“Sponsored By…” the Book
“Sponsored By…” was my first full-length novel, and took nearly three years to write. The idea had been in my head for years, and I finally put it on paper while I was supposed to be working in my cubicle. I quit that job after it was published, and have been working for myself ever since. I am very happy with this book, despite some clunky dialogue. I made it very over-the-top, with outlandish characters and situations, to mock the entire advertising industry.
One thing that people have complained about is the fact that the main character takes little action. That he is carried away with the twists and turns in the book. This was done intentionally. It signifies the average person’s lack of control of their own life – be in conscious or unconscious – that they are motivated by outside forces to purchase this, buy that, and put their entire life on credit. We are swept up in the consumer culture, and Maene is no different.
I also titled each chapter with a well-known advertising slogan, hoping to get sued and get some promotion for the book, but that never happened. The central theme is an attack on unbridled American consumption, underlined with a love story. I think had I written this book after my children were born, it would be better. But, I am still pleased with the writing, the plot, and the story-line. Its as relevant today as it ever was. Actually, at least one of my ideas came to life. The “Flogo”. Clouds bearing corporate logos. We’ll see what other ad ideas in this dystopian novel come true.
“Imaginative!” – Anchorage Press, 2001.
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