THE HAPPY VALLEY received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Benjamin Harnett.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The book is called THE HAPPY VALLEY, and it was published October 30, 2022.
What’s the book’s first line?
It was when the Sioux were dynamiting Mt. Rushmore that I heard from her again after so long a time.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
THE HAPPY VALLEY is about a young girl who discovers a defunct secret society in her hometown connected to her family, and then sets about reviving it. It’s also about growing up, as a person, and as a country. It connects America’s past to a possible future, and beyond.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I was inspired by this idea—how the past shapes our future, and what we might do to grab hold of it. I was propelled along by my own memories of growing up in a unique place, and the ability to tell a literary story from a perspective that is somewhat at odds and out of step with popular culture.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
It’s a compelling, engrossing story with plenty of poetry, character and atmosphere galore, a mystery plot, elements of historical and science fiction, fun and quirky illustrations, and a deep, resonant message about the way we live. Read it for the reason you read anything: to drop into a different world and walk around in it a little.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
I would say the main character of the book is either June, the girl who delves into the secrets and then disappears, or the landscape and history of the place itself (the “Happy Valley”)—both are imbued with immense natural forces around which the narrator orbits. For me, the characters are all distinctly themselves.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I was always a writer, but the idea of becoming an author seemed ridiculous to me until very recently.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
This is the first novel I have completed, and the first real published book I’ve had. I’ve written books of poetry and short stories.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I am a software engineer. Before that I had a fashion company. Before that, I was a freelance writer (among other things).
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
I write in bursts here and there in the early mornings or in the afternoon on a break from work.