IR APPROVED AUTHOR WILLIAM POE ON HIS MOTIVATION
I ndieReader approved author William Poe on his motivation: “Storytelling, having people respond to characters and become enthralled in the narrative, is its own reward.”
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Simon's Mansion. Recent review on Amazon and Goodreads
Simon's Mansion review James W 5.0 out of 5 stars The Way Back Home Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2020 Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase Simon’s Mansion, William Poe’s latest entry to his LGBT literary fiction series, continues the story of protagonist Simon Powell as he returns home to rural Arkansas and struggles to reckon his past with his present. Along the way we are treated to a gripping tale of love, loss, and the search for redemption. From page one, Poe’s vivid, judiciously-paced prose works wonders as the author gracefully infuses a tried and true prodigal son/coming of age narrative with shades of intolerance, bigotry, and addiction. The novel begins by re-examining Simon’s various relationships (primarily that of his family as well as his lover, Thad) and the emotional baggage he can’t seem to shake, slowly laying the groundwork for a surprisingly thrilling third-act that provides an incredibly satisfying conclusion (avoid spoilers if ...
Best Reviewed Books of November on IndieReader - Simon's Mansion
Simon's Mansion is among the Best Reviewed Books of November on IndieReader .
OnlineBookClub Review. "Simon’s Mansion by William Poe is a stunning portrayal of the life of a gay man raised in the conservative rural town of Sibley, Arkansas." ~Miriam Molina
Official Review: Simon's Mansion by William Poe Report this post Post by Miriam Molina » 23 Nov 2019, 01:13 [Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Simon's Mansion" by William Poe.] 3 out of 4 stars As a young boy, Simon fantasized that he came from the faraway planet Zenon. That was because he had strange desires which were different from those of his friends. Even at ten, he was attracted to boys. At eighteen, he decided to abandon his Christian faith and his small-town life and join the Moonies, thinking that their Unification Church will cure him of his “queerness.” However, even after marrying the bride Reverend Moon chose for him, Simon felt the same. Opting to accept his sexual identity, he left Moon’s church and moved to Hollywood, flourishing in a career in film distribution. That’s where he met Thad who became the love of his life. They had a tumultuous relationship, though, for both were addicted to cocaine. ...
IndieReader Review, 4.6 Stars. In Simon's Mansion, Simon "... faces the ghosts of his past to desperately find what ultimately matters, creating an emotionally resonant story of universal reach." ~Geoff Watkinson
IndieReader Review 4.6 Stars In SIMON’S MANSION, William Poe brings his character Simon back to his small town home in Arkansas as he faces the ghosts of his past to desperately find what ultimately matters, creating an emotionally resonant story of universal reach. SIMON’S MANSION, the third book in William Poe’s LGBT literary fiction series, is a compelling story about Simon, the protagonist, and his journey of self-discovery while navigating a strange family dynamic as he explores creativity, religion, and the relationships that ultimately define him. Poe writes, halfway through the novel, “Simon gave himself permission to love, to pursue his art and his education; he accepted the right to be himself despite what others wanted from him. Science made sense, and that was what Simon needed most—for his life to make sense” (153). The third-person omniscient narrator allows the reader to know Simon intimately, as he finds his way through the existential conf...
Clarion ForeWord Reviews, 4 Stars. "Expressive descriptions and heart-wrenching exchanges make Simon’s Mansion a raw LGBTQ+ novel." ~Eileen Gonzalez
Clarion ForeWord Reviews Simon's Mansion Clarion Rating: 4 out of 5 Expressive descriptions and heart-wrenching exchanges make Simon’s Mansion a raw LGBTQ+ novel. Past mistakes haunt a recovering drug addict in William Poe’s intense novel Simon’s Mansion . After surviving a religious cult and cocaine addiction, all Simon wants to do is move back to the small town where he grew up and become an artist. He and his boyfriend Thad are in love, but Thad proves unhappy in Simon’s South. When Thad disappears, Simon fears that his unsavory past has come back to haunt him. He battles the twin temptations posed by cocaine and a beautiful ballet dancer and confronts old demons to rescue Thad. The story begins in Simon’s childhood, exploring the traumas he suffered and laying the groundwork for the poor but understandable choices he makes as an adult. The bulk of it occurs after Simon’s return to his childhood home, where interpersonal interactions crackle with ten...