Accidental Paradise By Eric Grandy
Genre: Coming of Age
Discuss the world you’ve created for the book.
I love this question.
The fictional town in “Accidental Paradise” is a small place called Louiston, South Carolina. So often I have seen news reports and glimpses into what the media considers an “All-American City”. There’s Apple Valley this and Crow’s Lake that, tucked away in some picturesque mountainside retreat. Louiston is a world not unlike those and many other smalltown American communities, except in one regard. It’s a thriving, prosperous, majority Black community not inundated by drugs and crime, and it champions the virtues of; always doing the right thing even, if it’s the difficult thing, knowing your history and, when you can, giving back. I don’t remember seeing many stories about Blacks living in such a place, so I created one.
What initially draws LaVern and her childhood friend, Shaundra, to Louiston is the oceanside location and the prospect of solitude and anonymity. Being a world-famous actress, LaVern seeks an escape from the constant scrutiny and intrusion of the Hollywood press. Small, cozy, beneath-the-radar Louiston is ideal, and it becomes the duo’s yearly get away. It also turns out to be more than just a vacation hiding place. Its true value soon becomes apparent.
It has a history that goes back to its founding, in 1870, by newly freed slaves. Relatives of some of the original inhabitants still reside there. It is a town proud of the fact that they are owners, businesses owners and landowners, and Blacks occupy all the important civic and governmental positions. They take pride in the fact that they educate their children (there is a blue-ribbon high school in town) and are satisfied with being able to live comfortably. As one longtime resident proudly states, “we don’t chase money for moneys sake.”
It is a city that clings tightly to its legacy of hard work and community spirit. They proudly recount their history to whomever vacationer that wants to listen, and to some who don’t. They even seek to establish their own historical museum. When the town faces the specter of unwanted attention from an unscrupulous and greedy land developer who wants to buy up private land and businesses to build expensive condos, the same indomitable spirit of survival that sustained their ancestors inspired the township to close ranks and fight for their town.
It is in this world that LaVern accidentally finds her paradise.
Natural talent, hard work, and a childhood friend help LaVern Whitaker find her calling as an actress. When her life becomes overwhelming, they discover a small town where her true identity can remain unknown and she can stay out of the spotlight. The more she visits her secret getaway, the more deeply she feels connected to the history, the lifestyle, and the people. Could this place be her home away from home, or become the home she has dreamed of? Or will sinister forces rip it all away?
Excerpt:
Oh, this is our second time here and we love Louiston.”
LaVern removed her shades and looked down at the little girl.
“Oh, pardon me. This is my daughter Brittany. Brittany, this is Miss James.”
“Hello Miss James. It’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Brittany. You look so cute in your bathing suit and crocs.”
“Thank you.”
There was an awkward moment of silence before Brittany spoke up.
“Daddy, can we get my ice cream cone?”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” said a slightly chagrined LaVern, “don’t let me interfere. I just wanted to say hello.”
“That’s alright Miss James. No need to apologize.” Wilson looked down at his restless daughter. “I think I should be on my way though. It was a pleasure meeting both of you again.”
“Likewise.”
From underneath the umbrella came a final salutation. “It was nice meeting you again too.”
Wilson and Brittany resumed their journey to the ice cream stand. LaVern returned to her shaded chair and replaced her sunglasses. She turned and looked at Shaundra.
“See, that didn’t hurt, did it? I removed my shades and he still didn’t recognize me.”
“Like I said before,” reminded Shaundra, “nobody would expect to find a movie star in a place like this.”
That’s exactly why LaVern, again, reserved her space a year in advance. Louiston was part of them now. As indispensable and as life-giving as a pulse. And Mary Scales was a member of their family.
About the Author
Eric Grandy was born and raised in Baltimore City and graduated from City College. After he graduated from Essex Community College, he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs and played six years for that team. He went on to a variety of jobs: photographer, lab manager, driver for DHL and warehouse manager. After retirement, he decided to devote himself to writing, producing several short stories and Accidental Paradise, his debut novel.
Grandy still lives in Baltimore with his wife Rhonda and his daughter Marti.
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