Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Noir

Synopsis

Yesteryear is a magical realism/historical novel written in the same spirit as W.P. Kinsella’s Shoeless Joe, Bernard Malamud’s The Natural, and Daniel Wallace’s Big Fish. It is based on the true story of Fran Striker, a struggling radio play scriptwriter who would eventually create The Lone Ranger, The Green Hornet, Sergeant Preston of The Yukon as well as the Tom Quest young adult novel series. Set in Buffalo, New York during the early 1930’s, Yesteryear explores the events and magical influences that led to the creation and radio debut of The Lone Ranger. The novel is populated by characters who lived during that time—former lightweight boxing champion Jimmy Slattery, radio actor John L. Barrett, Mafioso Stefano Magaddino, and president-elect Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

The novel begins in a speakeasy where washed-up fighter Jimmy Slattery asks Striker to hold his diamond rings for him as he feels the onset of an alcoholic bender beginning and he fears losing his rings. Striker agrees and pockets the rings. As Striker is walking home later that night, he hears an old radio play he had written, Covered Wagon Days, Episode 10, “Danger At The Gold Mine”, being performed by his best friend, actor John Barrett. The broadcast seems to be coming from nowhere, everywhere, as all the shops and houses are shut tight for the night. Striker is so absorbed with listening to this ghostly radio show that he doesn’t hear the mugger approach who steals his rings.

The search for the rings leads Striker to Lefty Mavrakis, a thief who may have the rings; A Man With A Very Small Chin, who may have Lefty; Lefty’s wife, a Gypsy brothel owner who puts a curse on Striker; Boogaloo Bailey, who tells the tale of Bass Reeves, a black marshal from the old west; Stefano Magaddino, who wants to assassinate FDR; and George Washington Trendle, owner of WXYZ in Detroit, who will buy the rights for The Lone Ranger from a desperate Striker for ten dollars.

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About the Author

Stephen G. Eoannou is the author of the award-winning short story collection Muscle Cars and the novels Rook and Yesteryear. He holds an MFA from Queens University of Charlotte and an MA from Miami University. He has been awarded an Honor Certificate from The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, the Best Short Screenplay Award at the 36th Starz Denver Film Festival, and the 2021 Eyelands International Book Award For Historical Fiction. He lives and writes in his hometown of Buffalo, New York, the setting and inspiration for Yesteryear. Find him online at www.sgeoannou.com and on Twitter @StephenGEoannou.