The thing about my uncle was that I hardly knew him. Uncle Theo kept to himself, some would say he was a recluse, and by all accounts, that was how he preferred it. I couldn’t precisely recall when I had seen him last in the flesh. I just had a foggy recollection from when I was little, like a grainy home movie with cracks and skips and frames missing ...
Although ten years have passed, Rhett Littlefield has always blamed himself for his father abandoning him and his family. When the troubled fourteen-year-old gets kicked out of school for his latest run-in with the vice principal, his frazzled single mother sends him to the hollers of Eastern Kentucky to stay with his Uncle Theo, a man of few words who leads an isolated existence with his loyal dog, Chekhov.
Resigned to make the best of his situation while still longing for the day when Mama will allow him to return home, Rhett settles into his new life. Rhett barely remembers his uncle, but he’s determined to get to know him. As he does, Rhett discovers that he and Uncle Theo share a connection to the past, one that has altered both of their lives, a past that will soon come calling.
The Thing About My Uncle is an engaging and heartwarming coming-of-age story that explores the cost of family secrets, the strength of family bonds, and the importance of reconciling the two in order to move forward.
The Second Edition of The Thing About My Uncle is available on Amazon, for Kindle Unlimited, or order it from your favorite independent bookstore [ISBN: 978-1-7375801-9-5]–with more marketplaces to follow.
SPOILER ALERT: the paperback has a new second Epilogue (a post-credit scene!) that ties into my next novel.
Click HERE to read the first chapter on my Medium page!
You can order signed copies of the First Edition (BHC Press) HERE; if you want a personalized message, use the Contact form. And there still might be (unsigned) copies at the following Kentucky bookstores:
Broadway Books in Ashland
Joseph-Beth in Lexington
Carmichael’s in Louisville
But quantities of the First Edition are limited, and when they’re gone, they’re gone!!!
“The novel has been created with an ambitious eye toward careful balance. It is certainly more than the sum of its literary devices, such as a metaphorical maze of booby traps.”
“This was a fun read … As Rhett, with help from his Uncle Theo, slowly figures things out and gets his life back on track, I found myself both entertained and pulling for him as I read his story.”
“Overall, this well-paced, contemporary, coming-of-age novel is believable and offers great voice, memorable and engaging characters, superb writing and a plot that teens will love.”
“Beautifully written, The Thing About My Uncle, is a story about coming of age, acquiring knowledge and confidence, and learning that the lines of good and evil are sometimes interlocked and blurred. Highly recommended!”
“I was immediately drawn in by the author’s unique voice [and] writing style. I can’t believe this is the author’s first full-length novel and will wait with bated breath to see what he publishes next! One of my top books of 2024.”
Whenever I write, I listen to music that will set the tone of the story. I’ve curated a playlist of songs that inspired me for The Thing About My Uncle. You can listen to them on Spotify.
Peter J. Stavros 