Brooklyn author to launch paperback in Greenpoint
Brooklyn BookBeat: Debut novel explores 1920s Mississippi
Though he grew up in New York and now lives in Brooklyn, Bill Cheng’s debut novel, “Southern Cross the Dog,” reveals a chillingly evocative portrayal of the South in the 1920s and 30s. First published in May 2013, Cheng’s novel will soon be released in paperback — and to celebrate, the author will appear in Greenpoint at WORD Bookstore on Feb. 18.
Inspired by his love of the blues, Cheng illustrates the story of Robert Lee Chatham, a young black man who survives the Great Flood of 1927 in Mississippi. Robert and his childhood friends, who are separated as a result of the flood, endure much hardship in the wake of the Jim Crow era.
From witnessing the horrifying lynching of his brother to being held captive by fur trappers, Robert believes he was cursed by the Devil as an infant. When he finds a glimpse of salvation in the unlikeliest of characters, Robert struggles to reconcile his past and future.