iUniverse Blog

iUniverse’s Sean Phelan tells us about Salt Water Redemption, a charming memoir that takes place in southern New Jersey.

Please briefly describe your book…

My shore memoir, Salt Water Redemption, is a labor of love concerning its protagonist’s experiences growing up, loving, swimming, “working”, getting into much mischief, and ultimately realizing what his life’s all about in Avalon, New Jersey – loosely tying in Arthurian legend and the religious themes of redemption and grace into the narrative.

And can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am an author, poet and attorney (in that order!) from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Do you have any particular literary influences? What inspired you to write your book?

I’ve always admired prose stylists who seek to make sentences beautiful and evoke all they can from the English language (especially Thomas Wolfe, Virginia Woolf and John Banville), as well as the more millennial-catering authors who pack a ton of complex information, comedy and themes into their work, such as David Foster Wallace and Thomas Pynchon. I was inspired to write Salt Water Redemption due to the recent death of a great friend, who is actually the inspiration for the protagonist’s sidekick in the novel.

What is the one message you would like to convey to your readers?

God exists, and so does Grace (the female version of God!).

Are you working on a sequel to your book?

Not necessarily a linear sequel, but I’m always circularly working.

Are there any events, marketing ideas, or promotions planned for your book?

I will be having a book-signing party with friends. I also plan to alert some local newspapers regarding the book. It unfortunately may be a little too late in the year for a lemonade/book stand or “beach blanket bingo” party in Avalon, New Jersey, as I had previously considered. But there’s always next summer!

What was your favorite part of your publishing experience, overall and with iUniverse?

All of the iUniverse team members were extremely kind and thorough throughout the process, keeping me apprised of the developments from submission to revision to publication, and offering helpful feedback along the way.

Finally, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Never stop writing, never stop reading, and either keep an old-school journal with you at all times or maintain notes in your smartphone concerning those ever-fleeting sea gulls of inspiration!

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