“Dream Boy” Young Adult Novel Will Debut At Museum

Dream BoyTwo long time friends have collaborated on a new book written for young adults – although one of the authors says people of any age may enjoy reading it. Dream Boy is a novel revolving around a teenage girl, a small town dreamer. Then the boy of her dreams shows up and all sorts of interesting things start happening in her town, a fictional place called Chilton that at times sounds suspiciously like Roanoke.

Dream Boy will be the subject of a book party on Saturday, July 12, from 3-5 pm at the Salem Museum, where authors Mary Crockett and Madelyn Rosenberg will read from it and sign copies. Crockett, who works part time at the Salem Museum, is from Roanoke; Rosenberg lives in Christiansburg. They set “Chilton” half way between Roanoke and Christiansburg and include thinly veiled references to real landmarks. For example the Texas Tavern is the Texas Grill in the book.

Crockett has written poetry before and Rosenberg had authored picture books in the past, “but neither of us has written a young adult book,” says Crockett. “It’s the first time I’ve done fiction so this is a big deal for me.” The pair met while teaching a teen writing workshop at the Salem YMCA and then decided “we kind of like working together,” said Crockett, who is known as Mary Crockett Hill outside of the publishing world.

Several projects didn’t work out until one night Crockett saw an old Ginger Ringers movie where a man seemed to walk out of her dream – at least that’s what she think she saw, Crocket wasn’t fully awake. But the next day she thought it might make for a “fun topic. [Now] we have a book.”

The duo sort of wrote by feel, with a “general idea of a story arc. We just wanted to have fun.” They would e-mail each other chapter snippets until they both “felt very comfortable,” said Crockett. There was a lack of angst over the process as well: “we’re even better friends than before.”

“Chilton” was a way to celebrate this part of Virginia said Crockett, adding that they drew on what they know about the area and “mashed it up,” into a fictional place. She says the book’s audience may skew more towards teenaged girls than boys, but both genders and people of all ages may enjoy Dream Boy, which should be available at online booksellers and even from some local bookstores after the Salem Museum launch on July 12. Proceeds from all book sales that day will go back to the museum.

“It puts [readers] out there emotionally and [imagination-wise] in ways other genres may not do as much,” said Crockett of the Young Adult category. “But we wouldn’t be surprised if people that are a little bit older will enjoy it. Hopefully it will have wide appeal.”

The Salem Museum has hosted a number of book launch parties in the past, typically for history-related works, so Dream Boy will be a bit of a departure. The book party will include giveaways, prizes, a book chat and food. The Museum is located at 801 E. Main Street in Salem. Normal hours are Tuesday-Friday from 10-4 and Saturday from 10-3. There is no admission charge.

By Gene Marrano

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