Bestselling author E. A. Coe chatted about his popular book “The Other Side of Good.”
Book description of ‘The Other Side of Good’
When reputed criminal, Theo Jackson, proposes a donation to the city for a new youth center, the mayor sends police officer, Denton Jones to negotiate the terms. Theo and Denton were once friends before taking different career paths. Denton’s efforts inexplicably make him a target for a corrupt city official, but a dishonest bureaucrat is the least of the city’s problems.
Theo uncovers evidence of an international criminal organization facilitating human trafficking in the city. Repulsed by the crime, Theo enlists an unlikely coalition of clergy, law enforcement, and criminals to try to stop it.
In the process, readers are dragged into the uncomfortable gray areas of life where the wrong thing sometimes seems a better choice than the right thing; where a little bad turns into almost good; and where dark white and light black become the same color.
Biography on author
E. A. Coe is F. Coe Sherrard, a former United States Naval aviator and career businessman, who is retired and lives in Edinburg, Virginia. A graduate of Western Maryland College (now called McDaniel College), Coe flew carrier-based logistical support aircraft during the latter years of the Vietnam Conflict, and Airborne Early Warning aircraft as a Naval Reservist until he retired as a Commander in 1991.
He was a senior executive in two entertainment companies, including Spirit Cruises and Herschend Family Entertainment (manager of the Dollywood Theme Park). Married to Jean since 1971, Coe has three children and six grandchildren.
‘The Other Side of Good’ has been immensely popular with readers and reviewers. Can you tell us what or who was your inspiration for this rather amazing book?
The short answer is that Denton Jones (one of the lead characters) was the immediate reason for the story and its location. I created Denton as “Ten Ton” Jones, a colorful member of the Division III baseball team in my first book, Full Count.
He was a minor character in that book but a favorite among readers, and people wanted to know more about him. In Full Count, Denton overcame a rough childhood growing up in the tenements of Cincinnati, with an ambition to return there after college to pursue a career in law enforcement. TOSOG is about what happens to him as an adult.
The longer answer is that the inspiration for the theme (Good vs Bad) came from years of parenting. Explaining the sometimes complex concept to my children was daunting yet critically important work. Not all laws are good, and not all bad is evil. Absent perspective, good and bad are only labels.
The relationships between the characters in ‘The Other Side of Good’ really keep readers engaged from beginning to end. What is one of your keys to creating such compelling characters, and such an interesting intersection of relationships?
Writing plausible fiction versus fantasy requires a constant effort to “keep things real”. The interactive connection with others, whether collaborative or adversarial, determines how Imperfect people with incomplete data wind their way through the daily calamities of life. I try to create characters who are relatable and recognizable by mixing composites of actual personalities I know.
During the writing process, things can come up for the writer. Did you learn anything new about yourself while writing “The Other Side of Good’?
Yes. To keep an open mind and always consider the evaluations of critics. I started this book before my second one, The Road Not Taken. My favorite critic (also wife) wasn’t enthralled with the original plot in which “good” was represented by the righteous policeman and “bad” by the drug dealer. To her, the plot was missing some “meat.”
While writing The Road Not Taken, I read James Patterson’s book, “Filthy Rich” involving the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. The non-fictional account revealed an evil, Human Trafficking, existing in our country even greater (in my opinion) than the one represented by the drug trade.
I made this crime the new anchor for “bad” in TOSOG … which changed the whole dynamic of my original bad guy’s persona. Then, at the suggestion of another critic, I moved the chapter introducing the crime from the middle third of the book to the opening chapter … never mentioning it again until later in the book. Readers knew from the beginning that the story had something to do with one of the most heinous crimes on earth … but they had to keep reading to learn how. I believe this change (offered by a critic) was the most important in creating a compelling, page-turning novel.
A good story is all about the setting, the descriptiveness, and the raw energy that captivates, all coming together to have the reader turning the pages effortlessly. Your book includes all of them, what is one of the keys that you find is critical when getting into the writing zone.
I like to start with a relatively linear idea of the beginning, middle, and end of my story, then tackle filling in the pieces in between. Each chapter must compel and satisfy, much like a self-standing short story … but it must also then be able to fit within the flow of the longer narrative.
For me, the most fun part of completing a story is stitching it together by connecting seemingly random references in one chapter to similar ones in later ones. As an example, In TOSOG, the book ends with a quotation about the color of a brownie.
Those readers who remember the early reference to brownies near the beginning of the book will have a much better understanding of how TOSOG truly ends than readers who don’t.
This book has really captured the hearts and minds of readers. Do you have another book in the works you can tell us about?
I do. While I was waiting for TOSOG to go through the publishing process, I started writing a novel tentatively titled, “Pedaling West.” It’s a COVID-19 era story about a young woman who loses her job and her fiancé all in the same week during the opening months of the pandemic. To “reset” her life, she decides to embark on a cross-country biking journey from Virginia Beach to Mendocino.
She is unaware she has information relating to her former boss’s plan to embezzle awarded COVID relief funds that could incriminate him … which makes her a target. The story cycles between a drama involving the bad guys chasing her and a travelogue of an idyllic trip across America.
My wife and I took the same trip as the fictional biker in November … only in a nice car and staying in good hotels. No interstates, rural roads … and we had a blast. The trip changed the story, too.
What’s your favorite drink that you like to toast with after finishing up a new book?
Bourbon and ginger ale or a good bold Cabernet.
“The Other Side of Good” is available on Amazon by clicking here.
