A NEW YORK TIMES Bestselling Author
A Barnes & Noble Pick of Best Indie eBooks of 2020
A Fine Books Magazine Pick for Fall
Robert Parrish’s childhood obsession with series books like the Hardy Boys and Tom Swift inspired him to become an author. Just as his debut novel becomes a bestseller, his relationship with his girlfriend, Rebecca, begins to fall apart. Robert realizes he must confront his secret demons by fulfilling a youthful promise to solve a mystery surrounding his favorite series—the Tremendous Trio.
Guided by twelve tattered books and an unidentified but tantalizing fragment of a story, Robert journeys into the history of the books that changed his life, hoping they can help him once again. His odyssey takes him to 1906 Manhattan, a time of steamboats, boot blacks, and Fifth Avenue mansions, but every discovery he makes only leads to more questions.
Robert’s quest intertwines with the stories of three young people trying to define their places in the world at the dawn of a new and exciting century. Magda, Gene, and Tom not only write the children’s books that Robert will one day love, together they explore the vibrant city on their doorstep, from the Polo Grounds to Coney Island’s Dreamland, drawing the reader into the Gilded Age as their own friendships deepen.
The connections between the authors, their creations, and Robert’s redemptive journey make for a beautifully crafted novel that is an ode to the children’s series books of our past, to New York City, and above all, to the power of love and friendship.
Genre: Historical
A Barnes & Noble Pick of Best Indie eBooks of 2020
A Fine Books Magazine Pick for Fall
Robert Parrish’s childhood obsession with series books like the Hardy Boys and Tom Swift inspired him to become an author. Just as his debut novel becomes a bestseller, his relationship with his girlfriend, Rebecca, begins to fall apart. Robert realizes he must confront his secret demons by fulfilling a youthful promise to solve a mystery surrounding his favorite series—the Tremendous Trio.
Guided by twelve tattered books and an unidentified but tantalizing fragment of a story, Robert journeys into the history of the books that changed his life, hoping they can help him once again. His odyssey takes him to 1906 Manhattan, a time of steamboats, boot blacks, and Fifth Avenue mansions, but every discovery he makes only leads to more questions.
Robert’s quest intertwines with the stories of three young people trying to define their places in the world at the dawn of a new and exciting century. Magda, Gene, and Tom not only write the children’s books that Robert will one day love, together they explore the vibrant city on their doorstep, from the Polo Grounds to Coney Island’s Dreamland, drawing the reader into the Gilded Age as their own friendships deepen.
The connections between the authors, their creations, and Robert’s redemptive journey make for a beautifully crafted novel that is an ode to the children’s series books of our past, to New York City, and above all, to the power of love and friendship.
Genre: Historical
Praise for this book
"As a devout childhood reader of adventure series, I can assure you that Charlie Lovett has captured their spirit in this tremendously enjoyable read for adults. Escaping Dreamland combines the whimsy of Lewis Carroll and the daredevil of the Hardy Boys in a story that takes readers through the looking glass of how we see beloved characters, their narratives, and most importantly, ourselves in reflection." - Sarah McCoy
"Escaping Dreamland captures the dizzy thrill of falling in love with reading for the first time. It is a testament to the way the stories of our childhood haunt our imagination for years to come, shaping and sustaining us. A loving tribute to the enduring power of books." - Wil Medearis
"Escaping Dreamland captures the dizzy thrill of falling in love with reading for the first time. It is a testament to the way the stories of our childhood haunt our imagination for years to come, shaping and sustaining us. A loving tribute to the enduring power of books." - Wil Medearis
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Used availability for Charlie Lovett's Escaping Dreamland