EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Aug. 3, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- A hidden love exposed sparks a situation with potentially lethal consequences in the new novel, Belle Harbor Skeletons (now available through AuthorHouse). Author Susan M. Hooper uses the love affair of two young men to explore the levels of tolerance and acceptance amongst different socio-economic classes.
Best friends Barnaby Moss and Arnie Kotkin grew up together in Lawton, N.Y., went to college together and when they realize they are both gay, end up in bed together. Despite their history and the love that has blossomed between them, their family lives could not be more different. Barnaby comes from a lower-middle-class family that values life experience and love more than the financial worth of their endeavors. When he admits his sexuality to his parents, Stella and Lawrence, Barnaby is met with support and compassion.
Arnie, on the other hand, comes from old money and lives in the section of the city dubbed by the upper crust as "Belle Harbor." His family name, Kotkin, is synonymous with pride. His mother, Thelma, is an appearance-conscious, judgmental matriarch. Arnie's confession sends her into a rage, much to the chagrin of his father, Joseph.
Barnaby and Arnie settle into domestic bliss together and try to live ordinary lives. Suddenly, their lives are thrust into a tangled mess of long-buried secrets and present dangers. After Barnaby is shot, they realize they must try to find the truth before it is too late.
Hooper weaves an enchanting story of love against the odds in Belle Harbor Skeletons.
A native of East Hartford, Conn., Hooper is a former legal secretary and assistant. She says she has been a steady fixture on the Connecticut craft circuit for a number of years and finds a great deal of success as the maker of "Boslee Bears" and "Beverage Can Kids," which are creatures constructed out of recycled soda cans. Belle Harbor Skeletons is her first book, which she plans to turn into an on-going series.
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