Kyle Michel Sullivan's Blog: https://www.myirishnovel.com/, page 91

Work...work...work...work...work...

Not. It took me all day to get myself ready to continue rewriting APoS, and I got through chapter 3. A lot of rearranging to do there. There was a jump from Brendan at home (being punished after displeasing his mother) to Brendan running around with his Protestant friend, Billy, that made no sense at all. So it's getting moved.
There's also how Brendan now needs to be dragged away to be with his mates...his Chinas, as he calls them. He gets so focused on his repairs, he shifts into another zone and can't hear when someone's calling to him, so they have to actually take him by the hand. They all think he's weird, but they don't care. He's a good goalie in football (soccer).
Of course, he's only like that when he has a project to work on; he doesn't always. He's also a bit prone to showing off to his Chinas, like when they get caught in a sudden rain and scramble back to his house. He makes tea and pulls out a tin of biscuits and provides milk and sugar, like it's a grand parlor...until his mother comes home and sees how dirty they all are and brings him down to earth. She's angry about the mud and filth in the place, but even more-so for him wasting money on such extravagances. 
Next inputting on this book is going to be slow-going but a lot more solid.
I almost just turned away from working on it, tonight, to watch the new Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris...but it's $20 to stream on YouTube! $20! Fuck that. I can wait for the DVD. I know Angela Lansbury played the part in a TV movie of the same name, but that's only available in VHS, and the series of books by Paul Gallico (the same guy who wrote The Poseidon Adventure) is out of print...though a new movie tie-in for this title is in the works.
Anything to avoid writing.

Draft #???

I've begun rewriting A Place of Safety - Derry with what little I know now about the people. But I'm also making notes about where I need to emphasize the sociology and attitudes of the people involved. I'm through the first two chapters and am getting a sense of what needs to be shifted elsewhere or just plain cut. The story is being told in a semi-linear fashion, where Brendan lays out his family but also has memories that pop up to illustrate one of them, so I can still play with it, some.
For example, he catches his older sister, Mairead, steaming open a letter from their Aunt Mari to their mother. Mai's noticed Ma doesn't tell them everything in the letters and wants to find out what's up. She freaks out when he appears and tries to put it back like it was, but Brendan's curiosity is up now, as well. So she opens it and finds a photo of an uncle they never knew about, forty pounds in cash, and the knowledge Bernadette had seven older brothers, all of whom abandoned her and Aunt Mari to an orphanage. Their aunt's been trying to track them down but Bernadette is against it.
Her family's from Derry so Brendan finds it hard to believe they've never been told about this, and it sets him off to learn more about why. But he hits roadblocks and dismissals, and when his mother finds out what he's doing, serious punishment. So he sets it aside, for now...and then events take over.
I'm also building a map of where both the Kinsellas and their neighbors are situated. I'm going to change the location from Nailors Row to Nailors Terrace, which would keep it in the same general area but does not really exist. I can't write this with any character living on an actual street because Derry-folk will know who lived in what house when. That's been made plain by reading the comments in Derry of the Past's postings, on Facebook. I don't want to get into that mess.
But...that may make this a bit easier...I hope...

On LA Time?

It seems my body clock has shifted to Pacific Time, for some reason, because it's hard for me to get to bed before 2 or 3am and suddenly I'm hungry as hell at 9pm, even after a decent dinner. Tonight I made spaghetti with some sauce from a jar on it, nothing special, but it hit the spot. There have even been occasions I want something to eat just before midnight, so scramble some eggs with cheese and a slice of toast. It's all very spontaneous, starting in the last couple months. So I am a nacho...
But this should help me some in my trip to Ketchum, ID next Tuesday. My flight out is at 5:30am and since I'm checking a bag, I'll need to be at the airport before 4:30. Meaning leave my place between 3:30 and 4am. So I'm just going to take a late nap and stay up the rest of the night...then doze some on the plane.
If all goes well, I should be in Boise by 10am and ready for lunch, and they have a Panda Express that opens at 10:30. Then it's off to Ketchum on a nearly 3 hour drive. I'll have 1 day to do the packing and pickup on the next day, then back to Boise for my flight on Friday, getting into Buffalo at 1:20 am. And that's if none of my flights are canceled or delayed. No telling, these days.
I'll have a book with me to read, for APoS. No need to deal with the adjustments, yet. I also found out that vinegar is a home remedy used to kill head lice in kids...which was endemic to much of the Bogside. But nowhere in anything I've read did anyone do that for their children. Instead, they just used a fine tooth comb to remove the nits, which would never be 100% effective. That might be interesting to have Bernadette use, since she's a fanatic about cleanliness. Maybe she even does it to her children's friends. Making them a bit more isolated because what kid wants to have to go through that if they don't have to?
I will be letting Brendan learn enough about his father in book 3 to explain where the man came from and why he was so violent...and that there was more to him than his drinking and fists. There always is, with people like that, but kids can't see the complexities; just the immediate actions.

