Eric Rill

Author of An Absent Mind

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At a Crossroads

January 31, 2014 by 8 Comments

It took one year for each of my first two novels to come to fruition. That included time for the idea to germinate, research, writing, and finally the dreaded editing. The idea for my third novel came from a real-life fact—my father’s being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and going through a harrowing eight years for both himself and our family. So in a sense, the germination was many years in the making.

After he passed away, I started to write a novel, not even remotely about him or us, but about a fictional family. Even if I had wanted to, I doubt I could have written about such a personal subject in a non-fiction book. I guess I’m too private a person, so I have to commend those who have written such books and thank them for their courage.

Before this, I wrote to entertain, and in interviews would say, “I just want to let people escape into a world where they forget their own problems.” Well, you can do that in a thriller, and it may not be a noble cause, but if done well, can allow for a few hours of distraction.

But you can’t do that with a terminal disease like Alzheimer’s. Yet I knew I had to write something that would resonate with people who wanted not only entertainment, but also information—or, as my publicist says, “edutainment.”

Yes, they want it to be a page-turner, but they also want to learn about the disease. It took me years to get there, and although I think I did, and have corroboration from experts, it’s going to be readers who will ultimately decide if I have succeeded.

Certainly the day-to-day joy of penning a thriller is exhilarating. When I am in the middle of the writing process, I can’t wait to get out of bed and rush to my computer. And when doing research, I have the opportunity to enter the world of the CIA, Secret Service, FBI, etc. That’s all really exciting, like a young kid with his face plastered against a window, getting to see the inside of what really goes on in these secret branches of government.

Although the process of writing about Alzheimer’s is more difficult and not a “fun” project, there is a sense of accomplishment in being able to expose the reader to the reality of what this dreaded disease really is. And that’s done through a different window, one that takes the reader into the lives of the family and exposes them to the different stages of Alzheimer’s.

So, what’s next? Going back to my half-finished thriller? Writing another novel like An Absent Mind? I frankly don’t know right now.

Filed Under: Blog

Comments

  1. Chris Dymond says

    March 24, 2014 at 10:41 pm

    After reading your novel I feel I personally know the Reimer family and feel their pain. This is a terrific work. Thank you for writing it.

    Reply
  2. Michelle Plotka says

    February 27, 2015 at 7:51 pm

    Thank you for writing an Absent Mind. I was lucky enough to meet your cousin Ellie several months ago who recommended the book to me. My father has Alzheimer’s and Ellie has been incredibly supportive. I don’t have to tell you how difficult it is to watch someone you love lose their cognitive ability. Not to mention, how difficult it is to get them adequate care. I laughed and cried while reading the different perspectives. It puts a very human spin on what those dealing with this disease go through.

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Avante Press
(March 1, 2014)
276 pages
ISBN: 978-0991014408

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