Author Andrew Gross Signs Eyes Wide Open at Rye Library

Well-known author Andrew Gross appeared at the Rye Free Reading Room in Rye last Wednesday evening.  His latest novel Eyes Wide Open was released on Tuesday, July 12^th.  

In addition to reading excerpts from the book, Gross also spoke about the elements that were representative of true events from his own life: the loss of his nephew nearly two years ago and an encounter with whom would later be recognized as an infamous cult killer.  

Gross believes that individual occurrences are tied together, thereby creating a story.

“You don’t really get a book out of these things, you get things that are threaded together.” 

This book was easy for Gross to write; the true events that occurred were felt intensely by him as an author fueling his fiction.

A quick and even pace is typical when reading many of Gross’ books; he knows how to keep the attention of his readers. He maintains this ability by providing his audience with quick, dramatic and relatively short chapters that manage to pull in the reader.

Gross’ novels definitely engage the reader; sometimes enabling one to be perched on the edge of one’s seat, ready to turn the page. 

While suspense is usually the name of the game for Gross, you will be sorely disappointed if blood and gore is what you are seeking. He tends to decorate his literary journeys with more affirmation than blood. 

While there are “a few bad guys” throughout Eyes Wide Open, there is also a warm feeling of the intense love of family. There may be “dark moments” in many of his works, however they are, more often than not, overshadowed by a larger message.  Eyes Wide Open is less about catharsis and more about paying tribute to the story in all of us.