Slipping back to normal...

APoS is shifting shape a little as I go through my files and materials. Not just with Bernadette and Eamonn the elder, but every member of the family. Brendan has no grandparents because his mother's are dead and no one knows who his father's are. 
This is highly unusual in the area, especially since Bernadette is a local girl whose full history is know back five generations, and who was raised by nuns in an orphanage, along with her younger sister. That lets everyone who knows her be understanding (and gossipy) about her fanaticism in regarding keeping her children clean; the nuns were not known for being easy about...well, about anything.
Of course, everyone has a theory about Eamonn the elder, who was orphaned...or was disowned...or ran away from home...but no one really knows. He's not considered a relative of the few Kinsellas people know, so it's even wondered if that's his true name. Until he's killed. Then he's all but deified and no questions about him are allowed.
Eamonn the younger is a responsible lad but also forward thinking. He believes gaining a degree from Queens will help his family far more, in the long run, than working menial jobs in Derry, and is so focused on that he doesn't have time for a girl friend. And winds up being the last man of his group not married with a kid on the way.

Mairead is already written close to how she's going to be. Not lovely but level-headed, quick-witted and sharp...and amused at the fact that boys like her boobs more than they do her eyes. She has fun with them...until she connects with Turleigh, who cuts past her defenses. She also knows how to use money and manage a tight household, which is why Brendan is willing to give her half his earnings.
Rhuari is a tag-along who's quiet and watches and understands far more than he ever lets on. Even as a child. He reads voraciously and loses himself in Irish history to the point he starts learning Gaelic, which is discouraged in Derry but available, here and there. He's like Brendan in that he has only a couple close friends and that there's no one else he even wants to be around.
Maeve is a controlling little witch who knows best for everyone, and proves it, over and over. Sharp tongue and quick comments, she's aiming to be one of the Knights of Malta medics, which won't happen until Brendan is long gone to Houston. But until then, she fixes birds and kittens and dogs, to her mother's irritation and about which she does not care.
Last is Kieran, who's the angry one because he's never known his father so thinks the man was a saint, and is filled with Bernadette's hatred of Protestants. He's only six when Brendan leaves, and already something of a hellion.
As for Brendan, he is loyal to his friends and siblings, and automatically assumes they are to him, as well. And they prove it to each other, more than once. His interest in repairing things is almost pathological, though he does like to make money doing it, so he doesn't bother with silly things like playing marbles or running about doing stupid stuff...except with his mates, sometimes.
Wide brushstrokes of each character, but a solid base to adjust them as I do the next rewrite.

Home, again...

The drive home was much easier, even though it rained all night and constantly, in the morning. Kept up until I was down to the 401 and headed for the border crossing. The guys who came to pick the books up were quick and efficient, and brought a pallet to put the boxes on. We built the pallet in the garage, wrapped them up against the rain and it was off to the warehouse. All nice and smooth.

I would like to have seen some of Ottawa, but the rain was too intense to really do anything, so I came straight back to Buffalo. Turned the car in early, dropped the paperwork off, had some pizza as it poured rain in Buffalo, and crashed at home just in time to witness an amazing sunset. This photo was taken through my window, which is dotted with drops of rain.

I heard from Smashwords and they're whining because I did not specifically say at the beginning of the book that all of the characters who get into sexual situations are over the age of 18. I do specify their ages in the text of the book, but apparently that's not good enough. So I added a note to both the short and the long descriptions on Smashwords about that and hopefully that will settle them. This is, quite simply, a first. No other book I've posted with them has required that. Direct to Digital is turning into a pain in the ass.

As regards the world of bad timing, or perfect...in my mail was a plea from Amnesty International to send them money. They published a report, last week, condemning Ukraine for not being more careful about where they put their defensive positions because civilians were getting hurt and killed. Never mind that it's Russia bombing them. Never mind that Russia has invaded that country and is doing all she can to destroy it. Never mind that Russia has slaughtered civilians and bombed school and hospitals and theaters, just like they did in Grozny and Aleppo. Ukraine gets the slaps, and AI uses the pathetic defense of, In other reports we've documented Russian misconduct. It's like attacking a woman for being raped because she didn't wear the right kinds of clothing then saying, We're not condemning her or think she deserved to be raped because she dressed like a slut; we just felt it needed to be pointed out.

I'm sending the damned request back to them with a note that I will never give them another penny. They did more to extend this war and get people killed by Russia, with that damned report, than Ukraine could even think of doing. And true to form, Moscow is using it in their propaganda to justify their terrorism. Bastards.

