New Novel Set in Linden, Wins Award
Through A Broken Window, a new novel by Gary Turchin (Linden High School Class of ’70) is set on the sandlot softball fields of Linden’s elementary schools. The novel won first prize in the Best Indie Book Awards competition (BIBA), mainstream novel category.
“The story is part family drama, part dis-organized crime thriller, part civil rights tale, and at the center of which is the constant of a youth softball tournament between Linden’s schools. Ultimately, it’s a coming of age saga of its 12-year-old protagonist, Jerry Epstein,” described Turchin. “Generally, it’s a period piece about Linden’s culture, circa 1964.”
Turchin was surprised by the award, which is for small presses and independently published books. “I entered the competition on a lark, hoping, at best, for an honorable mention. But I won the first prize.”
Turchin grew up in the Sunnyside district of Linden. His dad owned a luncheonette in East Orange, where part of the story is set as well.
“There’s a lot of autobiography in the novel, but it is ultimately fiction, and should be read as such. I made up the story completely.”
Turchin is a well-established poet currently living in Berkeley, California.
“You can take the boy out of Linden, but you can’t take Linden out of the boy,” he noted.
Turchin is particularly proud of accomplishing this novel while his body has been ravaged by Parkinson’s Disease.
“I’m living proof the creative journey doesn’t end with a diagnosis,” he said.
The book is available directly from Turchin’s website, www.garyturchin.net, or from Amazon, https://rb.gy/pgk8ma.
