**UPDATE** The novella is available for purchase now! Get it here: Books2Read: Vivienne
The novel, titled Vivienne, which features gothic horror elements in a medieval setting, focuses on vampirism as a metaphor for spiritual and emotional pain and abuse.
University of Arkansas Hope and Texarkana Professor, Hollis Thompson, has been writing since his childhood, and is now finally publishing his first novella. The short book will be available in the online stores of Barnes and Noble, Walmart, and other bookstores starting on September 1st.
The work is titled Vivienne and contains heroines, gothic horror elements, and themes of falling from Grace, loneliness, faith, and redemption.
The story summary is as follows:
the blood is the life-Deut. 12:23
In medieval France, two girls, as close as sisters, grow up together… but their paths could not have diverged more as they came of age.
After Vivienne’s father separates the girls before they reach adulthood, Alida takes solace in travel, learning and growing as she meets people of every kind. She returns to find Vivienne exactly where she was, in her father’s castle, but some things have undeniably changed.
Strange things are happening in their hometown, and Vivienne’s castle seems to be at the heart of the foreboding and tragic incidents.
As Alida learns the depth of her best friend’s involvement, it will take all of her strength, courage, and most importantly, an abundance of faith to save herself and others… Though salvation does not always come in the form we expect.
Given the mild gore of the story, and scenes including physical and mental abuse, this story is not appropriate for all ages, but the text has undergone multiple sensitivity readings, in order to make sure the story uses only descriptors that are necessary to portray the themes he intended to get across.
Author Thompson specializes in Biblical literature, medieval literature and pop culture, and his diverse interests and unique style come through in his debut novella, Vivienne.
“Vivienne is a symbolic story about trauma and the ways in which abuse spreads. It speaks to issues past and present and offers a vision of what healing may look like. If I’ve done my job, the book will inspire readers to deeper compassion for friends and loved ones who have been trapped in such cycles. “
Hollis Thompson is the artistic director of the Biblical Drama Institute in the Texarkana area and an English faculty member at the University of Arkansas Hope and Texarkana, where he teaches composition and literature. His main interests include Biblical literature, medieval literature, and superheroes.
Hollis’ writing has been published in scholarly journals and he is also an award-winning playwright.
He is currently working on an academic book about the intersection of Biblical studies and superhero culture.
Find Hollis‘ biblical drama work here: https://biblicaldramainstitute.godaddysites.com/ and follow his writing projects at facebook.com/Hollisterwriter
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Phoenix Sisters Crayle and Kelly were part of an all-encompassing marketing push for the development, publishing, and promotion of the novella, Vivienne! Kelly even assembled the book trailer embedded in this post!