Tuscany Press

Peter Mongeau, publisher of Tuscany Press, was kind enough to answer a few questions about his Catholic-focused publishing house.

I’ve enjoyed two Tuscany titles in particular--The 2012 Tuscany Prize for Catholic Fiction, edited by Joseph O’Brien, and The Book of Jotham by Arthur Powers. The Tuscany Prize collection contains 10 stories, ranging from fantastical to realistic styles, including both clergy and laity, and telling the narratives of miraculous events, domestic struggles, the sacrament of confession, caregiving, and more.

As a reader of Catholic fiction, I always use appreciation of Flannery O’Connor as a litmus test. If an editor is afraid of O’Connor’s ability to disturb, to make the reader uncomfortable, than that editor might be prone to more devotional, formulaic fiction. O’Brien starts his introduction with a quote from O’Connor’s “A Good Man is Hard to Find”--specifically, the Misfit’s crass summation of the grandmother’s earthly worth. He continues to carefully attempt a definition of Catholic fiction to be applied toward the anthology:

Avoiding the fruitless abstraction of the idealist and the spiritual bankruptcy of the materialist, the soul thus formed is capable of holding the material world and the spiritual world in one act of imagination. By navigating this narrow way, the Catholic fictionist is telling his reader that the stuff of this world is in a sense as important as the stuff of the next; such a storyteller also offers evidence that clues to the next world can be found hidden in the stuff of this world.

Karen Britten, this year’s prizewinner, will share her thoughts at the site on Sunday.

Arthur Powers’s interview will run at this site in a few weeks, but a brief note on his novella: the prose is imagistic, the content a parable-fable, and the story emotionally pulling. Powers makes perfect use of the novella form.

Thanks, Peter, for introducing readers of The Fine Delight to your new press.

1. In an interview with The Catholic Times you explain that the impetus for Tuscany Press occurred when you learned that readers "were looking for Catholic fiction along the lines of Flannery O'Connor, Chesterton, Percy, and Graham Greene, the Catholic literary novels of the 50s and 60s."

What are some particular traits (content, stylistic, linguistic, moral) of that brand of Catholic fiction that appeal to readers?

First, I think Catholics of faith live in a greater world than what in general is being portrayed in the books today. We work on the ground, but live in a world in the presence of God. God is real to us, we feel His presence, taste Him and His fragrance is all around us. We do not act alone in the world, but God is with us. For example, some Catholics may think of certain events in their life as "divine coincidence" or God working through others to find, guide or help us. It is the absence of God in stories that I find so — well — off putting – or a better term may be – unrelatable. God is present to Catholics. We know He is. We have experienced Him in our lives.

Where is God in published works today? Where are those great "moral themes"? A sacrificial love? For others? Faith? A growth of virtue in a character? Catholics, like all, want a story that is well-written, a good story and one that captures the imagination. However, we want a story we can relate to that is Catholic in its fullness – of fallible people, people of dignity, and yet a story set in a world we live in with goodness and sin. Terrible things happen in the world and we are not immune to them. However, there is goodness and hope. We have experienced it.

Catholics are different. Catholics have hope, a Christian hope in God. Job tells us about those who do not have hope - Job 8:13 "Such are the paths of all who forget God, the hope of the Godless man shall perish." The Psalmist tells us where we get hope: "For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him." That is the Catholic difference in a story. A story in this world – with all its goodness and sin — and one with the presence of God – love and hope.

2. I'm very thankful that you stress the need for well-written, considered fiction; I think one criticism of some Christian-themed literature is that it is devotional without taking full advantage of the dramatic elements of fiction, which are perfectly suited for the difficult moral decisions of real life. O'Connor and Greene were top-notch stylists whose prose elevated already strong material.

Since starting Tuscany Press, what has been the response from writers? Have you received many submissions? Are you encouraged by the style and talent that you encounter as a publisher of Catholic literature?

When we first opened in June of 2012, within a week we had a dozen manuscripts! We had not advertised. Writers just found us. It was amazing. We have received over 600 manuscripts within the first year. We are excited about what we have been receiving. Just to look at our short story selection gives you an idea of who has been sending manuscripts in. We have received manuscripts from young writers, older writers and people living in different parts of the US. In fact, our novel winner lives in Nigeria. Catholic Fiction is alive and well.  

Tuscany Press is blessed to receive such a positive response from the writing community. We have made available on our website a Writer Resource page that helps writers understand "What is Catholic Fiction"; our inspiration - John Paul II "Letter to Artists"; the basis of a well written novel – John Gardner's "The Art of Fiction" and what it means to be a Catholic writer – Flannery O'Connor's Mystery and Manners. All of this information, has helped writers and has encouraged them to write.

I think book buyers will be pleasantly surprised at the quality of the books that Tuscany Press has published and will publish.

3. I agree. In the upcoming weeks I'll be interviewing two Tuscany Press authors, Karen Britten and Arthur Powers, at The Fine Delight, and they've both written arresting and original fiction.

As a publisher of Catholic fiction, have you had any interactions with the Church (local or diocesan) as a way to engage and advertise the production of contemporary Catholic literature? If not, do you foresee that conversation occurring in the future? In general, do you see the Church supporting Catholic artists in some form?

At Tuscany Press we have been fortunate to have Cardinal DiNardo give us a blurb for The Book of Jotham. We reached out to him because of his special pastoral role to people with disabilities. Jotham, the protagonist, is mentally handicapped and becomes a disciple of Christ. We are so excited for Arthur and appreciative to the Cardinal for his endorsement.

Otherwise, we have had little contact with the Church hierarchy. I believe they want to support Catholic art and artists, but are pressed by the many demands of their work. It is tough to be a Bishop or Cardinal today.

I believe that Catholic lay people will have to forge the way for Catholic art. We as Catholics need to recognize our uniqueness, abilities and cultivate that Catholic Imagination that has led to the greatest art in the world. I believe we have great Catholic Artists among us, who are yet to be discovered. We need to find them, promote them, support them financially and do what we can to help them evangelize the culture through art.

4. I'm happy that The Book of Jotham has received ecclesiastical endorsement. It's a stylized, beautifully told novella, and a strong example of what you've described as fiction in the Catholic tradition that appeals to literary sensibilities.

Moving forward, what are your goals with Tuscany Press? What books can readers expect to see within the coming year?

We are so excited about the possibilities in the future. We have a Medical Mystery and our first YA Book in the works. We believe the surprise for all our readers and the public at large is that all genres can have a Catholic lens. It is view, we as Catholics, should be proud to have – because we live in the Truth – the presence of God. I am excited about the future. Let us all work together to support our fellow Catholic artists and evangelize the culture. Peace to you and your readers.