Waterloo writer publishes debut novel.

Kadin Noel

31 August 2008

Those are the subjects explored in David Givens' debut novel, "Betrayed," released last month by Triple Crown Publications. And the setting? the streets of the 29-year-old's hometown, Waterloo. "I've spent almost all of my life here, so it felt natural to write on the subject of this place," claimed the writer.

"And I have never seen an urban novel set in Iowa, so I suspect that'll set it apart.". In the book, Darrell "The Sandman" Jenkins and his crew ignite a drug war that quickly turns violent. As the chips start falling into place, Jenkins nurtures a new relationship, whilst a puzzling figure plots vengeance against the businessperson. Plenty of the personalities are based primarily on "bits of pieces of folk I have met over the years," Givens asserted. And in the writing process, those personas determined the book's story. Givens can be often be found pecking away at his keyboard or reading the works of other writers, recounted his mum, Denise Baring, also of Waterloo. She is hoping her boy's success as an writer will inspire other Waterloo youth to work toward their goals, irrespective of how unbelievable they appear. "At 1st I did not think he would get extremely far, but he kept on following it," Baring related. "I hope this lets children know that they can have dreams. Lots of children in Waterloo don't have plenty of positive outlets or plenty of hope, but this shows that it can be done. "Who knows what number of other writers there are out there?".

" ( It's ) the same idea as rap music perhaps you was raised in that environment, perhaps you would like to experience an environment different from your own, either way, it's a window by which you can view it.". Givens thinks his book will find an assembly among youths and town dwellers in Waterloo and elsewhere, "because they can relate to it more," he explained. The writer is working on another novel, a follow up to "Betrayed.". "Urban books get a bad rap, but the majority of my personalities don't live well off in the final analysis, so it is not glorifying that sort of ( criminal ) behavior," Givens recounted. "A lot of the blokes that I have given the books to, they do not read that much, but at least now I see them reading something.". In doing so, the Courier reserves the legal right to ban any user ( s ) at any point without warning if we feel they don't seem to be following the details of agreement. Please recall that politeness is a required element of productive conversation. Vulgarity, selling, and so on. ) are subject to refusal and / or removal. Thanks for reading, and thanks for participating.