Excerpt – Freelancer by Cristian S. Aluas
Synopsis
In the vibrant yet unforgiving world of Ottawa’s art scene, Alex Emin—a struggling artist haunted by family trauma and romantic failures—fights to carve out his legacy while navigating the shadows of great creators like Michelangelo and Picasso. As he wrestles with ambition, love, and identity, Alex’s journey unfolds as a raw and introspective exploration of the human spirit, blending the grit of modern realism with the timeless struggles of literary heroes. Freelancer is a poignant and richly textured tale of resilience, artistry, and the search for meaning in a world that demands both beauty and survival.
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Excerpt
After sharing a poutine in the Byward Market, we ducked into Cafe Deckuf, just as it was starting to rain.
The place had a bar, several tables, a few cushy lounge chairs in the corner, and a 15-foot stage. They hosted bands and also had a poetry night every Thursday.
“They call it Spoken Word,” I told Laura.
“What’s the distinction,” she asked.
“Spoken word is more like a performance,” I told her. “It’s like Jazz, but with words. And it also makes you think, like poetry.”
My friend Lilian Studt was taking five-dollar cover at the door and stamping hands. Her jazz duo Cedrick was comprised of her and her partner William Echard. They were scheduled to close out the poetry show with music.
“We’re gearing up this year to have more gigs,” Lilian told me. “If anything comes up, please let us know.”
“I sometimes booked music acts for my art openings,” I explained to Laura as we walked in.
Laura called me a “true bohemian.”
“That’s what everybody thinks,” I told her, “But this is all business. It’s all expensed out. You’re on the corporate account, baby.”
She got a laugh out of that but there was some truth. I was going to write off the gallery tickets from earlier and the drinks we’d have tonight.
We settled into an intimate booth in the corner. Droplets of rain decorated the darkening window. Laura sat against the cushions, facing the stage. I shifted my wooden seat to see the stage, as the performances began.
The first poet up was a pale girl with purple hair and thick granny glasses. They had fringes on the corners. We listened to her, as we scanned the stage and the vibe in the room. The blue and red stage lights double-lit her face. Her poem was confusing at first. It sounded like she was reading book titles. She was. The Great Gatsby, In Cold Blood, Harry Potter, an Archie Digest, a textbook on Social Sciences, and the list went on and on. She revealed it was a list of books on her ex-girlfriend’s bookshelf.
You can tell a lot about a person’s bookshelf. The first books that the poet recited were the famous titles. Authors she recognized. The books at the end of the list were either more obscure or controversial. At times, the titles were metaphors for her relationship with her ex. Like Sophie’s Choice came at a point when she digressed about their situation. There was an autobiography of Donald Trump hidden away in the corner, near the bottom. She said it was a book her parents gave her. Another book was about family trauma as it’s passed on through heredity. In the end, it was the books that were hidden away which caused conflict in their relationship. The things we carry with us which don’t represent us truly. Even the junk books in our personal libraries linger in our personalities.
Laura smirked and raised one eyebrow.
I leaned in and whispered, “I’m not showing you my library.”
She couldn’t help but tell me about her love of books. Then asked me, “Do you read, Alex?”
“Of course I read, Laura.”
“What do you read?”
“I read comics. Mostly for the pictures,” I told her.
“So you like picture books, Alex?” She said busting my balls.
I played along telling her, “I’m up to a third grade reading level now.”
“Oh la la, you’re a big boy.”
“You better believe it.”
We laughed.
If that whetted your appetite, you can read the full excerpt here
About the Author
Cristian S. Aluas, a Romania-born Canadian artist and writer, now residing in Chicago. With a background in animation and creative writing, he has thrived as a freelancer since 2002, earning over a thousand five-star reviews on platforms like Guru.com and Upwork for his work in illustration and comics. He’s the creator of the “Big Boss” graphic novel series and author of IT’S A LIVING: Surviving as a Freelancer in the 21st Century. He now launches FREELANCER, a compelling novel that intertwines his experiences as a freelance artist with a poignant story of ambition, love, and self-discovery.
