The Town Crazy (Gibson House Press, September 2020), by folk rock icon Suzzy Roche, is set in the fictional town of Hanzloo, Pennsylvania, in 1961. A single father moves into town with his young son, which arouses suspicion from the husbands and the interest of the wives. One of the the wives seems to be losing her mind, and no one knows what to do.
A contemporary, often humorous take on a bygone era, The Town Crazy also delves into the terror and cruelty of childhood, the dangerous loneliness of failing marriages, sexual repression and desire, and the intersection of art and religion, all culminating in a tragedy for which everyone in the town bears some responsibility.
Roche is featured in several upcoming virtual launch events sponsored by independent bookstores, in conversation with other writers, including Jane Hamilton. Visit the Gibson House Press events page for registration links.
“Singer-songwriter Roche probes the secrets of a small American town in this immersive character-driven tale. . . . Roche’s deep understanding of [the characters] will keep readers engaged all the way to the end,” according to the Publishers Weekly’s review.
“The Town Crazy casts a strong spell, and I don’t think I’ve shaken it off yet, nor do I want to,” said Meg Wolitzer, author of The Female Persuasion and The Interestings. “Suzzy Roche understands so much about other people’s lives; her fiction, just like her singing and songwriting, is thrilling, beautiful, and shattering. I will be thinking about this town, these people, this captivating novel, for a long time.”
Suzzy Roche is a singer/songwriter/performer/author and founding member of the singing group The Roches. She has recorded more than fifteen albums, written music for TV and film, and toured extensively in the U.S. and Europe. In addition to The Town Crazy, Roche is the author of the novel Wayward Saints and the children’s book Want to Be in a Band? She often tours with her daughter, Lucy Wainwright Roche, and lives in New York City.
A traditional press based in the Chicago area, Gibson House Press publishes literary fiction in original trade paperback and ebook editions, with a penchant for working with writers who are also musicians. With national distribution by PGW, Gibson House titles are available wherever books are sold.
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Publicity Contact: Mary Bisbee-Beek [email protected]