Stan Morris's Blog, page 2
June 6, 2014
No Goodreads tab on FB
Still no luck adding the Goodreads app to Facebook. I followed the procedure and added the tab, but the link fails every time.
June 4, 2014
Goodreads Facebook tab
I tried creating a Goodreads tab on my Surviving the Fog Facebook page. Goodreads describes two methods, neither of which worked for me.
June 3, 2014
Facebook and Google Plus
I finally broke down and created a Facebook page and a Google Plus community for Surviving the Fog. I've been reluctant to do this, for I'm spending more time promoting my books on social media than I am writing. I suppose it was inevitable. Here are the links.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Surviv...
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communiti...
I do appreciate those who take the time to click and join. I know you have way better things to do with your time.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Surviv...
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communiti...
I do appreciate those who take the time to click and join. I know you have way better things to do with your time.
May 25, 2014
Death In the Forest
Fate played its card, and the clouded moon caused Douglas to miss the man, covered by a black hoodie, who was urinating by a tree. He saw the stranger as the man was zipping his pants and turning, but the stranger saw him, too. There was no time to draw the Rugers, so he pushed off on his good foot and slammed the man against the redwood, trying to use his left hand to cover the stranger’s mouth. He missed, but it didn’t matter, for a bright lightning flash was followed by a blast of sound that drowned the man’s warning cry.
They fell to the ground and rolled in the wet pine needles, each struggling to get a grip on the other’s face or neck. The stranger outweighed Douglas, but years of coping with a missing left foot had built strength in his arms, and it was only a matter of minutes before Douglas had the larger man pinned. Holding his arm across the man’s throat, Douglas used his other hand to slide his knife from its sheath, but when he did this, the man wiggled free, reached his knees and crawled away.
Douglas pushed his body forward, reached, and stabbed the back of the man’s calf. The stranger screamed into the roar of the storm and grabbed his leg. Douglas crawled forward and forced the man, face down, against the soft mud. He heard the man’s terrified cries as he brought the tip of his knife against the side of the stranger’s neck and stabbed. He missed the jugular vein and had to listen to quieter cries of resignation, before he stabbed again. The man’s body gave a great shake and then stilled. Douglas withdrew the bloody knife, wiped it on his trousers, and then he wiped his blood soaked hand.
When he managed to pull erect he almost despaired, for by the twist at the end of his stump he realized that his prosthetic was damaged. He took a minute to think, and then he dropped to the ground and dragged the hoodie over the dead man’s shoulders. He pulled the muddy garment over his head and began to crawl toward the light of the fire which was flickering though the trees. Each foot of ground gained was an agonizing pull, though sometimes he managed to brace his stump against a root or a rock and make more headway.
As he approached he heard two men laughing, and then he heard Petal crying. He heard Susanna’s trembling tone, attempting to comfort the girl. When he slithered on his stomach into the small clearing he heard a man exclaim, “Carl, what the hell happened?”
When the man stood, Douglas rolled onto his back, sighted the Rugers over the man’s head, and pulled the trigger. The revolver boomed, flesh and blood burst from the man’s chest, and he fell backwards. Susanna and Petal screamed, but the remaining man cursed, and drew his gun. The Rugers boomed again, but Douglas had shot in haste, and though he clipped the man’s ear, the wayward shot allowed the last man to turn and flee.
They fell to the ground and rolled in the wet pine needles, each struggling to get a grip on the other’s face or neck. The stranger outweighed Douglas, but years of coping with a missing left foot had built strength in his arms, and it was only a matter of minutes before Douglas had the larger man pinned. Holding his arm across the man’s throat, Douglas used his other hand to slide his knife from its sheath, but when he did this, the man wiggled free, reached his knees and crawled away.
Douglas pushed his body forward, reached, and stabbed the back of the man’s calf. The stranger screamed into the roar of the storm and grabbed his leg. Douglas crawled forward and forced the man, face down, against the soft mud. He heard the man’s terrified cries as he brought the tip of his knife against the side of the stranger’s neck and stabbed. He missed the jugular vein and had to listen to quieter cries of resignation, before he stabbed again. The man’s body gave a great shake and then stilled. Douglas withdrew the bloody knife, wiped it on his trousers, and then he wiped his blood soaked hand.
