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We can’t choose what we’re born into nor can we easily shake fate off our tail, but can we rise above our
circumstances or muster the courage to do what’s right even when everyone around us seems
compromised, victimized, or the perpetrator of violence and criminality?
This is the primary dilemma explored in a dramatic novel that serves the reader both an entertaining
exploration into the depths of morally-lacking individuals and a psychological profile of how tarnished or
victimized individuals struggle to fight off the nagging clutches of destiny.
The Misbirth., by David Moffatt (Beach House Books, 2018, Trade Paper, 394 pages; ISBN:
9781596301030), opens up in 1952 where a high school blind date leads to an unexpected pregnancy and
a shot-gun wedding. That one incident and series of events triggers decades worth of legal breaches,
ethical lapses, sexual violence, and murder, plaguing not only the unhappy couple but several more
generations of family members and those they come in contact with..
Though the book features many fireworks-worthy moments, it largely spotlights a coming-of-age story of
a 16-year-old student on a wrestling scholarship at a prestigious prep school. It stirs the reader to have to
confront the rage and ego boys experience during those vulnerable high school years where their bodies
turn to those of men but their thinking and judgment is not as evolved.
Meet Logan Spence, one of the more complex characters you’ll ever come across. Coming into this
world against the odds – as a result of two crimes (his mom was raped and the doctor who was supposed
to abort the pregnancy instead delivers and steals the baby) – he lives a dangerous double-life. By day
he’s applauded as a star wrestler and classmate and by night he runs an illegal drug-dealing business. In
between, he bashes bullies or those that threaten him and soothes himself with a mixture of hard booze
and pot while desiring to advance his relationship with his tutor, a 27-year-old teacher.
Moffatt, whose debut novel in 2013 was Beltway Justice; A Tale of Political Cruelty, identifies some
personal connection with the characters in his book. For one, there’s a despicable father, Chester White,
who lives a violent, angry, and tortured life. Moffatt drew part of him from his own dad, whom he never
spoke to after he turned 15.
Additionally, without incriminating himself, Moffatt, now a grandfather, says some of Logan’s life
loosely resembles his own as a prep school scholarship athlete and as someone who dabbled in an illicit
side business in his youth.
Moffatt is available to discuss the following:
How fate tends to work in its inescapable way.
How boys deal with the challenges of teen angst.
Why so many people are all-too often challenged to act morally, ethically, or legally.
Why the well-educated and well-to-do choose to act on their animalistic instincts and emotions?
How we let one accident or bad situation create a long chain-reaction of lousy decisions.
How we can overcome or deal with the circumstances we are born into.
Why entering into a happy marriage is so challenging.
How appearances are misleading and that sometimes we don’t even know the truth about
ourselves.
Why we always fail to make sober decisions while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
“The Misbirth was specifically crafted to provide a uniquely provocative and entertaining reading
experience for a great swath of the reading public,” says Moffatt. “Its theme is fate. Think about it. Who
amongst us has not found themselves dutifully walking down the pathway of life, minding their own
business, and obeying all the rules when suddenly, through no fault or action on their part, find
themselves confronted with circumstances, people, and events that forever change their lives? Not
many.”
Have you been slapped by the hand of Moira (Greek Goddess of Fate)?
Contact: MEDIA CONNECT
Brian Feinblum 212-583-2718 brian.feinblum@finnpartners.com
David Moffatt
Q&A
The Misbirth
1. David, your novel The Misbirth, touches upon a number of themes but the one that seems to stick
out the most is about fate. Why did you choose to write about that?
When I set out writing The Misbirth, it was my intention to create a provocatively entertaining
novel that would appeal to a wide swath of the reading public. And what better theme to
accomplish that goal than fate? After all, who amongst us has not at one time or another in their
life been slapped by the hand of fate? Think about it. You can be walking down the pathway of
life, minding your own business and obeying all the rules when suddenly, through no fault of
your own, find yourself confronted with circumstance, people, and events that forever change
your life. More times than not, for the worst.
2. Another strong theme was about the choices and decisions we make, especially when we cross a line
ethically or legally. It seems none of the characters in your book can refrain from acting on their
animal-like instincts. Why is it so hard to do the right thing?
Because, each of the primary characters in The Misbirth are desperately trying to cope with the
adverse circumstances fate has foisted upon them. As such, their subsequent actions – be it illegal,
unethical, or otherwise – are a direct result of emotions spawned by those unfortunate
circumstances. The first of these emotions is self-pity; the ‘why me’ syndrome, if you will. Self-
pity quickly becomes resentment; “if I have to deal with this why doesn’t everybody else?”
