News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Crossville Author Tom Catalano published his first full-length Novel, “Talisman: A Time Travel Mystery.”
The book about archeologists who find a time travel device and must make the decision of whether they use it for personal gain or the betterment of society. Catalano said he began writing the book 16 years ago, working on it between his 13 other published books. Catalano said he is pleased with his first published novel.
“It’s been very beneficial to me, and personally rewarding to have a story that is this length,” Catalano said. “Uh, it’s very cohesive, it’s very tight, it’s very well edited. Um, I’m very happy with the way it turned out.”
Catalano said more work goes into writing a novel than most people think. Catalano said writing a novel fully encompasses him, as he is constantly thinking of what the next plot point is to make the story relatable to himself the reader.
“When you’re talking 340 pages, it’s a big commitment, and especially if you’re going to put the work into it, which is not only conceiving it and writing it, but editing it, which is key,” Catalano said. “If you worked on it non-stop, outside of maybe work and family, you know it’s going to take over a year to do.”
Catalano said he has enjoyed writing since early elementary school. He said he was an introverted student and used writing as an outlet for his imagination.
“I’ve just enjoyed expressing myself through the written word, uh, weather it’s poetry or fiction, and I’ve stayed with it all my life and I receive extreme pleasure, internal pleasure for expressing a story that’s never been told before that came from my imagination.” Catalano said.
Catalano said the idea for this book came of his own interest in time travel which stems from his love of the movie “Time Machine” by H.G. Wells, and stories by Rod Sterling and Jack Finney.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of being able to relive a day or a year over again and maybe changing the results, and that concept has always been in my mind and as an author I decided to come up with an original plot,” Catalano said.
Catalano said he wants readers to enjoy the journey of the story, ask themselves what they would do in the same situation, and question if time travel could be possible.
Catalano said he has four other unpublished full-length novels and has begun editing one that he hopes to have published within the next two years.