New world?

Y'know, I love to travel, but lately it's become so difficult to do that I'm beginning to get turned off on it. Today's trip is just the latest exercise in irritation when trying to get someplace. I reserved a car to drive to Ottawa, Canada, with Avis. I'm a Preferred Member since I do so much of this, so I'm supposed to be able to go to the Preferred desk, show my license and get the car and go. Not today.

I got to Avis and the Preferred desk was closed. So I went upstairs to the rental counter...and there were at least 2 dozen people in line. I asked a clerk if someone was going to open the Preferred counter and she said no, I had to wait in line. Which was going VERY slowly. After half an hour of moving only 3 feet forward, I started looking up Enterprise, but for some reason the app I have refused to work. Would not sign me in with my account number and password.

Finally, after nearly 45 minutes, someone came out and said the Preferred counter had been opened, so I scrambled downstairs to get my car. I finally hit the road 50 minutes behind schedule. Then driving down the 90 to Syracuse turned out to be an exercise in further frustration. I swear to God, since the lockdown over Covid, people have forgotten not only how to drive but have lost any sense of road manners.

What is normally a 2 hour drive for me took an extra 30 minutes thanks to too goddamned many people deciding they were going to cruise in the left lane while pacing a semi, that's in the right. And they would not finish passing. One semi actually slowed down so we could get around and pass the asshole, on the right instead of the left. I'm sure I'm not the only person to cast him a middle finger. And don't get me started on all the construction that wasn't being worked on, just then, but still had lower speed limits posted.

Crossing into Canada was easy because I'd set everything up on ArriveCAN...but there was more construction on the 401, and apparently the sign for my turn onto the 416 had been taken down, so I missed it. When I passed the 31, I realized I'd gone too far so turned around. And drove straight into a couple of serious rain squalls. The Houston type, where even with windshield washers going full blast you can barely see.

So finally, I get to my hotel, only 2.5 hours later than I intended, and find the desk clerk weren't kidding when they said they don't have a real cleaning staff. It became very obvious when I lifted the toilet seat to pee. Then there's no food close by so I had fish and chips delivered; not the best but I was hungry. And this map shows how much fun it's going to be to just to get to the road to my location, tomorrow. I think I've picked the easiest. Then comes going to the airport to prep the shipment and returning home. I'm already exhausted. Whimper. Whine.

This isn't the only problem I've had with travel, in the last year. Late or canceled flights. Airports that are still half-closed. Having a line for a rental car company in Las Vegas that was so long, I caught an Uber to my hotel, instead. I'm really nervous about my trip to Ketchum, ID now. I'd almost rather just stay home and work on my writing.

But...I have a list of things I need to dig up in Derry and can only do that there. Like floor plans for the Rossville Flats and prices for items in 1968 as well as movies playing and music being listened to. So I need to pull together more cash to do it. And the only way is to do work where it comes up.

Dammit.

More organizing...and contemplating...

I've got so many files I've downloaded, I'm still going through them. But ideas are formulating. I have a moment in APoS where Brendan follows Joanna and her friends into a music store down Shipquay Street, hears them get excited over a single titled Never Shall I Marry and buys a copy to give her after she leaves...but can't find her. On the reverse side of that single is The Banks of Claudy, which he learns and sings when walking to Claudy to meet up with his brother, Eamonn, who's on the People's Democracy March, not long after.
I was going through comments about the Woolworth's that was on Ferryquay Street and people were reminiscing about buying the latest records there, including 45s. So I start thinking maybe I'll shift it to that shop, instead. Then someone mentioned the candy section, which was grab and mix, and the kinds of candy involved...and I realized another part of the story would make even more sense taking place there.
When he's just turned eleven, Brendan happens onto an argument between one of his friends, Danny, and the boy's father. Brendan can't figure out why they're arguing, but the man slaps or punches Danny, who runs off, his nose bleeding. Brendan catches up to him, takes him to the house of a woman who's friends with his mother and gets him cleaned up. The way it's written now, Brendan convinces Danny to go with him to get some fish and chips...but it would make a lot more sense for a boy of that age to want candy, instead. He's got got money on him, so could afford a nice bag of toffee or caramels or something like that to cheer his mate up.
But...that would mean changing the location of everything...which actually might work better. They'd need to be closer to the Diamond, in the middle of the city...exactly where, I don't know yet...but it just feels a lot more natural this way. And I feel like I'm getting deeper into the story and characters.
I have a map to help work out the logistics. It's from 1946, but redevelopment hadn't changed much of anything, by that point. The Diamond is in the center of the image, with Nailor's Row just to its left and up a little. Shipquay is to the right and Ferryquay is just below. And I can already see how it will work out.
I love it when that happens.

Organization at my station...

