I’m delighted to welcome debut author Cliff Lovette to the blog today. He joins us to share his thoughts on writing, the long journey behind his novel, and the unexpected challenge of trying to fit his book neatly into a single genre.
Circus Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure
By Cliff Lovette
Publication Date: March 1, 2026
Publisher: Bim Bom Books
Print Length: 478 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction / Romantic Adventure / Political Intrigue
Soviet circus performers arrived in America hoping to build cultural bridges. Instead, they became unwitting pawns in a Cold War game of international intrigue.
When the first privately owned Soviet circus arrived in 1990 in America as the Soviet Union disintegrated, its elite performers expected to build cultural bridges through spectacular shows. Instead, this prestigious troupe faced a perilous journey through Cold War America.
Circus director Yuri had to navigate treacherous waters where American mobsters, Soviet agents, and political forces circled like predators. Young aerialist Anton dreamed of becoming a clown against his family’s wishes, while forbidden romances and unexpected connections bloomed between Soviet performers and Americans who saw past the ideological divide. As high-stakes conspiracies threatened to tear the circus family apart, they had to choose between the authoritarian chains of home and the uncertain promise of freedom.
As the Ringmaster reminds us, “The best Soviet stories are like vodka—they burn with suffering, intoxicate with conflict, keep you stewing in reflection, and yearning for your heart’s desire.” This genre-bending tale explores whether human connection can transcend ideology—and whether storytelling can bridge the divides that separate us.
Guest Post
THE GENRE CONUNDRUM
The word genre comes from the French for “kind” or “type,” derived from Latin genus. The concept traces back to Aristotle, who classified literature like a botanist sorting plants. And honestly? Genre serves useful purposes. It helps readers quickly find books they’ll love and avoid those they won’t. It tells booksellers which shelf gets which spine. It creates communities of like-minded readers who gather around shared passions.
But for writers like me, it creates dilemmas.
Some in the historical fiction community disregard Circus Bim Bom because 1990 isn’t “old enough”—or because I was alive when the story took place. Never mind that my novel checks every box on M.K. Tod’s “Top Ten Ingredients of Favourite Historical Fiction”: dramatic arc of historical events, characters both heroic and human, immersion in time and place, corridors of power, ageless themes, high stakes, love and loss, and dysfunctional families.
My story also has four distinct romantic arcs threading through it. Does that make it a romance? God forbid I disappoint devoted romance readers too impatient to wade through political machinations and mob entanglements to reach the juicy love stories. And don’t get me started on tropes.
But fundamentally, my book is satire. Is that even a genre? What’s a self-publisher to do?
I put it to you: Read my book. If it were a dog, it would be a mongrel—like one of its favorite characters, Kratu. But then again, mongrels have a way of stealing hearts.
Sometimes the best stories refuse to fit neatly on any shelf.
Join Bim Bom Book Club
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Members receive:
✨ Discounts on Gifts and Merch
✨ Exclusive glimpses into the self-publishing journey
✨ Previews of historical curiosities about Soviet circus life that didn't make it into the book
✨ Exclusive "Rabbit Hole" bonus stories and other literary surprises
✨ A front-row seat to the book's development and launch
✨ Sign up for Free
What Makes This Novel Different
Circus Bim Bom offers an innovative multimedia reading experience. The novel includes 45+ YouTube links to period music, historical speeches, and cultural moments embedded throughout—readers can listen to the actual songs characters dance to as they waltz, and watch Reagan's Brandenburg Gate speech as it's referenced in the text.
The companion website (www.bimbombookclub.com) extends the story beyond the page:
• Character Avatars: 25+ talking video introductions where characters speak directly to readers
• Re-Imagined Circus Posters
• Book Club Experience: Interactive forums, live chat, and community discussions
• Historians Room (under construction): A space for Cold War history buffs to fact-check the novel, explore primary sources, and debate historical accuracy
Buy Links
Cliff is offering an Author's Edition of the paperback at https://books.by/bim-bom-books/ The Author's Edition comes with a signed replica Circus Bim Bom circus admission ticket, a Circus Bim Bom circus poster you choose, and charter membership to bimbombookclub.com, with exclusive access to over 12 'rabbit hole' chapters!
Cliff Lovette
Father, storyteller, and dog lover living in Sandy Springs, Georgia, with London curled at his feet. Circus Bim Bom: A Cold War Adventure is the first book in his debut duology, followed by Circus Bim Bom: The Great Escape.
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