YSU instructor gets first novel published

A Mahoning Valley resident used personal memories and experiences to write his novel.

By LAUREN POLINSKY

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — A Youngstown State University teacher and city resident had his first novel published this month by Bantam Books, a part of Random House Publishing in New York, N.Y.

Set in a small rural community and in the rustbelt city of Youngstown, part thriller, part ghost tale and part love story, the book tells the story of a teenage boy’s coming-of-age that begins with a shocking murder and ends with a reason to hope.

Christopher Barzak said the idea for “One for Sorrow” came from two sources. One was the 1985 murder of a 12-year-old Warren boy that took place when he was a child, and the other was the sudden death of a close friend a few years ago. Both events brought up feelings of fear and anxiety, and the author said the book became cathartic for him.

“[The death of the boy] really stuck with me, and I think I was working my way through some of those childhood fears when I was writing this book, even though I was not conscious of that at first,” Barzak said.

The story is told from the point of view of a 15-year-old boy whose family is falling apart. Just as the narrator starts to get close to one of his classmates, the classmate is murdered coming home from a Boy Scout meeting.

Natural setting

Growing up just outside of Youngstown made the city a natural pick for the setting of the book.

“You write what you know,” Barzak said.

The 32-year-old grew up in the small township of Johnston, just past Cortland. He received his bachelor of arts and master of arts degrees from Youngstown State University. He began writing “One for Sorrow” in 2003 while he was teaching a freshman writing class at YSU. Barzak finished the novel within the year and moved to Japan to teach English in both junior high schools and elementary schools. While he was in Japan, Barzak’s literary agent was in the United States working hard to sell the book. Once a deal was finally made, in April 2007, Barzak decided to move back to Youngstown.

“Initially I was just going to stay with my family for a few months before moving on to the next thing, but I became interested in and excited about the revitalization project going on here, and I decided I wanted to stick around and be a part of it.” Barzak said.

Barzak went back to teaching English courses at YSU, has finished a second novel set in the town he lived in Japan and is working on a third book set in Ohio.

A book reception will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday at the Oakland Center for the Arts, 220 W. Boardman Ave. There will be wine, food and live music and art inspired by “One for Sorrow.” Barnes and Noble will sell copies of the novel at the event, and Barzak will read from the book and sign copies.