Eddie Lennon – author of “My Friend Gus,” his critically-acclaimed debut novel – was born and raised on Long Island, with he and his family residing in Bellmore and later Manhasset; he currently resides in Port Washington, and says that he was instilled with a love of the written word at a very young age.
Writing is Eddie's side gig currently, but one that he has been pursuing with passion and intensity for some time now, dabbling both in journalism and fiction. His first published article was in the Manhasset Press back in 2015, and while attending college at High Point University in North Carolina in 2019 began writing extensively for sports news website Fansided in their baseball section, racking up over 100 articles for them during his time there.
In addition, Eddie also engaged in other freelance writing opportunities on the side to help pay the bills and entertain his passion until he graduated with an undergraduate degree in strategic communications and a graduate degree in communications and business leadership.
All of this culminated with Eddie's full-length fiction novel debut My Friend Gus, put out by Pennsylvania-based independent publisher Pearhouse Press earlier this year and currently available to purchase via online retailers such as Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com; a physical release is scheduled in the near furture in bookstores across the country.
While the tale of My Friend Gus is indeed a work of fiction, Eddie said that many aspects of both its plot and characters are drawn from his real-life experiences, making the act of penning this tome a deeply personal and cathartic experience.
“Writing has always been a passion of mine...I came up with the idea for the book one day, and I thought it was really great. It was something that got me really enthusiastic and got my blood pumping, and I got very passionate about it,” he said. “I actually thought this could be a movie, and I initially started writing it as a screenplay. But after a couple months, I realized I had no idea how to actually write a screenplay, but I knew I knew how to write characters and how to tell a story, and I wanted to share this world that I had created with other people. So, I pivoted and started writing My Friend Gus as a novel instead.”
The plot of My Friend Gus chronicles the lives of two entirely different individuals, both struggling with loneliness and depression; circumstances bring the two lost souls together who subsequently strike up an unusual friendship, sharing a bond that only the two of them can discern.
For more information, here is the Amazon.com plot summary for your edification:
My Friend Gus is the tale of an unlikely friendship between two people who need it more than they know. Pete McCarthy is a recent college graduate who should be ready to take on the world as he prepares for his new job as an analyst at a bank. He is a smart and determined young professional. What people don't know is that he feels depressed and alone. Because he hides this from his family and friends, his behavior and attitude are misunderstood. He's just looking for some hope in a dim world.
Gus Sanford is a longtime widower and a retired stuntman, best known for his work in 1970s action movies. However, now he lives a very simple life on Long Island in the same town as Pete. His small, walk-up apartment is across the street from his favorite restaurant, Antonio's, where he often goes to drink at the bar. Now in his 80s, he struggles with loneliness and poor health.
Gus and Pete strike up an unexpected friendship that nobody else understands or really accepts. The two men provide the companionship they need at this point in their lives, but don't realize how much they count on each other until life tests them both.
Eddie first discovered a passion for the written word when he was in seventh grade; at the time, he was exposed to many of the great works of literature, such as The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Outsiders. However, early on, he noted that he struggled academically in some respects, requiring additional assistance in his studies. However – with the help of his English teacher – he soon began to thrive in school, and later proved all of the naysayers wrong by not only graduating, but then heading off to college with a scholarship as well.
“My teachers were a little concerned with my reading ability and my handwriting, which was atrocious,” he laughed. “However, my seventh grade English teacher, Mr. Koondel, transformed my whole mentality towards school and academics, and I wish I could say thank you to him today just because he had such a big impact on me. I wouldn't be the person, the student, the professional that I am today without his help. English was always my favorite subject in school, and it was a great opportunity for me to show people what I could do.”
Fast-forward to his novel: Eddie, upon completing My Friend Gus, began shopping it around to publishers with the guidance of his mentor, accomplished author Steve Rizzo, who helped connect him with the right people; this eventually led to his meeting with representatives of Pearhouse, who would go on to publish his book.
My Friend Gus is currently available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com, with a physical debut in bookstores yet to come, at which time Eddie said he will support the book with a series of signings in local bookstores.
Response to My Friend Gus has been extraordinarily positive so far, with strong sales and excellent reviews, both on the part of professionals as well as the diverse array of people who have purchased and read it thus far. This is something that Eddie says he takes a great deal of pride in, and the early reaction to his work has only inspired him to further pursue his passion for the written word in the months and years to come.
“I'm relieved and I'm really happy for myself, as I really earned this,” he said. “This was a lot of hard work, pushing myself, but now I just want to make sure that people receive it well. I'm very proud of what I accomplished, and I'm looking forward to the future.”
To find out more about Eddie Lennon and My Friend Gus, please visit his official website at https://myfriendgus.com. To purchase My Friend Gus, please visit the following links for Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.