the thread: Narrative Excellence & The Psychology of Power: A Structured Discussion on Shade of the Sun with Ronald Houston > Likes and Comments
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Have you add the author to the discussion?
After going through the Shade of the Sun reading guide, I was really intrigued by the ‘Elephant and the Chain’ concept. Do you see this idea as something limited to the world of the story, or are you intentionally asking readers to reflect on the ‘chains’ in their own lives as well?
have you add the author to this discussion?
You are welcome Ronald, Can you please, answer the first question
Pagoe wrote: "After going through the Shade of the Sun reading guide, I was really intrigued by the ‘Elephant and the Chain’ concept. Do you see this idea as something limited to the world of the story, or are y..."
As a child, I always wondered about the way the elephants would sway and kick their back leg. I asked the handler and he said that they were condition by the chain when they were inside the old enclosure. They didn't realize the chain was gone. I think that applies to all conditioning.
From the reading guide for Shade of the Sun, the idea of you as a Mixologist, building characters and story like a scientist, really stood out to me. When you’re writing, do you approach each character as a kind of controlled reaction, or do some of them evolve beyond what you originally designed?
Rene wrote: "You are welcome Ronald, Can you please, answer the first question"
That’s really powerful, the idea that the chain is gone, but the behaviour remains.
Based on that, do you think awareness alone is enough for someone or a character to break free from that kind of conditioning, or is something more required to truly overcome it?
Rene wrote: "We need the author to introduce itself"
I'm sorry Renee,
I peck on the keyboard with two fingers. I'm Ron Houston from Cincinnati, Ohio. I'm turned 68 in April. I'm retired from Marathon Petroleum, as a biodiesel tech. I'm married (3rd one was the Charm. And I very happy with life!
Pagoe wrote: "have you add the author to this discussion?"
Hello Pagoe!
Sejawe wrote: "Have you add the author to the discussion?"
Hello Sejawe!
Ron wrote: "Rene wrote: "We need the author to introduce itself"
I'm sorry Renee,
I peck on the keyboard with two fingers. I'm Ron Houston from Cincinnati, Ohio. I'm turned 68 in April. I'm retired from Marat..."
Thank you for sharing that, Ron, it’s great to learn a bit about your background.
I’m really curious, how did your experience working as a biodiesel technician influence the way you approach storytelling, especially the Mixologist style described in the Shade of the Sun reading guide?
I will say that I feel that in turns of the conditioning aspect of the slavery environment of the Shade story, both the slave and the slave owners were attached to a symbolic chain, although, those chains were polar opposite to each other.
That idea of polar opposite chains is really interesting.
Would you say one type of conditioning is harder to break than the other, or are both equally powerful in shaping how people think and act?
Rene,
I feel that in the case of slavery (for example). I think the condition connection of both the slave and the owner depended on each other. The slave was conditioned the believe he was less, where the owner felt better about himself because he believed his was superior.
Ron, something that really struck me in the guide was the description of Abel as a Blind Visionary who uses his other senses like a master strategist gathering data.
In a system like the Trotter Plantation that was designed to break the human spirit, do you see Abel's brilliance as his primary weapon of resistance?
Does his inability to see the physical chains actually make him more capable of seeing the psychological ones that the sighted characters are blinded by?
Ron, that is a profound insight, that the conditioning was a mutual, dependent cycle. In the Shade of the Sun Legacy Blueprint pdf, there is a mention of the Fragility of the Master.
Do you think the owner's need to feel superior actually made his own will more fragile than Abel's?
It seems like while the slave's chain was physical and psychological, the owner’s chain was a slavery to the system that he couldn't even see.
cont. reply to Rene,
The same situation can be said about any human relationship where doubt and insecurities exist. We all can benefit with giving freedom to everyone by respecting their existence and striving to upbuild each other. Poor against rich (vice versa), men vs women (vice versa).
children vs parents (vice versa) etc.
Georgia,
I feel that the hard part is realizing there's a chain that needs to be broken. Then comes the need to become un-addicted to the conditioning
Ron, that is such a powerful way to look at it, that the chains of doubt and insecurity affect every human relationship.
When you were acting as the Mixologist for Shade of the Sun, did you intentionally use the setting of the Trotter Plantation as a controlled reaction to show us these universal truths more clearly?