When he managed to pull erect he almost despaired, for by the twist at the end of his stump he realized that his prosthetic was damaged. He took a minute to think, and then he dropped to the ground and dragged the hoodie over the dead man’s shoulders. He pulled the muddy garment over his head and began to crawl toward the light of the fire which was flickering though the trees. Each foot of ground gained was an agonizing pull, though sometimes he managed to brace his stump against a root or a rock and make more headway.
As he approached he heard two men laughing, and then he heard Petal crying. He heard Susanna’s trembling tone, attempting to comfort the girl. When he slithered on his stomach into the small clearing he heard a man exclaim, “Carl, what the hell happened?”
When the man stood, Douglas rolled onto his back, sighted the Rugers over the man’s head, and pulled the trigger. The revolver boomed, flesh and blood burst from the man’s chest, and he fell backwards. Susanna and Petal screamed, but the remaining man cursed, and drew his gun. The Rugers boomed again, but Douglas had shot in haste, and though he clipped the man’s ear, the wayward shot allowed the last man to turn and flee.
May 17, 2014
New Wix Website
I have created a website for my books. I would appreciate any comments. It has been an interesting experience. The build has been as easy as making a Google site, and it has more options. I have created other sites, but those were more about me and my interests. On this site, I focused strictly on my books and on my writing.
http://warmhawaiian.wix.com/surviving...
http://warmhawaiian.wix.com/surviving...
April 19, 2014
My First Kiss
I wasn’t happy about entering the Lodge, but Sasha had entered ahead of me, so I tamped down my fear and followed her. Once inside, I realized that I had entered a cave that had been used as a backing for the wood structure at the front. To my left was an opening to another smaller cave and to my right was a ladder that led up to the second level of small rooms. My anxious mood sank when I realized that there were no heating ducts in which I could hide.
“The boys can sleep in there,” a man was saying. He was older than the other men and a lot bulkier. My anxiety spiked.
“Mister…”
“Hector,” the man said. “Call me Hector.”
“Hector, I want to keep my children near. Do you have a room where James, Sasha, and I can sleep together?”
“I’ll rearrange the girls upstairs,” a woman said. “A lot of them are sleeping in the bus, so there’s space.”
“All right.” He gestured to me. “Come. I’ll show you where you can sleep.”
Reluctantly, I followed him to the entrance of the small cave, but as I was about to follow him inside, I stopped. I could not enter that small area. There was no way to escape from the other side. I stepped back and turned, planning to race out the still open door. I thought if I had a head start, I might be able to flee to the forest before I was caught. I took two fast steps toward the door, but then I came to an abrupt halt. Standing in front of my escape route, her arms folded across her chest, stood Sasha. She didn’t say anything, and she didn’t need to, because her narrowed eyes and stern look said, where do you think you’re going?
“Sasha, come on,” her mother said from half way up the ladder.
“Mom, can Kim sleep in the next room?”
Iris looked around at the unhappy faces of the villagers.
“There’s not enough room,” the woman said.
Other villagers gathered around, including a very tall man with red hair. And then I felt a rustle, and I heard a murmur, and another man stepped through the crowd to the center. He wasn’t big like some of the other men, but I could tell from the way the others deferred to him, that he was important. He regarded me silently for a minute while I stood trembling, wishing I had never followed Douglas into Petersburg.
Then the important man turned to the woman and asked, “No room upstairs, Kat?”
“If I give Iris and her kids their own room, we’ll be full, Chief.”
He turned to the tall man. “Can they stay in the loft, Howard? For tonight, at least?”
The tall man nodded and said, “Jean and I can share. We’ll put the family upstairs, and the boy can sleep downstairs.”
Iris climbed down, and we followed Howard out of the Lodge and to the building that had two sides and no roof.
“That’s a beautiful A-frame,” Iris commented as we neared.
“It was our original Administrator’s cabin,” Howard said.
He opened the door and I heard another woman say, “Hi, babe. Did you get everybody settled?”
“Jean, the Korean boy is having trouble adjusting. He needs to be close to the girl. Is it okay if they stay upstairs tonight?”
“Sure,” the woman said. She had red hair, too, but it was darker than Howard’s.