Today was mainly spent going through the files I've downloaded from Derry of the Past and neating the comments attached to them, as I read them. I'm focused on the time period prior to 1973 and around 1981, only, but there's a lot from the whole history of Derry in photos and people's memories. It's like I'm listening in on conversations in a pub as others reminisce. Kind of sneaky but very useful.
I've gotten a lot of images off there that I've posted on my blog as well as links to other sites with information that's helping form the story and characters. Like this image of Edmiston Keys from 1970. People posted so much in the comments about the toys and Christmas shop and how someone once bought a Monopoly game there...a moment I wrote to happen in a shop up by Austin's Department Store is going to be changed to here. It works better.
Brendan is waiting for a clerk at the shop to arrive for work so he can give him a watch he'd repaired for the man and get the schilling he was promised. But his mother catches him and thinks he's planning to buy a toy instead of give the money to her, like a good son should. He's only 11, but it gets rough and a constable has to get between them. 
It comes out that Brendan's actually giving money he makes to his older sister, Mairead, because she uses it for the family while his mother gives some of what they get from the dole to the Catholic Church...even though that's barely enough to live on. In response, his mother takes him to their priest to explain where the money goes...which does not go at all well and sets him down a path of wariness regarding the church.
Needless to say, this all comes back to cause trouble as his life goes on.

Techie blues...

I'm trying to figure out how to set up a new website with GoDaddy...and all it's led me to is wondering whether or not I actually need one. I only used my old one to link people to places where they could buy my books; I didn't sell direct. So what would I use it for?
Other authors have websites that are full of major flash and dash to sell their books, but I'm sure they're putting a lot of money into them. Nicholas Bella writes books along the same lines as me, if maybe a bit more mainstream and with better consistency, and his website's got scrolling and lots of droplets and links to trailers for his work and upcoming and it's like a full-scale business. I suck at that kind of stuff.
I post on Facebook and Tumblr and GoodReads, and those gain me the most in sales. I've never been a big seller, nor do I think my books ever will be. My three forays into mainstream have gone nowhere, and that's despite me sinking thousands of dollars into making them and getting them advertised. So I either get someone to do this for me who knows what they're doing, at a price, or I keep muttering along.
I have found I prefer the latter. I'm not a seriously ambitious person. I've always liked the idea of success, but not to the extent of becoming slave to it. I also know a lot of success is luck and persistence, neither of which I've ever had. I sometimes wonder if I have a touch of ADHD or am on the low end of the Autism spectrum, because I have a hell of a time sticking with anything straight through to the end. I get bored with whatever project I've started and drop it halfway. That I have nearly 3 dozen screenplays written is still amazing to me, let alone a dozen books.
I've only gotten this far with A Place of Safety because I keep shifting off to other projects and then come back to it...and it inches further along. I've got thousands of documents and files and dozens of books collected over the last 20 years, and it's only just now getting close to completion. So maybe this is my inherent method. Tortoise, not hare. Slowly closing in on the finish line.

Slow shift...

I'm trying to get back to reading my books for APoS but I keep dozing off. It's not lack of sleep doing that to me; it's probably just age and sitting on a comfy couch by a picture window on a warm day. I remember when I used to be able to read just about anything while seated in an overstuffed chair at my grandmother's and get so lost in the story I wouldn't hear anyone when they spoke to me. Sucks getting old.
I already see I need to do a better job of setting up Bernadette and Eamonn (her husband). Brendan's brother, Eamonn, already has some solid aspects of Derry in his character, but I'm unclear about their parents. I have ideas about where they came from and how they wound up living in sub-standard housing, but it's still kind of sketchy. Granted, most of the housing in the Bogside of Derry was dilapidated by the mid-60s, but that's beside the point.
This photo shows the tail end of Nailors Row about 1950, and the buildings in the lower-left, facing the wall, had been torn down by 1955. The ones up by Walker's Pillar, shown in previous photos, lasted another 20 years before being demolished. That's the area where Brendan's family lived, and those people all knew each other going back generations.
That's how it was throughout Derry, really. Reading recollections and stories of the place, even drunks sitting in the street could recite a child's ancestry from his great-grandfather or mother. And I don't really have that. There's also the issue of cleanliness. Lots of kids then had head lice (they called them nits) and were less prone to bathing since they didn't have indoor plumbing. That's another thing I never had to deal with, personally. If anything, we were kept extremely clean...and I only hint at Brendan's casual attitude about bathing, so far.
I guess it's time to hone the story down to its basics. Something writing Blood Angel showed me was, I can be overly descriptive, at times. And while it reads nice, it also hides the story. And it's especially unnecessary when being told in first person, like most of my work is. Lean and clean, Kyle.
Never let it be said I didn't aim high with my writing...