Blog Tour: THEO AND SPROUT

Theo and Sprout: A Journey of Growth

by Joseph Gergen

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GENRE: Literary Fiction (YA)

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BLURB:

While Theo longs for some guidance through the perils of adolescence, the guidance he knew his family wouldn’t give him, he isn’t prepared for Sprout, his inner Divine Feminine, to present herself and offer it to him. In fact, he doesn’t appear to have a choice since Sprout, sassy and confident about her presence, won’t go away.

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Excerpt One:

SPROUT. My brother had no idea the impact the nickname he derisively gave me would have. Neither of us knew how unwittingly appropriate it would become. Was it destiny or self-fulfilling prophecy? I don’t know. Memories and dreams and possibilities like to mix together. As far as my past is concerned and the makeup of who I am and what shaped me, I can make no distinction between memory and reality and dream. I usually don’t try.

While I certainly don’t remember all of my childhood, and many aspects are densely foggy, I remember with clarity the day my life changed. I was preparing for school in the basement bathroom—the small, cramped bathroom that seemed more like a large porta-potty with a shower than an actual bathroom. Wet towels covered the floor and almost all available surfaces. Countless toiletries jumbled themselves wherever space allowed them to balance or stack. Most of these did not belong to me. They belonged to my collection of brothers and sisters. I had a toothbrush. I knew that. Usually, I found toothpaste. If I absolutely needed a less common toiletry, I picked through a baffling array of products, many of which I had no understanding, until I found something useful.

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Interview:

If you could have one paranormal ability, what would it be?

At first I thought “Psychometry”–the ability to obtain information about a person or an object by touch. You could learn so much. And then perhaps learn too much and that seems like that might become burdensome.  So then I thought I’d rather have psychic healing ability so I could help people suffer less.

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Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I am unquestionably a pantser, definitely no clue as a rule where things are going.  Though sometimes I do have some unintentional forethought which aids in the plotting. I paint the same way. I just start putting stuff on a canvas with no idea where it is headed, though that’s a bit harder to edit. But I am trying a bold experiment with my next project and am actually coming up with a timeline if not an exact plot. It is quite an odd sensation. We’ll see how long tat takes to beak me.  

What is one thing your readers would be most surprised to learn about you?

I’m a furniture designer and maker. At one point I really got into making lamps. I love making shades or sconces out of wood and incorporating a good colored hand-made paper to create a mood light. And I love a good pull chain on a lamp, especially a pull chain with a nice wooden ball to anchor it. There’s just something satisfying about  yanking on the chain to light up the room.

Did you learn anything  from writing this book? If so, what?

I learned that writing about something quite personal is draining. When writing “Theo and “Sprout” I would get done with a session and feel like I had been through the wringer. I’d have to go for a walk or sit in a dark room to recover. A perfect experience of art as therapy. So it was bit draining but also a bit addicting in that I usually felt enormous fulfillment after each session and I wanted to keep having that. I can only hope I can recreate that experience with my next book.  

Ebook or print? And why?

Print for sure. For multiple reasons I suppose. Partly because I work all day staring at a screen. Don’t want more screen time. Partly because I like to read I the sauna. There’s just something about holding onto a book while your having a good sweat.  Though I suppose you can read electronic devices in the sauna. But that just seems wrong. Though I don’t like really big heavy books. So while I like the look and feel of a nice hardcover, I usually find them too burdensome. I like print so much that for “Theo and Sprout” I hand made 10 leather bound copies. I think that was more work than writing the book.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Author of “Theo and Sprout”. Born and raised on the plains of North Dakota. Moved to Twin Cities because it’s actually warmer. Enjoy creating in whatever form it takes, including writing, painting, and furniture making. The enjoyment is in the doing. Looking to add a little magic to the world through art. 

Other books include “Without a Pang” and “Methane Wars.”

Social Media:

Website: https://josephgergen.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeGergen  or @joegergen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joegergen/ or @joegergen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100079140443073

Book Reviews:

https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/theo-and-sprout-a-journey-of-growth-joe-gergen#review

https://chicklitcafe.com/?s=theo+and+sprout

https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/2022/08/theo-and-sprout-a-journey-of-growth-dedicated-review

Books Available at:

“Theo and Sprout” available as eBook, paperback and audiobook Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SMSHF61

And Barnes and Noble as ebook and paperback:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/theo-and-sprout-joseph-gergen/1141648672

“Without a Pang”

Available at Amazon as ebook and paperback:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085H7Q3ZN

“Methane Wars”

Available at Amazon as ebook and paperback:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C0EVC8S

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

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