I did not realize at the time, but the couple was very accommodating. They brought a mattress from the Lodge, laid it next to their bed, and covered it with blankets. When Iris, Sasha, and James went upstairs, I laid down.
Later that night I had to pee, so I went outside and stood near a bush. When I came back, I stared up at the loft, and after a minute I silently climbed the small staircase. Iris was lying on a futon. Sasha and James were sharing another. Trying to be a silent, I lay down on the floor next to Sasha. Abruptly she sat up.
“What are you doing?” she hissed.
“Sleeping.”
“You can’t sleep next to me,” she exclaimed.
“Why?”
“Because you can’t.”
I don’t know if Sasha had entered or had passed puberty at that time, and I would certainly not now, or ever, ask her if she had.
Hurt spread through every pore in my body. Dejected, I rose to leave.
“Wait,” she whispered. She leaned forward, palmed my head, and drew my face close. “Promise me that you won’t run away.”
“I promise,” I whispered in a teary tone.
She kissed my cheek, and the world righted itself. I climbed down and slept peacefully. That was the first time she kissed me.
“The boys can sleep in there,” a man was saying. He was older than the other men and a lot bulkier. My anxiety spiked.
“Mister…”
“Hector,” the man said. “Call me Hector.”
“Hector, I want to keep my children near. Do you have a room where James, Sasha, and I can sleep together?”
“I’ll rearrange the girls upstairs,” a woman said. “A lot of them are sleeping in the bus, so there’s space.”
“All right.” He gestured to me. “Come. I’ll show you where you can sleep.”
Reluctantly, I followed him to the entrance of the small cave, but as I was about to follow him inside, I stopped. I could not enter that small area. There was no way to escape from the other side. I stepped back and turned, planning to race out the still open door. I thought if I had a head start, I might be able to flee to the forest before I was caught. I took two fast steps toward the door, but then I came to an abrupt halt. Standing in front of my escape route, her arms folded across her chest, stood Sasha. She didn’t say anything, and she didn’t need to, because her narrowed eyes and stern look said, where do you think you’re going?
“Sasha, come on,” her mother said from half way up the ladder.
“Mom, can Kim sleep in the next room?”
Iris looked around at the unhappy faces of the villagers.
“There’s not enough room,” the woman said.
Other villagers gathered around, including a very tall man with red hair. And then I felt a rustle, and I heard a murmur, and another man stepped through the crowd to the center. He wasn’t big like some of the other men, but I could tell from the way the others deferred to him, that he was important. He regarded me silently for a minute while I stood trembling, wishing I had never followed Douglas into Petersburg.
Then the important man turned to the woman and asked, “No room upstairs, Kat?”
“If I give Iris and her kids their own room, we’ll be full, Chief.”
He turned to the tall man. “Can they stay in the loft, Howard? For tonight, at least?”
The tall man nodded and said, “Jean and I can share. We’ll put the family upstairs, and the boy can sleep downstairs.”
Iris climbed down, and we followed Howard out of the Lodge and to the building that had two sides and no roof.
“That’s a beautiful A-frame,” Iris commented as we neared.
“It was our original Administrator’s cabin,” Howard said.
He opened the door and I heard another woman say, “Hi, babe. Did you get everybody settled?”
“Jean, the Korean boy is having trouble adjusting. He needs to be close to the girl. Is it okay if they stay upstairs tonight?”
“Sure,” the woman said. She had red hair, too, but it was darker than Howard’s.
I did not realize at the time, but the couple was very accommodating. They brought a mattress from the Lodge, laid it next to their bed, and covered it with blankets. When Iris, Sasha, and James went upstairs, I laid down.
Later that night I had to pee, so I went outside and stood near a bush. When I came back, I stared up at the loft, and after a minute I silently climbed the small staircase. Iris was lying on a futon. Sasha and James were sharing another. Trying to be a silent, I lay down on the floor next to Sasha. Abruptly she sat up.
“What are you doing?” she hissed.
“Sleeping.”
“You can’t sleep next to me,” she exclaimed.
“Why?”
“Because you can’t.”
I don’t know if Sasha had entered or had passed puberty at that time, and I would certainly not now, or ever, ask her if she had.