It feels like by stripping everything down to the most extreme form of conditioning, you've given us a blueprint for how to upbuild each other in our own lives today.
Ron, that is a striking way to put it, referring to conditioning as an addiction. It really reframes the entire Elephant and the Chain, metaphor.
In Shade of the Sun, is Abel’s blindness actually what helps him become un-addicted faster than the others?
Since he can’t see the outward manifestations of the system, does it allow him to focus purely on the internal molecular reactions of the spirit that you describe as a Mixologist?
Xetaye,
Abel, (without giving anything away), only knew what his mother taught him. For most of his life, she was the only good thing he had. He just followed the map that she laid out for him. He listened, obeyed, and kept his eyes on the prize, which was his mother. She was the architect of his vision.
Georgia,
Great perspective! The slave's chain (if he endures, builds strength and character). If the owner realized his dependency and loses his belief in his ownership (he's forced to look at the man in the mirror as less).
Ron,
that is a beautiful way to describe it, that his mother was the architect of his vision. It makes me think of the Symbolic Gallery in the reading guide, specifically the Fishbone as a blueprint for ancestral survival.
By giving Abel this map, was his mother essentially giving him a way to build his own internal sun so he wouldn't have to live in the Shade of the system?
It feels like her guidance was the ultimate antidote to the Broken Will
Also, Georgia,
I feel that on the subject of the generational effect of slavery, is the chain that connect so much of the racism on both sides today.
To everyone here, I just want to apologize for my slow typing. Writers are the worse typist. Lol!
Ron wrote: "Xetaye,
Abel, (without giving anything away), only knew what his mother taught him. For most of his life, she was the only good thing he had. He just followed the map that she laid out for him. He ..."
Ron, that's a brilliant paradox, that the chain builds strength in the enslaved, while ownership creates a hidden dependency in the master. In your Molecular approach to these characters, is this why Abel maintains his Strategic Intelligence?
While the owners are distracted by the man in the mirror, has Abel already achieved a Brilliant internal freedom they can't comprehend?
No need to apologize, Ron! We appreciate you sharing your gift with us.
Regarding the generational effect you mentioned, is this why you focused on the Sins of the Father and the Trotter legacy in the book?
Do you believe that by identifying these historical chains, we can finally become un-addicted to the racism they created in the present day?
Greetings Bonnie,
That observation is very interesting. I will say that when you read Shade of the Sun, you will realize, (and I'm not giving anything away), is a metaphor for hiding in plan site.
Fishbone was the historical marker for generations not to forget.
Thank you Bonnie,
Also, I feel like we are all family now. Feel free to contact me anytime @
houstonronald007@gmail.com (just reference the discussion group. I really appreciate this body of work)
Ron, that concept of hiding in plain sight is a powerful metaphor for how Abel navigates the plantation. Regarding the Fishbone as a historical marker, do you see craftsmanship, like carving the fishbone or the wooden dog, as a form of silent rebellion against a system designed to manufacture a Broken Will'?
Bonnie,
To answer your question, we all have said and done things to other that we are ashamed of. There's plenty of ugliness done by everyone. As for me, I want to be better than that. If that's my desire, then I can work at it and progress forward, I want to do my part and be an asset to my worldwide community, not a deficit. Any progress toward that end is a better environment for us all.
Ron, thank you so much for being so open with us!
Your explanation of being, un-addicted to conditioning and the idea of the mother as the architect of vision is something the whole world needs to hear right now.
As readers, we feel like this discussion is just the beginning. Shade of the Sun is such a master-level work of Narrative Excellence that it shouldn't just stay in this thread, it needs to be on every social media platform and promoted to a much wider audience.
Your Mixologist approach to the human spirit is a gift that could help so many others understand their own chains. We want to see this book get the global visibility it deserves!
You should definitely message Charlotte, the organizer, about how to take this conversation into the broader community. She has the platform to help your work become that worldwide asset you mentioned.
Please reach out to her so we can help you share this brilliance with everyone!
Georgia and Rene,
As for Abel's molecular (also how it relates to my chemistry background, both technically and socially (being a mixologist is a fancy way of saying a bartending that does more). In every one of these instances the answer is the same. The ingredients put in will yield results. With the right elements and the right recipe your results will be successful.
