Steve Himmer is an expert on his book: The Bee-Loud Glade

Do you know what a decorative hermit is? Steve Himmer does. The author and Writing, Literature and Publishing Lecturer became an expert on the subject while doing research for his debut novel, The Bee-Loud Glade.

The origin of this type of “hermit” can be traced back to 18th–century England, Himmer explained. “At that time it was very fashionable for wealthy gentlemen to hire someone to live on their estate, in a cave or a hut, usually for a term of seven years,” he said.

“…It was very fashionable for wealthy gentlemen to hire someone to live on their estate, in a cave or a hut, usually for a term of seven years.”

–Author and lecturer Steve Himmer

The Bee-Loud Glade brings this odd pastime to the present day, where a billionaire named Mr. Crane hires Finch to be his decorative hermit.

Himmer sat down with us to talk about his book and how he uses the same research methods he used to write The Bee-Loud Glade in his first-year writing course.

The Bee-Loud Glade will be released by Atticus Books in Spring 2011.