Hurt spread through every pore in my body. Dejected, I rose to leave.
“Wait,” she whispered. She leaned forward, palmed my head, and drew my face close. “Promise me that you won’t run away.”
“I promise,” I whispered in a teary tone.
She kissed my cheek, and the world righted itself. I climbed down and slept peacefully. That was the first time she kissed me.
April 10, 2014
Sasha and Kim
It was dark, and we were all tired and cranky by the time we reached the junction to Petersburg Road. Mike and Annie were several yards ahead, so they arrived first. Sasha and I stopped and threw back our shoulders, struggling to remove our backpacks. Wanda was one of the guards on duty. Star was the other. She and Sasha greeted each other with fierce hugs.
“I missed you,” Star declared, and then, tipping her head toward me, added, “Both of you.”
“I missed you, too,” Sasha replied, giving her another squeeze.
“Mike, Kim, you guys find some firewood,” Annie commanded. “Sasha and I will set up the tents.”
“Sergeant, we have plenty of firewood,” Wanda hastened to inform her. “You guys rest. Star and me will take care of everything.”
It was a sign of how tired Annie was that she did not disagree. Instead, she sat down on a log, spread her legs, and hung her head forward. Mike sat down beside her and started massaging her neck with his thumb and fingers. After a few minutes she hummed in satisfaction and then looked to where Star and Wanda were unpacking her tent.
“Can you girls park outside tonight?”
“Sure,” Wanda replied looking for confirmation at Star, who nodded. “I have the duty from eleven until four o’clock.”
“Thanks. Sasha, Kim, you guys take the bed. Mike and I will sleep in the tent.”
“But I wanted to sleep in the bed,” Mike exclaimed, a dismayed, wide eyed look on his face.
“Let the kids have it. They’ve come a lot farther than we have.”
“But I’m the Chief,” he whined as I forced myself not to nod in agreement.
Annie burst into laughter.
“Oh, all right,” Mike muttered.
Meanwhile, Star was staring at Sasha whose face had reddened, as if she had suddenly turned into a Fog zombie. Sasha didn’t say anything, but she kept unpacking her personal gear making sure to keep her face turned away from Star. Wanda suddenly had a quiet giggle fit, and she quickly pressed her palm against her mouth, but her eyes were bright with laughter.
Star stepped toward Sasha and me, and I heard her mumbled whisper, “It’s about time.”
“Shut up,” Sasha whispered back.
Through all this, I stood next to Sasha, stunned that she had not immediately protested Annie’s order. I kept waiting for reality to set in, but everyone just went about their business.
“Let’s make up the bed,” Sasha said to me.
I thought she meant that we would go into the RV, and there she would set me straight about our sleeping arrangements; me on the bed or on the floor, with her in the other spot. Instead, as soon as we were in the vehicle and had shut the door, she tossed our bags onto the bed.
“Make them ready. I’m going to do a quick inventory.”
She started opening cabinets, examining what was available with a critical eye, noting what needed to be replaced or replenished. I knew she would give Ahmad a detailed list from memory.
“Are you sure?”
At my question she turned, stared at me for a long moment, and then sighed.
“There’s no use going back to separate bags.” Then she stopped and her expression changed to one of uncertainty. “Unless you want to. If you do−”
“No!” The word came out louder than I had intended. I tamped down my eagerness, afraid I would annoy her. “No. I don’t.”
She gave me a wry smile. “Then get busy.”
“Okay.” Hurriedly I turned to the bags and began unzipping hers.
After a quick bite to eat, we retired to the RV and climbed up to the bed. We settled in to our usual sleeping positions, back to back. I was tired, but I couldn’t seem to fall asleep.
Then, in the darkness I heard, “Do you ever think about my mother?”
I turned over and said, “Come here.”
In bed was the one place she always did as I requested. She turned around and wiggled her body against mine, laying her head on my upper arm.
“I think about her a lot. She saved my life. If those men knew that she and you were feeding me, they would have killed her, and you know what they would have done to you.”
She was silent for a minute, and then she fumbled for my hand and raised it to her face.
“You really don’t mind.” Her voice was bemused.
I licked along the line, and she giggled; something else she never did except when we were in bed.
“I was so frightened,” I said. “I thought he had killed you.”
