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Alan S. Kessler

Goodreads Author

Born

in Columbus, Ohio, The United States

Website

https://www.alanskessler.com

Genre

Literary Fiction

Influences

Dickens

Member Since

June 2010

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Today, 2/11/21, is the first time I am using this space to say a little about myself.

Shyness, a belief I would bore readers with my background or cause them to think I was using it to selfishly gain sympathy, prevented me in the past from sharing biographical information. However, because of my new novel, Ghost Dancer, I believe it is now appropriate to mention a few aspects of my childhood.

With Ghost Dancer I am a white male writing about a teenage girl, Native and African Americans, and a same sex, female relationship. So the question is, am I also “…a white liberal interloper, a cultural [gender] carpetbagger…” the criticism leveled at William Styron for writing The Confessions of Nat Turner? (William Styron’s Nat Turner: Ten Black Wri ...more

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Really enjoyed Ghost Dancer - thank you and your comments above on understanding marginalization was vividly expressed in your writing. How much research did you do, particularly with regard to the Native American aspects of the book?

Alan S. Kessler My apology Stephen, I am deeply embarrassed it has taken me so long to answer your question. I am totally inadequate utilizing any social media platfo…moreMy apology Stephen, I am deeply embarrassed it has taken me so long to answer your question. I am totally inadequate utilizing any social media platforms, Goodreads included. Until today, I didn’t know I should check my author’s account and look for readers’ questions. I hope you will forgive my rudeness

Regarding your question, I read extensively on the subject: memoirs, news feeds, and non-fiction books. I sent the manuscript to a Native American for vetting. Since I was writing about a culture not my own I wanted not only to be accurate and respectful, but tred lightly while dealing with emotionally triggering events. What I do in my novels is write about subjects/themes I think are important and hope I have at the end stories that resonate with a reader. I am grateful Ghost Dancer did with you.

I always check my email, alanskesslerosu@gmail.com. It won’t take me two months to get back to you, rather the same day!

With regrets but trying to make amends,
Alan(less)

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How do you deal with writer’s block?

Alan S. Kessler Thank you for your interest in my answer. I'll try and make it informative so you won't feel after reading it I waisted your time.

I don't have writer…moreThank you for your interest in my answer. I'll try and make it informative so you won't feel after reading it I waisted your time.

I don't have writer's block. That isn't because I'm so talented I just sit down and it all flows out, beginning to end. Just the opposite. I struggle over very sentence. Does it sound right? Does it say what I actually want to convey? Will it advance the story? Is it repetitive?

My "process" is to write a page a day, no matter what. This is often painful because I self-edit as I go along while knowing everything I've written will change through the course of the multiple drafts the novel will take. But I slog on.

I hope this is somewhat helpful. Again, thanks for asking.(less)

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Alan S. Kessler’s books

Average rating: 3.6 · 263 ratings · 146 reviews · 9 distinct works • Similar authors

	Ghost Dancer 3.73 avg rating — 127 ratings — published 2021 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Damnation and Cotton Candy 3.24 avg rating — 55 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Satan Carol 3.61 avg rating — 28 ratings — published 2011 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Clarence Olgibee 3.55 avg rating — 20 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Gables Court 3.40 avg rating — 20 ratings — published 2018 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Shadowlands 4.13 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 2013 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Butcher 4.20 avg rating — 5 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Satan Carol: A Spiritual Horror Story for Secular Readers 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Night Screams 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Alan S. Kessler's Blog

The Europeans: Bringing Civilization to North America (If you believe in fairies)”

We all know Disney’s sweet little story about Cinderella. It was a close adaptation of Charles Perrault’s Cendrillion (1697). The Brothers Grimm’s version is as different to those of Disney and Perrault’s as a blood sausage is to jellyrolls. In the folktale the Grimms relate, one stepsister cuts off her toe in order to fit her foot into the golden shoe, the other stepsister chops off a heel. Then Read more of this blog post »

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Published on September 09, 2021 12:24

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Ghost Dancer

by Alan S. Kessler (Goodreads Author)

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Alan answered Stephen's question: Really enjoyed Ghost Dancer - thank you and your comments above on understanding marginalization was vividly expressed in your writing. How much research did you do, particularly with regard to the Native American aspects of the book? My apology Stephen, I am deeply embarrassed it has taken me so long to answer your question. I am totally inadequate utilizing any social media platforms, Goodreads included. Until today, I didn’t know I should check my author’s account and look for See Full Answer
May 10, 2021 05:35AM · like