Bonnie,
The craftmanship of Fishbone, I guess is in a way Abel's rebellion, if he realized he needed to rebel. I certainly was a marker for reflection. And it definitely drove the point of the story to a powerful conclusion. It is because of the role that Colonel Fishbone (the dog) played was so significant.
Ron, that is such a brilliant way to explain it, that the right ingredients and recipe yield success. It shows exactly why Shade of the Sun has such a powerful Reading Investment for us.
Because your recipe for this book is so masterfully crafted, we have to tell you: there are so many of us readers joining this discussion that it is becoming impossible for you to answer everyone individually!
We are a massive community of over 50,000 members, and we don't want you to exhaust your limited time pecking away at every single question.
We want your Mixologist philosophy and this book to reach every reader on social media and beyond, but we need a bigger vessel for this reaction. You should definitely message Charlotte, right away.
She is the expert who can guide you on how to promote this book properly so that all of us can engage with your work without you having to manage the crowd yourself. Let her handle the logistics so you can focus on being the Master Craftsman!
Ron,
seeing how Colonel Fishbone drove the story to such a powerful conclusion makes me realize this isn't just a book, it’s a master level study on the human spirit.
Your Mixologist philosophy is a gift that could help so many people become un-addicted to their own chains, but a discussion thread is too small to contain a reaction this big. Have you talked to Charlotte about how to bring this message to the future to the wider world?
We want to see your craft reach the global audience it deserves!
Oh Georgia,
I've written a lot of characters, and I can truly confirm that there are no controlled reactions with many of them. I have characters who are frightening, from a misogynistic mixologist to serial killers, exploitive clergymen (imagine that). You can say that most of my characters blow up the lab every time. And being true to the characters, they dictate to me what they do. Just remember, I just write them, they are not me or anyone that I would want to hang around, but a writer will never apologize for his characters.
I’m fascinated by how the Georgia landscape acts as a silent witness to the internal changes you describe. As a Mixologist of storytelling, do you view the plantation environment as a fixed ingredient that reinforces Conditioning, or can a Brilliant soul like Abel's truly become un-addicted to the chain while still living in the place where it was forged?
Thank you Rebecca,
Yes, I have talked to Charlotte and will continue to rely on her suggestions. I will say that I haven't made it easy for her. I'm a terrible skeptic and have had a lot of author scams sent my way as well as filmmakers wanting to scam film rights for this book. So I certainly ran Charlotte through the ringer. She's a sweet person who finally won me over.
Ron, that actually made me laugh!
The idea of a Mixologist whose characters keep blowing up the lab is such a vivid image. It’s a testament to your high skill-level that you can create such complex, frightening figures while keeping your own integrity as a writer intact.
We love that you don't apologize for your craft. It’s exactly that out of the box brilliance that makes Shade of the Sun feel so real and necessary for us to discuss!
Vagigae,
Hello, as for Abel, you will learn his method of breaking the back of the plantation, (which was imprinted into him by his mother). He never had the opportunity to become addicted to the conditioning of the plantation (also thanks to his mother). Like a determined analytical chemist, his mother gave he the ingredients, his just had to mix them in a formula that yielded results.
Ron, we can’t blame you for being a skeptic, a Master Craftsman has to protect his gift from those who don't appreciate the craft!
It’s so good to hear that Charlotte won you over. We trust her vision for this community, and it's clear she sees the Brilliance in your work just as much as we do. Since you’re in such good hands now, we can’t wait to see how she helps you share this story with the rest of the world.
We’re ready for the Shade of the Sun legacy to go global!
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Have you add the author to the discussion?
After going through the Shade of the Sun reading guide, I was really intrigued by the ‘Elephant and the Chain’ concept. Do you see this idea as something limited to the world of the story, or are you intentionally asking readers to reflect on the ‘chains’ in their own lives as well?
have you add the author to this discussion?
You are welcome Ronald, Can you please, answer the first question
Pagoe wrote: "After going through the Shade of the Sun reading guide, I was really intrigued by the ‘Elephant and the Chain’ concept. Do you see this idea as something limited to the world of the story, or are y..."As a child, I always wondered about the way the elephants would sway and kick their back leg. I asked the handler and he said that they were condition by the chain when they were inside the old enclosure. They didn't realize the chain was gone. I think that applies to all conditioning.
