In the Author Spotlight ...

Doug Peterson, Author of
The Disappearing Man

 

How does a free afternoon in Cincinnati, a Veggie Tales' movie premier, and a book about one of the most amazing tales of escape in American history have in common? Author Doug Peterson. In his new book, The Disappearing Man, Peterson tells the story of Henry Brown and his quest for freedom from slavery.

Author of 58 books, including over 40 for the popular VeggieTales series, Doug Peterson has always been a writer. "I have written extensively for the popular VeggieTales children’s series—primarily picture books," he says. While attending a premiere for the VeggieTales movie, The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything, in Cincinnati, Peterson and his wife found themselves with a free afternoon. "We just happened to wander into the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in downtown Cincinnati. We almost didn’t go in because my wife has a difficult time seeing images of extreme oppression, such as slavery and the Holocaust. But we entered anyway, and I’m glad we did, he says. "We stumbled across a small display telling the tale of Henry Brown—a slave who mailed himself to freedom in a box from Richmond to Philadelphia. At the time, I had never heard of Henry Brown’s story; and as I have gone on to discover, almost everyone I talk with has never heard this amazing, true story. It was time to remedy that.

When Peterson returned from Cincinnati, he did a Google search of Henry Brown and discovered two first-person narratives online—one written in 1849 and the other in 1851. "His escape was amazing enough, but I learned that Henry’s entire life—before and after the escape—was riveting. I was also struck by the faith expressed by Henry in his narrative. He said that God put the idea in his mind to mail himself to freedom."

Being a children's book writer, his first idea was to write a short chapter book for children, simply retelling Henry’s story. After attending a writer's conference in North Carolina, he decided to try writing a screenplay. "I decided to use Henry “Box” Brown’s story as my subject," Peterson explains. "That’s when I first saw the potential of Henry Brown’s story for an adult audience. Soon after, I used my screenplay and the first draft of my children’s story as an outline for a much more in-depth novel for adults. I quickly learned that writing a 95,000-word novel for adults is worlds apart from writing a 1,000-word children’s book. It’s been a great adventure. "

The Disappearing Man tells the story of of Henry “Box” Brown, one of the most amazing tales of escape in American history. As a child, Henry was devastated when his family was split apart and sold. Later, he almost went mad after his wife and three children were also sold. In his grief, Henry heard a voice tell him, “Go and get a box, and put yourself in it.” In 1849, with the help of two friends, he was placed into a wooden box and shipped from Richmond to Philadelphia. During this harrowing, 25-hour ordeal, Henry was stuck upside down for long, painful stretches, and at other times was dropped on the ground, nearly breaking his neck. The book brings to life Henry’s incredible true story, the viciousness of urban slavery, and the heroism of the Underground Railroad.

What makes Henry’s story unique is that is character-driven, but it also contains plenty of excitement and adventure. "It is both a love story and adventure story—a potent combination," Peterson says. "The key to the story is the relationship between Henry and his wife, Nancy, so many of the flashbacks deal with their courtship, marriage, and family life. The entire reason Henry decided to escape was because his wife and family were sold away from him in 1848. So everything revolves around their love for each other. The novel starts at the very beginning of the escape, with Henry running along the streets of Richmond at night, and it doesn’t slow down from there." 

Peterson has already begun his next novel—The Puzzle People. "This will be an historical novel, a suspense/mystery that revolves around the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall and follows the lives of three couples," he says. "The characters in The Puzzle People will be fictional, living in the midst of real events, whereas The Disappearing Man was about real people. However, both books share the theme of people seeking freedom and going to desperate lengths to find it. "

Peterson has been married to his wife Nancy for 34 years, approaching 35 in 2011. "She is my first and only love; and I find it fitting that Henry’s wife was also named Nancy. My Nancy has been a therapist for over 30 years and currently has a private practice," he says. The couple have two boys—Michael, 25, and Jason, 22.

 

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For more information on Doug Peterson, please visit:
Kingstone Media

To purchase your copy of The Disappearing Man, please visit
http://www.bookmasters.com/Kingstonemedia/disappearingman.htm