Resentment then evolves into antipathy towards everyone around them. And finally, antipathy
morphs into violence; “it’s not enough to just hate you, I have to prove it!”
3. In your book, the father figure is painted as a monster. You ended up not speaking to your dad
after the age of 15. How did you draw this complex character from your own life?
That was an easy picture to draw. Essentially, the fictional father was an accurate replication of
my real father. Both were afflicted with many of the same character flaws. For instance, both had
higher than average IQs coupled with deeply imbedded mental issues. Often, that can be a tragic
combination. Furthermore, both men were prey to substance abuse (both alcohol and drugs). And
finally, both fictional father and real father were prone to fits of rage and assault. In my case, the
brutality took the form of domestic violence (both physical abuse and mental cruelty). Like father
like father!
4. The main character, a 16-year-old student-athlete at a prep school on a scholarship lives a troubled
and violent life. Does he resemble you a bit?
The main character in The Misbirth does reflect my years as a teenager. My family lived in an
affluent town with no money of their own. This immediately made me ‘different’ than all my
friends and fellow students. This disparity came to a head in ninth grade; all my friends headed
off to prep schools as I entered the public high school. I was alone there and the subject of
teenage abuse from the other students. This culminated in an after school fight that left me
battered and bruised. Two things resulted from this: I enrolled in a dojo and befriended a gang
leader. He introduced me to cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, girls, and brawls. I became the
embodiment of “street.”
5. How, did you eventually go and live a normal life?
I can answer that question in one word; Cynthia. The moment I set eyes on her I knew
immediately that she was the only woman I ever wanted in my life. I also knew immediately that
to have any shot at her I would have to clean up my act. I did so. And nearly forty-five years later
we are still living happily ever after.
6. The teen-age boy at times comes off as a cool guy that everyone feels safe to be with. The star
athlete could handle any fight on or off the canvas – but that same confidence and strength could
also fuel trouble. How does one balance the strengths that work for them and manage not to
sabotage themselves at the same time?
That’s a difficult question to answer and an even more difficult feat to accomplish! I got involved
in martial arts after two high school bullies kicked my ass. I vowed to myself that would never
happen to me again. As my prowess increased, so did my appetite for revenge. That revenge took
the form of anyone who got in my way, almost got in my way, or those I made sure got in my
way (including the two original bullies). And then something interesting took place. As I got
older and even more proficient, the opportunities for revenge diminished (as did my thirst for it).
People began to sense a quiet inner strength and confidence they wanted nothing to do with.
7. In between the moral lapses and legal transgressions is a coming-of-age story for a young man.
Why are the high school years so tough on boys?
Regarding the difficulties of the male high school experience, I can only speak for myself and the
particular circumstances I faced during those years. As I mentioned, the students at the public
high school I attended resented my very presence because of the junior high school I had
attended. Their assumption was I was a rich kid too stupid to get into a prep school and treated
me as such. My second strike was that I experienced my adolescent growing spurt close to the age
of fifteen. Spending the first two years at the height of 5’3’’ in a hostile environment makes a guy
very vulnerable prey. Besides, the age difference between fourteen and eighteen for guys is vast.
8. How challenging was it to pen The Misbirth, given some of it is inspired by your own past- with
some literary embellishment?
Surprisingly, revisiting some of the years of my youth in the form of The Misbirth was not the
emotional roller coaster one might have expected. I believe this is due to the fact that, for the
most part, I have healed from the wounds (many self-inflicted) that I sustained during that period
in my life. And that was made possible only by ridding myself from that entire scene (again,
thanks to Cynthia). As I was writing The Misbirth, at times I found myself almost being too
objective about the events and characters (a true sign of recovery from the scars of fate).
9. The story, early on, involves a shotgun wedding due to an accidental pregnancy of two young
people. This one incident sets off a chain reaction of events. Do we all experience that one incident
that we wish could have been different in our lives?
Not necessarily different, but yes, to a large degree I think at one time or another we all
experience the consequences of fate entering our lives. That is not to suggest that everyone’s
encounter with fate turns out to be as calamitous as it was for the characters in The Misbirth. But I
do think any of our listeners today would be very hard pressed to state unequivocally that not
once in their lives have they not been forced to deal with a situation that they had absolutely
nothing to do with and yet that very situation changes their lives for a period of time, if not
forever.