“I was scared, too.”
“You stopped him, though. With just a borrowed spear, you stopped him from stealing the village’s ammunition.”
“Just barely.”
“Remember how proud the Mayor and the Council were of you? Do you remember how excited we were when the Mayor called you up to the podium, in front of the entire village, and presented you with your own spear, and announced that you were being promoted to the Spears? You were the first of the Ninjas to be promoted. You were only twelve years old. I was so proud of you that day, I almost cried in front of everyone.”
“I remember. That was cool.”
“When our kids are old enough−”
“What!” she hissed. “Kids? Kim, that’s a long time from now. If ever.”
“When our kids are old enough,” I repeated firmly, “I’m going to tell them the story of Sasha the Scarred Heroine.”
“I missed you,” Star declared, and then, tipping her head toward me, added, “Both of you.”
“I missed you, too,” Sasha replied, giving her another squeeze.
“Mike, Kim, you guys find some firewood,” Annie commanded. “Sasha and I will set up the tents.”
“Sergeant, we have plenty of firewood,” Wanda hastened to inform her. “You guys rest. Star and me will take care of everything.”
It was a sign of how tired Annie was that she did not disagree. Instead, she sat down on a log, spread her legs, and hung her head forward. Mike sat down beside her and started massaging her neck with his thumb and fingers. After a few minutes she hummed in satisfaction and then looked to where Star and Wanda were unpacking her tent.
“Can you girls park outside tonight?”
“Sure,” Wanda replied looking for confirmation at Star, who nodded. “I have the duty from eleven until four o’clock.”
“Thanks. Sasha, Kim, you guys take the bed. Mike and I will sleep in the tent.”
“But I wanted to sleep in the bed,” Mike exclaimed, a dismayed, wide eyed look on his face.
“Let the kids have it. They’ve come a lot farther than we have.”
“But I’m the Chief,” he whined as I forced myself not to nod in agreement.
Annie burst into laughter.
“Oh, all right,” Mike muttered.
Meanwhile, Star was staring at Sasha whose face had reddened, as if she had suddenly turned into a Fog zombie. Sasha didn’t say anything, but she kept unpacking her personal gear making sure to keep her face turned away from Star. Wanda suddenly had a quiet giggle fit, and she quickly pressed her palm against her mouth, but her eyes were bright with laughter.
Star stepped toward Sasha and me, and I heard her mumbled whisper, “It’s about time.”
“Shut up,” Sasha whispered back.
Through all this, I stood next to Sasha, stunned that she had not immediately protested Annie’s order. I kept waiting for reality to set in, but everyone just went about their business.
“Let’s make up the bed,” Sasha said to me.
I thought she meant that we would go into the RV, and there she would set me straight about our sleeping arrangements; me on the bed or on the floor, with her in the other spot. Instead, as soon as we were in the vehicle and had shut the door, she tossed our bags onto the bed.
“Make them ready. I’m going to do a quick inventory.”
She started opening cabinets, examining what was available with a critical eye, noting what needed to be replaced or replenished. I knew she would give Ahmad a detailed list from memory.
“Are you sure?”
At my question she turned, stared at me for a long moment, and then sighed.
“There’s no use going back to separate bags.” Then she stopped and her expression changed to one of uncertainty. “Unless you want to. If you do−”
“No!” The word came out louder than I had intended. I tamped down my eagerness, afraid I would annoy her. “No. I don’t.”
She gave me a wry smile. “Then get busy.”
“Okay.” Hurriedly I turned to the bags and began unzipping hers.
After a quick bite to eat, we retired to the RV and climbed up to the bed. We settled in to our usual sleeping positions, back to back. I was tired, but I couldn’t seem to fall asleep.
Then, in the darkness I heard, “Do you ever think about my mother?”
I turned over and said, “Come here.”
In bed was the one place she always did as I requested. She turned around and wiggled her body against mine, laying her head on my upper arm.
“I think about her a lot. She saved my life. If those men knew that she and you were feeding me, they would have killed her, and you know what they would have done to you.”
She was silent for a minute, and then she fumbled for my hand and raised it to her face.
“You really don’t mind.” Her voice was bemused.
I licked along the line, and she giggled; something else she never did except when we were in bed.
