Blog Archives
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.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Website | Amazon
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.
Hattie’s World
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
Memoirs of a Libertine: A Modern Picaresque Tale
In the sweeping tapestry of human ambition, the quest for personal gratification and material gain often leads to tragedy. Memoirs of a Libertine: A Modern Picaresque Tale, by Thomas Bauer, beautifully encapsulates this narrative through the vibrant life of Armie Thornton, aptly referred to as Libertine. Driven by a thirst for hedonistic pursuits, Libertine detaches himself from familial ties and monetary inheritances to follow his heart’s deepest desires.
With a life punctuated by music, exotic locales, and the allure of affluent women, Libertine’s narrative traverses continents—spanning Europe, the United States, and the vibrant landscapes of Africa. Bauer masterfully crafts a tale where each sojourn comes alive with a carnivalesque feel, illustrating seduction and opportunism with incredible imagery.
Bauer’s lush, poetic descriptions intertwined with sharp dialogues make Libertine leap off the pages, creating an almost tangible entity—someone who might have regaled these tales in a dimly lit lounge. Among the many relationships that shape Libertine’s destiny, his interactions with Lady Anne are particularly captivating. Not only does she bestow upon him the title of Lord, but she also emerges as a refined and formidable influence as his mentor, helping him navigate life’s complexities.
Memoirs of a Libertine offers readers an exhilarating tale of pleasure and passion. Despite the questionable means by which Libertine acquires his joys, one can’t help but become so engrossed in his journey that we hope for a kind fate for the main character. A compelling read, this novel is an exploration of desire, consequence, and the timeless dance between the two.
Pages: 342 | ASIN : B0CF36222F
Art is What a Civilization Will Be Judged By
Six Canvases follows an art dealer that falls into a mystery that takes him on a life-changing journey. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Strangely, the inspiration for the story came from a realistic dream I had though I have always been fascinated by an artist dying young and the questions it raises in his admirer’s minds as to the masterpieces they will never experience. It seemed a natural consequence to have an art dealer obsessed by an artist’s work and life.
Foss discovers a lot about himself in this book. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
When one aspires to be an artist but lacks the talent, it seems logical that they put their passion into another’s work. In the case of the Seven Canvases, Foss’s obsession with Tyler Dobbs leads him to wanting to know everything about the man’s life, even falling in love with his woman and ultimately being used by her, even identifying with the artist.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
In almost all my books, the position of the artist in the world has played an important part. I also think I wanted to explore how various people react to the same artist. In this case, some finding his work great, others mediocre. I think that no matter what mysteries or revelations are in the narrative, in the end, art is what a civilization will ultimately be judged by.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The book, Hattie’s World, is completed. It is part family saga that spans the 20th Century in California, and part story of a strong woman whose actions have a profound effect on the town her ruthless father builds. I think it’s one of my strongest works.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Six Canvases
Thomas Bauer’s Six Canvases can only be described as enchanting. It follows the life of Foster Benjamin, aka Foss, after he encounters a painter called Tyler Dobbs in the small fishing village of Williamsport. Convinced of Tyler’s genius, Foss offers to sell his art pieces in his New York gallery. However, Tyler dies shortly after, sending Foss into investigator mode. While trying to understand who Tyler was and the scope of his work, Foss makes a lot of shocking discoveries and interacts with a variety of different people. He even embarks on an unexpected love affair. Ultimately, this alters the way Foss thinks and even behaves.
If there is one thing that the author of this book does well, it’s that he keeps readers on their toes. From the beginning of the book to its end, you can’t predict what will happen next – this makes it very entertaining. Not only are its characters complex and fully developed, but the life situations that surround them are realistic. In many ways, the narrative gives readers a front-row seat to their grief, love, remorse, anger, faith, and even confusion.
The language used in this complex book is lovely – it is descriptive and artistic yet light and easy to read. Truth be told, this book reads like an intimate poem. It handles heavy themes like rape, murder, and revenge in an utterly humane way. Readers get to see the characters as who they are without feeling that the author judges them in any way. Even parts of the book make the reader dive into the psychology of the oppressed, who finally lash out at their oppressors. The author helps readers understand the importance of letting go of anguish and what happens if it consumes us.
