Eleftheria was the winner in the LGBTQ+/Fiction category of the 2023 IndieReader Discovery Awards, where undiscovered talent meets people with the power to make a difference.
Following find an interview with author Rob Loveless.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Eleftheria, published October 8, 2022
What’s the book’s first line?
Thanatos moved with precision and stealth through the tranquil forest as fragile twigs and dead leaves crackled under his bare feet.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Worlds collide when a predator’s hypnopompic hallucinations intertwine the lives of three strangers, harboring their own inner demons.
Behind the façade of a glamorous life, Adrian Costas spirals deep into depression, balancing a deteriorating marriage and a taxing career. Meanwhile, a violent, nocturnal stalker, believing himself to be the reincarnation of the Greek god, Thanatos, embarks on a path of carnage to restore his former glory. As part of his delusional quest for immortality, Thanatos brutally massacres a man outside of a local bar, drawing the divided attention of Lorna James, a detective and single mother balancing her work and home life, and Scott Monroe, an aging gay man searching for purpose in his mundane job. Thanatos continues to terrorize the community and his crimes hit closer to home when he kidnaps Adrian’s twins—Missy and Otto—, who will serve as the final sacrifice. Along with Lorna and Scott, Adrian races against time in the hopes of locating his children before Thanatos can complete his ritual killings.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I’ve always loved the horror and thriller genres, but I felt like historically there has been little LGBTQ+ representation in those stories. Most gay storylines seem to be tied to coming out, romance, or tragedy. Those stories are definitely important to tell, but I wanted to find new ways to incorporate authentic LGBTQ+ representation into these genres.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
I’d say the most distinctive trait about Adrian Costas is his perfectionistic tendencies and the toll it takes on him. He takes great lengths to keep up appearances, whether it be his body image, marriage, or career, but this obsession isn’t because he is superficial. Instead, Adrian fears failure, which he equates to losing everything he’s worked so hard to achieve and being abandoned, as a result. In some ways, his character reminds me of Jack Torrance from The Shining since both men lose themselves while grappling with balancing family and work.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
At its core, Eleftheria is a story about confronting the things that keep you up at night and overcoming your inner demons. The title is a Greek word, literally meaning freedom, which is reflective of the characters’ storylines. In one way or another, all the characters—Adrian, Scott, and Lorna—are freed from their personal and professional struggles, even if it isn’t through a happy ending, and I think most readers can relate to at least one of the characters.