# My fourth novel (political satire), CULTURAL PRACTICES OF THE HEARTLAND **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** books-writing-myths\ **Created:** [June 27, 2023, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190 "2023-06-27T19:33:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190/1 "2023-06-27T19:33:20Z")
I’m excited to tell Dopers about my latest novel, the political satire CULTURAL PRACTICES OF THE HEARTLAND! You can get it in ebook starting tomorrow (28 June 2023), or as a paperback/hardback already. Presuming Cafe Society rules are the same as when I published my last novel (2018), I can’t link to the seller websites in CS, but I can include the Marketplace post as a link (at the bottom of this post) which does link to Amazon and other sales websites. If I have to sum up the book in a single sentence, here goes: > [@](#): > > The last seven years of American politics distilled into a revolting, thousand-foot-tall monster, tromping through the American heartland… Here’s the back cover blurb: > [@](#): > > Deep within the suburban jungle of Cincinnati, a monster has emerged, bursting out of the Rumpke Sanitary Landfill. Taking its name from its birthplace, Rumpke is a thousand feet tall, has revolting personal habits, and might be vaguely familiar to readers, considering his orange-tinged hair and proportionally tiny hands. What do Americans do when such a creature appears, lumbers around at random, and occasionally defiles a local landmark? For millions, the choice is obvious – worship it. > > New York journalist Fred Millard is assigned to report on the exploits of the monster, his bizarre fandom, and the ludicrous internet conspiracy theories that have caught fire since his appearance. Fred quickly learns that the absurdity of Rumpke’s fandom leads to more serious consequences than mere internet hysteria – when serious illness starts to spread in those closest to the monster, its biggest fans refuse to follow the government’s guidance of masking and social distancing, worsening the outbreak. And most appalling of all, one conspiracy theory inspires a violent mob to assemble in Washington, DC and assault a federal building, with deadly results. > > A funhouse-mirror reflection of modern American politics, CULTURAL PRACTICES OF THE HEARTLAND is a sci-fi tinged political satire novel. It was written for all of us who are exhausted, baffled, and even terrified by the insanity of American politics in recent times. Like my last novel “Spindown”, Doper @GuanoLad did the cover art (great job, by the way!). Marketplace post link below (with seller links): > [@Presenting my fourth novel, political satire CULTURAL PRACTICES OF THE HEARTLAND](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/presenting-my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986189): > > My fourth novel will be available in e-book tomorrow (28 June 2023)! I’m very excited to tell the Dope about it. It’s called “Cultural Practices of the Heartland”, and here’s the back cover blurb: Like my last novel “Spindown”, Doper @GuanoLad did the cover art (which I’m very pleased with!). Amazon and other links below (default is ebook, but you can click over for paperback and hardback depending on the seller): [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5YLNQHN](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5YLNQHN)[https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/cultur…](https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/cultural-practices-of-the-heartland) Thanks for reading! ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190/2 "2023-06-27T19:36:38Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > The last seven years of American politics distilled into a revolting, thousand-foot-tall monster, tromping through the American heartland… Is it orange? 😳 ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2023, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190/3 "2023-06-27T19:41:51Z")
It is orange-ish… 😜 ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2023, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190/4 "2023-06-28T22:57:51Z")
Forgot to mention that several Dopers served as beta readers, and the book is much improved for it. Not sure if they want to identify themselves, but they are free to if they wish. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190/5 "2023-06-29T14:48:56Z")
Congrats! I look forward to reading it! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190/6 "2023-06-29T14:49:36Z")
Great! I hope you enjoy it. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190/7 "2023-06-29T14:53:19Z")
It was a good read when I did the beta reading. My only wish was that it had been a bit longer. 😉 Could have used another 50-100 pages (although, of course, it’s a lot easier for a reader to ask for that than for a writer to write it.) ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190/8 "2023-06-29T14:58:24Z")
Thanks! I worked a while on the length and ultimately decided that more would have been fluff and taken away from the overall story. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190/9 "2023-06-29T18:36:45Z")
Congrats! I had a great time reading it, and I encourage other Dopers who want a good laugh to get it. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190/10 "2023-06-29T18:48:30Z")
That’s fantastic, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! If you wouldn’t mind, I’d greatly appreciate a review on Amazon or wherever you bought it. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190/11 "2023-06-29T18:50:05Z")
Well, I “bought” it from you for the low low price of providing feedback (which was a bargain). But I’ll add a review to Amazon as well. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2023, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190/12 "2023-06-29T18:54:30Z")
Oh that’s right, I’m sorry! Thanks again! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2023, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190/13 "2023-07-01T13:58:09Z")
I’ve been running some ads for the book on Facebook. Here are some of the comments people have posted under my ad: “Pathetic.” “Another demo-masturbatory fantasy.” “Should be called Unnatural Practices of the Bidens.” So I may need to work on my targeting. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2023, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190/14 "2023-07-01T14:18:53Z")
Could be Cincinnatians offended that you called “Mt. Rumpke” a Sanitary Landfill. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2023, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190/15 "2023-07-01T15:31:04Z")
Indeed! Apologies to Cincinnatians! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2023, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190/16 "2023-07-09T15:18:38Z")
New in Books did a short interview with me about the book: > **[Interview with Andy Crawford, Author of Cultural Practices of the Heartland |...](https://www.newinbooks.com/interview-with-andy-crawford-author-of-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/)** > > What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Cultural Practices of the Heartland? I had a dream in which a colossal, disgusting monster, was stomping all over the middle of the country, and instead of being afraid, Americans started... ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190/17 "2023-07-10T04:43:33Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Like my last novel “Spindown”, Doper @GuanoLad did the cover art (great job, by the way!). Agreed! ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190/18 "2023-07-10T06:40:19Z")
Already published? That was fast! Congratulations! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190/19 "2023-07-10T11:19:48Z")
Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190/20 "2023-07-10T21:26:49Z")
Were the suggestions helpful, did you change much? I remember suggesting that you rewrite the first chapter, as, in my feeling, you had not gotten into the story yet, the flow became much better afterwards. That would have been a lot of work, and if you did, kudos for the quick editing! Did the critique feel encouraging or dispiriting? I understand that you did not want to comment on every response you got, but now that you have opened this thread I feel it is legitimate to ask. How do you feel about your work now? Are you satisfied? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-fourth-novel-political-satire-cultural-practices-of-the-heartland/986190.md?page=2)