Today I would like to welcome to Shelf Full of Books Canadian Author, Joseph Forte. Joseph’s book
for middle-grade students Always There
is a short story, but don’t be deceived, it is a book that requires ruminating
on in order to fully understand it. Always
There is thought provoking for parents as well and would be an excellent
book to stimulate discussion between parents and children. But, enough from me.
Let’s get to our interview. Welcome Joseph!
Where did your idea
for Always There come from?
Always There is a
spinoff of a poem that I had written a while back. It was written through the
eyes of a homeless man I had walked past in Toronto, Ontario. One day, I was
reading some of my old work and I thought of linking a story line to it and
before I knew it, Always There was being created.
How did you come up
with the title for this book? Is there a special meaning behind it?
This was actually the first and only title given to this
short story. I felt it was fitting as there is a constant connection between
the two characters. As clues are left behind and Thomas finds the answers to
his questions, Edmund and his presence are forever embedded in his mind.
Essentially, Edmund always was and always will be a part of Thomas’ life.
In the first poem
it’s evident that Edmund is saying that he’s been alone and unnoticed, but what
do the last two lines refer to “Before all of this Eden nailed me to a cross”.
The last two lines of this stanza of the poem refer to the
reasons why Edmund is alone, unnoticed, and homeless. It really opens up the
concept of interpretation for the reader. I want children to explore, think,
and imagine the possibilities of why he is there.
Does this mean
that the interpretation of the last two lines is really up to the reader? (Do
you have your own personal interpretation of those two lines?)
Yes, that means it is up for
interpretation and this is one of the cases where I don't really have an answer
to the thought. I wrote it in
a way that it would make people think and I think and hope I have accomplished
this.
Why did you choose to
put the notes in poetry form?
As a writer and keeper of stories, we try to be different
and unique, developing a style of writing that people will remember. I thought
it would be different to create story lines around poems I have written,
intertwining them throughout. My first story, At the Window did not follow this
concept, but I have since followed this style for The Joker’s Daughter (editing
stages) as well as Once Brothers (very early drafts).
Is there a
message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
The one main message that I want children to take from Always
There is to not judge people by the way they appear. I know it’s cliché so I
tried to explain this concept with a distinctive short story. We never, truly
know who we encounter in our lives yet we are all quick to dismiss people. I am
not saying that we need to be directly involved with them but at the very
least, we need to have an open mind when we encounter them.
Is there
anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?Thank you for this
opportunity. It is very difficult, as an indie writer, to garnish some
attention so interviews, like this, put us out there to the public, and I am
forever grateful for this. I would also like to invite any readers to email me
at josephfortewriting@gmail.com with comments about the stories. I love hearing what
people from around world have to say about my work.
About the Author:
Joseph Forte is a writer and elementary school teacher who
believes the power of the written word is priceless. He was born and raised in Welland, Ontario, Canada and grew
up playing competitive hockey. He is an avid fan of Canadian music and enjoys
writing articles, poetry, and children's stories. When he sits down with a pen
and paper in hand, his sole mission is to create a piece of work, "Where
Words Come Alive."
Author
Links
Always There
By Joseph Forte
Publisher: Joseph Forte
Published: Apr. 16, 2015
ASIN: B00WAPJ4DC
Amazon Synopsis:
Always There is an intriguing, empathetic
story that captures the reader’s attention from the initial turn of the page.
Thomas Mays is a young local from Eden. His usual Saturday morning bike ride
adventures reveal the truth about the Parkside Bridge homeless man who became
the town’s unfathomable hero. As his journey continues, clues are left behind
and Thomas’ life is changed forever.
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