The Novelist [Hardcover]

Angela Hunt (Author)

Book Description

Series: Hunt Series | Publication Date: January 10, 2006

From the author who taught you to expect the unexpected...an intriguing tale about families, fiction, and what to do when life veers wildly off script.

It begins...when a smug college student challenges a best-selling novelist to write something "more personal." It begins...when a mother finds her troubled son slumped unconscious outside her house. It begins...when fiction and reality blur, and the novelist finds herself caught somewhere in the middle of it all. Where does it end? That all depends on who is telling the story...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a novel her publisher is touting as "a glimpse into her own life," Hunt, a grandmother and prolific writer (more than 70 books), pens a novel about a prolific writer and grandmother. Jordan Casey is the pen name for Jordan Casey Kerrigan, grandmother and author of a bestselling adventure series. She agrees to teach a college night class on writing fiction and is challenged by an irksome student to ditch her formulaic approach and try writing something from the heart. Stung by the criticism, Kerrigan turns down a lucrative contract for another adventure novel and writes an allegory of paradise, sin, the fall and redemption as played out in an otherworldly casino. As she writes, her desire to change her 21-year-old son Zachary's chaotic life as a suicidal addict becomes an impetus for a story she wants to communicate about life, loss and second chances (told alongside mother and son's actual plight). God, she believes, is the ultimate writer, complete with an outline for one's life story—yet even the characters in the hands of a novelist have choices. Jordan's reality and fiction alternate and finally converge as Hunt spins her tale, with flashbacks to Zachary's innocent childhood that are guaranteed to wring tears from even the hardest-hearted reader. Although Hunt is known for her competency, this novel also shows poignancy and imagination. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter One

I must be crazy, I tell myself, to stick my neck in a noose on my birthday. My husband, Carl, thinks my gesture is gracious and long overdue, so he kisses my cheek and bows gallantly before opening the door of my '85 Mercedes roadster. "Knock 'em dead, dear. I can't wait to hear all about it."

My twenty-one-year-old son, Zachary, is in one of his joking moods-in fact, he's been extra-friendly and charming all day, a much-appreciated birthday gift. "I'm glad my name isn't on that class roster," he says, slipping his hands into his jeans pockets. Barefoot, he does a side-stepping little dance that tells me he's anxious to finish this family farewell so he can go out with his friends. "I'd hate to have you as a professor."

"Your mother is a wonderful teacher." Carl smiles into my eyes. "Those people at the community college are lucky to have her."

I slide into the low seat of the car and punch the garage door opener. "You guys can go ahead and eat some cake if you get hungry. Don't wait on me."

Carl shakes his head. "Nonsense. We're going to sing and blow out candles when you get back."

"It's not really a big deal."

"It's a huge deal. How often does my best girl turn fifty-four?"

I roll my eyes and slip my key into the ignition.

"Hey, Mom?"

I look at Zack, enormously grateful for another opportunity to linger at home. "Yes?"

"You're teaching under your pen name, right?"

The question puzzles me until I consider its source. I've agreed to teach a course at the local college . . . which means some of my son's friends might be in my class. Though I know Zack's proud of me, he's not exactly thrilled with the kind of books I write.

I give him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Son. I'll be Jordan Casey 'til the clock strikes nine."

He blows out his cheeks in exaggerated relief. "Dodged a bullet."

"You should be proud of your mother," Carl says.

"I am, but-"

I turn the key, allowing the rumble of the roadster's engine to drown out the father-son discussion. It's a debate I've heard before.

"Hey." I hang my elbow over the door. "If Patty or Shannon calls-"

"I'll tell them to call again after nine."

"Better make that nine thirty. I'm not sure how soon I'll be able to get away."

Carl nods as another flock of doubts swoops down to shadow my good intentions. Why on earth did I agree to teach this class? Patty and Shannon, my daughters, both live on the East Coast, which means they aren't likely to stay up if I miss their calls. Neither will forget my birthday, but Patricia is a busy lawyer, and Shannon's two little ones wear her out . . .

"Tell the girls I'll call them tomorrow."

I blow Carl a kiss, then slip the car into reverse and edge into the night.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 084994483X
• ISBN-13: 978-0849944833
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,224,704 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Christy-Award winner Angela Hunt writes for readers who have learned to expect the unexpected in novels from this versatile author. With nearly four million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is the best-selling author of more than 100 works ranging from picture books (The Tale of Three Trees) to novels.

Now that her two children have reached their twenties, Angie and her youth-pastor husband live in Florida with Very Big Dogs (a direct result of watching Sandlot too many times). This affinity for mastiffs has not been without its rewards--one of their dogs was featured on Live with Regis and Kelly as the second-largest canine in America. Their dog received this dubious honor after an all-expenses-paid trip to Manhattan for the dog and the Hunts, complete with VIP air travel and a stretch limo in which they toured New York City. Afterward, the dog gave out paw-tographs at the airport.

