Interview with Robert Hammond Tyler R. Tichelaar of Reader Views is speaking today with Robert Hammond, author of “Grace Period: The Awakening of Abel Adams” a novel about a character trying to find deliverance from his own self-destructive behaviors in a world of drugs, delusion, crime and incarceration. Tyler: Thank you for joining me today, Robert. I am always excited to talk to an author whose characters are on a spiritual journey of self-discovery. I would like to begin by asking you what first inspired you to become a novelist.
Tyler: That’s a great point, Robert. Writing definitely allows us to enter our characters and become anyone we want to be. What made you inspired you to spend time imagining the world of Abel Adams? Robert: I grew up with a lot of people like Abel Adams, most of them are dead or in prison now. But I also know people who have gone through the literal hell of addiction and come out on the other side, enlightened, aware, and able to help others. I was inspired by their stories of redemption and recovery. Abel Adams is a manifestation of that inspiration. Tyler: I am curious why you chose to have Abel grow up in a Christian home and even have his Aunt Delilah predict he would grow up to be a preacher. What reason did you have for given him such an upbringing rather than having him raised in a dysfunctional home where his parents and environment would have encouraged him to enter a world of drugs and crime? Robert: Many people have bought into the stereotypical view that only people from dysfunctional families end up becoming drug addicts and criminals. Nothing could be further from the truth. Addiction, whether it’s to drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex, or some other self-destructive behavior, does not discriminate. Too often we buy into the myth that children growing up in Christian homes are immune from temptation, addiction, or other problems. Sadly, these problems often go unaddressed in many churches, because there is often such an atmosphere of self-righteousness and judgmentalism, that people are afraid to admit they have a problem. The good news is that some churches are now admitting that they need to reach out and offer help to the millions of their own members who suffer in silence. My hope is that “Grace Period” can provide a wake up call for Christians who have been hiding their heads in the sand about the reality of alcoholism and addiction within their own families and churches. Tyler: Abel’s descent into trouble seems to begin when he meets his friend Yogi. Eventually the two run away from home and cause a great deal of trouble. At one point, Abel says he doesn’t even know why he ran away. What was it about Yogi that you think made Abel turn against his upbringing? Robert: One thing I want the reader to understand: Abel Adams made poor choices. Although he may have been strongly influenced by people like Yogi, who were already caught up in their own self-destructive cycle, Abel was responsible for his actions. Abel was vulnerable to Yogi’s influence due to his lack of acceptance, and distant relationship with his father. Tyler: Had Abel’s relationship with his father been better, are you saying he would not have gone down the same road? Do you feel lack of communication between parents and children is a cause of society’s dysfunction today? Robert: No. I’m not blaming Abel’s path on his relationship with his father. I would say, however, that although a lack of communication between parents and children is a major contributor to societal dysfunction, people are still responsible for their own choices. I think that too many people like to blame their problems on their circumstances when in reality some of the most successful people come from so-called “dysfunctional families.” The name Oprah Winfrey comes to mind. Tyler: Today our culture in many ways glamorizes the world of drugs and crime. Do you see your book as a response to that glamorization? Robert:Absolutely. Tyler: Why did you choose to write a novel about a character lost in the world of drugs and crime? Do you feel a novel can convey a different or more effective message than a non-fiction work on the subject? Robert: There are a lot of so-called drug memoirs and self-help books on the market that do not really tell the truth about addiction and recovery. I felt that it was time for a contemporary novel about recovery to break new ground. Jesus taught the most profound truths in parables. Novels and films are the parables of our time. We have a choice in what we read, and as a writer, I have a choice in what I write. Why not spend that precious reading and writing time involved in life-changing truths? Tyler: I was struck by the names of the characters, Abel and Delilah, which are clearly biblical names, although the characters don’t seem to reflect the behaviors of their biblical counterparts. What influence did the Bible have upon your writing? Robert: The Bible has a great influence in most great Western literature. No other book in the world has had such a great influence over art, literature, government, and individual lives. It is the metanarrative from which we glean such archetypes as the Hero’s Journey. Consider the fact that the Bible was written in 66 books by 40 authors over a 1,500 year period on three continents and in three languages, covering countless controversial subjects, yet coming together as a unified whole. So, yes, “Grace Period” was profoundly influenced by the Bible. Tyler: I am struck by the allegory of the story also, of Abel’s journey from an earthly hell to salvation, much like in John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” where Christian must find his way to the Celestial City, avoiding the Slough of Despond and other allegorical earthly pitfalls. Do you feel Abel can serve as a type of Everyman to readers in their own spiritual journeys? Robert: Who is Abel Adams? That is the real question. Although many readers may find his experiences on the far edges of any reality they know, ultimately, everyone will find that they can relate to Abel’s desire to find his place in the world, to love, and be loved, to find freedom in what often appears to be such an unfree world. Tyler: I was also struck by the title, especially the words “Grace” and “Awakening” which remind me of the song “Amazing Grace”, “old time religion” and religious revivals. Would you describe yourself as writing within a specific kind of religious literature tradition? Robert: The prodigal son parable as told by Jesus Christ in the New Testament is the inspiration for the novel, “Grace Period”. I was also influenced by such classic literature as “Pilgrim’s Progress” as well as more contemporary fiction along the lines of “Junkie” by William Burroughs and “A Million Little Pieces” by James Frey. Unlike Frey’s book, which was a fictional account sold as a true story, “Grace Period” is a fictional account inspired by several true stories. The redemption theme is the heart of literature. Tyler: I’ve never heard it quite put that way before—that “The redemption theme is the heart of literature”. I can definitely see how that is true. Have readers responded well to that message? Do you find your book speaks to a specific audience? Robert: Reader responses have been incredible. According to book reviewer Debra Gaynor of Reader Views, “From the moment I began to read “Grace Period”, I was hooked, I didn’t lay this one down until I’d read every word. I’m not sure any review can do justice to this amazing story. Abel Adams comes to life on the pages, each of us will see a bit of ourselves in the character.” Tyler: What sorts of projects do you have in the works now? Robert: I’ve had many reader requests to see if “Grace Period” will be made into a movie. Right now I’m putting the finishing touches on a screenplay called “Black’s Law”, a comedy about a slick wannabe lawyer who gets caught practicing law without a license and the judge sentences him to law school as an alternative to prison. Next month I’ll go to work on adapting the screen version of “Grace Period”. Tyler: Good luck with your upcoming projects. Do you have any final words you would like to give to our readers? Robert: Within each of us exists a longing for redemption. All of us, like sheep, have gone astray. But no matter how far astray we have gone, there is a still, small voice, calling us home. The grace of God is so profound, so far-reaching that it is almost impossible to imagine. The realization of that grace is freedom. Tyler: Thank you for joining me today, Robert. How can our readers find out more information about “Grace Period: The Awakening of Abel Adams” and how to purchase it? Robert:Thank you for allowing me to be here. You can find out more about “Grace Period” through my website: www.roberthammond.net. It is available on www.amazon.com or readers can ask their local bookstores to order it. |
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