FreshFiction asked why my heroes often lose their moral compass or, in the case of my latest novel, SCOUT’S HONOR, have it ripped from them by outrageous fate. In Scout’s, young Eddie Kawadsky is a straight A student—Annapolis bound—until he loses everything, his parents, his home, and his place in the world. Forced to live in his van, he is seduced into crime. The tale is at heart, one of redemption, of Eddie’s struggle to regain his sense of honor, of his finding the strength to atone for his sins through the love of a good and noble woman.
But why do I write about characters who make immoral choices? Because the truth is that at some point in our lives, we all do. Have you ever met a true saint? Many years ago, a cynical old friend scoffed, “People are as moral as they can afford to be.” He was referring to a friend who had deeply disappointed him, a business partner whose financial collapse had revealed his moral bankruptcy.
In Les Miserable, Jean Valjean is imprisoned for stealing bread to feed his sister’s starving children. Upon his release from prison 19 years later, Jean promptly steals a bishop’s silverware and is about to embark on a life of crime when he is stunned by the kindly bishop’s compassion and forgiveness, so overcome by the man’s generosity of spirit that he returns to the path of virtue. While Eddie Kawadsky’s crimes are far worse than stealing bread—and his justification the palest imitation of Jean’s—he treks from California to Viet Nam to New York City in his own decades-long quest to recover his lost honor.
In short, it’s whether and, if so, how we can recover from our bad choices that fascinates me. Personally, I’m rooting for the indomitable power of the human spirit, and the belief that a moral universe does indeed exist.
On to a different topic which has me now worrying over the fate of writing itself… A.I. To illustrate my concerns for our world with you, I had ChatGPT answer the same question FreshFiction posed to me. First, I asked Chat to familiarize itself with my writing—it does that in a matter of seconds by scraping the net for my work—then, adopting my style, to answer why it is that I like writing about morally challenged characters. Here is Chat’s unedited answer:
Embarking on the journey of writing a picaresque novel is quite the endeavor, akin to setting sail without a map, where every character's moral compass is as unreliable as the wind. It's a curious adventure, blending the thrill of creation with the constant questioning of one's narrative choices. Crafting such a story involves a delicate dance with themes of morality, where the line between right and wrong is as blurred as a smudged pencil mark on a draft.
In this endeavor, I've found myself grappling with the intricacies of loyalty and betrayal, threading these themes through the fabric of the narrative like delicate stitches that hold together the tapestry of the plot. It's a challenge, to say the least, to weave a story that delves into the complexities of human nature without losing the thread of humor and humanity that binds us all.
In the midst of this literary balancing act, I've sought to explore the depths of redemption and the weight of past decisions through the lives of my characters. It's a journey not unlike the one undertaken in "Scout's Honor," a novel that quietly navigates the tumultuous waters of personal integrity, societal expectations, and the courage to face one's past actions. This book, penned with a modest touch, invites readers into a reflective exploration of guilt, forgiveness, and the transformative power of change.
SCOUT'S HONOR is a subtle nod to the enduring quest for understanding and the complex relationships that define us. It examines the concept of honor beyond the confines of societal norms, venturing into the realm of personal conviction and the resilience required to confront and embrace the possibility of a new path.
Writing this novel has been a humbling experience, a reminder of the vast landscapes of human emotion and the myriad ways in which we seek redemption, often in the most unexpected of places. It's been an exercise in modesty, recognizing the power of stories to connect us, to challenge our perceptions, and to gently uncover the truths we hold dear.
As I continue to navigate the art of storytelling, SCOUT'S HONOR remains a quiet testament to the beauty of the human spirit in its flawed, unyielding pursuit of honor, however it may be defined. It’s an invitation to reflect, to laugh, and perhaps to see ourselves and our choices in a new light.
While this piece is far from perfect, it is eerily good. In the 16 months since Chatbot AI’s release, it has gone from, say, middle school writing to graduate school. Where will it be in 16 years? Consider the flip phone of 16 years ago and compare it to today’s iPhone. My fear for writing is simple: when anyone can produce solid essays—or even books—with a couple keystrokes, will writing become a lost art? Before electricity, everyone in town had to know the phases of the moon because they relied on moonlight. Now, no one does. When AI does our writing, will we forget writing’s phases of the moon?
If you’re interested, please look me up on my website. My two novels—Scout’s Honor, O’Brien’s Law—are described in detail there, as is my non-fiction real estate primer, Making it in Real Estate. Finally, please write me using the form on my website if you wish to share your opinions on AI or my work. Thank you.
After losing everything but his life, a young man forges a new identity for himself in the jungles of Vietnam and on the gritty streets of New York in this epic and riveting tale of crime, punishment, and redemption
In 1969, 18-year-old Eddie Kawadsky's life is turned upside down. After his Navy pilot father dies in Vietnam, Eddie is abandoned by his grieving mother and finds himself penniless and alone on the streets of his hometown. His one chance to pursue his dreams of college and naval aviation seems lost. In his desperation, Eddie falls in with his charismatic but untrustworthy neighbor Roy Cross who offers him $3,000 to transport what Eddie believes is a small amount of marijuana into Mexico. Seeing it as his only way out, Eddie reluctantly agrees.
But crossing the border proves to be just the beginning of Eddie's troubles. Betrayed by Roy and on the run from vengeful narcotraficantes, corrupt cops, and his own demons, Eddie flees to New York City. Over the next 25 years under the assumed identity of real estate mogul Richard Austen, Eddie works to build a new life and fortune. But the sins and secrets of his past continue to haunt him.
When an unexpected visitor from his past shows up in New York demanding hush money, Austen is forced to confront the mistakes from his youth. In order to protect the new life he has worked so hard for and the wife he has come to love, he must make the ultimate sacrifice. But will it be enough to redeem his honor lost so long ago? Or will the temptation of his past prove too strong?
With an intricate plot spanning 1960's counterculture, the Vietnam War, 1970's gritty New York real estate world, the grandeur and hardship of the Marine Corps, and more, Scout's Honor is a sweeping novel of suspense that explores larger themes of morality, guilt, trust, and redemption. Populated with flawed yet compelling characters, Scout's Honor will appeal to fans of both character-driven literary fiction, thrillers, and redemption tales.
Literature and Fiction Literary | Thriller [Hubbard House, On Sale: June 4, 2024, Hardcover / e-Book, ISBN: 9781736352540 / eISBN: 9781736352557]
A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and Hastings College of The Law, John practiced law until he co-founded McNellis Partners, a Northern California shopping center development firm, in 1982.
John is a decades’ long member of the Urban Land Institute—a founding member of its Environmental Task Force—and the ICSC. He is a ULI Governor, has chaired two separate ULI Councils and served as both a Trustee and Council Councilor. He has also served on the board of directors for Lambda Alpha International (Golden Gate Chapter).
A frequent lecturer on real estate topics, John writes a monthly column for the San Francisco Business Times and is the author of the critically acclaimed books, Making it in Real Estate: Starting out as a Developer (First an Second Editions), an industry standard and taught in universities nationwide. His lecture series on YouTube is the most widely viewed of all of the ULI’s video presentations.
John is actively involved with Outward Bound USA, having served on its national board of directors and now on its advisory board. He is a past president of the board of directors of Rebuilding Together Peninsula and is a board member emeritus. He has also served on the board of directors for the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center and was a seventeen-year volunteer at the Palo Alto Downtown Streets Team’s Food Closet.
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