Local author is serious about satire

GALVESTON — Ara 13 doesn’t write for lazy readers, and those who pick up his first novel, “Booths and Drawers,” won’t find dependable fiction with a predictable plot line.

He prefers his readers come to their own conclusions instead of being told what to think.

The book begins by focusing on a civil affairs department that is a liaison between civilians and the military.

In the book, marked with philosophical dialogue, 13’s characters eventually realize that they’re part of a novel.

13 said he spent a lot of time researching to provide provocative theories on morality and psychology.

But, refusing to take it all too seriously, he grounds his plot in satire.

“I think that the topics my characters explore, for example, the concept of evolutionary psychology and behaviorism — a belief that everything we do is a byproduct of evolution and natural selection — would be a bitter pill to take without the satire,” 13 said.

13 himself is an example of not taking oneself too seriously, poking fun at the society’s conventions in the same way he pokes fun at the conventions of creative writing.

He legally changed his name from Ara DeBoer Hirsch to Ara 13 in 1998, “mainly because I think it’s funny,” he said. He also entered his novel for the Pulitzer Prize, basically just to see if he could.

“When you learn that how to apply for the Pulitzer is simply to fill out a form, pay a fee and do a bio, you find that it’s attainable to be an entrant,” he said. “So, whether it should be viewed as a credit to be an entrant really is questionable.”

The author, 36, is an energetic man, leaning forward with unabashed excitement while describing his writing style.

Born in Newton, N.J., 13 attended a private school and later began his writing career as a journalist in the Marine Corps. Ever appreciative of satire, he ran a zine in Atlanta titled “Sisyphus on Strike.”

He then became a wedding photographer, which proved to be lucrative, but kept him from writing. 13 decided to save enough money to live on while he wrote a novel. He reached his goal less than three years ago and moved to Galveston.

“I picked Galveston because it’s close to some major universities and I knew there would be a diversity of ages and opinions there,” he said. “I also knew I wouldn’t have to shovel snow anymore if I moved there.”

13 sidestepped the process of finding a publisher by creating his own publishing company, Covington Moore, and paying a printing company to supply the copies. He created the painting and photography that make up his book cover design, and he is doing all of his own promotion. His book is available on www.amazon.com for $12. Midsummer Books in downtown Galveston will begin selling it soon.

The book release is Saturday, and 13 will sign copies of it from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in front of Mod Coffeehouse, 22nd and Postoffice streets in Galveston. “Booths and Drawers” will be available at a discount, $10, at the signing.

But the release doesn’t mean the work is over for this energetic author. He’s already 80 pages into his next fictional journey.

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At a glance

WHAT: Booksigning by author Ara 13

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Mod Coffehouse, 22nd and Postoffice streets, Galveston

COST: Book is $10

CALL: 409-765-5659