“This is the definitive version of the text,” Shiloh said, who once worked in Chicago as a proofreader. “This shows what I had been at work on for all those years.”
It's become the stuff of literary legend that it took Shiloh 17 years, on and mostly off, to complete his first novel which is referred to as “a satire of Celebrity, Chicago and 6-foot lobsters.” Set in 1991, it's about an Olympic javelin thrower on the downslide and his rise back to public fame.
Brewza.com hailed the book as “...a brilliantly written satirical look at our society's celebrity obsession. It is a strange and powerful blend of sports, celebrity and pop culture guruism that when boiled down is a cautionary tale to individuals, especially those drawn to the limelight.”
One thing that has not changed is the book's cover, which was designed by Peter Knipschield of PMK Creations. Knipschield's resume includes pre-press work on Michael Jordan's "For Love of the Game" book. The "Pookoo" cover, which is a modern woodcut of a Chicago cityscape complete with mascot Lenny the Lobster in the foreground, was nominated for a January 2009 New Covey Cover Award.
"The cover, with what appears to be a cartoon, belies the fact that it's not just satire, but a deep story," Shiloh said. "But I can't think of anything better to catch the irony of it."
Since its release, readers from 15 countries have downloaded the free e-book and the paperback is scheduled for an early 2009 sale on Amazon.com. Shiloh reports that there are plans for”goodies”
