Lacy Dawn’s father relives the never-ending Gulf War, her mother’s teeth are rotting out, and her best friend gets murdered by the meanest daddy on Earth. Life in the hollow is hard. She has one advantage – an android was inserted into her life and is working with her to cure her parents. He wants something in exchange. It’s up to her to save the Universe. Lacy Dawn doesn’t mind saving the universe, but her family and friends come first.
Rarity from the Hollow is adult literary science fiction filled with tragedy, comedy, satire, and political parody — a children’s story for adults. Half of author proceeds are donated to help abused / homeless children.
Targeted Age Group:: 16+
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I've had a long-standing need to write fiction beginning in preadolescence, producing short stories and poetry until working to support my family while in graduate school drained my energies and my inner voice became silent. I majored in the delivery of services to help needful children, working while in school and for the next forty years in that field. Today, I'm a retired children's psychotherapist.
One day in 2006 while I was facilitating a group therapy session for children with mental health problems, across the table sat an eleven year old victim of extreme abuse. This girl was the inspiration for my protagonist — Lacy Dawn — and my debut novel.
Instead of talking about the horrors of her abuse by the meanest daddy on Earth, Lacy Dawn spoke of her courage in facing life, her hopes and dreams for the future, especially to find a permanent family who would love and protect her. She inspired everyone who came in contact with her, staff and other kids alike. That evening when I got home, I began pursuit of my own long lost dream of writing fiction. Rarity from the Hollow is my debut novel.
How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
The characters in Rarity from the Hollow were based on my own family and people that I met during my career as a children's advocate in a rural, poverty stricken state, West Virginia. Most of the characters speak in colloquial voice and hold traditional values that fit the areas where I grew up and continue to live.
The android character speaks more formally and without emotion as he aspire to achieve humanity. Two of the characters represent politicians that you may recognize — Mr. Prump based on the TV show The Apprentice and another candidate running in the race for the 2020 Presidential Primary.
Book Sample
Excerpt, Chapter 32: “The First Sexual Harassment Complaint on Shptiludrp”
Scene Prologue: Lacy Dawn, the eleven year old protagonist, is a most unlikely savior of the universe. An android named DotCom (a recurring pun in the story) was sent to Earth to recruit and train Lacy to fulfill her destiny – to save the universe. She changed the android’s name to “Bucky” to cover-up its true nature, assembled and prepared a team to diagnose and address the threat to the universe, and took her team to planet Shptiludrp (Shop Until You Drop), a giant shopping mall and the center of economic governance. The following scene is the team’s first meeting with the Manager of the Mall and takes place in the only high rise office building on the planet, now easily identifiable as Trump Tower.
…Lacy Dawn scanned across a desk larger than her bedroom and lowered her gaze until just above the desk top. In an oversized swivel chair behind the desk sat a humanoid…. Mr. Prump stood up…. He extended a small hand with six fingers, each of which had at least two overly large golden rings.
“It's very nice to meet you, Lacy Dawn,” he ignored the others….
“He looks almost just like that short guy on those taxi cab reruns,” Dwayne whispered. “What’s that actor’s name?” (Dwayne, Lacy’s father, is an Iraq War damaged Vet who suffered from PTSD, night terrors and anger outbursts until cured by the android since he had refused treatment by the VA hospital. Dwayne, an expert used car salesman, plays an important role on the team and worked very hard to save the universe in an effort to achieve Lacy’s forgiveness for his past abusive behaviors.)
“Shhhh,” Lacy Dawn glared.
“I have a complaint to make,” Lacy said to Mr. Prump.
“Oh?” Mr. Prump sat down, opened a drawer, and shoved a form across his desk in her direction. “Please call me Mr. Prump.”
Hospitality has been extended to her entourage.
The form ran out of momentum half-way across the desk. Lacy Dawn extended and retracted because it stopped well short of her reach.
That's too far regardless of obligatory respect.
“I was not aware of any dissatisfaction of any type, sir,” Bucky reverted to his role as DotCom in the presence of his long-term authority figure. Lacy Dawn gave him The Look and trumped.
“Your elevator operator just told me that I have a nice ass,” she said.
Dwayne started for the office exit to get the offender. Lacy Dawn pushed him toward one of the chairs in front of the desk. Tom grabbed Dwayne’s arm. (Tom is Lacy’s neighbor. He is a wealthy “back to the land” marijuana dealer who relocated to The Hollow when he concluded that city life aggravated his Bipolar Disorder.) Then, Tom and Lacy Dawn had to restrain Bucky’s attempt to go after the offender.
Lacy and Jenny stood alone in front of the desk while the males sat. Jenny moved to her daughter's side. (Jenny is Lacy’s formerly downtrodden mother whose self-esteem had been enhanced after the android had replaced her rotting teeth with new ones.) Brownie growled. So did Bucky. (Brownie is the family mutt and the only member of the team with enough empathy skills to communicate with, at this point in the story, vile invaders of the universe.)….
Mr. Prump shoved another form in her direction with the same result. The complaint forms were the only papers on the desk….
“Tree says that to me all the time,” the receptionist said from the doorway. “Would anybody like something to drink or a snack?”
Nobody responded except Mr. Prump. He extended a cup that had been on his desk, but the gesture was ignored.
"That's different, you…" Tom started but Lacy Dawn's look cut him short.
“The females of those people got no figures at all — straight up and down,” the receptionist said. “I wouldn’t take it personally, Lacy. All males from that planet become infatuated with any curve on any body that they think is female. He's a nice person once you get to know him.”
“Regardless, it was inappropriate for him to tell me that I have a nice ass.”
“Yeah,” her team said in unison. DotCom was the loudest except for Brownie’s bark followed by another growl.
“I ought to kick his ass for talking trash to my little girl,” Dwayne said.
I'm such a juvenile.
Lacy glared at him again.
“Sorry,” Dwayne hung his head.
“Further,” Lacy Dawn continued. “I'm not about to do business with any planet that permits the sexual harassment of its visitors or employees to go undisciplined.”
Jenny sat down.
“Yeah,” the receptionist said.
Mr. Prump sank deeper into his seat….
“I’m never going to sit on your lap again unless I want to,” the receptionist said. “And, as for anything else, you can just forget it from now on unless you take care of this. Take care of the whole problem on the whole planet — equal respect for all people — within their financial means, of course.”
“Take a memo to Division Managers with a copy to All Staff.”
Mr. Prump began. Lacy Dawn stood alone before the desk. He dictated the memo and she listened.
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Author Bio:
Robert Eggleton has served as a children's advocate in an impoverished state for over forty years. Locally, he is best known for his nonfiction about children’s programs and issues, much of which was published by the West Virginia Supreme Court where he worked from1982 through 1997. Today, he is a retired children's psychotherapist from the mental health center in Charleston, West Virginia, where he specialized in helping victims cope with and overcome maltreatment and other mental health concerns. Rarity from the Hollow is his debut novel. Author proceeds support the prevention of child maltreatment. For a complete listing of specific services, including the agency history and its mission, please see: http://www.childhswv.org/
