April Fools Daily
A novel by Eileen P. Duggan
It’s not what you know.
It’s not who you know.
It’s how you look.
Dessie Killmade is not blonde or beautiful, but she can sing. She just has to find a way to get someone to look past the façade and listen.
April Fools Daily chronicles the life of the shy rock singer as she struggles to succeed in life, career and love over the obstacle of her less-than-stunning looks. The saga traces the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s world of the St. Louis music scene from the vantage point of a fan and aspiring musician. Of course, it has sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll (but not necessarily in that order or for the protagonist) and also:
Catholic grade school
Sister Mary Quiet
Our Lady of Great Agony
A wolf in nun’s clothing
Bellbottoms & mini-skirts
**Downtown Famous-Barr
Dark Shadows
**Mike McDonald
**Club Imperial
**The Batcave
**The Castaway
**Rainy-Daze
**Cloud 9
**Rusty Springs
**Laclede’s Landing
**Mississippi Nights
**Durty Nellies
**Stonehenge
A songfest from hell
Naugahyde
**Club Imperial
Jesus freaks
**Caleco’s
**Fifth House
**St. Louis University
**20 North
A public relations victim
**Tower Grove Park
Jimmy Lava, the Love Volcano
A 1929 huff
Disneyland
A Rick Springfield doppelganger
Sunset in Santa Monica
Karaoke
**St. Louis Bread Co.
**Richmond Heights
**the Mississippi River
A porch swing
A fair under the Gateway Arch
**St. Louis area appearances
Forty-five minutes later, her nervousness at its peak, she took a deep breath and walked out onto the stage just as the band began the opening chords to her first hit single, “Indecision.” As usual, once she started singing, she calmed down. She had had a chance to fix her hair and makeup and to warm up a little in the makeshift dressing room. And she was in good voice tonight. Good. She had to sound good here, especially here.
“Happy Fourth of July, everybody!” Dessie greeted the audience when the applause died down. “I’m so happy to be back at the VP Fair. Of course this the first time I’ve been on the mainstage—I used to be out there with you guys.” She waited until the cheers died down—almost, and started to walk away from the mike, then turned back sharply and said, “Believe me, it’s a lot less crowded up here.” She signaled the band to start.
The next one was a ballad that Max had written with her seemingly ages ago. When she thought of Max, she had to think of Jeff—they were inextricably linked—and she found herself wondering if he was out there in that crowd. Who else was out there that she knew? When several possible answers to that question came to her mind, she was suddenly overwhelmed by a feeling of success, achievement—no, victory. She tilted her head in her brother’s direction as he started the guitar intro, and she winked.
The rest of the show was the best they’d ever done.
- * * *
Available in paperback at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GJJ143F.
Ebook is at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CKJ9PQK.
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For your listening pleasure (and understanding) while reading. Songs and artists listed may be mentioned in the book or may be representative of the mood or the era in the designated sections.
It may be hard to keep up, so find a Cast of Characters list here.
Pose your questions about the book here. Spoilers may be allowed.
Versatiliosity 