Lethe Press, Day 13 Giveaway: The Sin Warriors by Julian Earl Farris
The Sin Warriors by Julian Earl Farris
Fifty years ago, three hundred teachers and students in Florida vanished. No storm troopers. No mass graves. Who were they? Just wasted lives from blackmail, coercion, entrapment-tactics of state senator Charlie Johns and his covert investigations of homosexuals in Florida’s universities.The Sin Warriors is a novel inspired by those actual events. David Ashton has struggled for self-acceptance and identity his entire life. David’s estrangement from a dysfunctional family childhood, his sexual awakening and bonding with his gay professor places them in the crosshairs of state senator Billy Sloat, an ambitious, country politician obsessed with ridding the university of subversives-homosexuals, blacks, alleged communists-on the heels of the McCarthy hearings during the mid-fifties. But who is Sloat actually, and where does his hatred and contempt come from? From a backwoods childhood in North Florida to his reign as a powerful senator, Sloat intends to destroy the new life David has built for himself in college, and questions are raised: What is family? Whom should we love? What price do we pay to defend our country and our integrity? Which is more enduring-fear or love? These themes provide counterpoint to corrupt politicians and their abuse of power to further their own prejudices and limited understanding of what it is to be human.
This novel is based on a true story that Earl researched for years. It’s not a well-known moment in our nation’s homophobic past—which is why publishing the book meant a great deal to me.
We have two copies of The Sin Warriors to give away. You may choose print or digital edition.
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When we got information for this giveaway I Googled the story behind it. Disturbing is too mild of a word to describe what I learned. Unbelievable.
Kudos to the author for bringing it to light for those of us who were unaware. And thank you to Lethe Press for another great giveaway.
What a horrible (real life) part of our past. I would be very interested in reading this book. Thanks for another great giveaway.
I’d love to read this. Thanks for the chance.
I’m not American, but I pride myself on keeping up with (bits and pieces of) world-wide history/historical facts. I knew nothing about this. Sure, everyone knows about McCarthyism, but not this. It sounds like an intense and very well researched piece of fiction based on reality. Something that people should know about. Thanks, yet again. to Lethe Press for this wonderful giveaway.
I am also not American and although I love history and, apart from issues surrounding McCarthyism, this is not something that I have heard about before. So with interest inspired by this post I have just started to read some interesting documents and some reviews of Julian’s book and was fascinated (plus horrified) that after an inquiry into this persecution that all the documentation was to be locked away from public scrutiny for 72 years. I would be very interested to read this novel, so thank you all for a chance to win a copy.
Please count me in as well. Thanks
I just googled the real story behind this and I’m appalled. I had no idea. I’d love to read this.
Thank you, Steve, for making sure even a fictionalized account is available and to the author for his work to bring it about. We need to remember the darker times and honor the past and help the future. I’m heartsick just thinking about it, but am very grateful for the chance at the book and for the information to go learn more about these events.