10. How do we overcome – or deal with – the circumstances we are born into? What about when it
comes to dealing with fate?
With extreme difficulty! As I said earlier, the normal reaction to having to deal with an ugly
happenstance that you had absolutely nothing to do with is self-pity (‘why me’?) and then
resentment. If left unchecked it regresses into vengeance and, ultimately, violence. For me, the
key was taking a negative and making it a positive (trite but true). I started viewing the odious
circumstance fate had dealt me for what it was: that simple mind set enabled me to beat fate at its
own game. Unfortunately for the characters in The Misbirth, most of them did not possess that
strength.
11. No one in your book seems to take responsibility for their actions- one rapes, another murders, this
one is a gangster, that one is a racist, another sells drugs, another crosses the student-tutor
boundary, and so on. Has America drifted out of control?
I can’t speak for all of America, but most certainly, the major characters in The Misbirth had,
indeed, drifted out of control. As far as taking responsibility for their own actions, in their minds,
responsibility played no role in their lives. They were merely proceeding down the pathway fate
had dealt them. Take the protagonist as an example, he should not have been brought into this
world to begin with and finds himself in a dysfunctional family living in a rich town with no
money. In high school, he meets a gang leader. The ‘street’ leads from pot to coke, to crack, etc.
In short, his life is a one way highway with very few exits.
12. Your book also has some strong commentary on marriage and fidelity – and what brings people
together or pulls them apart. It isn’t a pretty picture. But you’ve managed to remain married for
over four decades to someone you met as a teenager. What’s the secret to a successful marriage?
At seventeen, I saw a young woman walk by me on the beach. No words were exchanged. I said
to my friend, “that’s my girl.” Two year later, the same girl was working at the same resort as I.
One night I saw Cynthia dining with an older guy. Uninvited, I sat down next to her and said:
“You can do better than this.” She said, “You just leave. NOW!” I returned to my room. There
was a knock. Cynthia stood in the doorway. “The only reason you didn’t get beat up is because I
only date gentlemen,” she informed me. “No, it’s because your gentleman wasn’t up to the task.”
She SLAMMED the door behind her. I thought, at last, I’m making some progress! Does that
answer your question?
13. Your scenes of violence are at times graphic but many of your sex scenes are merely mentioned and
not given any details or much ink. Do you think our forms of entertainment – books, films, TV-
emphasize sex or violence too often or not enough?
In my opinion, I think it safe to say that neither sex nor violence is underemphasized in today’s
entertainment. For me, the more important question is how those scenes are depicted for the
reader or viewer. In The Misbirth, I chose to be very graphic with the scenes of violence. I did
this because most have not experienced such physical brutality. Getting a visual might help
dissuade them risking such confrontations. With the sex scenes, I went the opposite route. Unlike
street violence, most have experienced sex. The more graphic it is the duller it can appear.
Leaving what goes on behind closed doors to the imagination of the reader leads to a far more
sensual experience.
14. You describe an incident in the book where the main character defeats his antagonizing bully. Do
you get reader fan mail applauding the smack down of bullies?
I don’t know if I would describe the readers’ reactions to that scene as applause for a smack
down. I think it more accurate to say that those who have read that chapter come away with the
general opinion that, in certain situations, physically violent retribution is justifiable. In the scene
you mentioned, the main character is standing in the high school parking lot talking to his mentor,
the gang leader. A diminutive freshman approaches asking directions to The Wall; the after
school hangout where the protagonist was so savagely beaten two years earlier. His decision is a
quick one. He is not going to let the kid endure that. And, indeed, the kid does not.
15. Would you say your book is escapist fantasy for those who want to break the rules and live a fast
and dangerous life-or is it mere commentary on the fall of a civilized society?
That’s an interesting question. I don’t know if I’ve ever viewed The Misbirth within either of
those parameters. That said, I can say one thing without hesitation. Anyone who starts to read The
Misbirth as an escapist detour into the fast and dangerous life and finishes the book still wanting
to do so is either destined to be there with or without the book, or already living that life and just
comparing notes! As far as the fall of civilized society, I think The Misbirth depicts the decay of a
certain ugly, underbelly of our civilization. But here’s something to think about: for every one
drug dealer how many people are buyers?
16. Appearances, as we’ve been told, aren’t always reflective of the truth. In your novel, few people
remain unscathed models. Do we really know what a person is capable of until we see their crime in
the news or experience their breach of trust?
Absolutely not! One of the protagonist’s closest friends is a young lady attending the sister
school. They have a platonic relationship. That’s because she has a long-standing boyfriend.
