FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Carol Showalter
Tel: (508) 255-4685 x 356
cshowalter@paracletepress.com
This hilarious novel of ideas will challenge
your assumptions about community, love, death,
and what might one day
emerge from your washing machine.
An Original Voices pick at Borders for April and May
__________
Steven Cleaver’s absorbing debut novel, Saving Erasmus (Paraclete Press / Release date April 2, 2007 / Hardcover / 220 pages / $21.95), is It’s a Wonderful Life meets the Angel of Death—and a total romp about a change of heart and a way to faith.
Andrew Benoit, young big-city seminary grad, is herded to a tiny parish in the town of Erasmus. It turns out to be just one week before the Angel of Death threatens to work fierce power in the town, and the flood gates open on Andrew’s life. What ensues is a deadly fun, deadly serious, personal, and sometimes romantic exploration of what it means to be a prophet. Along the way, young Andrew takes forays into the history of American cinema, lives of the medieval saints, the Apocalypse, the Angel of Death, and one curious group of contemporary mystics who meet at the Instant Coffee Cup—Harpo, Curly, Mae, Lucy and Lou—keepers of the secret of the Incorruptible body of the Saint Annie Cotter, whose tomb is guarded by Simon, the Knight Templar.
Saving Erasmus unfolds to reveal a modern Jonah, trying to save a small town and finding out that he himself is the one who needs saving.
“Saving Erasmus had me hooked from the front page. Clever, witty, and profound, everything a good book should be,” praises Philip Gulley, author of the Harmony series.
About the Author
Steven Cleaver combines a writer’s curiosity with a life-long passion for faith. He is a published poet and a graduate of the Earlham School of Religion. His poems have won an Indiana State Award and he has taught at the Omega Institute. Cleaver, who grew up on a farm, lives in New York City where he manages a non-profit, negotiates mass transit, and seeks the best cup of coffee. This is his first novel, and he owns his own washing machine.
Visit www.savingerasmus.com for more information about Steven Cleaver and for details on how Cleaver will be visiting with book clubs across the U.S. from April to October, 2007.
# # #
If possible, please include our 800 number with your mention or review. (800) 451-5006.
Thank you.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
An Original Voice
I have been included as one of Border’s Books “Original Voices” for April/May 2007. Wow. I suppose it is only natural that an author who writes about the Angel of Death coming out of a washing machine would be a recipient of such an honor. Sure other authors utilize the Angel of Death and certainly washing machines and Laundromats have been the subject of books and even movies,(My Beautiful Laundrette coming to mind), but never before have the two met.
Of course, I am grateful. It means Saving Erasmus gets put out front in the store and that it will gain placement in their ads. This equates to more exposure, better publicity, increased sales, and finally my message reaching more people. But where will this lead?
Will there be an Original Voices tour for 2007? Will I need to compete with the others for final spots? Will I be the Sanjaya Malakar (without the hair) of the group? Or will I rise above? How will I handle the increased scrutiny of my work? Will there be challenges to the credibility of my creativity from authors who have written about similar material? None come to mind, but as the book hits the bestseller lists, I am expecting a few to surface.
And what of my original voice? If the tour is successful will I be expected to repeat with another story about a washing machine? Or will I be forced to search out different appliances and other angels entering from dryers, trash compactors or refrigerators? And if refrigerators are the appliance of choice, will I discover what happens to the light when the door closes? Will the genre of appliance entering angels be overdone to the point that it merely becomes a question in Trivial Pursuit, only randomly having the importance of determining the pie or deciding who wins the game?
Certainly I could select the route that Harper Lee took after writing To Kill A Mockingbird. I could stop writing and disappear from the public eye, leaving my one novel as the soul representation of my writing. Years would go by with talk of some new novel but I would simply rest on my laurels and perhaps, washing machine.
All of this, fortunately, does not keep me up at nights. That honor goes to the municipal trucks out side my window. But still as an author and philosopher, I ponder the meaning of each experience and seek the relevance within. But for now, I will just follow my bliss and hope that my voice follows.
I am an Original Voice. I will savor the moment for what it is.
Of course, I am grateful. It means Saving Erasmus gets put out front in the store and that it will gain placement in their ads. This equates to more exposure, better publicity, increased sales, and finally my message reaching more people. But where will this lead?
Will there be an Original Voices tour for 2007? Will I need to compete with the others for final spots? Will I be the Sanjaya Malakar (without the hair) of the group? Or will I rise above? How will I handle the increased scrutiny of my work? Will there be challenges to the credibility of my creativity from authors who have written about similar material? None come to mind, but as the book hits the bestseller lists, I am expecting a few to surface.
