Once
in a while, a writer creates a character so delightful the author wonders how,
and from where, this creation emerged. In my newest manuscript, Without
Strings, Alice Nash springs onto the page in all of her spirited glory,
seemingly without any effort from me. Every detail of her spinster life was
instantly there. Yet, what amazes me the most is her wit.
No
one has ever called me witty. Once in a lifetime, a great line will come to
mind, usually around midnight when it does little good, and then it’s gone. So,
where on earth did this witty character come from? I have no idea.
Regardless,
I am enjoying writing this character more than any others to date, and I am
curious to see what she will say next.
Since
this is an auspicious Friday the 13th, with a full moon no less, I
thought I’d liven up the day with a few of Alice’s quips. Enjoy!
***
Alice gave him her special
glare, the one that could melt asphalt.
***
Alice in regard to Mary's generosity: “She practically
gives the flower shop away every day. In fact our mice are so poor they’re
standing out on the corner with a please-feed-me sign.”
***
Mary:
“Who would want to kill Lloyd?”
Alice:
“Honey, they’re standing line.”
***
Alice: “Yeah, and the
only one who will attend the funeral is Mary. Anyone else who might show up
will only be waiting for them to fill in the hole so they can set up the dance
band.”
Alice
is a delight to write, and I hate to think of letting her go at the end of the
book. Maybe I won't have to. I am toying with the idea of a sequel.
This
is the short synopsis of the current manuscript, Without Strings:
“Give
and it shall be given to you: good measure and pressed down and shaken together
and running over shall they give into your bosom. For with the same measure
that you shall mete withal, it shall be measured to you again.” Luke 6:38
Mary nodded. “What do you want on the
card?”
Paul shrugged. “Something mushy.”
“You don’t have any idea?”
“I don’t really care.”
“I see. Then why bother with the
flowers?”
“She expects it. Besides, it doesn’t
really matter what the card says. She just wants something big and impressive
to show off to her friends.”
“A real gift isn’t like that.”
“And what is a real gift, Mary?”
“One wealth can’t buy, something given
from the heart, without strings.”
Mary’s
abusive ex-husband, Lloyd Patterson blames Mary for his rotten life, and wants
her to pay up what he believes she owes him – in any way possible. His threats
and actions affect everyone around Mary, even Paul. When bodies appear, Mary understands how deep Lloyd has drawn her into his dark world.
Paul
has a few of his own challenges to face. While their survival depends on
independent choices, those choices will determine who will be the survivor, and
who will be the hero. Can they be both?
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