Six Canvases is a beautifully written book about the human condition that captures how we all grapple with tragedy, loss, career slumps, and relationships. This captivating novel is filled with adventure, mystery, and drama.
Pages: 181 | ASIN : B09N5YWCT5
Alter The Course of History
The Assassin follows the life of a baker’s son in a small Italian village whos future is radically changed by a mysterious visitor. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I simply wanted to explore the idea of how one small act might be able to alter the course of history as well as what impact historical events might have in an insignificant spot on the planet peopled by those ignorant of world events.
Umberto is a stirring and authentic character. What were ideas you wanted to capture in his character’s development?
How the innocent and ignorant among us live lives more simple, but still filled with the same aspirations as the more privileged among us.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
The Assassin
![The Assassin by [Thomas Bauer]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41srZ878j4S.jpg)
In Thomas Bauer’s The Assassin we follow the character of Umberto Guardo. He’s a lonely baker’s son who resides in a small village located in Italy and desires more for his life. Umberto’s dreams may have the potential to come true when a mysterious cloaked man visits his village. The mysterious man can offer a life and legacy to Umberto that he can’t refuse, but at what cost?
Writing is truly an art form, and Bauer has a firm grasp of it! I appreciated his ability to write simple dialogue that had an impact. Many newer authors feel that if the subject matter is complex, the words have to be as well – this is simply not true. Bauer understood he could use other writing methods besides fanciful language to get his point across. Along with his fantastic but simple writing style, Bauer is stellar at setting the scenes in his book. And I am not merely referring to the actual surroundings in a scene, such as buildings and people. I am referencing how he sets the tone. He conveys the energy of his characters using the show don’t tell method. He shows us how the characters are feeling through their actions, not just through their words. The words solidify the mood, but they do not determine the mood. And last but certainly not least, I have to commend Bauer for his great attention to detail when it comes to human behavior and analysis. One could argue that it’s the primary theme of the book. He dives deep into the world of human desire, especially of those who, by society’s standards, have less than exciting lives. When Umberto travels into the nearby larger city, you feel his longing. This main plot point added an enjoyable and relatable aspect to the novel.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced historical fiction novel that will make you think about life and the people around you then you have to pick this up. I read The Assassin in one afternoon and couldn’t put it down!
Pages: 222 | ASIN: B097CFY4PG
The Anachronist
![The Anachronist by [Thomas Bauer]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51zNwdvZoMS.jpg)
The Anachronist by Thomas Bauer is a tragic tale of a man stuck in-between his perpetual obsession with the Civil War period, and the mundane world of modern-age reality. The protagonist of the novel, Charlie Schultz, is living in a failing marriage and is bound to continue a job with no progress, with very little hope at the end of the tunnel.
His only way of purgation is his role as the Confederate soldier Simon Culpepper, a heroic persona he assumes during the mock battles. He wishes to transcend the barriers of his meek personality and become as valorous as his alter ego, but fails to unify the two, and gets trapped in this dangerous loop of anachronism. The tragic end of the novel perhaps puts an end to his mindless obsession but also throws light on the painful realities of his life.
Charlie’s wife Rebecca and son Zack fail to respect him and blame his obsession with the mock battles for their impoverished conditions. Charlie daydreams about his role as a brave fighter and neglects his duties as an employee. As a consequence, he fails to get a promotion year after year, and his family has to suffer. Charlie’s desperate wish to have been born in the 1860s reflect his incessant obsession with the past, an urge so strong that it almost detaches him from reality.
We could also read Charlie’s love for the past as a coping mechanism for his growing depressive state. He fails to find a purpose in his everyday life and lives the life of his dreams through these enactments. He becomes a butt of ridicule to everyone around him, but that doesn’t deter him from his anachronistic desires. In the end, we see him in a state of frenzy, when he goes to a dangerous extent to live in the shoes of his character, Simon Culpepper. Wrought with a smooth flow of language and a dark, ironic sense of humor, the book is a must-read.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Anachronist from beginning to end. Short, crisp, and packed with emotional authenticity, the novel truly strikes a chord in the hearts of the readers, without being dramatically sentimental. The harsh truth of reality, the pain and agony of depression, the inability to find a purpose, and the painful ending, and the dry humor make this novel a great read.
Pages: 145 | ASIN: B09359SSX4
LITERARY TITAN 