Dad was the winner in the Aging/Death & Dying category of the 2021 IndieReader Discovery Awards, where undiscovered talent meets people with the power to make a difference.
Following find an interview with author Bob Seay.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Dad was published on December 29, 2020.
What’s the book’s first line?
“Dad’s on your side of the Mississippi River. You’re up.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Jacob Martin’s life isn’t working out quite like he planned. His marriage is falling apart, he makes his living writing research papers for college students, and he’s living in the back of a laundromat. Now Dad, whose mind isn’t quite what it once was, has gotten lost on the road between Cincinnati and Colorado. Forced into an unexpected road trip to retrieve his father, Jacob finds love and himself along the way.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
My father had Alzheimer’s. One day, my brother called to tell me Dad had driven off without telling anyone where he was going. They found him about 24 hours later, halfway between Indiana and Colorado, circling the interstate in Kansas City. This book was inspired by that phone call.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
The book is called “Dad”, but the main character is the son, Jacob Martin. The most distinctive thing about Jacob is his job of writing research papers for college students. In addition to being illegal in 17 states, Jacob’s job gives him the opportunity to learn a lot of random information about a lot of things. For me as a writer, Jacob’s job provided a great way to weave things that I find interesting but really have nothing to do with anything into the story.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
The only reason to read any novel is because it’s a good story, which I think “Dad” is. I wanted to make readers feel something. Anyone with a family will identify with these relationships. Families that have experienced Alzheimer’s will recognize a lot of these moments and may take comfort in knowing that they are not alone.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I am a high school music teacher. I teach band, choir, and guitar classes, which means I basically spend two hours a day conducting a band, two hours playing piano and singing, and two hours playing guitar. I write in the mornings before I go to school.