Rock ‘n Roll, Military Life, and Coming of Age During the Cold War: Constance Squires on Her Novel ‘Along the Watchtower’

Author Constance Squires returns to Rock is Lit to discuss her debut novel, ‘Along the Watchtower’, a powerful coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of military life, Cold War Germany, and rock ‘n roll. 

‘Along the Watchtower’ follows thirteen-year-old Lucinda Collins as she arrives at a U.S. military base in Grafenwoehr, West Germany, in 1983. She knows the drill—setting up new quarters, navigating her parents' tensions, and keeping fellow Army brats at arm’s length, knowing friendships won’t last. She longs for a true home, but her father is haunted by Vietnam, and her mother is growing weary of Army life. As her family fractures, Lucinda finds solace in rock ‘n roll and begins to forge her own path to adulthood. Set against the ever-changing backdrop of military life, ‘Along the Watchtower’ is a story of belonging, resilience, and the ghosts—both real and remembered—that shape us. 

Constance Squires teaches creative writing at the University of Central Oklahoma. In addition to ‘Along the Watchtower’, she is the author of ‘Live From Medicine Park’ and the short story collection ‘Hit Your Brights’, with work published in ‘The Atlantic’, ‘Guernica’, ‘The Dublin Quarterly’, ‘Shenandoah’, ‘Identity Theory’, ‘The Rolling Stone 500’, and more. Her brand-new novel, ‘Low April Sun’, was published by the University of Oklahoma Press on Feb 11, 2025!

Catch Constance Squires on Episode 48 of Rock is Lit, discussing her acclaimed novel ‘Live From Medicine Park’: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/constancesquires

PLAYLIST

• Rock is Lit theme music
• Sixties 60’s music (free to use)
• Copyright Free Rock Music—“Grunge Instrumental” by Wayne John Bradley
• “All Along the Watchtower” by Bob Dylan
• “Peace Frog” by The Doors
• “The Man I Used to Be” by Jellyfish
• “Heroin” by The Velvet Underground with Nico
• “Nazi Punks Fuck Off” by Dead Kennedys
• “All Along the Watchtower” by Jimi Hendrix
• Sixties 60’s music (free to use)
• Rock is Lit theme music

LINKS:

Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451

Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350

Constance Squires’ website: https://www.constancesquiresofficial.com/

Constance Squires on X: @ConnieSquires

Constance Squires on Instagram: @conniesquires

Constance Squires on Facebook: @ConstanceSquiresAuthorPage

Constance Squires on Rock is Lit EP48: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/constancesquires

Rock is Lit on Instagram & Bluesky: @rockislitpodcast

Christy Alexander Hallberg on Instagram and YouTube: @christyhallberg

Christy Alexander Hallberg on Facebook: @ChristyAlexanderHallberg

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