Collaboration

Writing is a solitary active – when you’re actually writing. It is an exceptionally creative and at time highly intoxicating to write, especially when one is in a state of flow. The days when I have sat at the screen, wondering where all my ideas and words went are though, a different story altogether.

My personal favorite time in writing this book (and now, into my second one), is not the actual writing, but the thinking and talking about it.

My wife Nadine and I, when living in Reading, Massachuestts often walked around the picturesque Lake Quannapowitt in nearby town,Wakefield. It’s a small pond surrounded by beautiful homes, a small park, and many walkers, runners and bikers. It has always been one of our favorite places to get our steps in, and chat about everything. In the summer of 2019, when I was considering writing the book, Nadine and I would talk through the ideas. It amazed me how much of the book was inspired by those conversations. During one critical walk, I turned to her and said, “I need to kill off someone.” That was a fun (ok, remember, it’s a book of fiction!) converstaion, and one that was not easy to have or to determine. Many walks later, we had a plan!

I also remember being halfway thorugh the book, and talking to my great pal Tony. I had talked to him about the book a lot, and with Tony, he’s good at really finding out the “why and how” in stuff. As in, “why will people like this”, and “how can you make people be more interested”. He stated at one point to make sure I try and leave some “questions” in the theme, specifically about the “gifts”. I was ready to divulge (in my early drafts/ideas), the origin of the book (though I had not yet thought of it. And, after much thought, Tony’s idea, in my opinon, was brilliant. Create tension within the characters and readers – a layered approach of getting everyone more vested (espeically me!) in the plot.

This happened with many people, of which I’m sure to disucss more. Now, in book 2, whom shall be on the blocking chop…?!

Till next time!

Len