Tom Frye

My books and other writings have been met with some degree of controversy over the years.  Let me take a few minutes here and address some of the issues that people have raised with the situations, characters, and even artistic imagery in my stories…

In 1982, my first publisher wanted a large pot leaf on the front cover of Scratchin’ on the Eight Ball. In fact, I had to go pick some ditch weed so my artist could draw the leaf. I drove across town, thinking I would get busted for possession!

Over the years, I have been told by many kids it was the pot leaf that drew their attention to my book. And only recently, did I reinstate a pot leaf necklace on my model’s picture for the front cover. But alas, one of my loyal supporters took issue with it the other day, claiming it offended him that I put a pot leaf on the book.

I told him, “Minds are like parachutes. They only work when open. I didn’t put a leaf on there for you to like or dislike. I put it on there for the kids who need to hear a good message about drug abuse. So lighten up, I’m reaching a hard-to-reach audience. And you should know me well enough by now to know I don’t condone smoking pot. Have you ever read the book yourself?”

He didn’t answer me, simply shrugged his shoulders and sheepishly smiled. I suppose others might take issue that I placed a large Celtic cross on the front cover, too. But both the cross and the pot leaf symbolize what the book is all about.

When first putting out Stag Heart, a librarian friend strongly suggested I first take a copy to the Indian Center, as someone had removed Talking Spirit Bear from the shelves of school libraries here in Lincoln. Someone was offended by the author’s depiction of Alaskan Indians, so I took Stag Heart to Cal Peakus, Director of the Indian Center. Cal liked it so much he not only endorsed it, he gave a copy to his sons and daughter to read.

If anyone wants to take issue with anything I write, I would welcome their comments. The one book I wrote and actually put a pen name on because of the controversial issue of a young gay boy being infected with HIV, went to a New York publisher, and ended up selling 10,000 hard-bound copies!

Beyond the Wind first went out under the name Rob N. Hood, my own sense of humor kicking in as the outlaw of Sherwood forest seemed appropriate. My publicist was even named Todd Sherwood! But the book is now back with me, and I have re-issued it with my own name on the front cover.