Rotting Man Goes to Town deals with an adult relationship; which is in deep trauma from the outset of the story. Its technique is predominately dual narration, going from him to her vantage points. There are two sides to every story. Some of the language is hard-hitting, with angry scenes or mindsets, including some swearing. Political incorrectness exists in parts. The emotions are raw. It is a compelling and authentic read. It begins badly. How will it end? The initial setting is in America, with flashbacks to Britain, meant to counter the: hurt, sadness and anger, by the use of the device of injecting past comedic episodes. Levity and tragedy are seen in animal antics. Thus, the humorous scenes are meant to bring a balance to the novel overall. With the exception of the animals’ names, which remain true, all human names have been changed.
Shawn Irvin Manning is the author of Rotting Man Goes to Town, which was written in La Porte, Indiana; and Tucson, Arizona, in 2009–2010. This work is autobiographical in nature, and though written almost as a journal, stylistically it is a novel. Born in 1952, Shawn graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas in 1970. From 1970-76, she was involved in the Jesus Movement, working as a writer for New Wave Publishing Company in Texas. She received her degree in art, in the area of ceramics from the University of Dallas in 1988. Her Master’s degree in visual culture was from what is now Bath Spa University, formerly known as Bath College of Higher Education. She completed her work for a Ph.D. in creative writing at University of Wales Lampeter in 2005–2010. Manning currently lives in Bath, England, with her husband, John. She has five sons and a stepson.