once he is forced to act, he begins the process of change. And he has worked very hard to not change because of too much pain. It took something this dramatic to begin the change.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Transformation is an important theme, of course. Another theme is how the past controls the present. Love and loss is surely an important theme, too.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My next book will be Stories Can Save Us. The novel has two alternating narratives, one first person, and another third person. Timothy and Frank. One is a Vietnam Veteran and the other is not. And the one who is not a vet makes up stories with himself as the hero at a local VFW. As the narratives progress, more and more issues develop. This is the best I can do at this point because, no doubt, before I am through there will be changes.
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Because of past heartbreak, Robert is a shy, isolated, reclusive man.
Three days after his arrival in Beaufort, he unwittingly witnesses a ruthless murder. The murder begins an unexpected journey of dangerous entanglements as he writes his novel and as he lives the action of his life.
The two novels – the one he is living and the one he is writing – dovetail into a surprising conclusion: you may be finished with the past, but the past may not be finished with you.
The Burden of Memory
Rick Christman’s The Burden of Memory is a captivating crime thriller that weaves suspense and mystery with a deeply introspective exploration of the human soul and its emotional complexities. The novel centers around Robert Russell, a man who has endured a tumultuous life filled with heartbreak and invisible scars. Following his return from the war in 1971, he pursued an education with the hope of becoming an imaginative writer and English professor. Despite his efforts to leave his war-time experiences in the past, Robert struggles to form deep and meaningful connections with others, eventually leading him down a path of reclusion. After retiring, he seeks solace in Beaufort, South Carolina, where he intends to focus on writing a novel. However, he soon finds himself entangled in unexpected danger, with murder, drugs, and crime groups lurking around every corner.
The narration style employed in this book is a unique and compelling approach, allowing readers to experience both the fictional story surrounding Robert and the story that he is writing. Robert’s many strange and mysterious experiences begin to influence his writing, creating a dynamic interplay between fiction and reality that seamlessly blends together. The story mainly follows Robert’s perspective as he navigates the complexities of his new life. Despite his desire for a peaceful retirement, he finds himself embroiled in a series of events that force him to question his own morality and motivations. As he witnesses a ruthless murder, Robert grapples with the decision of whether to remain aloof or to intervene. Ultimately, his need to protect those he loves and his unwavering moral compass led him to the forefront of the conflict, unraveling the mystery and danger that enveloped him. Throughout the novel, Robert’s growth as a character is evident as he learns to love again and fight for those meaningful connections that he has found.
The Burden of Memory is a riveting tale that seamlessly blends suspense and mystery with an exploration of love and human relationships, making it an exceptional read.
Pages: 199 | ASIN : B0BZSLSY3R
LITERARY TITAN 