Each Vagabond by Name

WINNER, Gold Medal, Mid-Atlantic Fiction, 2017 IPPY Awards
WINNER, University of New Orleans Publishing Lab Prize
Long-Listed for the 2017 Tournament of Books​

When a band of itinerant thieves arrive in Shelk, a remote coal-mining town in Pennsylvania, the locals' quiet ways are upended. Despite the rising anger and suspicion, a one-eyed bartender and a bereft mother find reason to help these outsiders, facing increasing danger—and their own tragic history. As the tension escalates between those who belong and those who don’t, Ramsy and Stella must reconcile their compassion for the outsiders with the looming threat from the fearful men who will defend their homes and families at any cost. 

Set in the Appalachian foothills, Each Vagabond by Name is a piercing tale of isolation, redemption, and belonging. 

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Book Clubs

Addressing questions of courage, belonging, isolation, and loss, Each Vagabond by Name is an excellent choice for book clubs. I'd love to join your discussion in person if you're in the New York Metro area, or via Skype or Google Hangouts if you're farther afield. I'd also love to send along a little book swag as a way of saying thank you for choosing my book. Please contact me if your book club is interested!

Book Club Discussion Questions

Stella has never given up hope of finding Lucy. But when she finally gets the blanket, her hope seems to evaporate. Do you think Stella will continue to hope to find Lucy? If so, do you think she bases this hope in realistic expectations?

Again and again, Ramsy remembers Hawk’s words: Worry’ll undo you. He claims that he’s always stayed out of people’s business, and his involvement with JT and the other thieves is new territory for him. How accurate is his own self-assessment? Is Ramsy more compassionate than he gives himself credit for?

When Ramsy grieves JT, he grieves both for JT and for “what he recognized of himself in him.” What did Ramsy see of himself in JT? How are they alike and different?

The disappearances of Lucy and Liza bring Ramsy and Stella together, and Liza’s return is partially responsible for their breakup. What role do Liza and Lucy play in their eventual reconciliation? Discuss the impact of missing and found children on the evolution of Ramsy and Stella’s relationship.

How do the thieves change Ramsy’s life? How do they change Stella’s? And how do they change Shelk?

The thieves break into houses and use violence against the locals. Why does Ramsy feel compassion for them? Why doesn’t he join the local men in trying to make them leave?

Consider the definition and connotations of “vagabond.” In what way are Ramsy and Stella vagabonds? Besides the thieves, could any other characters be considered vagabonds?

Ritual and tradition are a big part of life in Shelk. What traditions and rituals do the locals value most? To what extent is the anger against the thieves related to their disrupting these important rites?

Do you think Ramsy sees Shelk as his home? Why or why not? Does his idea of “home” change throughout the novel?

Ramsy doesn’t put much thought into domesticity, and the meals he cooks for himself are bland and simple. What does food represent to Ramsy? What role does food play in the novel?

Is Ramsy a moral character? What is his moral code? Consider the choices he makes regarding Emilian, JT, Jack Kurtz, and Marcie.

Support Each Vagabond by Name

Thanks so much for considering my novel for your book club—I hope you enjoy discussing Ramsy, Stella, and the troubled town of Shelk. One of the best ways you can support Each Vagabond by Name is by reviewing it on Amazon and Goodreads. Even a sentence saying you liked the book is helpful. Amazon reviews play a huge role in how a book is promoted on the site; for example, books with many reviews will be suggested to customers (“You might also like…”), which has an enormous impact on sales. Leaving a brief review takes only a moment and is so important to a book’s success. You can review Each Vagabond by Name on Amazon and Goodreads. And don't forget to share your reviews to your own social media networks!