Author, interviewer, and all-around great guy Steven Luna was kind enough to ask me some questions about Sea of Trees, my writing process, as well as my inspirations. Check it out.
Bit City, Small World
In my humble opinion, Ann Arbor is one of the best food cities in the country. No joke. It may not be as big as Chicago or New York (or even nearby Detroit), but the sheer volume of quality—seriously quality—restaurants is staggering. And the best part? I often find myself stumbling upon hidden little gems that blow my mind.
Case in point: Big City, Small World Bakery.
Seriously good eats. Best scones I’ve had outside of England. And the coffee? Not bad at all.
Moral of this story: Eat more scones.
That is all.
Praise for Sea of Trees from Brian Oliu
“What is it about trees that terrify us so—there’s a frightening and twisted stillness to them, but yet they are like us: vertical, yet reaching. Perhaps we think of Dante—the trees in the Inferno are actually people who have taken their own lives and forced to suffer in their frozen bodies. The image of the couple in Sea of Trees traversing through a dense forest searching for answers concerning the suicide of Junko’s sister is haunting and suffocating at times—the shadows hiding bodies of those who suffered the same fate. As they walk, the trees seem to whisper their stories of where they have been, what they have seen.”
Thanks, Brian!
¡Churros!
Pretty much all my teeth are of the sweet variety. So last night I quested for something, anything, to sate the pangs and finally decided on Frita Batidos—one of my favorite eateries in all of Ann Arbor—for their orange and nutmeg scented, cinnamon-sugar coated churros (with Spanish chocolate for dipping). Do. Not. Disappoint.
And the décor of the place is, as always, a reason to check Frita’s out.
Adventures in Atlanta
So, went down to Atlanta last weekend for a wedding, and came back with the same conclusion I’ve had after my previous visits: this city is awesome. Love the food, love the neighborhoods, and everyone says “y’all” all the time. Perfection.
Sea of Trees now available on Kindle/NOOK
Fantastic news for those who prefer eBooks: My debut novel Sea of Trees is now available as an eBook (in either Kindle or NOOK format) for only $6.99! Click the links below to find your preferred format, and see what others are saying about the book already!
Praise for Sea of Trees from Charles McLeod
“Darkly beautiful, replete with intriguing bends, Russell’s novella unfolds much like one of the tree-shrouded paths comprising its protagonists’ somber, captivating journey, the characters’ psyches as perilous as the forest in which they find themselves lost, the book’s stunning vignettes like narrative shrines to those who have chosen to make their end in Aokigahara.”
Thanks, Charles!