The Firebrat
Nominated for the Violet Quill Award!
David
McConnell’s debut literary novel, The Firebrat, follows Elliott,
the novel’s protagonist, as he tries to come to terms with his rapidly
changing life. It is time for Elliott to grow up, in spite of his all-out
effort to have the world "his way". He must find a way to integrate
into his life a host of verities: the disappointment of his love interest’s
outrage when Elliott writes a short story that not only outs him, but
paints him as self-absorbed; the slow, agonizing (and irritating) death
of his best friend (his only friend) Charlie; the sale and dismantling
of his childhood Shangri-La—his grandmother’s sprawling estate,
Skylands; the inescapable truth that his literary hero is not all Elliott
has made him out to be; and, finally, the shocking outcome of his infatuation
with learning to fly. Elliott is running out of charm and his denial is
being quickly eroded by those around him. All that’s left is Elliott’s
spoiled, petulant, witty, intelligent, and highly amusing persona. But
will that be enough to save him? Perhaps, perhaps not, but it is definitely
enough to keep a reader turning pages far into the night.
About the Author
David McConnell studied classics at Columbia University. He left without graduating to start a literary magazine, then a tabloid newspaper. He lived in Paris and Asbury Park, New Jersey, before returning to New York City. He taught elementary math at Riker’s Island. His work has appeared in the James White Review, The Malahat Review, Shiny, and various anthologies. He writes regularly for the Lambda Book Report.
