Musings

Today's posting comes from a file that I call Notes and Musings.

People will persist in asking writers where they “get” their ideas. The question is really not one that can be easily answered. Life is often a good response as every writer incorporates the tone, mood, interests of the people and society around them.

My writings describe aliens stranded on Earth and their return to the home planet. They may be aliens, but they still possess the drive for family or companionship. In Earthbound (Volume 1), I included a race of aliens that no longer live on Earth, but require certain commodities found on Earth. I do not know if I ran into this particular paragraph in a history book or if it was online. I do know that I envisioned them prior to writing any of my novels. I have since searched online, but I have not been able to find this report:

Muncies: A reputed tribe of “light skinned peoples” who live/lived in the wilds of Sonora on a branch of the Gila River. Thought to be of European descent. The tales come from the early trappers and traders from Missouri, Santa Fe, Taos, and south into Mexico City. Lt. Charles Wilkes, commander of US government exploring expedition to the Pacific Coast in 1838-1842 gave an account of them. He put them southwest of Yonta River and the tribal name as Monkey Tribe. This name came from a corruption of their actual tribal name. They were said to be highly civilized and manufactured blankets, shoes, and other items for trading. He put them in the high mountains and said they lived in houses.

It’s difficult to find a Muncie Tribe in the Southwest as the online information refers to the Muncie Tribe as the Muncie Tribe of Delaware Indians. This would make them a Northeastern to Midwestern people. There are some interesting legends about them which starts my mind going in another direction.

It makes me wonder if the trappers and traders told Lt. Wilkes tall tales to make him leave their area and pursue searching for information elsewhere. Lt. Wilkes was known to be a stern disciplinarian and the trappers and traders would not have wanted him examining what they did.

I felt such legends gave validity to my adding the Ayranians as a group of beings ran out of the portion of the galaxy ruled by the Justines. Legends are a way of telling stories. That is what every writer wants to do: Tell stories.

If you are curious, the Justines are the ones who exile the main character in Earthbound (Volume 1) and in Gather The Children. He doesn't play as large a role in Before We Leave, but he will be the main character of Return Of The Maca and will be out latter this year. The latter is the fourth of my science-fiction family saga.

You can find these books at
http://www.amazon.com/Earthbound-Volu...
http://www.amazon.com/Gather-Children...
http://www.amazon.com/Before-We-Leave...