Book Expands Former Resident's SEMO Graduate Project

Roger W. Forsythe (above), formerly of Cape Girardeau, recently published his first novel, "A Crucible of Innocence." Dedicated to the English Romantic Age poet John Keats, the book is an expansion of the creative project he completed as part of his M.A. in English.

SEMO Alumnus Expands M.A. Project, Publishes Book

Published Novel Expands SEMO Artistic Project

"A Crucible of Innocence," the first novel by former Cape Girardeau resident Roger W. Forsythe of Naples, Florida has been published by Outskirts Press, Inc. of Denver, Colorado.

Available nationally through a variety of distribution outlets, including Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, BooksAMillion.com, Borders, Ingram Book Group, Baker and Taylor, and Bertram Books, the 469-page trade paperback is the semi-autobiographical first volume in "The James Conrad Scott Chronicles."

It is also the direct result of Forsythe's Masters Degree creative research project on the English Romantic Age poet John Keats, as well as his spring 1987 independent studies with the Missouri London Program at the University of London, Imperial College. The novel's "official launch date" of October 31 intentionally marked Keats' 213th birthday.

A 1988 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with an M.A. in English and a 1984 graduate with a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies (with emphasis in English, Psychology, and Marketing), Forsythe acknowledges his indebtedness to his SEMO professors and mentors in "An Author's Afterword."

He specifically credits, in detail, "the 1982-1988 English Department at Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau: Dr. Henry Sessoms (Department Chair & the Middle Ages), Dr. Jennie Cooper (The Complete Shakespeare & Trivia), Dr. Roy Dawson (English Drama, 18th Century British Novel, & Modern Film), Dr. Max Cordonnier (The Victorians & the Romantics), Dr. John C. Bierck (20th Century American Fiction), Dr. Janice Rainwater (American Transcendentalism), Dr. Harvey Hecht (19th Century American Fiction), and Dr. Dale Haskell (Advisor)."

In short Hollywood pitch parlance, the book's plot may be summarized as follows: Think "A Beautiful Mind" and replace literature for mathematics and manic depression for schizophrenia. Then add the TV show "Quantum Leap."

Because angels and reincarnation are primary themes, the self-described "Poetic Novel" is being marketed in both the literary and spiritual genres. Like the main character, under whose pseudonym much of the work is written, the structure of the novel is bipolar; it has two halves.

The author's web page at www.outskirtspress.com/acrucibleofinnocence features a five-minute audio excerpt, e-book download availability, and direct links to both Amazon.com—where the author maintains a blog—and BarnesAndNoble.com, where the following abbreviated synopsis is printed in full.

"When a health crisis reignites the conflict he has with his boss, Conrad Scott quits the Bethel, California 'World-Democrat' and takes five part-time jobs—one minding the graveyard shift at a radio station haunted by its former owner. Having faced the supernatural before as a Civil War re-enactor, Conrad crosses the extreme in what soon escalates as a boxing match exorcism. It succeeds.

"Throughout, imagination wrecks havoc on Conrad's world. Like an angel pinhead dancing the fine rhapsody of madmen and genius, Conrad envisions himself borne by Christ through the wilderness, as the assistant wireless operator on board 'Titanic,' as a barkeep serving the literary immortals, as Adam pioneering the American Eden, as King Arthur being handed the Holy Grail, as a soldier fighting the Civil War Armageddon, and—finally—as John Keats (to whom the book is dedicated) … himself, on prior passage.

"As the loose ribbons of present existence gift-like wrap an Independence Day shared joyous in the park, Conrad's spirit steps easily aside to allow Jack Kerouac and Keats the rare opportunity of enjoying life beyond the great perpetuity. Genius, he has discovered, is as common as the Holy Spirit about each of us embraced: Easy comes the beatnik laughing."

A past SEMO Writing Center tutor, graduate research assistant, and graduate teaching assistant, Forsythe is currently an adjunct English professor at Barry University and Edison State College in Naples, Florida, where he now resides.

The recipient of three Missouri Associated Press awards for excellence in feature writing, a "veteran" Civil War re-enactor, a licensed trim carpenter, and a certified astrologer, Forsythe has published three volumes of poetry, a chapter for the historical textbook Missouri: Our Civil War Heritage, and over 35 short stories, poems, articles, and essays in regional literary journals.

Outskirts Press is actually the book's second publisher. In February 2007, Publish America of Baltimore, Maryland first signed the work to its fall list. That contract was terminated at the galley production phase when a three-page political satire entitled "The Patriotic Kid" was deemed too controversial by Publish America's legal department.

Acting not only as the novel's author but as its copyright attorney, co-editor, and cover designer, Forsythe was required to obtain 65 permissions from living persons or groups mentioned in passing—as well as six licenses to quote from specific works, including the Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil," Conway Twitty's "Hello Darlin'," Jack Kerouac's "Lonesome Traveler," and T. S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats."

Forsythe resided in Cape Girardeau from 1982-1988, during which time he was employed full-time by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

He first developed the main character 28 years ago in the wake of John Lennon's assassination and after having read "The Catcher in the Rye." Ironically, the day his author's copies arrived was John Lennon's birthday.