Sandy Knauer Writes a Winner with 'Race for Terre Bluff'

Sandy Knauer's book 'Race for Terre Bluff' is a comical romp through the small-town USA political landscape. Along the way we meet the bumbling Emil Lampost (who doesn't seem to really understand his own language), his over-bearing rich father (who pretty much owns the town), all the awesome women of the Lampost family, and a very well drawn cast of supporting characters. This is about Emil's run for mayor of Terre Bluff, and the unending comedy that surrounds it.

Growing up in the Lampost household, Emil has been coddled and protected and thus grows up to be a laughing stock. Daddy Ralph, however, has already been mayor once and cannot run again. Ralph decides to put his son into office and run the town from the background. He already owns most of the town businesses. Emil, of course, gets all of daddy dearest's direction wrong.

"Dad told me I'd be more popular with the women if I kissed the babes," he explained. "He wants me to kiss babes and keep everyone else upset"

Many of you may recognize the template for poor Emil. Many political satires I've read (and the man was just begging for them) tried to preach instead of sticking to the story line, which interrupts the flow far too much. Knauer knows what she wants to write and sticks to it. What she wanted to write with 'Race for Terre Bluff' was a funny-as-hell political satire, and she hit the mark dead on. She may have used Shrubya as a pattern for Emil, but Emil stands (and stumbles) on his own. You do not need to know a thing about the muse to enjoy this character, or this book, at all... but it does make it just that much funnier if you do.

'Race for Terre Bluff' comes in at a perfect 362 pages. That was exactly right. Were I in an editing mood, I would not cut or add a thing. Knauer has written this so tight that you can sit and read it in one sitting. Indeed, clear a day for just that as you won't want to put it down once you've started it.

I fell in love with this cast of characters from the start. Had I not, then the entrance of Josephine the black transvestite would have gotten me for good. I roared out loud when 'she' entered the story. This character comes in as an embarrassment from Emil's past, and adds even more comic relief to the mayoral race.

Josephine sat on Helena's rocking chair and hiked a leg to unbuckle the ankle strap on her black heels, exposing both a garter belt and a jock strap.

I am so into these characters that I emailed author Sandy Knauer to ask about a possible sequel. I was ecstatic to learn that she had indeed planned a sequel to 'Race for Terre Bluff,' but something had come up so she had shelved it at the time. She is now dusting the almost completed book off and it should hopefully be available in the near future.

'Race for Terre Bluff' can be ordered from your local bookstore, or from Amazon.com. The ISBN is 0-7443-0779-1. I highly recommend this book and am personally pacing the floor awaiting the arrival of the sequel. In the meantime, I think I'll order one of her other 6 books. I adore this author's writing style, sense of humor, and intelligence. Five out of five stars... and that ain't near enough.