SEQUIM — The failed economy of 1939 meets the worlds of carnivals and gypsies in Michael Bunnell’s “American Gypsy.”
Bunnell, who lives in Sequim, has been writing professionally since he was 18, primarily in print journalism as well as broadcast media, and has essays and articles in national and regional magazines.
Bunnell said recently released “American Gypsy” has a more serious tone than his last humorous and historical novel, “The Friendly Little War of Lyman Cutler.”
The inspiration for his latest novel came from the stories and perspectives he heard from carnies and gypsies, including a family that had three generations living together.
The eldest woman in the family had been a teenage girl in the years just before World War II and ran off to join a carnival. When her daughter had a child that was in Bunnell’s class — he was teaching at the time — he came to know the family and its members.
Over the years, Bunnell met more people involved in carnivals and visited a gypsy camp in Louisiana.
Bunnell said these experiences were the seeds that sprouted his idea for writing, “American Gypsy,” but added the direct inspiration to turn his ideas into a story came from what he saw as parallels between class divisions today and the conflicts of class divisions back during the Great Depression.
“I made the year 1939 because I thought it was a pivotal year in American history,” he said.
Bunnell explained that in the past couple of years when he was finishing the novel, he felt the current events affecting American society today is another pivotal point in American history.
“The erosion of the middle class is similar to what happened in the Depression; nothing happening today is as vivid and as catastrophic as the 1930s, but the trajectories are similar.”
“American Gypsy” features two protagonists: 18-year-old Lorene Harper, who is fed up with the shame, poverty and judgment of her community and is later taken in by the gypsies; and Dan Murphy, a World War II flying ace with unpleasant memories of his wartime experience who becomes a prime figure in one of the carnivals. The two end up developing a romantic attraction.
Also, the book has a family of gypsies, comprised of a young couple and their children, and a grandmother who is the matriarch of the clan.
Bunnell said the disconnect between the mainstream society and the gypsy and carnival culture is illustrated through them.
“Most of the book is about characters looking for respect, acceptance and, of course, love,” he said.
Bunnell hopes that readers will learn to be more compassionate after reading his book.
“I think America is woefully lacking in compassion and I would hope that this book would trigger a little bit of that,” he explained.
On top of his writing career, Bunnell also enjoys growing organic vegetables, performing music at local venues — from Celtic folk songs to American Folk Revival to classic country — and hosts Open Mic at Olympic Theatre Arts on North Sequim Avenue.
“American Gypsy” is available for purchase on www.Amazon.com and can be found locally at Nourish restaurant and Nash’s Farm Store in Sequim, and at Port Book and News and Heatherton Gallery in Port Angeles.
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Erin Hawkins is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach her at ehawkins@sequimgazette.com.
Gypsies, carnies and the erosion of the middle class during the Great Depression are some of the themes represented in Michael Bunnell’s latest novel, “American Gypsy.” (Photo courtesy of Michael Bunnell)
