Robert Nolin - A Magical Historical Novel

Robert Nolin lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with his wife, Chris. Charani's Gift is his debut novel. As our Author of the Day, he tells us all about his book, Better Believe.

Please give us a short introduction to what Charani's Gift is about.

Missouri, 1898. Clara, a young gypsy girl, has escaped the local lunatic asylum and is in the care of two young psychiatrists. She manifests multiple personalities, and the doctors wonder if she is possessed. The doctors learn that there is a war going on between the Spiritualists and a powerful mind-cure fraud named Hopewell. He has been rounding up Spiritualist mediums, like Clara, and incarcerating them in the local lunatic asylum. Higgs and Price must restore Clara to wholeness, and bring an end to the incarcerations.

Why did you pick 1898 Hamlin, Missouri as the backdrop for your story?

I came upon an article about a town in Missouri that became obsessed with the “mind cure” fads of the late nineteenth century. They called it “magneto-madness.” To top it off, the Missouri town was near an insane asylum. How could I not write about this place? I spent roughly two years researching.

What makes Clara so special?

The book’s original title was “A Cure for the Hobby-Ridden,” and it was going to be about two doctors in a town gone mad with Mesmerism and such. Clara started out as just a patient of my two doctors, Percy and Mort. She comes to the doctors, suffering from what we recognize today as a dissociative personality disorder. As they try to help Clara recover, they begin to wonder if she is a psychic healer. Readers will have to decide the truth for themselves.

Interesting cover, please tell us more about how this came about.

The cover was designed by my very talented daughter, a Carnegie Mellon design grad. And yes, I paid her! The image is based on a close-up of a real Romani vardo, or caravan. The typeface is meant to evoke the Romani traditional hand-painted lettering on their gorgeous caravans. The medallion is an example of Romani folk art.

The Circle features prominently in this book - do tell us more about this group.

Spiritualist circles were once very common. Spiritualists did not meet in church, but rather in each other’s homes. Sort of like book clubs, I suppose, but with a séance.

Do you have any interesting writing habits? What is an average writing day like for you?

Typically I write about seven hours a day. I spend the morning writing, breaking for a two-mile walk in the wonderful nearby Frick Park. Readers might recognize that name from the book, and there are several other “Easter Eggs” as well, borrowing names from Pittsburgh people. My wife and I live in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood a few blocks from the Tree of Life synagogue.

What is your favorite line from this book and why?

I suppose my favorite line is the first line of the book, though it’s really two lines. ” We found General Custer in the Tenderloin, near the railroad station. He was dying, and by the look of things, he had been doing so for years.” It came to me like a gift one day while I was researching and jotting notes. That line set the tone for Percy’s chapters, so it has a special place for me. There really were “Dying Custers” all over the West at one time, and other sorts of wax figures that moved, an early precursor of “Animatronics.” Dime museums were a fascinating part of our history.

Readers say that this was a thought-provoking read. What do you hope readers will take away from this story?

I wanted to challenge readers, to pose questions about how we create ourselves. Clara struggles to find her true self, meanwhile, the doctors have their own ideas about her, and society looks down on her as a “dirty gypsy.” The doctors, too, are trying to find themselves.

Psychotherapy, trauma, and the use of hypnosis are big themes in this book. Why did you find this important to write about?

I went to a hypnotherapist years ago to quit smoking. That experience really opened my eyes to the power of the subconscious. I relied upon the writings of William James to create my doctors, and James used hypnosis. By having two Harvard grads take jobs in a town undergoing a sort of psychic upheaval, I hoped to contrast their beliefs against the religious beliefs of the time.

What are you working on right now?

I’m currently writing a novel about a little-known man who saved the buffalo from extinction and helped to start the conservation movement. Harold Baynes toured America with circuit Chautauqua, campaigning against the fashion of decorating hats with dead birds, raising awareness about the buffalo’s plight. And he lived with a bear, a coyote, and a fox. He’s a fascinating character.

Where can our readers discover more about your work or interact with you?

The book’s website is www.charanisgift.com. Please visit and leave a comment. I’d love to hear what you thought of my debut novel! My Amazon author page is https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Nolin/e/B09ZLRLK86/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop… 
My Goodreads profile is https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22412425.Robert_Nolin

Besides writing, what other secret skills do you have?

The opportunity to write has come to me late in life. I’ve been an artist and musician most of my life. I paint in watercolor and play guitar. I invite you to visit some of my artwork at www.bobnolin.com.