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It is Mardi Gras Tuesday as I write this. For once I do not have to worry about parades blocking me delivering blood to requesting hospitals.
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A good friend believes it was the cost of insurance that did me in:
1) My age made the company car insurance cost more.
2) My company pays for medical expenses out of its own pocket --
hence the older I got, the more likely I would incur medical bills.
In fact, I had my heart attack while working for them.
Enough of that.
Each of us wears a quilt woven from the tattered remains of our own personal tragedies.
Yours impacts you the most since you have lived through them ... or are continuing to do so.
Hopefully, like the quilt above, you are moving forward.
It is raining and windy as if a hurricane is visiting for the holiday. It may kill the parades but ironically save lives.
I thought to write a novel incorporating Valentine's and Mardi Gras.
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The great thing about a holiday ... it comes like clockwork year after year and may birth a tradition of watching or reading.
Of course, you have to touch the heart to make your novel a traditional read.
But remember, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE failed at the box office ...
Which I included in my Christmas fantasy, BEWARE THE JADE CHRISTMAS.
Every Christmas, I get additional book and audio sales from this fantasy.
Ghosts and murder on Christmas Eve, who knew it would be a great combination?
Black History Month just left us ... and yes, I wrote a novel about it.
Or at least the first chapter about it.
I was asked by some of my readers how my long-lived hero, Sam McCord, felt about slavery during the time when it was legal.
I decided to use a trick from the movie, THE SHOOTIST, to answer that question and lend the semblance of authenticity to his legend.
In UNDER A VOODOO MOON, I brought a modern street orphan to 1834 New Orleans to detail the culture shock of modern sensibilities to slavery.
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I liked the experiment so much, I added snippets to several of my fantasies as Lagniappe
(a Creole tradition of giving a little extra to a buyer)
to add depth to my characters in THE NOT SO INNOCENTS ABROAD and AT LARGE, DEATH IN THE HOUSE OF LIFE and THE STARS BLEED AT MIDNIGHT (title taken from the old Gary Cooper movie, The General Died at Dawn.)
My writing mentor, Roger Zelazny, at end of his life (like me, he had a bad heart,) experimented with his writing style --
to grow as an author and to see if he could keep the interest of his readers with novels such as DOORWAYS IN THE SAND and ROADMARKS.
https://www.amazon.com/Roadmarks-Roger-Zelazny/dp/0345285301/
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Do you experiment with your writing? Do you attempt to grow in each additional book?
Do you answer questions from your readers in your next books?
If you knew you were dying soon, would it change how you write your next book?
A signed copy! Nice.
ReplyDeleteI have learned to answer questions or at least address issues in the next book.
Yes. Keep your readers happy and knowing you care about them, right?
DeleteCombining different tropes/themes is a great idea!
ReplyDeleteRonel visiting for IWSG day Tips For Author Success in 2025
Always experiment -- that's my motto. :-)
Delete"Each of us wears a quilt woven from the tattered remains of our own personal tragedies." Roland! That is a visional splendor. Tragic that life is so difficult at times yet inspiring that we wear our tattered clothes and carry on. Happy IWSG Day to you.
ReplyDeleteI think of it as God's weight resistance for us -- to grow depth and strength from carrying on when we think we caanot go another step, Joylene!
DeleteWell, I didn't intend to spend half an hour here today, but you upset my plan. I had to watch The Shootist video and be amazed at the cast, then I had to do a search to see if I could find that movie because, of course, now I had to see it.
ReplyDeleteThen I took more time to think about experimentation in my own writing and why I enjoy your stories--lots of experimentation there. So as you can see, you've blown my morning schedule. :-) Thank you.
You made my day, Lee. You made me feel as if my efforts were worth while. :-) I hope you enjoy THE SHOOTIST. It is ironic in Wayne's career. We grow or we wither, right?
DeleteI think the bad and the good things that happen shape us. It's both, and how we grow from each experience. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Especially what we take away from the experiences. :-)
DeleteRoland, this is an awesome post! I'm sorry that you have gone through a heart attack. It is a life-changing event. Like Joylene, I loved the visual power of your tattered quilt, but your comment made it even better, a weight resistant cover to help us when we think we can't take another step. The music video you posted is gorgeous, just the balm my soul needs. The worst things that have happened to me in my life have been necessary and worthwhile in retrospect. All the best to you! ❤️🍀
ReplyDeleteYour sensitive response enriched my morning, Fundy Blue. You have a point: all the crises in our lives may act as anti-bodies to worse things that would have devastated us without them. :-)
DeleteI'm still with you, Roland.
ReplyDelete