Q&A With Lee Fitts
Author Rich Garon
A Heartwarming New Novel Raising Money for the D.C. Homeless
Rich Garon, the author of the new novel Lee
Fitts (due releasing in February this month), was a former Chief-of-Staff for the
Committee on International Relations, U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to
his wonderful career on Capitol Hill for 25 years, Garon received his M.A. and
Ph.D. in Politics from New York University. He currently devotes his time as a
member of the Serve (Outreach and Mission) Committee at the Immanuel Anglican
Church in Woodbridge, VA where he coordinates the homeless ministry, with an
emphasis on those living in the woods.
Lee Fitts is Garon’s second book, the synopsis goes: “You can’t stop rooting for Lee Fitts. They say
he had such potential. Then after that morning, he became mostly a survivor,
traumatized by a horror that took so many innocent lives. As he tries to live
on, his limitations make him what forgiveness, compassion and honesty are all
about. But he soon learns, he is a in a world where one so clearly guided by
these traits is easy prey. A woman sharing an important link to that morning
commits herself to Lee’s recovery. A night at a homeless shelter gives Lee the
ability to forgive the villain who has haunted him all these years. And a
pastor, wrestling with problems of his own, affords Lee the chance at
redemption for himself and his father.”
Perhaps this novel is the link that will
connect Garon’s audience to understand his devotion to “writing for change” and
his passion to help the homeless people and the community. All proceeds from
the sale of Garon’s new novel, Lee Fitts, will go to the Bill
Mehr Drop-In Center for the homeless in his local community.
Before reading ahead the Q&A with
the author, I have a copy of Lee Fitts
to giveaway!! Simply follow my Instagram: @Binzento and drop me a
direct message. A winner will be selected via Instagram on February 28th
2019.
Q: Your book jacket text
starts out “You can’t stop rooting for Lee Fitts?” Why is that the case?
Rich
Garon: Lee
Fitts, the novel’s protagonist, is someone exuding goodness, compassion, and
honesty in light of limitations resulting from the trauma of a horrific
accident. He is always trying to do his best to improve himself and help others.
Q:
Forgiveness seems to be a big part of the book - what role does this topic
play?
Garon: This is a central theme of the book
along with compassion. Lee and a woman trying to help him both suffered greatly
from the scene of horror opening the book. Yet they, after reflection and from
faith they draw on, are moved to a colossal act of forgiveness that destroys
the hate that horrible morning produced.
Q: You also say that Lee
embodies honesty. How does that reveal itself and why is that of particular
importance?
Garon: The way honesty manifests itself in Lee
emerges as he works on a political campaign. His actions are unthinkable from a
political operative’s point of view and his honesty costs him. At times,
when many would say honesty is becoming a rarer commodity in politics, Lee’s experience
becomes a salient commentary.
Q: Redemption is another
element of the story. How does that figure into understanding Lee and the
challenges he faces?
Garon: Prior to the accident, Lee had
potential unknown among most his age. It was lost, as the incident destroyed
Lee’s family and reduced Lee to someone with severe limitations. He begins to
emerge from this condition and driven by faith, the love of his family, and the
love of a woman who shares an important link to that morning, works to
recapture the skill that was once his.
Q: And family, what role does
that play?
Garon: Family is a central theme in this
novel. Having his family together is the main thing in which Lee is interested.
His love of family provides him with an incomparable source of strength, which
together with strong support from two important friends, propels him toward the
goal he sets.
Q:
Before becoming an author, you worked on Capitol Hill. What did you do there,
and why did you make the switch from politics to writer?
Garon: I
worked on the Hill for over 25 years. I started as an intern and left the Hill
after serving six years as Chief-of-Staff of the House Committee on
International Relations. I did a lot of writing in my job where it was
important to make your words work for you if you hoped those things you
believed in came to fruition. I still have hope that certain things can change
for the better and see the characters and themes of fiction a good way to try
to raise awareness to these issues.
Q: I noticed the banner on
your website says “Writing for change.” What does that mean?
Garon: Great question. Through the sale of my
books I’m trying to raise awareness to some of the problems we’re facing today and also, by donating royalties to
certain non-profits working on these problems, give them some additional
resources to support their work. For example, proceeds from my first novel, Felling
Big Trees, go to WhyHunger and proceeds from Lee
Fitts will go to the
Bill Mehr Drop-In Center for the homeless in my community in Virginia.
Q:
Your book is dedicated to Russell J. Campbell. Tell us who that is, and why you
dedicated the book to him.
Garon: Russell passed away this past April. I
knew him for more than six years. When I first met him, he lived in the woods
and almost died there one winter. But we were able to get him a studio apt.
with our church paying half the rent, the other half from some disability
money he received. He became a very close friend and I became his authorized
medical representative. Living in the woods took its toll, and he died of a
degenerative brain disease.
Q:
How does your faith impact your writing?
Garon: I hadn’t realized until after
completing the book, what a faith-based exercise it was. But it’s all there,
forgiveness, redemption, compassion, honesty along with occasional Scripture
reference. Maybe it’s because I read so much C.S. Lewis. Lee is strong in the
face of circumstances and people at odds with those virtues he has come to
embody.
x Do the things you are passionate about; Learn from ones who inspire you; Strive to become an expert at what you do xx
Binzento Vincente: A Fashion & Lifestyle Blog
Binzento Vincente: A Fashion & Lifestyle Blog
