“The Artist Spoke” by Ted Morrissey

The Artist Spoke

Ted Morrissey 
Twelve Winters Press (2020)
ISBN: 9781733194938
Reviewed by Amy Lignor for Reader Views (9/2021)

I must say, many readers will love this book, but if you’re a writer or a true literary junkie (as am I) you’ll definitely be able to get with the characters and understand the intense feelings they have when you open up this novel and to dig in.

Christopher Krafft is a professor of literature whose girlfriend has just broken it off. He puts his name in to be part of a super-popular writer’s stunt. The professor is one of 753 applicants who end up being selected to be “Logos” in the Logos Alive project; this includes a conference that is being held by Elizabeth Winters–a NY Times bestselling author–called ‘Revelation’. For each of the 753 people invited to this unique get-together, each was given a single word that, supposedly, will later be compiled to complete the prologue for the author’s next book.

Everything takes a massive turn, however, when a news headline is released that states Winters lost her life in a plane crash on her way to this conference. When Chris arrives, he is joined by a mass of other attendees who are in mourning, completely stunned by the fact that one of their absolute favorite authors has lost her life. Before they can get it together and accept the news, the deceased author’s partner speaks with the crowd and explains to them what the second half of this project entails: All of them are to have a microchip containing 100 words of Winters’ future book implanted in them. The book won’t be published for over 100 years, when scientists uncover the chips and put the manuscript all together. All the participants need to agree to is to not be cremated when their own demise comes around in order for this compilation to occur.

Chris is one of those true super-fans of Elizabeth Winters and immediately agrees to having the chip implanted, as does the woman he meets at the conference named Beth. Now, being that he is an inquisitive man as well as a fan, Chris begins to spend a great deal of his time trying to learn far more about the author, which brings him even closer to other die-hard admirers.

I do not use the word “delightful” often because, let’s face it, that’s difficult to find in a negative world. But when it comes to this novel, Morrissey has a way of telling it that’s actually introspective, concise, warm and delightful the entire time. (He even uses the voice of Chris’s ex-girlfriend inside his head to include ongoing debates about Winters’ and her stunts, as well as the difference between fame and having actual talent.) This is one book that you not only will enjoy, you’ll also feel a part of; it most definitely relates to that inner being within each of us who is definitely a super-fan!