Bradley Stevens is universally described as ‘a nice guy.’ He’s clean cut, president of the student
council, captain of the lacrosse team, and Ivy-League bound. One night she shows up at drunk at
the protagonist’s dorm. He is granted permission to escort her back to her dorm. Along the way,
she pulls him into the woods to have sex. Before anything happens she breaks down. She’s
pregnant. Guess who? He’s denying it. The protagonist’s first thought? “This is why I’ve never
liked nor trusted nice guys.”
17. How does The Misbirth compare to your previous book, Beltway Justice: A Tale of Political
Civility?
The difference? Different genres, different worlds. Beltway Justice: A Tale of Political Civility is
a political satire. Its subject is what, today, is referred to as ‘The Swamp’ or Washington D.C. Its
theme is simple. Our nation’s capital is nothing more than an incestuous little private club
reserved for members only. Their common enemy is you and I, the American people. We are
merely inconveniences every 2, 4, or 6 years. My wife said it wasn’t a good line. “Which one?” I
asked. She points it out, “and the President appoints a two-time convicted tax cheat to run the
I.R.S.” She looked up and said, “Not even close to being funny!” I told her it’s not meant to be.
Remember Tim Geithner? As for The Misbirth? Ladies and Gentlemen, you’ll simply have to
read the book.
Selected Excerpts
A Marriage in Hell
Shirley was not in love with Chester. Truth be told, she never had been. They had met as a result of
circumstances neither one had intentionally planned. It had been a blind date arranged by one Shirley’s
closest high school friends, Mary Peterson….
In Shirley’s mind, she was forever trapped in an unhappy marriage as a result of one stupid mistake. That
night, she had too much to drink and ended up in the back seat with a guy she would not have given a
second look at, in the sober light of day.
But here father had been insistent!
“If you’re hell bent on doing adult things, you are damn well going to act like one!” had been Mr. Dunn’s
unwavering decree.
Her mother had no say in the matter.
The thought of terminating her unexpected pregnancy never crossed Shirley’s mind. However, even if it
had, such a daunting undertaking by a sixteen year old girl in 1952 would have been, at best, risky and at
worst, fatal.
End the Suffering
Janet Weiss continued in an oblique monotone, as if discussing a disinterested third party.
“It must first be determined whether or not the child will come to term.”
Shirley White shook her head, violently.
“No, that’s not happening! My daughter will not be made to suffer the way I have been made to suffer!”
she said, emphatically.
“That leaves only one course of action,” said Janet Weiss. Mary Peterson entered the conversation.
“Patty is entering her seventh month of pregnancy. Shirley White looked wide-eyed at her friend.
“That’s not possible! She doesn’t even look pregnant!” Mary Peterson ignored Shirley White’s words and
continued.
“I know of a doctor who has dealt successfully with this sort of situation in the past,” confided the nurse.
The Misbirth
Mildred Spence pulled open the basket’s blanket.
Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped in astonishment. Staring up at her were the striking blue eyes
of a tiny baby boy.
“My God, he’s beautiful!” she stammered, with mesmerized wonderment. “Henry, whose is he?”
Doctor Henry Spence put an arm around his wife.
“Mille, he’s yours,” he said, with misting eyes.
Mildred Spence did not say a word. She carefully picked up the infant and cradled him lovingly against
her breast. She gazed at her husband and smiled tears of joy.
Henry and Mildred Spence had been married for nearly thirty years. Although the marriage had been a
happy one, to their dismay they had been unable to conceive a child. For Mildred Spence, the unexpected
arrival of this baby was a literal dream come true!
She looked at her husband and glowed with the happiness of new motherhood.
Father: Drug Dealer
Chester White had possessed the foresight to secure the exclusive distribution rights to Atari in the local
area. The trend towards video games had started with Pong. In the current year of 1979, the rage was
Space Invaders.
The small room in his house that had once served as his office had long since been abandoned. His
business headquarters was now a spacious loft overlooking an impressive warehouse. The large building
was located on three prime acres in Rutland, New York. He owned the property and structure free and
clear.
However, in spite of his business success, Chester White was still a bitter man. His long-time ambition to
secure a liquor license and share in the lucrative spoils of liquid indulgence had been, continuously,
obstructed by the local political power brokers. In particular “Big John” Westfield had been a pain in his
ass.
“If I can’t be legally illegal, I’ll just be illegal,” he had finally decided.
Chester White entered the underground business of selling marijuana.
