Patrick Bowman

Readings

My novel Torn from Troy brings the ancient Greek epic of The Odyssey to life as an adventure novel suitable for ages ten and up. My recommended reading from this novel is the scene where the Greek soldiers, having been trapped in a cave by the giant Cyclops, blind him as he sleeps, and eventually escape by hiding underneath its sheep as he lets them out to graze. This is arguably the most famous scene from the Odyssey, and certainly one of the most memorable. If the instructor prefers, I can choose a different section.

I prefer to begin with an introduction to the Odyssey and Greek mythology. Tailoring this introduction to the age of the audience, I begin with a short little talk about the nature of Greek gods and move on to the story of the Trojan War and its causes. This takes us directly to the Trojan War and its aftermath, from which I launch into the reading. This normally takes ten to fifteen minutes but can be cut to a minute or two if time or the instructor require.

After the reading, I find it helpful to buttress the learning with a few questions about the passage, tailored again to the age of the audience. Why do they think that the Cyclops behaved as he did? What would they do in that circumstance? What seems to motivate Alexi (the narrator), Ury (the antagonist) and Odysseus (the leader)? How does the book give us clues to their character? I finish off with a shameless plug for the sequel (to be published in spring of 2012) and a couple of reading suggestions for those who want to discover more about Greek mythology.

I also provide a presentation that focuses more on classical mythology, covering the birth of Zeus and his siblings, the Trojan war and its causes, and the Greek conception of gods and how it differs from the Judeo-Christian one, as well as what purpose these gods served in Greek culture. I then move on to a discussion of the Iliad and Odyssey (a task made easier by the 2004 movie Troy with Brad Pitt) and where Torn from Troy fits into this picture, including what elements of Torn from Troy come from the Odyssey and which were my own additions, and why. This presentation is especially useful for classes that are studying mythology.

Special Equipment:

No; however, if a digital projector and screen are available, I can use them to show some of the more famous images from the Greek myth cycle this reading is drawn from.

Book Sales:

Yes

Biography

I was a software developer and technology consultant for 20 years before turning my hand to writing, my secret passion. Torn from Troy is my first book. Its sequel, The Sea God’s Curse, will be published by Ronsdale Press in Spring of 2012.

For a writer, I have a very dull background: I wasn’t born on the deck of a battleship, nor was I chased through a minefield by attack dogs to start a new life in Canada. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to be born in Canada, quite possibly the best country in the world, and to have lived here peacefully all my life.

I am married and have two daughters, Kathleen and Anitra, who as of 2011 are in grades four and nine.