Fred Kroner, a name synonymous with East Central Illinois sports reporting, has ventured into new territory with his debut novel, “The Tracks of Disappearance.” After a career spanning over five decades, the seasoned journalist turns to fiction, crafting a narrative that explores the profound themes of identity, freedom, and the human spirit.
Unraveling “The Tracks of Disappearance”
Kroner’s novel introduces us to Danny Novax, a man who feels trapped in a life of opulence that offers him no real sense of self. Danny’s decision to vanish without a trace, adopting the alias John Robert Harvey, is both an act of desperation and a quest for freedom. This narrative of self-discovery takes readers from the comfort of a gilded cage into the rugged landscapes of America, where Danny, now John, mingles with drifters and dreamers, each wrestling with their own shadows.
In “The Tracks of Disappearance,” Kroner utilizes his keen eye for human detail, a skill honed during his years reporting from the sidelines. His storytelling echoes the real-life emotions and dramas he captured as a journalist, but this time, he crafts the scenarios, steering us through a meticulously plotted escape to a life of anonymity. The book does more than just recount Danny’s physical journey across the country; it delves deep into his internal struggles, reflecting on what it means to truly live as oneself, unshackled by societal expectations or personal history.
“The initial goal on my list was not about the characters or even the plot. My overriding quest, first and foremost, was to write a novel unlike any other ever written,” Kroner explained.
It started with a simple concept: a love story.
“I wanted a love story, but not one with the script that is generally followed where a married man meets a woman, falls head in heels in love with her and leaves his wife to live with this new person happily ever after,” Kroner said.
“And yet, in a round-about way, this happens to a certain degree that has yet to reach a conclusion even as the book ends.
His narrative diverges from typical love stories, portraying a protagonist determined to forge a new path, regardless of the consequences. The book explores the intricate dynamics of personal change and the impact of such decisions on loved ones and oneself.
“The important point is that the married man/main character doesn’t leave to make a new life with his new love interest. He is committed to leaving regardless of whether she will join him or not. There is no commitment one way or the other as he embarks on his new life.”
Although the story is not pulled from personal experiences or feelings, Kroner did find inspiration from listening to others who reflected on a life that turned out differently than they had imagined.
“Let me digress briefly from the book to what I have both seen and heard throughout my life. People, as they age, have said, ‘I never imagined my life would turn out this way,’ or ‘I didn’t want to go this direction with my life.’
“These people, for the most part, were unable or unwilling to make changes that would promote personal happiness. Maybe they didn’t have the education or skills to seek a different job. Maybe they didn’t have the financial means to relocate to another part of the country or the world. Maybe they were scared to take a risk as adults with no guarantees of the outcome. Maybe they had family obligations that required them to stay put. Maybe they simply thought it was too late for them or they didn’t deserve any more than the life they were leading.
“They felt stuck and thus, later in life they find themselves saying, ‘I never imagined my life would turn out this way.’
“My main character did not fit this mold. He was willing to make great sacrifices and go to great lengths to find self-satisfaction and self-worth while starting with only the self-confidence that he could do it.”
A Journalist’s Craft in Fiction
Kroner’s journalistic background, characterized by detailed observations and a deep understanding of human emotions, enriches his novel. His ability to depict vivid scenes and complex characters is evident throughout the book, as he delves into Danny’s struggles and encounters with diverse individuals along his path.
“Transitioning from fact-based reporting to the freedom of fiction was liberating,” Kroner said.
While the character and the plot developed in his imagination, Kroner drew from a familiar time period in order to ground the narrative.
“The time period of the mid-1990s is also significant. It is before – for the most part – widespread use of cell phones, before social media as we know it and before digital billboards that can create images of missing persons nationwide within days, if not hours,” he said. “To take on this venture in 2024 would add layers of complexity that I can not even imagine.”
Kroner, who has spent much of his time traveling the roads of East Central Illinois, has not had much experience making a trek across the United States, especially not by train. To portray these experiences through Novak’s eyes, Kroner had to do some research.
“It was interesting to me that it was imperative to do research to write a make-believe fiction story,” he said. “Who would have thought? I could have gotten by with less research had I not been so intent on creating a believable story instead of a complete fantasy work.”
