SOLVED. Fiction Novel Turn-By-Mail Game Creator set in early 80s, MC named Sean (?). Author is also a songwriter, and read the audio book. Probably written in the last decade? [s]

[Reesa]

Hi all,

The problem here is that I haven't read it. I heard an excerpt on a podcast but they didn't identify it, but I want to read it. Hope that's ok. Here's what I know:

The book was shortlisted for National Book Award, probably in the last decade, but that's not clear. The author is also a song writer, and is likely a male, but their gender is not confirmed. The audio book is read by the author. It is also likely one of the first few books that the author wrote.

The book itself is fiction, given the podcast, horror, fantasy, sci-fi all likely - no idea if it's adult or YA, but I suspect not YA as it mentions already having graduated from high school.

It's about a person who starts at urn by mail gaming company in the early 80s, who gets into some kind of trouble - likely legal as it mentions a trial. I think the lead character's name is Sean (Shawn?).

Main character went to school with someone nicknamed Teeg (Tig - spelling?) from Tigger from Winnie the Pooh as a kid, whose real name was Keith Jones, though no one calls him that (though I suspect that is not any kind of lead character) . We also learn from that interaction that Sean was hospitalized in high school for (?) and didn't finish high school with his class.

One of the players mentioned is name Chris Haynes. I don't know how important that character is.

That's about all I have. I'm really hoping that someone here knows what this is.

Thanks all!

[Michele]

this wikipedia articke has links to lists of finalists for the NBA, anything look familiar?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natio...

[Daisy]

What do you mean by "turn by mail game creator"?

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

What does "turn by mail game creator" mean?

[Becca]

I think OP is referring to play-by-mail games (I tried to link to the Wikipedia page but apparantly that's not allowed).

Wolf in White Van by John Darnielle? It's a debut novel about man called Sean who creates one of these games, and it was nominated for the National Book Award in 2014. John Darnielle is the singer/songwriter of The Mountain Goats.

[Daisy]

Oh! Turn-by-mail game creator. Punctuation is important :)

[Daisy]

I was reading it as "turn, by a mail-game creator," which made no sense.

[Becca]

Daisy wrote: "I was reading it as "turn, by a mail-game creator," which made no sense."

I initially thought it was an autocorrect-mangled version of 'written by male game creator'!

[Reesa]

Wolf in White Van by John Darnielle? It's a debut novel abo..."

YES!!!! This is it!!! Thank you!!!!

[Reesa]

Michele wrote: "this wikipedia articke has links to lists of finalists for the NBA, anything look familiar?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natio..."

yea, I tried that before posting here and couldn't figure it out.

Though it was a great suggestion! Also, someone got it down thread.

Thanks!

[Reesa]

Uh. New question - how do i notify a moderator to let them know this is closed and found now?

[Kris]

Done and done. Glad you found your book, Reesa. Thanks for posting a new comment with the update.