A Snowball Rolling Downhill

About the Book

A Snowball Rolling Downhill

  by Jerome Nilssen

My name is Brugs. And yes, it is true. I AM a moth.

What a life! Having recently emerged from the closet, I’ll not go into details about MY life and times. Soon enough, you’ll find my Mothobiography, and, following this, "Moth: The Movie," followed by, I’m certain,mothly television appearances.

   Shift spotlight, please, (it’s my nature to fly into the damn thing, anyway) as, this time around, I’ve designated myself as your fly-by-night guide to Mr. Jerome Nilssen’s first published collection of short stories, A SNOWBALL ROLLING DOWNHILL.

 Allow me to flutter my artistic wings

a little to tell you that these strange, amusing,perplexing, exciting and mystifying tales are the best eating--I mean--reading--I’ve done in my brief lifetime.

   Mr. Nilssen wrote the stories in this collection for his grown-up children, as well as for his young grandchildren. Soon enough, the family began to expect the annual Christmas tale,

most of which take place in Nilssen’s hometown, Ellsworth,Wisconsin.

   You might wonder, as I did: are these true stories? Mr.Nilssen gives no direct answer. You may have to decide for yourself, though I can tell you now that more than a couple are based on actual goings-on.

   In the meantime, let me give you a little foretaste of several of the stories. When you’ve read them yourself, you can always write old Brugs back to tell me which is your favorite.

       " Remle," a story about the best baseball-playing boy in Ellsworth: whatever becomes of Elmer, the“bionic masterpiece?”

       " Brother:" An honest-to-God cockfight, a scrawny, weasel-faced boy and a missing cat named Bumper. Read the story and connect the three.

       " Macau:" Two con-men in Los Angeles plot a

get-rich-quick scheme while working at a social service organization. Will it fly? And what does Macau have to do with it?

       " The Pool:"

The charismatic Ole Everson returns to Ellsworth, Wisconsin, by way of Los Angeles, determined to dig his own swimming pool in the middle of cold,isolated,farm country.Surprisingly, the magical Ole has notreturned alone.

       " Ursus Horribilis:" Something strange is going on at Albert Hanson’s place. Something both comical and frightening,and involving a big brown bear.

        "The Barking Boy: "How would you feel if your two handsome, hometown parents suddenly left you with relatives to go and join the circus? This is what happens to little Marvin Hanson. But Marvin finds an interesting way out of his lonely situation.

        "A Snowball Rolling Downhill:" Have to mention the story that titles this collection. Most notably (yes, I know this to be fact) this story is based upon a true Ellsworth murder story, horrific, which occured in January, 1942, on a farm

just outside town.

   " My Friend, Brugs:" And here I leave you, curious readers,with my favorite story. Naturally, this tale of wonder stars yours truly.

A SNOWBALL ROLLING DOWNHILL? Definitely should remain in my  BOOK OF THE MOTH CLUB. Sincerely, Brugs,Moth. L.A.

About the Author

A transplanted Wisconsinite, Jerome Nilssen, writer-theologian-urban planner, currently resides in Los Angeles, California, where he has worked for the past eleven years building social programs for the homeless, earthquake victims, the working poor and immigrant populations. Mr. Nilssen is the author of two novels, The Drowning, The Dancing and Saturday Waiting, both published by Fortress Press, Philadelphia. His plays, most notably, The Evangelists, and The Cain Cycle, have been widely performed across the United States. A Snowball Rolling Downhill is born from Mr. Nilssen's tradition of writing annual Christmas stories for his children. Soon enough, these whimsical tales found themselves requested by extended family, friends, and colleagues, thus resulting in the happy release of this collection which may bring delight to old and young alike.