Title: Escape Goat
Author: Shawn Collins
Genre: Upmarket New Adult
Word Count: 90,000
Setting: 1980s Maryland and Mid-Atlantic State University
Overview
Escape Goat is a raw, nostalgic coming-of-age novel set in Reagan-era America that explores grief, fraternity culture, and the search for belonging. Told through the sardonic yet tender eyes of Brendan Murphy, the story unveils the dark underbelly of brotherhood—where loyalty and shame collide with a rigid definition of masculinity. The semester climaxes in devastating self-destruction, leaving Brendan’s future in question due to failing grades, an unprotected sexual encounter, and a foolish arrest.
Themes
- The human need for belonging
- The cost of conformity and toxic masculinity
- Grief and silence within families
- The blurred line between identity and imitation
Comparables
- High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
- I Am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe
- The Art of Fielding: A Novel by Chad Harbach
- The Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis
Audience
Readers of coming-of-age fiction who are drawn to deeply personal, character-driven stories of youth, identity, and disillusionment. Particularly appealing to readers who came of age in the 1980s or 1990s, or who are fascinated by campus culture and male coming-of-age narratives.
Author Bio
Shawn Collins is an author and affiliate marketing pioneer who merged his early passion for writing with emerging digital commerce. After writing for ClickZ and authoring Successful Affiliate Marketing for Merchants (2000), he co-founded the premier industry conference Affiliate Summit in 2003. He further supported the community by co-founding and serving as Editor-in-Chief of FeedFront Magazine for 50 issues.
Author’s Note: While all names, locations, and characters in Escape Goat have been fictionalized for privacy and legal reasons, the events are inspired by real experiences in a major American university and fraternity. If additional details on the real-life inspiration behind the story would be helpful, I would be happy to discuss them privately.
Marketing & Promotion
Potential outreach to college alumni networks, mental health awareness groups, fraternity/sorority reform advocates, and 1980s nostalgia audiences. The book’s cinematic dialogue and vivid settings also make it adaptable for the screen.
Manuscript Status
Complete and available upon request.