Michael Croft

The Eleanor

Michael Croft’s novel, The Eleanor, is a delightful romp through the streets of downtown Reno. After a mysterious hum nearly debilitates Leland Powers, he seeks to liberate the throwaways who have lived in his transient hotel for many years. Committed and nearly doomed, he rides the waves of compassion as he creates a monastery-like existence for those willing to live in a collective silence devoted to understanding the ins and outs of the universe. Along the way we have food, poetry, love, pitfalls, and wine coolers. Ultimately, a magical bird, Aspasia, wins out and the Eleanor Hotel is transformed into an oasis of understanding.

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Praise for The Eleanor

With hints of noir and magical realism, and a not small amount of humor, Michael Croft’s debut novel set fifty years ago in Reno is a classic study in redemption. The hotel Eleanor is a revolving stage that slowly reveals itself as a place of salvation, a compelling turn for both the characters and the reader.

―William Fox, author of Reading Sand and Time by Distance

The Eleanor is a delightful romp through a fanciful depiction of old Reno. Croft fashions a story of transformation and compassion on an unlikely canvas of misfits and quirky characters, rich in flaws and gifts. We experienced a nuance between imperfect human-ness and intentionality. Leland is guided by “Other Power” and like a Phoenix rising from the ashes of his life – The Eleanor – he follows his true nature toward redemption.

―Reverends Matthew and Shelley Fisher, Reno Buddhist Center priests

In The Eleanor, Michael Croft provides a novel of stunning poignancy about a man, Leland Powers, with a heart as big as his stubborn streak who feels called to improve his own life by making life better for others. Specifically, he devotes himself to caring for the tenants of the hotel he runs in Reno, Nevada in the early 1970s. Those tenants comprise the “Invisibles,” the down-and-outers, the struggling pensioners, the underpaid service staff of the town’s casinos, all living on the edge but too proud to think of themselves as being in need. On top of all that Leland tries his best to make peace with his ex-wife, does all he can to support his struggling adult daughter, and finds himself trying to make sense of his feelings for a stranger who stands to change everything.

―David Corbett, author of Done for a Dime and The Devil’s Redhead

About the Author

Michael Croft is senior editor at Narrative and lives in his hometown of Reno, Nevada, where he worked in the casino industry for many years. He has publications with Narrative, Prole (UK), The Pacific Review, and several others.

The Eleanor

Praise for The Eleanor

About the Author

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