New Book Spotlight

Shoeshine Boy & Cigarette Girl

A mini-interview with P. A. Cornell

 

Tell us about your new book?

Shoeshine Boy & Cigarette Girl is the first of two books I have coming out this year through Stars and Sabers Publishing. It’s a retro-future science fiction love story that’s set in an alternate Toronto.

It begins when my protagonists meet. Cigarette Girl’s a streetwise grifter with film star looks and Shoeshine Boy’s a kind-hearted, hard-working, average Joe. They’re both dreamers though, and as they fall in love, they realize all they want is to make each other’s dreams come true.

That’s when The Man, enters their lives and threatens to destroy their plans by using their very dreams against them.

What aspect of the book was the most fun to write?

Honestly, this was one of the most fun stories I’ve written for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that retro-futurism is just a fun genre to begin with.

I really enjoyed the voice, for one thing, which has an omniscient quality that turns this into what some readers have described as a modern fairy tale for adults.

But I also enjoyed the research aspects so much. I learned more about pickpocketing, magic, and men’s footwear than I ever thought I would, and used this in a way that’s both integral to the story, but that also speaks volumes about the characters themselves.

It was fun for me to use research in this way, and I think part of what makes it possible is the voice, so these two things work hand-in-hand.

If there is one emotion or theme that you would hope that the reader connects with, what would that be?

I think right now what I want readers to get out of this most is a hopeful feeling. In fiction, as in life, things can go wrong but it’s important to keep going and to surround yourself with good people so we can all get through trying times.

The world right now can seem really bleak. Every day we hear about terrible things happening all over and good people suffering for it, and we’re all just doing our best to deal with that.

So I think now is the ideal time for hopeful stories that not only offer a brief escape from the troubles of real life, but that send a positive message. Readers so far seem to be responding to that. They’re eager for something cozy and uplifting and my hope is this book continues to evoke that feeling for those who pick it up.