Rochelle’s poetry ranges from the one about the Vietnam vet dude who spat on Jane Fonda last year to his Moody Blue, “a book of poetry about Elvis visiting Kansas,” Rochelle says.
HEARNE CHRISTOPHER JR. | THE STAR JUNE 18, 2006
Know this about mild-mannered Johnson County Community College English prof Larry Rochelle — he’s no Walter Mitty.
Then again, since he has authored more than a half dozen suspense and sex-drenched Palmer Morel mystery books, one might wonder.
“Palmer Morel discovers Kansas City transvestites and mobsters can be fun in Blue Ice,” Rochelle writes of his hero in a teaser for a 2005, 342-page thrill ride. “Just make sure to give them their candy at Thanksgiving.”
With 15 books total, including a handful of poetry offerings, Rochelle is nothing if not prolific. Two of the books, plus the poetry books, are self-published. All are available at Amazon and at most area booksellers.
“I’ve got another book called Home Schooled coming out in the fall,” he says. “Home Schooled, doesn’t that sound like Kansas? It’s a book of poetry.”
Get the picture?
A juco dude since 1978, Rochelle loves to infuse his art with the Cowtown. His books and poems are peppered with local landmarks such as the Plaza and Grand Emporium.
Eternal activist Clay Chastain gets a cameo in 2002’s Death and Devotion.
“That’s the book that has light rail and Union Station,” Rochelle says. “In that book his name is Sandy Banteen, and you’ll be happy to know we do get light rail. Similar things happen to Sandy as Clay; (he) goes through a lot of suffering in that book but it works out OK, and he doesn’t move to Tennessee like Clay Chastain did.”
UMKC and Brody Buster flit through 2004’s Cracked Crystals.
“Palmer hangs out at the old Grand Emporium,” Rochelle says. “Palmer doesn’t go to the new Grand Emporium. Of course I had to get Brody’s permission to put him into the book. Actually, he was too young, so I had to get his mother’s permission. She said, as long as he doesn’t do anything illegal or immoral he could be in the book.”
Rochelle’s poetry ranges from the one about the Vietnam vet dude who spat on Jane Fonda last year to his Moody Blue, “a book of poetry about Elvis visiting Kansas,” Rochelle says. “He visits the Outhouse in Lawrence.”
You mean the BYOB, total nudity strip club?
“Oh, it is?” Rochelle recoils. “Nope, that’s not the one I had in mind — Elvis didn’t go there. He went to the old Outhouse to listen to some music, and he did some singing there.”
Rochelle has yet to strike pay dirt with total book sales of “less than 10,000,” he says. “They say if you’re an author of one book and you sell 10,000 you’re doing good. So I’m not quitting my day job — well, I guess I am. I’m retiring Aug. 1.”
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