Little Known Facts: A Novel

Description

The debut novel from award-winning writer Christine Sneed: A many-layered story of fame, family and identity.

Life as one of Hollywood's most handsome, charismatic and critically-acclaimed movie stars seems like a glitzy fairytale to the people who orbit around Renn Ivins. But for his grown children, Anna and Will, their father's fame threatens to permeate every aspect of their lives. For Anna - a diligent medical student with a promising future ahead of her but not so promising romantic prospects - the exploits of her celebrity father are a source of embarrassment and, at best, bemusement. Her brother Will, on the other hand, is floundering in a quarter-life crisis. The only thing to outlast his directionless career and failed relationships is his trust fund, but while he and Anna may be happy to use their father's money, they're less happy to use his influence.

As the family, lovers and hangers-on of Renn Ivins struggle to forge their identities in the colossal shadow of his celebrity, Christine Sneed deftly unravels the secrets they tell each other and themselves. Little Known Facts is a multi-layered, deftly observed novel of the fallout of fame and fortune.

Author description

Christine Sneed has a creative writing MFA from Indiana University and has lived in Chicago and Evanston IL since 1998. Her story collection, Portraits of a Few of the People I've Made Cry, was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, was named the Chicago Writer's Association Book of the Year, and has been chosen as the recipient of the John C. Zacharis Award. It was also longlisted for the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award. Her stories have appeared or are forthcoming in Best American Short Stories and PEN/O. Henry Prize Stories, among others.