From the reading guide for Shade of the Sun, the idea of you as a Mixologist, building characters and story like a scientist, really stood out to me. When you’re writing, do you approach each character as a kind of controlled reaction, or do some of them evolve beyond what you originally designed?
Rene wrote: "You are welcome Ronald, Can you please, answer the first question"That’s really powerful, the idea that the chain is gone, but the behaviour remains.
Based on that, do you think awareness alone is enough for someone or a character to break free from that kind of conditioning, or is something more required to truly overcome it?
Rene wrote: "We need the author to introduce itself"I'm sorry Renee,
I peck on the keyboard with two fingers. I'm Ron Houston from Cincinnati, Ohio. I'm turned 68 in April. I'm retired from Marathon Petroleum, as a biodiesel tech. I'm married (3rd one was the Charm. And I very happy with life!
Pagoe wrote: "have you add the author to this discussion?"Hello Pagoe!
Sejawe wrote: "Have you add the author to the discussion?"Hello Sejawe!
Ron wrote: "Rene wrote: "We need the author to introduce itself"I'm sorry Renee,
I peck on the keyboard with two fingers. I'm Ron Houston from Cincinnati, Ohio. I'm turned 68 in April. I'm retired from Marat..."
Thank you for sharing that, Ron, it’s great to learn a bit about your background.
I’m really curious, how did your experience working as a biodiesel technician influence the way you approach storytelling, especially the Mixologist style described in the Shade of the Sun reading guide?
I will say that I feel that in turns of the conditioning aspect of the slavery environment of the Shade story, both the slave and the slave owners were attached to a symbolic chain, although, those chains were polar opposite to each other.
That idea of polar opposite chains is really interesting.Would you say one type of conditioning is harder to break than the other, or are both equally powerful in shaping how people think and act?
Rene,I feel that in the case of slavery (for example). I think the condition connection of both the slave and the owner depended on each other. The slave was conditioned the believe he was less, where the owner felt better about himself because he believed his was superior.
Ron, something that really struck me in the guide was the description of Abel as a Blind Visionary who uses his other senses like a master strategist gathering data. In a system like the Trotter Plantation that was designed to break the human spirit, do you see Abel's brilliance as his primary weapon of resistance?
Does his inability to see the physical chains actually make him more capable of seeing the psychological ones that the sighted characters are blinded by?
Ron, that is a profound insight, that the conditioning was a mutual, dependent cycle. In the Shade of the Sun Legacy Blueprint pdf, there is a mention of the Fragility of the Master. Do you think the owner's need to feel superior actually made his own will more fragile than Abel's?
It seems like while the slave's chain was physical and psychological, the owner’s chain was a slavery to the system that he couldn't even see.
cont. reply to Rene,The same situation can be said about any human relationship where doubt and insecurities exist. We all can benefit with giving freedom to everyone by respecting their existence and striving to upbuild each other. Poor against rich (vice versa), men vs women (vice versa).
children vs parents (vice versa) etc.
Georgia,I feel that the hard part is realizing there's a chain that needs to be broken. Then comes the need to become un-addicted to the conditioning
Ron, that is such a powerful way to look at it, that the chains of doubt and insecurity affect every human relationship. When you were acting as the Mixologist for Shade of the Sun, did you intentionally use the setting of the Trotter Plantation as a controlled reaction to show us these universal truths more clearly?
It feels like by stripping everything down to the most extreme form of conditioning, you've given us a blueprint for how to upbuild each other in our own lives today.
Ron, that is a striking way to put it, referring to conditioning as an addiction. It really reframes the entire Elephant and the Chain, metaphor. In Shade of the Sun, is Abel’s blindness actually what helps him become un-addicted faster than the others?
Since he can’t see the outward manifestations of the system, does it allow him to focus purely on the internal molecular reactions of the spirit that you describe as a Mixologist?
Xetaye,Abel, (without giving anything away), only knew what his mother taught him. For most of his life, she was the only good thing he had. He just followed the map that she laid out for him. He listened, obeyed, and kept his eyes on the prize, which was his mother. She was the architect of his vision.