Teen: Drug Dealer
“So, what kind of business are you talking about, Logan?” asked Dwight, with a stoned smile.
“You just smoked it,” answered Spence.
Dwight Jefferson looked at his friend and shook his head.
“I’m not catching your drift.”
Logan took a pull from his long-neck. He looked at his friend.
“What’s the quality of weed around here these days?” Dwight sipped his beer.
“Nothing like what we just smoked,” he grinned.” Around here the quality is hit or miss. Recently, it’s
been mostly miss.” Spence lit a cigarette.
Enterprising High Schooler
“To answer your question, Val affords the ladies of Angelica Hall the luxury of remaining ladies. By that
I mean, my kid sister provides the girls attending that venerable institution all the things they want
without having to risk the uncertainty and possible indignity of going off campus to obtain them.”
“Things like what?” asked a now interesting Logan Spence. Beth Kaminski took a drag on her cigarette.
She continued.
“Oh, the usual suspects,” replied Beth, laughing.” Alcohol, cigarettes, lousy pot, and on occasion,
discreet male companionship.”
A Tutor in What?
When student and teacher’s conversations drifted from James Joyce, Patty found herself telling Logan
things she might not otherwise mention to anyone else. However, that was not her concern. Intuitively,
Patty knew that whatever she told Logan Spence would never go any further than the two of them.
What was upsetting her was the fact he was not returning her unguarded candor. Their bed-wetting
showdown had been the only time Logan Spencer had let his emotional guard down.
For his part, Logan had been enamored with Patricia White from the moment he had set eyes on her.
Spence thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
However Logan harbored no delusions nor fantasies. He continued to master her curriculum for only one
reason. That was to ensure he would remain a part of her life. Logan was content just being around the
young woman, who so intrigued him.
Just Doing Business
“Hello, Angelo! What a coincidence, I just got here myself.”
Suddenly, “The Angel’s” eyes began to bulge. He began to grasp helplessly at his throat. Delfino was
now choking for air. Paul “Bounty” Hunter had attacked from behind and secured a garrote around his
neck.
In his extended hand, Chester White held a knife. He plunged it into the chest of Angelo Delfino.
“Die, you guinea bastard!” he laughed.
As quickly as that, the regional drug war was over. Hunter dragged the body to the rear of his car and
wrapped it in a plastic tarp that had already been placed on the pavement. They stuffed the corpse into
the trunk and were off. Hunter pulled to a stop in front of Chester White’s office building.
“Make certain it’s a very private burial service,” instructed Chester White.
Hunter looked at his boss and smiled.
“They’ll find “The Angel” the day after they find Jimmy Hoffa,” he said reassuringly.
All Alone with Fate
Kate Whitson could not respond. Although she had heard the words, her mind was having difficulty
processing their meaning. As the reality of what Patty had just told her began to seep into understanding,
Kate Whitson’s face contorted in horror.
“Oh, my God!” she whispered.
The lines on Patricia White’s face had aged a decade in a day. She stared at Kate Whitson through blood
shot eyes and shook her head.
“What God?” she whispered, without really expecting any kind of answer.
Main Character Profiles
America’s Most Dysfunctional Family?
Logan Spencer
Through a twist of fate, he was raised by a doctor who had been entrusted to abort him. He later
unknowingly comes into contact with his real father and mother. Logan is an overly confident 16-year-old
student on a wrestling scholarship at a prep school. He wins over most people he comes into contact
with, whether it stems from his drug dealing, heroic fights off the canvas, his victories as an athlete, or his
charm of the ladies.
Chester White
A lousy husband and a worse father, he feels trapped in a small town in an unsatisfying marriage while he
runs a drug-dealing ring and manages his vending machine business. He’s a tough guy who doesn’t shy
away from a fight.
Patricia White
Raised by parents who didn’t love each other, she was born out of violence. She would grow up to
become a teacher studying for her Ph.D. and would end up tutoring a 16-year old student that she didn’t
know was her son. She crosses the boundary between adult-child, tutor-pupil, and falls into a romantic
relationship with her prized pupil. The attractive 27-year-old is left with a big decision to make once
she’s confronted with the truth of whom she’s been carrying on with.
Shirley Chester
In 1952 she became pregnant after a drunken blind date. She dropped out of high school to wed the
baby’s father even though she didn’t love or even like him. Abortion wasn’t a legal or safe option back
then. Her marriage is plagued by a fear of her husband and the constant dream of leaving him. She
settles with him, in part, because he lets her spend his money freely.