“I was so frightened,” I said. “I thought he had killed you.”
“I was scared, too.”
“You stopped him, though. With just a borrowed spear, you stopped him from stealing the village’s ammunition.”
“Just barely.”
“Remember how proud the Mayor and the Council were of you? Do you remember how excited we were when the Mayor called you up to the podium, in front of the entire village, and presented you with your own spear, and announced that you were being promoted to the Spears? You were the first of the Ninjas to be promoted. You were only twelve years old. I was so proud of you that day, I almost cried in front of everyone.”
“I remember. That was cool.”
“When our kids are old enough−”
“What!” she hissed. “Kids? Kim, that’s a long time from now. If ever.”
“When our kids are old enough,” I repeated firmly, “I’m going to tell them the story of Sasha the Scarred Heroine.”
March 19, 2014
The Beatles
Oh yeah, I'll tell you something
“Can we ask you something, Uncle Stan?”
“Yeah, sure. What?”
He looked at her, obviously uncomfortable, and she gazed back at him, expectantly, waiting.
He took a breath, and then said while turning his head slightly to the side, “When you’re, like, boyfriend and girlfriend…” His face turned a little pink, and he sneaked a quick glance at her face; also pink. “Do you have to do… weird things? I mean, with each other.”
Inwardly I winced, but I wasn’t too surprised that they had come to me for the answer to this question. I don’t know why other members of our family couldn’t answer a question like this without lecturing, but all my nephews and nieces knew that I would. When kids are trying to understand something, they do not appreciate subtlety in adults.
I think you'll understand
“You don’t have to do anything. You don’t even have to hold hands. Just hang out together.”
“We like holding hands,” she said, taking his in hers. “But we don’t want to do yucky stuff like kissing.”
“But some stuff might be okay. If it’s, like, just for us,” he added.
“I see.” I thought about it for a second, and then I pulled out my pack of Juicy Fruit. “Here.” I handed each a piece. “Chew on this for a second.”
When I'll say that something
They gave me puzzled looks, and then dutifully, humoring their old uncle, they pulled off the wrappers and stuck the sticks in their mouths. There’s nothing like an old fashioned Juicy Fruit.
After about thirty second of chewing, I said, “Now swap.”
For a second they stared at me uncomprehending, and then they turned to stare at each other, faces pink, again. After a few more seconds, he raised his fingers to his lips and retrieved his gum. She did the same. Blushing even more, they used their other hands to trade the gum, and then they popped the wadded wet pieces in their mouths.
Nothing more needed to be said. They each gave me a small wave and turned, but as they walked away, their hands joined, firmly.
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
“Can we ask you something, Uncle Stan?”
“Yeah, sure. What?”
He looked at her, obviously uncomfortable, and she gazed back at him, expectantly, waiting.
He took a breath, and then said while turning his head slightly to the side, “When you’re, like, boyfriend and girlfriend…” His face turned a little pink, and he sneaked a quick glance at her face; also pink. “Do you have to do… weird things? I mean, with each other.”
Inwardly I winced, but I wasn’t too surprised that they had come to me for the answer to this question. I don’t know why other members of our family couldn’t answer a question like this without lecturing, but all my nephews and nieces knew that I would. When kids are trying to understand something, they do not appreciate subtlety in adults.
I think you'll understand
“You don’t have to do anything. You don’t even have to hold hands. Just hang out together.”
“We like holding hands,” she said, taking his in hers. “But we don’t want to do yucky stuff like kissing.”
“But some stuff might be okay. If it’s, like, just for us,” he added.
“I see.” I thought about it for a second, and then I pulled out my pack of Juicy Fruit. “Here.” I handed each a piece. “Chew on this for a second.”
When I'll say that something
They gave me puzzled looks, and then dutifully, humoring their old uncle, they pulled off the wrappers and stuck the sticks in their mouths. There’s nothing like an old fashioned Juicy Fruit.
After about thirty second of chewing, I said, “Now swap.”
For a second they stared at me uncomprehending, and then they turned to stare at each other, faces pink, again. After a few more seconds, he raised his fingers to his lips and retrieved his gum. She did the same. Blushing even more, they used their other hands to trade the gum, and then they popped the wadded wet pieces in their mouths.
