A Novel Approach to Fan Frustration
Author Dave Eifert is hosting a public event to discuss and sign copies of his debut novel, "Cleveland Curse: Volume 1." The session takes place from 7 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25, at the Strongsville library branch on 18700 Westwood Drive. Attendees can purchase books at the venue, and registration is available through the Cuyahoga County Public Library portal.
The book stems from the author's long-standing connection to Cleveland sports history and his personal reaction to the Browns' performance during the middle of the last decade. Eifert, who moved to the area in 1993 after growing up as a fan in upstate New York, began writing the story to process the feelings of local supporters. He cites the team's struggles as the primary catalyst for his creative work.
The Narrative of the Cleveland Curse
The plot of the novel builds a fictional reality around the team’s historical difficulties. It centers on a supernatural or mysterious agreement involving a stranger and former team owner Art Modell. This narrative framework uses a 2015 Monday night football game against the Baltimore Ravens as its modern-day entry point, weaving real events into a broader, speculative story about the source of the franchise's woes.
Eifert’s work captures a specific period in the city's sports timeline. By focusing on the mid-2010s, the author taps into a collective sense of disappointment that defined that era of professional football in Ohio. The book, published by Firewater Press in 2025, runs 379 pages and represents an attempt to provide a narrative resolution to years of on-field setbacks.
Community Impact and Future Events
This library appearance offers a space for readers and fans to engage with the author directly. Local events of this nature often serve as meeting points for those who share similar frustrations or interest in team lore. Eifert has scheduled multiple signings, pointing to an active promotion of the work across the region.
As professional sports continue to occupy a central role in Cleveland's cultural identity, artistic responses like Eifert's highlight how fans process the business side of sports. The event on Tuesday provides an opportunity for fans to hear about the writing process and discuss the intersection of reality and fiction. The ongoing conversation regarding the team's historical record remains a fixture in local dialogue, and this novel contributes a creative, if speculative, perspective to that discussion.