D. M. ANTHONY

Press/Media Kit

 

Alone Among People by D. M. Anthony (Media Kit)

 

Sample Author Q & A: 

 

Interview with D. M. Anthony—author of the inspiring but provocative novel, Alone Among People:

 

Q: I’m not sure I’ve ever read a novel that takes place in this type of setting.

What made you choose tree-sitters, homelessness and anarchists to tell such a heart-felt love story?

 

A: The wonderful thing about love is that it transcends environmental barriers. Love exists everywhere, even in the midst of hatred, failure, addiction, and bondage. As for the setting of Alone Among People, I have always been fascinated by the tree-sit movement, which was in full swing during the nineties—when clear-cutting of forests on federally controlled public lands seemed rampant.

 

Q: Are you an environmental activist—an advocate of anarchy?

 

A: (Laughs) No! I'm certainly not condoning anarchy! I do believe we should be more selective in our consumption of trees, though. If you look closer into this story, you’ll see that Briana—the lead character—and her band of rebels are actually crying out over the federal government’s land-grab that has taken place under the guise of “protecting” public lands. You’ll also see how they come to see the futility inherent in extreme environmentalism and rebellion.

 

Q: Why now? What makes this story relevant to contemporary society?

 

A: If we’ve seen anything in the last two election cycles, we’ve seen the resuscitation of dissent and protest—from the “occupy” movement to the “Tea Party” to civil rights. And what we’ve seen is how a cause can become an obsession and how an obsession then becomes destructive. In the brief Prologue to Alone Among People, that’s what Briana is talking about.

 

Q: Now, you alternate between first-person present tense, and first-person past tense—and it works well. What made you choose that technique for telling your story?

 

A: Alone Among People is a mock-memoir so first-person was the only choice there. But my reason for the alternating tense in alternating chapters has to do more with my affection for non-linear storytelling, and my desire to tell two stories simultaneously—Briana’s present and her past. Eventually they intersect to conclude her journey.

 

Q: You do something in this book to one of your main characters that I imagine has a lot of female readers sending you hate mail. I won’t give it away, but why did you do it to him?

 

A: (Laughs) Yes, I have upset a lot of the women reading Alone Among People, but it was essential to the story. And the “hate mail” as you call it comes prematurely, before they’ve finished the book. Hopefully they forgive me by the end.

 

Q: What would you say are the primary themes of Alone Among People? What do you want readers to learn by reading the story?

 

A: Perhaps that question is best answered by one reader’s review, in which she states, “Its timeless and uplifting messages of hope conquering despair, healing borne of love and care, and peace at discovering one’s identity are an inspiration.” In my own words, I just want people to know that there are no throwaways in our society—whether it’s a homeless person, drug addict, prostitute, or the incarcerated. And what’s more important, I want those who are distraught or despondent to know that there is always hope as long as there is breath in their lungs—that God loves them even in their infirmity and sin. Also woven into the story is how anger eats its host from within, destroying all sense of self-worth in the end. And that, of course, is not where you want to go. There is also the theme that no matter how independent or self-reliant we insist on being, some things are just too great to overcome on our own. Sometimes we must humble ourselves and ask for help.

 

Q: How much of Briana’s journey is based upon your own life?

 

A: I will only say that I know a little of what it’s like to be homeless. And I know a lot about the anger and despondency that accompany that predicament. But that was a long time ago.

 

Q: You were once homeless?

 

A: Only for a few months, but unlike Briana, I had my truck to sleep in. I at least had that protection. But like Briana, I too had a dog with me and I know how much that aided me in dealing with the loneliness and feelings of being unloved. None of what I went through could even compare, though, to where Briana finds herself. I want to make that clear. My situation was just a blip in my life—a hiccup on the road to redemption.

 

Q: How has Alone Among People been received by readers?

 

A: The response from readers has been genuinely enthusiastic. I could not be happier with the reader reviews and feedback I’ve been reading. I feel wholly blessed.

 

Q: Now, you’re not just an author; you raise guide dogs as well, right?

 

A: I do. I’m a volunteer “puppy raiser” for Guide Dogs of America, one of the leading providers of guide dogs for the blind and visually impaired.

 

Q: How did you get involved with raising guide dogs?

 

A: Like a lot of people, I’m a true dog-lover. I’ve also spent a lot of time training my own dogs over the years. One day I saw a person with a guide-dog-in-training at my church, inquired about the program, and then took the leap. I was looking for some sort of ministry opportunity—a way to give back—and raising guide dogs just seemed to fit. "Puppy Raisers"  raise pups until they're one-and-a-half years old. Then we turn them into Guide Dogs of America where they each receive four to five months of formal guide dog training. That’s when the dogs learn how to direct their future owners. If they graduate the program, the puppy raiser gets to present their respective puppy to his or her new owner, which as you might imagine is an emotional experience for all.

 

Q: What’s next for you? Anything else in the works?

 

A: Yes. I’m working on another novel—a quirky Irish-American tale entitled Gilihough Cove.

 

Q: What’s it about?

 

A: Simply put, it’s about love’s power to heal the brokenhearted.

 

Q: That seems like an oxymoron.

 

A: (Smiling) Exactly.

 

 

Short Bio for D. M. Anthony

 

David has been writing for over ten years and his published and produced projects cover fiction, biographies, ghostwritten non-fiction, freelance journalism and ghostwritten articles (subjects ranging from sports to business/finance to politics and beyond), web and advertising copy, award-winning screenplays, and projects where he has served as editor. He writes for both the secular and Christian markets, as long as the story has some redeeming value.

 

David also volunteers as a “Puppy Raiser” for Guide Dogs of America, an organization dedicated to providing the visually impaired with quality seeing-eye dogs. He lives in Southern California where he’s at work on his next book.