All writers think they have the best agent, but I really do. Thank you, Dan Lazar from Writers House, for believing and never giving up on me. You were so correct, the second book is tough. But we did it, and now I’m ready to start kicking out books at a rate James Patterson and Stephen King would be proud of! And to Torie Doherty-Monroe at Writers House for reading those early drafts of The Angels’ Share—your notes proved helpful as always.
My biggest support, no doubt, comes from Tracy, my wife of seventeen years and counting. She has never once given a hint that she didn’t believe in what I’m doing, however financially inconsistent it may be. Thank you for always believing in me and our dream, and never, verbally at least, telling me to give up and get a real job. And oh, “I think this book is finally ‘The One’!”
And lastly, thank you, loyal reader, for doing what you do.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.At the beginning of the novel, William’s relationship with his father is not especially deep. How does their relationship as father and son evolve throughout the story?
2.The concept of miracles runs throughout The Angels’ Share. What events could be considered miracles? Which one is the most essential to the outcome of the story?
3.How do hope and redemption play a role in the novel, specifically with Barley and his past?
4.Which character changes the most from the beginning to the end of the novel? How and why?
5.Asher, despite not being alive for the entirety of the novel, is the force that pushes the narrative. Discuss Asher Keating. Was he a normal man? Was he born special, like a prodigy? Or could he have been something more?
6.Prohibition may have caused more problems than it solved, and organized crime was a result of it. What role did Prohibition play in the plot of the novel?
7.What influences did Asher’s life have on the major characters of the novel? William? Annie? Samantha? Barley? Johnny? Mr. Browder? Tommy the Bat?
8.Discuss the concept of nature versus nurture, with Tommy the Bat and his nun twin sister as a starting point.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo by John Markert
James Markert lives with his wife and two children in Louisville, Kentucky. He has a history degree from the University of Louisville and won an IPPY Award for The Requiem Rose, which was later published as A White Wind Blew. The Angels’ Share is his second novel, and he is currently writing his next historical novel. He is the writer and co-producer of the feature film and tennis comedy 2nd Serve. James is also a USPTA tennis pro and has coached dozens of kids who’ve gone on to play college tennis in top conferences like the Big 10, the Big East, and the ACC. Learn more at jamesmarkertbooks.com.
Facebook: James Markert
Twitter: @JamesMarkert
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