Macromere Press

Audio Reborn!

Macromere: Um…We see the Audio page is back up on your website.

http://davidmichaelewald.com/audio.html

David: It’s back all right. My wife, who reminds me often of why she’s my better half, asked me why I’d taken the page down in the first place (she doesn’t go to this site). I explained to her that almost all the stories had undergone significant revision since the recordings, including the one I’ve just made available once more, “Arthur”. But “Arthur” isn’t altered as heavily as many of the other stories, and it really is some of the best work Matt Gunnison did. How can his version of “Sweet Arthur Conley” not win over listeners?

M: “Arthur” is the eleventh story out of fourteen, though….

D: I admit it does come a bit late in the narrative, but it’ll still give listeners a good idea of what the book is about, a good feel for the material, the style, all that. As my wife pointed out, it can’t hurt to put up one recording, and even though the final version of “Arthur” has new material not in the recording, listeners can still enjoy Matt’s narration—not to mention his singing—and then purchase the e-book for the full, unabridged, final version.

M: Speaking of the e-book, the release is close….

D: Very close. A few days away at most, right?

M: That’s right. We’ll put up a new post when it’s out on Amazon and B&N, and elsewhere.

D: Great. Looking forward to it.

David Ewald’s thoughts on June 30th, and beyond….

Macromere: Now that it’s looking like the release date for He Who Shall Remain Shameless will be moved up just a little, will you be okay with the book not coming out on June 30th? Why June 30th for the release date, anyway? 

David: Call me crazy, which you would be entirely justified doing because I am, but I had this idea when discussing the release date that June 30th would work best because that’s the day He Who Shall Remain Shameless begins. As you’ve done a good job pointing out on this site, “Harriet”, the first story in the novel, takes place on that day, night, and the following morning, July 1st, to coincide with Harriet Quimby’s date of passing. 

M: But how important is this date for the book’s release, really? 

D: I’ve come to terms with the idea that June 30th is not all that crucial of a date to have the book come out on. The book can come out a bit before then, as it looks like it will, and it could even come out a little bit after…The idea we discussed was to have the reader follow the protagonist’s adventures as they happen….

M: But….

D: I know what you’re going to say. ‘But the next story, ‘Chris’, starts around mid-July. Should the reader wait to read that story then?’”

M: ….Well?

D: Of course not. The reader should read the book as a whole at whatever pace suits him or her. It is a novel, after all. As a whole, the book takes place over exactly half a year, from June 30th to year’s end, and a reader can’t be expected to abide by that timeline when reading.

M: We have to admit the adherence doesn’t make much sense. Especially if the book’s ready to be released sooner. 

D: Yes, crazy, like I said. June 30th is just June 30th—in our world, anyway. In the world of He Who Shall Remain Shameless it has a greater significance, of course. The same with July 15th, and the end of July, and August 18th, and so on. But when the book comes out sooner—in our world—my hope is that readers will dive right in and just keep going.

M: That’s our hope too. Did you have any thoughts of having the book’s narrative play out for longer than half a year?

D: I had thoughts, sure, but it just seemed that half a year—and fourteen stories, or encounters—was enough.

M: We certainly think so. The book is looking good as we near the finish line.

D: Thanks. I’m looking forward to it being out there soon. 

Here at Macromere, we celebrated Memorial Day the old-fashioned way: by watching our neighbors raise the American flag outside their front door and stand before it with their hands held proudly over their hearts, John Philip Sousa pounding over their heads, their standard poodle wagging by their side….The American flag was upside-down, but since they didn’t notice, we decided not to point it out. 

Memorial Day got us thinking about all those who have passed on…especially the soldiers. We decided to get David Ewald, whose novel in stories, He Who Shall Remain Shameless, will be released later this summer, on the horn and ask his impression of this holiday.

Macromere: We noticed there aren’t any soldiers in He Who Shall Remain Shameless. Was this a conscious decision?

David: Unconscious, or, I suppose to be more accurate, subconscious. The story “Ai’dah” has something of a war theme going on in much of it, and a case could be made for “Aegeus” and maybe even “Leo”. But, no, ultimately I didn’t include any spirits of veterans or soldiers or anybody from that walk of life.

M: Are you tempted to now?

D: Seriously?

M: Not really.

D: Oh, good. You had me breaking out there for a moment.

M: We admit it’s a little late to add in another story—or mission, as the narrator calls them.

D: I’ll say.

M: So, what do you think is the best way to celebrate Memorial Day? Flying the flag and playing John Philip Sousa? Barbequing with friends in the park? What about—

D: Going to a cemetery, IMHO.

M: IMHO?

D: In my humble opinion.

M: Oh.

D: It doesn’t have to be Arlington, or a cemetery with even a single soldier’s headstone in it. It could just be a cemetery—any cemetery. Just go, and pick a headstone, and look at it, gather its details, and think, and imagine….

M: Or go online?

D: There’s always that option, too.

M: Thanks, David. We’ll let you go for now. Until next time….