Congratulations to Michael T. Fournier on yesterday’s release of his fantastic second novel Swing State!
Michael is the author of the 33 1/3 volume on The Minutemen’s Double Nickel’s on the Dime (Bloomsbury, 2007) as well as the punk-rock novel Hidden Wheel (2011). His most recent novel, Swing State, unveils the generally overlooked decades-long economic downturn in the rural Northeast. With an unflinching eye, Founier lays bare the dim dreams and raw existence of the lives of three residents of Armbrister, New Hampshire, who share the same goal: get out. In this deftly woven tale, the intersection of bullying and terrorism blurs with disastrous consequences.
But don’t just take our word for it—here’s what Library Journal has to say about Swing State:
Fournier’s (Hidden Wheel) second novel focuses on three young people making do in the brutal economic wasteland of New Hampshire’s North Country. The brutality starts at home for Dixon Dove and Zachariah Tietz, both still in high school. Dixon is the sister of the school football star, which couldn’t interest her less. She ducks her heavy-drinking stepfather to practice petty theft, set off firecrackers, and bully other kids. Zachariah was doing okay even though his alcoholic millworker dad beat him regularly. But after a humiliating injury during a pick-up soccer game, he is shunned and taunted and becomes overweight. Afghanistan veteran Roy Eggleton has come home with a traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and a bum leg; now he plays pool for money and limps around town looking for work. As the novel progresses, the characters paths become more intertwined, ultimately with calamitous results.
Verdict: Fournier conjures three vivid voices for this bleak tale in which things go from bad to worse. His excellent writing should appeal to readers of contemporary fiction who like the view to be unflinching.
Michael is also running an Indiegogo account to raise funds for a 2015 tour junket, and luckily for us, he’ll also be doing some great readings in the area:
Friday 10/10. Brooklyn NY, Book Thug Nation. 7 pm. With Larry Livermore, Joe Evans III, Mike Faloon.
Saturday 10/11. Jersey City NJ. Iris Records. Early one: 3:30 pm. With Larry Livermore, Joe Evans III, Mike Faloon.
Monday 10/20. New York City. Le Poisson Rouge. 7 pm. Book release with Ron Dakron and Richard Katrovas.
Thursday 10/23. Concord, NH. 7pm. Gibson’s.
