Dean overcomes disability, publishes first book

A self-proclaimed underdog, Adam Dean, Marshall graduate and former Parthenon staff member, has published his first book, a collection of short stories entitled, Dawn, the Alpha Dog and Related Stories through Publish America, a company that exclusively publishes works from minority community members.

Dean was born in 1975 with cerebral palsy and lived with the disease's effects, a severe speech impediment and a lame right arm, his entire life. He graduated from MU in 1997 with high honors and a degree in political science.

He went on to graduate from WVU's law school in the top 10 percent of his class. He drew inspiration for the stories from his life in W.Va and time at Marshall, his disability and his experiences on the Internet.

While the main character in all 18 stories share both his name and experiences, he cautions against assuming they are one and the same.

"I wrote the stories in the first person and I gave the main character my own name, however, at most, he is just a reflection of who I was-what I was thinking and feeling-at the time I wrote the stories. I don't necessarily think and feel the same today, nor ever thought I would," Dean said.

West Virginia serves as Dean's backdrop for all the stories, some taking place at Marshall, others at the State Capitol Complex in Charleston as well as in an old house in Mingo County.

His best hopes originally thought to be a job in a sheltered workshop, Dean defied expectation and now works as a general writ clerk for the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, his speech impediment constituting only a small hindrance in his mostly-written work.

With his first book, Dean looks to further discredit the initial skepticism about his future. With a book, hopes of being the state's governor and even President of the U.S., he is well on his way toward that goal.

While the surroundings were always present, the author credits his success to a chance meeting with a girl ("Dawn") on the Internet. Alleging that the stories will most likely appeal to adult men 18-35, Dean cites the "stormy relationship" between the two recurring characters, Dawn and Adam, and a fair share of sexual themes.

"If the book were a movie, I'd probably give it a PG-13, perhaps, a very mild R rating. You know, as far as adults are concerned, it's nothing wild, but it's definitely not for anyone underage," he said.

Dean wrote the anthology's first story in 2002 and the others in 2004 and early 2005.

The stories are his deep reflections on his first serious relationship. With his speech impediment, Dean ponders a perceived isolation from other people as a child and even now, as an adult. Accordingly, the stories follow the chronicle of his meditations on his relationship with Dawn.

"I discovered I could, at appropriate intervals, explain what it's like for Adam to live with a severe speech impediment and how that obviously affects how he relates to other people especially the person who's the most important to him, Dawn," he said.

Dean looks at each story as an unfolding chapter in the saga of the two main characters' relationship.

While he assures that they can read individually, they are meant to be experienced as a collection.

Having not written anything since the last story in Dawn, the Alpha Dog and Related Stories, Dean returned from a recent trip to Beijing and Shanghai, China as a member of a People to People Ambassador program on electronic commerce and international law with what he calls ample material for a new set of stories starring Adam.

"Dawn stays home though," he said, in reference to a potential sequel to the collection.

For now, Dawn, the Alpha Dog and Related Stories will be released Sept. 19, 2007 and is already available for pre-order on Amazon.com as well as Dean's publisher Publish America at publishedauthors.net.

Cory Jackson can be contacted at jackson132@marshall.edu.