Nothing more needed to be said. They each gave me a small wave and turned, but as they walked away, their hands joined, firmly.
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
March 11, 2014
Channeling Louisa May Alcott
This post is about Surviving the Fog.
In chapter eight I had three missions. First, I wanted to develop the characters of Mary Brown and Ralph. Second I wanted to create conditions that would lead to a logical reason why the campers were able to get the food they needed to survive. And finally, I wanted to channel one of my favorite authors, Louisa May Alcott, the author of Little Women, its sequels, and a host of other wonderful books.
The character of Mary Brown, a young Native American, born in Los Angeles and now the widow of the deceased Davis Brown, was not that difficult, because she had no back story. I could invent whatever I wanted. Ralph was more difficult, because in previous chapters I had portrayed him as an unlikeable bully. In this chapter I introduced some reasons for that, and I concentrated on his emotional development. The family with which he is living is the prime reason for that development. Comet sees him as a father figure, Star accepts his relationship with her mother, and Mary finds herself falling in love. But in order to win Mary's affections, Ralph is forced to learn some social skills, and those social skills can only be practiced with the help of those he has previously bullied.
The character of Mary Brown as a farmer was a part of the plot from the beginning. I needed some way to feed 48 people who are living in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. A farm family seemed like the obvious solution. But I had to be careful which crops to chose. Potatoes and winter squash were good choices and snap peas was another. Corn was out. Tomatoes would only grow in her greenhouse. Wheat and oats were ideal for grains. After researching, I discovered that honey bees would not produce honey at that elevation. A combine was a logical piece of machinery for her to own. So the first two pieces of this chapter were set.
But I also wanted to write this chapter about the development of a family in an almost archaic fashion. As a fan of Louisa May Alcott's writing, I thought it would be interesting to introduce charm to the book, to create a sweetness. If the other parts of the book are about the development of a community, this chapter focused on the development of a family, and the girls' decision to remain with Mary Brown is the culmination of that development.
I hope I succeeded in putting these three elements together in this chapter. I copied it to a Google Doc so anyone reading this can decide for themselves. And remember the book is always free.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q...
In chapter eight I had three missions. First, I wanted to develop the characters of Mary Brown and Ralph. Second I wanted to create conditions that would lead to a logical reason why the campers were able to get the food they needed to survive. And finally, I wanted to channel one of my favorite authors, Louisa May Alcott, the author of Little Women, its sequels, and a host of other wonderful books.
The character of Mary Brown, a young Native American, born in Los Angeles and now the widow of the deceased Davis Brown, was not that difficult, because she had no back story. I could invent whatever I wanted. Ralph was more difficult, because in previous chapters I had portrayed him as an unlikeable bully. In this chapter I introduced some reasons for that, and I concentrated on his emotional development. The family with which he is living is the prime reason for that development. Comet sees him as a father figure, Star accepts his relationship with her mother, and Mary finds herself falling in love. But in order to win Mary's affections, Ralph is forced to learn some social skills, and those social skills can only be practiced with the help of those he has previously bullied.
The character of Mary Brown as a farmer was a part of the plot from the beginning. I needed some way to feed 48 people who are living in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. A farm family seemed like the obvious solution. But I had to be careful which crops to chose. Potatoes and winter squash were good choices and snap peas was another. Corn was out. Tomatoes would only grow in her greenhouse. Wheat and oats were ideal for grains. After researching, I discovered that honey bees would not produce honey at that elevation. A combine was a logical piece of machinery for her to own. So the first two pieces of this chapter were set.
But I also wanted to write this chapter about the development of a family in an almost archaic fashion. As a fan of Louisa May Alcott's writing, I thought it would be interesting to introduce charm to the book, to create a sweetness. If the other parts of the book are about the development of a community, this chapter focused on the development of a family, and the girls' decision to remain with Mary Brown is the culmination of that development.
I hope I succeeded in putting these three elements together in this chapter. I copied it to a Google Doc so anyone reading this can decide for themselves. And remember the book is always free.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q...
January 8, 2014
Weird Goodreads Email
I get a daily digest from Goodreads, but lately all the links go to the wrong URL. The URL is in Goodreads, but it's the wrong one.
