A Season in Hell by Kenneth W. Cain
Just one season can change everything. When Dillon Peterson is honored for his baseball career, he must face a ghost that has long haunted him. He is transported back through his memories to a single season in the nineties that broke his heart.
That was the season he met Keisha Green, the first and only woman to play baseball in the minor leagues. He sees what she goes through, what she must endure just to play the game both of them love, and this struggle leads to their friendship. As matters escalate, Dillon finds himself regretting his role in it all, as well as his career in baseball.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.
Interview with the author:
What makes this novella so special?
On the outside, it’s about the conflict of a woman playing a man’s sport. But the guts of the story are all about equality, equal rights for women, what they must endure. It’s an endearing tale of that struggle. And it’s also about a man who is trying not to fall for all those traps taught to boys as they transition to men, what feels to him like an overwhelmingly thick coat of misogyny. As much as this story is about Keisha Green and her fight, it’s also about Dillon and his growth and evolution as a human being.
Tell us more about your lead characters.
This story is told from the perspective of Dillon Peterson, an everyday, regular guy who loves the game of baseball. He’s not actively pursuing a means of breaking free of those chains established by the patriarchal system, but when he happens upon it, it’s hard for him to deny.
Keisha is a no-nonsense, strong black woman who only wants to keep playing the game she loves, and she’s not about to let anyone take that away from her. I wanted so much for her while writing this story, but, as many of us know, things don’t always work out the way we want or expect them to. Everyone has their limits.
Why should readers give this baseball story a try?
Fans of the game will enjoy the details. Those who aren’t sports fans will realize this is much more than a baseball story. It’s tackling a subject that’s often overlooked. Yes, the wrapper is all baseball, but the juicy insides are gushing with humanity. I think this one will surprise readers, but only if they risk taking a look.
Do you have other books featuring female leads?
I do, three novellas. Alexin features a James Bond type character who doesn’t mind using a man or a woman to further her cause. Jade is kind of like Luke Skywalker meets zombies versus vampires. Lifeblood is about Lara, who falls in love with a werewolf. My novel United States of the Dead (currently being reworked as Pack Animals) also has a strong female lead. It always feels good to create strong female characters, hopefully the kind young women can get behind and cheer on. After all, heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and from all sorts of backgrounds.