And what of my original voice? If the tour is successful will I be expected to repeat with another story about a washing machine? Or will I be forced to search out different appliances and other angels entering from dryers, trash compactors or refrigerators? And if refrigerators are the appliance of choice, will I discover what happens to the light when the door closes? Will the genre of appliance entering angels be overdone to the point that it merely becomes a question in Trivial Pursuit, only randomly having the importance of determining the pie or deciding who wins the game?
Certainly I could select the route that Harper Lee took after writing To Kill A Mockingbird. I could stop writing and disappear from the public eye, leaving my one novel as the soul representation of my writing. Years would go by with talk of some new novel but I would simply rest on my laurels and perhaps, washing machine.
All of this, fortunately, does not keep me up at nights. That honor goes to the municipal trucks out side my window. But still as an author and philosopher, I ponder the meaning of each experience and seek the relevance within. But for now, I will just follow my bliss and hope that my voice follows.
I am an Original Voice. I will savor the moment for what it is.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
The Journey Begins
THE JOURNEY BEGINS
Dear Friends Of Erasmus:
The journey has begun.
The Saving Erasmus Tour of 2007 starts Sunday March 11th at the Everything Goes Book Café in Staten Island. There will be a reading and book signing at 3PM with a private reception afterwards. RSVP for the reception to steve@savingerasmus.com
So …the book is finally out. I held my first copy last week. It’s a beautifully done book. The cover design is wonderful and really depicts what goes on in the book. It was designed by Steven Eames and Jean-Francois Martin. Voila! Paraclete Press has been wonderful in their help and guidance. Check out their webpage and my interview at www.paraclete press.com
So many other things to be grateful for:
• The book has been accepted by Borders Books and they have said they will place it out front. Yeah Borders.
• The book has been reviewed in Booklist and Library Journal. In order to be purchased by libraries, a book needs a review here.
• My website is up and running. Thanks to some initial help from Sam Franklin and the ongoing genius and commitment of Alex Grom, I now have a web presence. Check it out at
www.savingerasmus.com.
• About 3500 copies of the book are back ordered from Paraclete. Not sure completely what it means but hey, it sounds good.
And so the journey continues:
The next few months will be occupied with figuring how to market this book to book clubs and stores. I have a plan to have the Angel of Death walk around Union Square with a placard on that says “The End is Near” and “Saving Erasmus, April 2007” I have bought the costume and have someone who will wear it-just now got to get to Barnes and Nobles-who by the way, have yet to buy the book for stores.
So how can you help?
• Request the book at your local bookstore. Throw a tantrum if they don’t
• Supposedly I am “one friend” away from someone who has a radio show or television show. Anyone want to fess up?
• Review the book (positively) at Amazon.com.
• If you’re really courageous I can send you an Angel of Death costume and you can promote the book in your town. Just a thought.
• Speak to Spielberg.
That’s it for now-Steve
“I thank heaven someone’s crazy enough to give me a daisy” ee cummings
Steve
Dear Friends Of Erasmus:
The journey has begun.
The Saving Erasmus Tour of 2007 starts Sunday March 11th at the Everything Goes Book Café in Staten Island. There will be a reading and book signing at 3PM with a private reception afterwards. RSVP for the reception to steve@savingerasmus.com
So …the book is finally out. I held my first copy last week. It’s a beautifully done book. The cover design is wonderful and really depicts what goes on in the book. It was designed by Steven Eames and Jean-Francois Martin. Voila! Paraclete Press has been wonderful in their help and guidance. Check out their webpage and my interview at www.paraclete press.com
So many other things to be grateful for:
• The book has been accepted by Borders Books and they have said they will place it out front. Yeah Borders.
• The book has been reviewed in Booklist and Library Journal. In order to be purchased by libraries, a book needs a review here.
• My website is up and running. Thanks to some initial help from Sam Franklin and the ongoing genius and commitment of Alex Grom, I now have a web presence. Check it out at
www.savingerasmus.com.
• About 3500 copies of the book are back ordered from Paraclete. Not sure completely what it means but hey, it sounds good.
And so the journey continues:
The next few months will be occupied with figuring how to market this book to book clubs and stores. I have a plan to have the Angel of Death walk around Union Square with a placard on that says “The End is Near” and “Saving Erasmus, April 2007” I have bought the costume and have someone who will wear it-just now got to get to Barnes and Nobles-who by the way, have yet to buy the book for stores.
So how can you help?
• Request the book at your local bookstore. Throw a tantrum if they don’t
• Supposedly I am “one friend” away from someone who has a radio show or television show. Anyone want to fess up?
• Review the book (positively) at Amazon.com.
• If you’re really courageous I can send you an Angel of Death costume and you can promote the book in your town. Just a thought.
• Speak to Spielberg.
That’s it for now-Steve
“I thank heaven someone’s crazy enough to give me a daisy” ee cummings
Steve
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