Georgia,Great perspective! The slave's chain (if he endures, builds strength and character). If the owner realized his dependency and loses his belief in his ownership (he's forced to look at the man in the mirror as less).
Ron, that is a beautiful way to describe it, that his mother was the architect of his vision. It makes me think of the Symbolic Gallery in the reading guide, specifically the Fishbone as a blueprint for ancestral survival.
By giving Abel this map, was his mother essentially giving him a way to build his own internal sun so he wouldn't have to live in the Shade of the system?
It feels like her guidance was the ultimate antidote to the Broken Will
Also, Georgia,I feel that on the subject of the generational effect of slavery, is the chain that connect so much of the racism on both sides today.
To everyone here, I just want to apologize for my slow typing. Writers are the worse typist. Lol!
Ron wrote: "Xetaye,Abel, (without giving anything away), only knew what his mother taught him. For most of his life, she was the only good thing he had. He just followed the map that she laid out for him. He ..."
Ron, that's a brilliant paradox, that the chain builds strength in the enslaved, while ownership creates a hidden dependency in the master. In your Molecular approach to these characters, is this why Abel maintains his Strategic Intelligence?
While the owners are distracted by the man in the mirror, has Abel already achieved a Brilliant internal freedom they can't comprehend?
No need to apologize, Ron! We appreciate you sharing your gift with us. Regarding the generational effect you mentioned, is this why you focused on the Sins of the Father and the Trotter legacy in the book?
Do you believe that by identifying these historical chains, we can finally become un-addicted to the racism they created in the present day?
Greetings Bonnie,That observation is very interesting. I will say that when you read Shade of the Sun, you will realize, (and I'm not giving anything away), is a metaphor for hiding in plan site.
Fishbone was the historical marker for generations not to forget.
Thank you Bonnie,Also, I feel like we are all family now. Feel free to contact me anytime @
houstonronald007@gmail.com (just reference the discussion group. I really appreciate this body of work)
Ron, that concept of hiding in plain sight is a powerful metaphor for how Abel navigates the plantation. Regarding the Fishbone as a historical marker, do you see craftsmanship, like carving the fishbone or the wooden dog, as a form of silent rebellion against a system designed to manufacture a Broken Will'?
Bonnie, To answer your question, we all have said and done things to other that we are ashamed of. There's plenty of ugliness done by everyone. As for me, I want to be better than that. If that's my desire, then I can work at it and progress forward, I want to do my part and be an asset to my worldwide community, not a deficit. Any progress toward that end is a better environment for us all.
Ron, thank you so much for being so open with us! Your explanation of being, un-addicted to conditioning and the idea of the mother as the architect of vision is something the whole world needs to hear right now.
As readers, we feel like this discussion is just the beginning. Shade of the Sun is such a master-level work of Narrative Excellence that it shouldn't just stay in this thread, it needs to be on every social media platform and promoted to a much wider audience.
Your Mixologist approach to the human spirit is a gift that could help so many others understand their own chains. We want to see this book get the global visibility it deserves!
You should definitely message Charlotte, the organizer, about how to take this conversation into the broader community. She has the platform to help your work become that worldwide asset you mentioned.
Please reach out to her so we can help you share this brilliance with everyone!
Georgia and Rene,As for Abel's molecular (also how it relates to my chemistry background, both technically and socially (being a mixologist is a fancy way of saying a bartending that does more). In every one of these instances the answer is the same. The ingredients put in will yield results. With the right elements and the right recipe your results will be successful.
Bonnie, The craftmanship of Fishbone, I guess is in a way Abel's rebellion, if he realized he needed to rebel. I certainly was a marker for reflection. And it definitely drove the point of the story to a powerful conclusion. It is because of the role that Colonel Fishbone (the dog) played was so significant.
Ron, that is such a brilliant way to explain it, that the right ingredients and recipe yield success. It shows exactly why Shade of the Sun has such a powerful Reading Investment for us. Because your recipe for this book is so masterfully crafted, we have to tell you: there are so many of us readers joining this discussion that it is becoming impossible for you to answer everyone individually!
We are a massive community of over 50,000 members, and we don't want you to exhaust your limited time pecking away at every single question.
