By Davis Coen

On Sunday, August 3rd, friends, fans, and literary supporters gathered at Proud Larry’s in Oxford to celebrate the release of “Sagamore,” the debut novel by the late Jack Sonni. The event featured readings by local authors, a performance by Sonni’s band The Leisure Class, and on-site book sales hosted by Square Books – fitting tributes to a man who left his mark on both the literary and musical communities.

Sonni, best remembered by many as the “Other Guitar Player” in the classic rock band Dire Straits, spent his last years after a life on the road in Taylor, Mississippi, where he became a beloved member of the local creative scene. Jack collaborated with musicians and writers in the area, and immersed himself in the rhythms and culture of the South. His untimely passing on August 30, 2023, at age 68, came not long after finishing “Sagamore,” his first and only novel.

Now available through indie book label Cool Dog Sound, “Sagamore” is a powerful historical work set in 1930s Pennsylvania coal-mining country, near where Jack grew up. Though the setting may seem far from Mississippi, the novel’s themes of oppression and resilience strike a chord that’s familiar. It reads like a Southern novel at heart. It’s about hard places, harder choices, and the folks who persist despite them. 

Although much of the novel is set against the snowy backdrop of the Allegheny Mountains, it feels Southern in its moral weight and tension. It’s no wonder Sonni chose Mississippi as his home, since his work shares a spiritual common ground with many of its great writers.

At the heart of the story is Corky Trunzo, a young Italian-American boy growing up in the bleak, unforgiving town of Sagamore. As Corky comes of age amid poverty and prejudice, he finds himself pitted against a violent state game warden named Ed Markle, who terrorizes immigrant hunters under the pretense of law enforcement – killing pets and people alike, all while hiding behind the authority of his badge. What unfolds is a gritty tale and portrait of a community fighting to survive against unchecked power.

Among the most unforgettable characters is Corky’s grandmother, Gina Ferraro – a tough matriarch with possible Mafia ties – who embodies the novel’s sense of justice and quiet defiance. Her strength becomes the spiritual core of the book, which moves with the urgency of a thriller but has the emotional depth of great literature.

Another strong woman is Serafina, a striking beauty with fearless confidence that becomes alluring to those around her, as she bravely navigates the dangers of being an Italian in America during The Great Depression.

The novel also contains flashes of the musical world the author inhabited. In one standout scene, Corky and a friend stumble into a juke joint while holed up in Mississippi on the way to New Orleans. And meet a legendary bluesman – blending Jack’s lifelong love of music with his fiction.

Far from a casual side project, the novel is serious and skillful and shows both a historian’s curiosity and a storyteller’s heart. The tone and style bring to mind William Faulkner and Flannery O’Connor, while its subject matter – racial and ethnic bias, and survival against all odds – feels urgent and contemporary. With his emotionally charged yet lean prose, Jack captures the tension of the ‘30s while addressing struggles that remain relevant today. 

More than just a posthumous release, “Sagamore” stands as a bold and lasting literary achievement. Those who attended the event at Proud Larry’s were not only paying tribute to a friend and neighbor but also celebrating the arrival of a voice that, even in silence, still has something powerful to say. By the end of the evening, it was clear that Jack’s literary voice had resonated as strongly as his musical one.

“The turnout for the Sagamore release party was really gratifying,” said Tim Lee, of Cool Dog Sound. “So many people had a hand in making this book happen, and it was great to have them all together with so many others of Jack’s friends and family. The vibe and overall spirit of the event definitely exceeded all expectations.”

Award-winning local author Michael Farris Smith, who was the MC for the event, said, “It was a night that I think is an example of what makes Oxford a special community, celebrating one of our own. I’m sure Jack would have been over the moon with the turnout and the great vibes that rose from the evening.”

The book is available now through cooldogsound.com.