Orono author Robert Klose happens to be a professor at two Maine universities and knows a little about the inner workings of academia. An author of three non-fiction books and a children’s book, Long Live Grover Cleveland is his first novel, which just won the 2015 USA Book News Award in the humor category.

The book, which takes place in the 1980s, follows Marcus Cleveland, a used car salesman in New Jersey who has never been to college.  His relative, Cyrus Cleveland—a direct descendant of President Grover Cleveland—founded Grover Cleveland College (a fictional college in the northern woods of Maine) and on his deathbed, he wills it to Marcus. Facing the impending calamity with cheer, an incorrigibly sunny attitude, and ample naivete, Marcus is totally unprepared for the stew of discontented faculty, internecine rivalries and unforeseen events that threaten to upend his every effort to rescue the school from the threat of extinction.

What inspired you to write this?

I really believe in writing about what one knows and I’ve been teaching for 30 years, so I know the ‘academy’ as they call it. The culture of higher education is a bottomless pit of inspiration. And the most pointed responses I’ve gotten from readers are from those who actually teach and work in education. Certainly a lot of the events of the book are exaggerated reflections of what goes on in a college or a university.

Would it be safe to say this is a satire? And if so, what authors influenced you?

It’s certainly a satire. Richard Russo, is one, H.L. Mencken, a great journalist, and Mark Twain, those come to mind.

What’s the gist of it, in your own words?

The central irony of the book is that the school was founded during Vietnam by a raging leftist, pacifist who was a strong supporter of Richard Nixon, because as long as Nixon kept the war going, students kept pouring into his college with their college deferments. When the war ends, the students no longer need the school so they flee it in droves. And Cyrus, the founder, basically has a stroke. So, the only way to save it is to will it to a descendant. The only one he knows is Marcus, his nephew, a used car salesman, in his 40s. Marcus, who has never even been to college, gives it his best shot to save it from extinction. Marcus is nothing like his uncle, he’s apolitical and highly asexual as well, until he meets a woman at the school, who herself, has given up on love.

How long did it take you to write this novel?

With edits, just about a year.

Did you have an agent?

No, I didn’t. For my first book, I went through about 68 publishers before I found one. The second book, I went to about 15 publishers. The third, about 10. Basically, as I established a track record, it got a little easier and I only went to about seven or eight publishers before Medallion Publishing, out of Aurora, Ill., took it on.

Klose will be doing a book reading at Belfast Public Library on Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 6:30 p.m. Books will be available for sale and signing. to find a copy of Klose’s book online visit: Long Live Grover Cleveland

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com