In 1976, two centuries after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, twenty-one-year-old Dave Norman is searching for his own version of freedom. As he daydreams his way through final exams, the college sophomore makes preparations for a trip with his fraternity brothers to Europe, where they plan to live out of backpacks and travel by train, exploring anything and everything they can.
But before embarking on this adventure, Dave pays a visit to a much more familiar place. While enjoying the peace and solitude of Eagle Lake, he becomes immersed in the nostalgia of childhood memories, recalling the time spent with his grandfather in a much different era of Mississippi's history.
From there, nostalgic introspection gives way to a whole new search for meaning as Dave contemplates his future and explores his personal truth. Through an intense encounter with a woman from his past, and one final weekend of Gulf Coast adventures, he begins putting together a picture of who he is and who he would like to be-until the long-awaited trip to Europe brings even more opportunities for self-discovery.
About the Author: R. Brent is a graduate of Mississippi State University who earned his degree in English literature including time as an exchange student at the University of London. Born and raised in Mississippi, he served as a Marine attack pilot after college, with six years on active duty.
Over the course of several decades, Brent has written a number of unpublished books, which he continues to work on. His debut novel, Permanent Vacation, reflects his lifelong study of the nature of truth and the meaning of being in this world.
Brent currently lives in a villa in the quiet countryside of Tennessee.