We want your Mixologist philosophy and this book to reach every reader on social media and beyond, but we need a bigger vessel for this reaction. You should definitely message Charlotte, right away.
She is the expert who can guide you on how to promote this book properly so that all of us can engage with your work without you having to manage the crowd yourself. Let her handle the logistics so you can focus on being the Master Craftsman!
Ron, seeing how Colonel Fishbone drove the story to such a powerful conclusion makes me realize this isn't just a book, it’s a master level study on the human spirit.
Your Mixologist philosophy is a gift that could help so many people become un-addicted to their own chains, but a discussion thread is too small to contain a reaction this big. Have you talked to Charlotte about how to bring this message to the future to the wider world?
We want to see your craft reach the global audience it deserves!
Oh Georgia,I've written a lot of characters, and I can truly confirm that there are no controlled reactions with many of them. I have characters who are frightening, from a misogynistic mixologist to serial killers, exploitive clergymen (imagine that). You can say that most of my characters blow up the lab every time. And being true to the characters, they dictate to me what they do. Just remember, I just write them, they are not me or anyone that I would want to hang around, but a writer will never apologize for his characters.
I’m fascinated by how the Georgia landscape acts as a silent witness to the internal changes you describe. As a Mixologist of storytelling, do you view the plantation environment as a fixed ingredient that reinforces Conditioning, or can a Brilliant soul like Abel's truly become un-addicted to the chain while still living in the place where it was forged?
Thank you Rebecca,Yes, I have talked to Charlotte and will continue to rely on her suggestions. I will say that I haven't made it easy for her. I'm a terrible skeptic and have had a lot of author scams sent my way as well as filmmakers wanting to scam film rights for this book. So I certainly ran Charlotte through the ringer. She's a sweet person who finally won me over.
Ron, that actually made me laugh!The idea of a Mixologist whose characters keep blowing up the lab is such a vivid image. It’s a testament to your high skill-level that you can create such complex, frightening figures while keeping your own integrity as a writer intact.
We love that you don't apologize for your craft. It’s exactly that out of the box brilliance that makes Shade of the Sun feel so real and necessary for us to discuss!
Vagigae,Hello, as for Abel, you will learn his method of breaking the back of the plantation, (which was imprinted into him by his mother). He never had the opportunity to become addicted to the conditioning of the plantation (also thanks to his mother). Like a determined analytical chemist, his mother gave he the ingredients, his just had to mix them in a formula that yielded results.
Ron, we can’t blame you for being a skeptic, a Master Craftsman has to protect his gift from those who don't appreciate the craft! It’s so good to hear that Charlotte won you over. We trust her vision for this community, and it's clear she sees the Brilliance in your work just as much as we do. Since you’re in such good hands now, we can’t wait to see how she helps you share this story with the rest of the world.
We’re ready for the Shade of the Sun legacy to go global!
We are honoured to host a structured reader discussion with author Ron Houston on his novel Shade of the Sun, a work that approaches the legacy of slavery through psychological depth, symbolic storytelling, and what can only be described as a master-level command of narrative craft.
This discussion is designed as a guided and respectful environment, where readers can engage with the text at a deeper level while recognizing the intentional design behind the story.
Drawing from the official companion and reading guide, this session will explore:
* The Mixologist approach to storytelling, where character and plot are constructed with precision and purpose
* The Elephant and the Chain philosophy, examining how conditioning shapes human behaviour and identity
* The concept of the Broken Will, and the psychological systems that influence both the oppressed and the oppressor
* The brilliance of Abel as a strategic and intellectual protagonist, redefining perception beyond sight
This is not an open or chaotic forum. It is a controlled, moderator-led discussion space designed to ensure:
* Respect for the author’s work and creative vision
* Thoughtful engagement with complex and combustible themes
* A balanced exchange of ideas without personal attacks or off-topic disruptions
Readers are encouraged to share their perspectives, emotional responses, and interpretations while engaging in intellectual dialogue around themes such as conditioning, moral responsibility, and resilience.
This session also serves as part of the broader Legacy Conversation, surrounding Shade of the Sun, positioning the novel not just as a story, but as a long-term contribution to discussions on human behaviour, history, and the resilience of the human spirit.
We look forward to a focused, meaningful, and elevated discussion.