This is the story's backstory
More info about the book
The basic facts
The title “Rubrum” (ROO-brum, Latin for Red) refers to a scarlet convertible central to the story.
The hero is an auto mechanic who pathologically isolates himself. Extensive back story explains this seclusion and arcs toward emergence.
The deliberate unfolding delights fans of densely-detailed works by writers such as James Lee Burke, Larry McMurtry and Richard Russo.
The extended resolution climaxes in a deadly confrontation.
The pre-publication manuscript contains approximately 112,000 words.
Six-word summary:
MysteriousÂ
visitsÂ
interruptÂ
mechanic’sÂ
lifelong
isolation.
Other intriguing aspects
Originally drafted in 160 consecutive days, one new Facebook post at a time, between June 16 and November 22, 2014.
Includes a prominent motif of SELF-CHECKOUT, referring to (a) convenient but anti-social self-serve payment and (b) the hero’s continual introspection.
Contains a significant presence of real-life companies Sheetz and Lowe’s.
A major character is based on a beloved high-school teacher who the author had not seen for 28 years until giving her a copy of the story.
The novel bears a unique relationship to a literary classic (click here to spoil the secret)
Discussion topics for book clubs include:
Abuse
Afterlife
Guilt
Isolation
Premonition
Sacrifice
Secrets
Self-Checkout
(retail)
Self-Checkout (introspection)
A scene-selection-style list
Dozens of cinematic scenes in the book offer drama, suspense, romance, humor, action and mystery. A list of these might include:
- Working blind
- Snack cake standoff
- Amateur haircut
- Burning Miss September
- Phantom speaks
- Rain on the dead
- Dangers to come
- Dancing at school
- Underage driver
- Bluffing Mr. McSweeney
- Walking under stars
- Rolling the golf cart
- The convertible
- Black banana
- Meeting the boyfriend
- The deer
- The attack
- The vow
- Drive at sunrise
- Defending mother and child
- Talking to God
- The Sunday letter
- Phoning and falling
- Sunset in the park
- Apparition
- Tree planting
- Swear snacks
- Seasonal shop intervention
- Burlap walls
- Sweltering sunset
- One kiss
- Lost at The Bend
- Working catatonic
- Obituary revelation
- Police interview
- Abandoned purchase
- At the lake
- Splintered door
- Traffic stop
- Leaving earth
- Oncoming truck
- Nothing moving
- Car returns
- Answers in Paint
- Wiped memory
- Stocky and Cadaver
- The offer
- The question
- The fight
- The key
- The agreement
- Tiny passenger
- The signÂ
