H.A. Olsen

H.A. Olsen is a native of Charleston, South Carolina. Twenty years ago he witnessed the incredible destruction that Hurricane Hugo inflicted on this beautiful city. It had such an impact on him that he felt compelled to weave his debut novel, A Lone Palm Stands, around this historic event.

Olsen is also a music lover and an accomplished drummer. Songwriting has always fascinated him, which led to his choice of a budding songwriter as his protagonist. And since he is a self-proclaimed beach addict, it is no surprise that he would choose the barrier island of Folly Beach as the main setting for the novel.

"Folly Beach holds a very dear place in my heart," says Olsen. "Even as a child I felt a certain 'energy' there; something mystical and powerful. I also love its laid-back attitude and lack of pretense. If Charleston is the 'grand lady' of the South, then Folly is her mischievous, fun-loving sister."

Olsen currently lives in Irmo, South Carolina, which is located about a hundred miles from his beloved Folly Beach. "Maybe the fact that I'm so far away from the ocean made me write a story that takes place near it," muses Olsen. "I guess it helped me deal with my withdrawal symptoms. Although I enjoy living in the Irmo area, you just can't take the Lowcountry out of a Lowcountry boy. There's just nothing like the smell of pluff mud at low tide! If you're from Charleston, you know what I mean."

Now that his debut novel is published, Olsen is turning his attention to the sequel. "It will take place fifteen years after the end of the original story," Olsen says. "What will be interesting is to see the protagonist, who is a teen in the first novel, as an adult. It will also be quite different from the first story - the sequel will be more of a suspense/mystery novel, although it will still have a lot character development and good old Southern charm.

Olsen welcomes comments from his readers. You may contact him by e-mail at alonepalmstands@sc.rr.com.