Theo and Sprout

June 06, 2023

Theo and Sprout

Theo and Sprout: A Journey of Growth

by Joseph Gergen

GENRE: Literary Fiction (YA)

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.

Excerpt

When you grow up in a large family in a small house, you are never alone, you are never free. As an introvert, I could have just as well been in prison. Never free from prying eyes and perpetual observation, real or imagined. Those heavy shackles kept me from liberation.

“What is this?” I said. I’d lost my fetters, not even concerned she was there. “This isn’t normal.”

“This isn’t your normal. This is my normal, my way of looking at life. This is what your normal could be. Don’t you want this to be real? Isn’t it wonderful?”

Yes, it was wonderful. I noticed the park as I hadn’t noticed it since swinging beneath the trees as a child, flying up into the gigantic green trees and the endless blue sky. The colors, the shades of gray, the smells, the sounds of the birds. A lost world I was too busy to see anymore.

About the Author:

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.”

Q&A With the Author

Do you have any hobbies?

I suppose I have what people call hobbies. I have outlets that are probably only slightly masked therapy sessions that create some sort of artistic output. I started doing abstract painting about seven years ago, or what might be better termed art therapy outputs. Most of my work is colorful, chaotic and happy. I’ve tried to paint dark, tumultuous paintings but they all end up being happy paintings. Not quite sure if that is projection from inside or wishful thinking, but I smile when I look at them so I’ll take that as success.

Is your life anything like it was two years ago?

Given the timing of this question, we could think of this as pre- and post-pandemic life question. And given that I wrote my latest book during that time, which was much like an extended therapy session, I will have to say that while the outward trappings of my life seem the same, the inner depths have changed. There was what you might say some coming to grips with themes that the story kept dredging up. So I am more at ease with my place in the world and that allows me to be more of who I am. And that’s a nice change.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been scribbling things down since I was in grade school. Lots of fits and starts. I wrote a fantasy book while in college and a children’s book (think Winnie the Pooh style) right after college. They were terrible. So I swore off from story telling for a long time and wrote pretty much anything else. When I started to write again, I actually wrote a play. I have no idea if it’s any good. I suspect like five people have read it. But then finally I felt comfortable writing again by working in the first person. That opened things up and I’m pretty happy about that.

What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?

Take time to find out why YOU want to write. Everyone has different reason for wanting to write. While there certainly a handful of typical themes that underly these different reasons, knowing yours is important in finding some fulfillment and minimizing frustration (though there will always be frustration). Having a grounded and understood (well, mostly understood) reason will help you deal with the unending advice on how to write or be an author. This is important because it will help you know what advice resonates with who you are and that which is just going to frustrate you. To your own self be true, as they say.

Tell us something about your newest release that is NOT in the blurb.

The beginning and ending of the story were based on a very intense dream, that had strong themes of liberation and euphoric freedom. The lingering feelings of the dream are what I kept in mind in writing every chapter. The trick was to write a story that filled in that gap and try to bring the emotion of the chapter to life, to move the reader at the end of each chapter to feel like something significant had just happened.

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