The Other Side…

 

I’m feeling a bit better this week. Things are still rough here and there, but Mom is home from the hospital, the family drama has calmed down for now, and I had a lot of fun doing an interview with my good friend Jewel E Leonard that she posted on Friday. I also celebrated my 33rd birthday over the weekend, and the Boyo will be turning two in ten days. (Now that’s a scary thought)

Our new pastor also prayed over us this weekend… which was a very surreal and uplifting experience. I’ve had pastors and other Christians lay hands on us and pray before, but none of them have ever really gotten it before. With the new pastor, it was like he new everything. Hubby says that that’s because he knew what we’ve been through – he and his wife were there at the ER the night Boyo stopped breathing on us, after all – but he touched on a lot of things that we’ve never really told anyone before.

So, I’m feeling a bit stronger, saner, and more refreshed and ready to get out there and go go go.

Sadly, most of this has translated in to working on things around the house and on my Etsy shops instead of actually writing.

However, I have been brainstorming a bit.

I’ve mentioned many times that I’m having a dilemma with the setting of the first book of the Descendants. Currently, it’s set in Pompeii near the time of Mount Vesuvius going boom. For awhile there I wanted to change the setting to a world of my own creating, but then I found the outline for the first book and decided to stick with Pompeii. Then I was watching a documentary on it last week, and for a split second they showed the cast of a body of a small infant, and I suddenly lost all desire to write about Pompeii.

Even though the Descendants doesn’t feature any kids, just knowing that there were kids there who lost their lives has really soured that setting for me. I’m learning that after everything we’ve been through with the Boyo, I cannot handle any sort of violence towards a child. Even if it’s something that’s already happened in the past and was Mother Nature’s fault. Even if it’s just a threat and the hero swoops in and saves him and everyone gets their happy ending. It’s just something I don’t do anymore.

Thankfully, the story itself can remain the same regardless of the setting so that makes changing things around again easier. And since Vivian and company run into some knights who may be a part of a very famous table in book two, setting things in a different world sets that up a little bit better. Plus, there are ways I can work in other stories to be a part of this new world. Stories that I currently have on the back burner – like that pirate I featured a couple of WIPpets ago – a la Stephen King and the Dark Tower.

Anywho, it’s Wednesday again, so that means it’s time for another WIPpet. Since today is the 6th, here is a snippet I wrote for a story (it’s too soon to tell if it’ll be another short story or a novella or something more) that I plan to publish under my pen name. The two characters in it are actors who are being told to date by their respective publicists in the hopes that it’ll change his bad boy image, and bring her back into the lime light after spending some time away from Hollywood.

“Excuse me.” She spoke a little louder and his head snapped up. She quickly stepped back, startled by the sudden movement. “I’m, um… I’m Elle.”

“Who?”

“Elle Peterson.”

It was hard to tell if he recognized the name or not. His eyes were fathomless brown pools, and his expression was equally hard to read.

“Surely someone in your team mentioned…”

“Right, that.” He scratched at the thick five o’clock shadow lining his cheeks. His eyes skimmed over her body from head to toe. “Well you’re a fine bit of skirt.”

To read more WIPpet Wednesday posts, go here.

 

14 thoughts on “The Other Side…”

  2. AM says:
    Reply

    Urgh, I already don’t think I like him, LOL. I hope Elle can tame him!

    I hear you on things that I just can’t read or write…I have certain things that I need to know about ahead of time or I just can’t read about them.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Eden says:
    Reply

    I’m sure he’s a nice pair of slacks too. Or maybe a comfortable but boring pair of loafers….

    I get you about things you cannot write or read. The reason I stopped watching Torchwood was the Children of Earth episodes. And no, I’m sure you do NOT want to see them given what you’re written.

    That said, it might be the best writing you ever produce when you finally do explore those dark scary places in your mind that you cannot bring yourself to go right now. But there is no rush. The stories won’t be better for pushing yourself beyond your creative comfort.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. shanjeniah says:
    Reply

    Happy two-ing to your Boyo! My “baby girl” will be 12 tomorrow – I have NO Idea how that went so fast!!!

    On the issue of children and violence toward them – I get that. Next Wednesday is another birthday – for our second son, who lived 12 days. My reaction is a bit different than yours, but I’ve had more time, since he would be turning 13.

    Children dying and endangered keep cropping up in my writing. It’s one of those dark places I need to drain every now and again, in order to appreciate fully the light and laughter and life.

    Each of us needs to deal with such potent circumstances in our own way. If Pompeii doesn’t work for you, choosing another setting might be just the thing.

    Even when your child survives such a crisis, there’s a certain amount of grieving in knowing how fragile life can be.

    I grieve with you.

    Liked by 1 person

    • ceeleeolson says:
      Reply

      I remember reading about your other son on your blog. I’m so sorry for your loss.

      As for the story, I’m learning that changing the setting is definitely the way to go. It’s going to make everything so much easier and allow me to introduce other characters earlier as well.

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