Love, Death, and Art
Published Novel
Summary: Love, Death, and Art
Gerry O’Fearna is a high school student and aspiring artist. Danny O’Roarke is a recent high school graduate and aspiring writer, just days away from attending Portland State University. Gerry and Danny are the only openly gay couple in Nez Perce, a conservative small town on the Oregon-Washington border.
And this is a story of the breakup of the only openly gay couple in Nez Perce….
Gerry is fairly good at fantasy artwork. Regrettably, his self-doubts, fears and anxieties won’t let him display his efforts in public. Meanwhile, Danny is confident of his writing abilities, to the point of cockiness and arrogance. He regularly chastises Gerry for refusing to assert himself and his artwork.
During their last date on a chilly, rainy Saturday, Gerry and Danny encounter a series of humorous misadventures, not to mention having sex in a beat-up Chevy van. Later that night, Gerry makes a shocking discovery which forever ends his relationship with Danny.
Social satire, black comedy, and graphic sexuality highlights this tale of a doomed romance. Love, Death, and Art is extremely honest in its handling of racism, bigotry, and homophobia. This is a portrait of a gay teen’s attempts to find love and acceptance in a community which refuses to recognize his self-worth. Gerry O’Fearna is certainly a likable kid, and readers will appreciate his tumultuous journey to find peace, success, and security in the arms of a new love and companion.
I began writing Love, Death, and Art in middle Tennessee, not far from Nashville. I completed this novella once I returned to Oregon, and returned to a career in caring for the elderly and the disabled. I was going through a series of transitions and changes in my own life, and I believe this is reflected in Love, Death, and Art.
This is a rather short book, and readers can easily get through it in a few hours. I have tremendous sympathy for Gerry O’Fearna, and I feel he is perhaps one of my more accessible characters. Please give this kid a chance, and I’m sure you will agree with me.
Facts and Tidbits About Love, Death, and Art
Originally published on March 7, 2017