“A lot of thought went into different aspects,” Kroner said. “For example, I believed the best place in the U.S. to leave from would be Boston on the day of the annual April marathon race. There would be thousands of out-of-town folks in the community and someone doing his usual morning routine would attract less suspicions as he deviated from the norm than he would in a Midwestern village of 1,700 residents.
“Obviously, he wanted to travel incognito, so that leaves very few options. He could be recognized leaving town on a bus, plane or passenger train. He couldn’t drive his own car or a rental car with his new identity.
“Yes, he could hitchhike, but again, he was well-enough known in Boston that he might be recognized.
“Thus, he pretty much had to be a stowaway on a freight train.
“I read stories about how arduous the journey was and that many hobos who traveled that way decades earlier usually went from stop-to-stop and might eventually go further, but didn’t use it as a means to go thousands of miles in a short period of time.”
But Novak didn’t just stow away in the train car until he reached California. The stops he made along the way helped him learn about the dreams and realities of others, and even more about himself.
Kroner reveals, through Danny’s eyes, the complex interplay between freedom and isolation, connection and anonymity. This novel is a must-read for those who have ever contemplated the road less traveled, offering a deep dive into the psyche of a man on the run from his own life.
The Journey of a Story
The bridge between Novak’s fiery conviction to set forth on a journey rarely taken and Kroner’s excitement to approach a genre came together under the umbrella of journalism.
“At first, I envisioned the ending as my beginning,” Kroner recalls.
“I was going to set up this newspaperman going into San Francisco to sell ads, and one day – when he is supposed to finalize all the details with a major client – the big event happens and as one of the few reporters on the campus site then was granted privileges and access to the day’s hero.
“From there, I was going to have a brief flashback of how he came to be a newspaperman and his East Coast background and then move right into the future.
“I don’t want to give many details – because it is very possible there could be a sequel – but originally it would have continued the storyline that was introduced in the final pages had I used this as the beginning.
“Instead, as a person who absolutely hates TV shows or movies that start a story and then flash back to ‘five years ago,’ before returning to the present day, I chose not to use that idea as the start of the book, but as the ending. I am very, very, VERY happy at that decision!”
Writing time totaled about four months with a few breaks to conquer a mountain of sport stories in the Mahomet Daily and SJO Daily and to take time to expand his wife’s dream in Lucky Moon Pies & More.
After decades of telling the stories of athletes, coaches, writers and entrepreneurs, Kroner decided to tell his own stories. Since leaving his post at the News-Gazette over a decade ago, Kroner has shared his own journey in two memoirs, “From the Heart to the Heartland” and “My Life Stories Through My Eyes.”
Then there was a conversation before retirement in 2015 that was at the forefront of his mind.
“Maybe about a year before I retired, I was at a music function with my wife, Emily. It was with a group of people whom she had played with or was at least acquainted with. I got to talking to one man and — of course — we both asked each other what the other one did for a living.
“When I told him I was a sportswriter for The News-Gazette, his response was, ‘So you don’t do any serious writing?’
“I tried to explain that I did more than write reports on games and had done many in-depth and research stories, and gave a few examples.
“Our conversation ended when he told me, ‘Sportswriting ranks with comics as far as what is least important in the newspaper.’
“That is when I decided I was going to make this happen, both to prove to others as well as myself that I could indeed do this. I actually had no doubts, but until you’ve done something for the first time, there is always a slight seed of doubt in your mind as to whether you can.
“It was also vitally important to me that the book have very, very minimal sports in it.To me, that would simply be repeating or at least rehashing what I had done my entire working life.
I am extremely proud that less than 2 percent of the content of Tracks of Disappearance is about sports.”
Continuing the Legacy of Storytelling
From the press box to the bookstore, Kroner isn’t done telling stories quite yet.
As “The Tracks of Disappearance” finds its place on bookshelves and in readers’ hands, Kroner’s transition from chronicling real-life dramas to imagining fictional lives stands as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling. His journey suggests that no matter the medium, the heart of a true storyteller always seeks the pulse of human experience.
Kroner’s foray into fiction not only adds a new dimension to his already storied career but also offers his readers a chance to see a familiar voice take on new, uncharted narratives. It’s clear that the track continues onward, with more stories to tell and more lives to imagine.
Pick Up Your Copy Today
The Tracks of Disappearance” is available on Amazon or available for pick up at Lucky Moon Pies and More, located at 703 Eastwood Dr Suite D, Mahomet. To reserve a copy locally, call (217) 402-2319.