When she's not home writing, Angie often travels to teach writing workshops at schools and writers' conferences. And to talk about her dogs, of course.

Readers may visit her web site at www.angelahuntbooks.com and write her at [e-mail].

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner from Ms. Hunt, January 12, 2006

By 

C.J. Darlington "Author of Thicker Than Blood... - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Novelist (Hardcover)

Think a novelist's life consists of fancy release parties, crowded book signings, and TV appearances? Think again. Being a writer is tough work, even for a bestselling one like Jordan Casey, the protagonist of The Novelist. She's made her success penning 20 testosterone-laced novels featuring super-spy Rex Tower, which is why most of the world thinks "she" is a "he". But the students in Jordan's class "An Introduction to Novel Writing" at the community college quickly discover Rex's creator is actually an utterly normal middle-aged mother of three.

Within the first minutes of class, one of Jordan's students challenges her to write a book less plastic and more personal than her Rex Tower stories--to open a vein at the keyboard, which in authorese means bleeding your heart into the story. At first offended, Jordan tries to ignore the challenge. But the criticism of her shallow novels cuts deep. Jordan's always been reluctant to merge her faith with her writing, but what kind of message is that sending to her son Zach, who's already skeptical of her Christianity? Soon Jordan sees the opportunity. Not only can she show, rather than tell, her class how to write a novel, but maybe she can use the resulting story to reach Zach.

And so a novella is born. Interspersed throughout the modern-day scenes of The Novelist, we read the manuscript Jordan writes for her students. A spiritual allegory she titles The Ambassador, Jordan uses slot machines and gambling as symbols to share the story of a man who is all of us.

But as Jordan's fictional story unfolds, so does the one of her real-life. Zach's increasingly erratic behavior drives mother and son even further apart, and Jordan and her husband struggle with how to handle him. Finding Zach's journal, Jordan is shocked to read about a side of Zach she never dreamed existed--he wants to die. Where did she go wrong? And how can she help a son who doesn't want to be helped?

Readers of The Novelist can't help but wonder how much of Angela Hunt is in Jordan Casey. After all, they're both bestselling novelists, drive the same model car, and even own mastiffs. But Angela insists, "Jordan is much more successful, wealthy, and better looking than me." It's clear however, that what Jordan lacks in her Rex Tower novels -- emotion and character -- Angela certainly doesn't. I knew I was in the hands of a skilled writer who drew me into the story from the get-go.

Interestingly, The Novelist also acts as a sort of primer for budding writers. Jordan's advice to her students could just as easily be read in an issue of Writer's Digest. From how to make time to write, to giving your characters warts, it's practical counsel all writers will appreciate. And anyone familiar with Angela's previous novels will smile at the nod toward two of her own, Unspoken and The Canopy, in a piece of advice Jordan gives the students.

When I asked Angela why she chose to write two stories in one, she said, "Jordan's story is a metaphor to illustrate how God plots our lives and yet still gives us free will within the framework of our stories." A concept Angela handles well. In the slower-paced allegory scenes of The Ambassador I recognized the Garden of Eden, man's fall, and his ultimate, beautiful redemption.

A great novel to pick up at the end of a hectic day, crisp writing and spiritual candor mark The Novelist as another winner for Ms. Hunt.

--Reviewed by C.J. Darlington for Infuze Magazine

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two books and a writing course, all in one book, May 11, 2006

By 

Amy A. - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Novelist (Hardcover)

Angela Hunt wraps a story in a story in such a unique way that it was hard to put this book down.

Jordan Casey is a writer, wife, mother and teacher. She is at a point where she is facing some difficult struggles and instead of trying to balance everything, she chooses a different path. She declines what could be a big paying project in order to teach a writing class and write a book that is unlike one she has ever attempted. The result is a magical tale of choices, mis-steps, love and redemption.

I loved the characters in this book. The husband and wife seemed like a real couple. The class that Jordan teaches was full of real life writing tid bits that I felt like I could use in my own writing. Even the smaller characters were full. I did not fully understand the character of the son, but I don't think that was the point. This was about a mother's struggles with her son, so I didn't feel like I needed a more in depth portrait of him.

I recommend this book and thank the author for giving me something a little out of the norm to enjoy.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Written, September 16, 2006

By 

Sharon "wintersky" (San Leandro, CA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Novelist (Hardcover)

I have found it hard to find beautifully written Christian fiction, but this book certainly fits the bill. It contains paragraphs, phrases, that make you stop and catch your breath. It also captures the protagonist's faith effortlessly. Without being syrupy or preachy, without having story lines constructed to artificially expound on it, it is just there. I recommend this book highly.