Psychological Thriller
Date Published: 03/25/2024
Publisher: Great Whale Books
The wedding was weeks away for two young lovers, who had counted themselves
lucky to have found one another. Then, it was over, as one of them abruptly
disappeared. Audrey was not abducted. Not exactly. She was not taken against
her will. Rather, her will itself had been taken. Coerced and controlled.
Deceived and derailed. Matthias cannot walk away from the catastrophe,
though he has nothing to go on, and is in the dark beyond all personal
darkness he has ever known . . .
The Contraption is a novel that deals with the challenges faced by a woman
who has been recruited into a dangerous, coercive religious cult. Her
fiancé is left not knowing even where she is. Her name has been
changed and she has been relocated to another state. The cult, Church of the
Mountain of Radiance, is an all-controlling psychological prison.
INTERVIEW
What is the hardest part of writing your books?
My books are so character-driven, like the style of Elizabeth Strout. Being true to the characters is Job One. The Contraption, my current novel, involved striking a balance between the characters personalities and the danger/thriller aspects of the plot. Delivering on my knowledge of the psychology of cults was something else, but it fit in with describing the characters’ minds and the danger they are facing.
What are your most played songs?
I seem to need instrumentals playing in the background when I write. If there are vocals, the lyrics jumble up with the words in my head! Jazz guitar seems to be the perfect sound for me. I go on Youtube and play albums by Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, and Joe Pass. I also love the jazz piano of Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans.
What book are you reading now?
I am moving through the works of Elizabeth Strout. The Burgess Boys will be next.
How did you start your writing career?
It was an escape from certain hard times my family was going through. I was just a kid when I started writing. There have always been two constants in my writing: Enthusiastic response from those who read my work, and stone silence from the industry!
Tell us about your next release.
I am still so focused on The Contraption, but I have a novel that I have been holding in reserve, until I make more progress in figuring out this whole marketing and promotions thing. It is a character study of an idealistic young man who finds himself in in a corrupt little town ruled by old families of the area like it was a feudal barony of the Dark Ages. Themes of undue influence and psychological control are a pattern in my writing. The Contraption, of course, deals with a cult! I may release The Year of Cannonhills (the book about the young man) next. I have also been encouraged to write a sequel to The Contraption!
About the Author
The author, Barton A. Stewart, is a long time student of the cult
phenomenon, and literary fiction. The Contraption marries together his two
long time interests. Stewart has lived all over the United States, is
presently single, and currently calls Metro Boston home. His book will be
among the most realistic fictional depictions of the kinds of things that
can happen in cases like this. Avoiding the sensationalism of so many novels
on this subject, Stewart offers a look into another world, which
unfortunately exists in the here and now.
Contact Links
Website
Twitter: @BartStewart1
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