Tabloidology Hits Korea!

Tabloidology has arrive in Korea. With a complete make-over of the cover, Vidam Publishing has produced a fine edition complete with cover flaps, high quality paper, and a textured cover. Of course, the great paradox here is that I now have a book I've written but can't read. Who said life always makes sense?

Returning Home

Have you ever gone back to a house you used to live in? It’s a strange experience. The furniture’s all different. Maybe the walls have been painted. The pictures on the walls aren’t the same. Maybe some renovations have been done to significantly change the insides. No matter what, the house just doesn’t look right.

It doesn’t look right because you’re comparing the house now to the house then, when you lived in it.

Pictured above is a house I lived in when I was between the ages of about four to eight. When I was writing my upcoming novel Box of Shocks, it was this house I re-imagined for the setting. Of course, the beauty of creative writing is that you have free license to twist, reshape, chop, glue on, and generally refabricate reality. It's like cosmetic surgery for your memory.

But even if I wanted to accurately represent this old house in my novel, I couldn’t– my memories of this house are like a patchwork quilt with a bunch of missing panels. I have vivid memories of parts of the house and events that took place. But I’m quite willing to admit, there are huge gaps in my memory for many details. To fill the gaps, that’s where the imagination comes in very handy.

It’s been said that History is part fiction, and Fiction is part history. In the case of this house and my new novel Box of Shocks, never was this statement more true.

Endings and Hamstrings

There’s no doubt in my mind that one of the most challenging aspects of writing a novel is the ending. In the revision process for Klutzhood, I had to redo the ending three times.

One thing I have discovered, however, is that it’s impossible for me to write towards a pre-planned ending. The best approach for me is to delve into the story, beginning with a situation from which the characters grow. Events unfold, and I have to have confidence that the ending, unknown as I write, will emerge.

Maybe my approach to life should be more like that.

One of my non-writing obsessions is cross-country ski racing. This week, I’m taking part in the Masters World Cup being held at Sovereign Lake, near Vernon, B.C. In my first race– a 30 kilometre skate ski race– everything went as well as I could have hoped. I had a respectable finish with a personal best time.

But in my next race– a 10 kilometre classic race– the proverbial wheels fell off. I fell near the start and pulled my hamstring. I tried to ski on, but by four kilometres, my body started shutting down– a condition I later learned is called vasovagal response. My race, with all its expectations, was done.

Certainly I was greatly disappointed, but then, this episode got me thinking.

Maybe I should approach life more like my writing. Maybe I should drop into the situation and see what outcome emerges, rather than getting all stressed about achieving imagined expectations. Thank you hamstring!

(Photo by Peter Jobbins)

Just Write!

In Salmon Arm on February 18, 2011, I'll be appearing at the conference shown below, along with Gail Anderson-Dargatz, Harold Rhenisch, and a host of other writers and teachers. Don't worry. For some reason, the brochure PDF I got looks kind of spooky with the negative images, and all. But really, we're not a negative group, and it should be a very ____________ (PROVIDE YOUR OWN SUPERLATIVE) day.

I'll be doing a bit of a reading in the morning, then giving a workshop called, "Jumper Cables for the Imagination." Anyone brave enough to show up will be able to try out some of my creative writing tricks for writers young and old.

Unfriendly Giants

The Big Ceilidh Fiddle

One of the great landmarks in Sydney, Nova Scotia is the Big Ceilidh Fiddle. Canada seems to be a land of giant things. There's the giant hockey stick in Duncan, B.C., the giant Easter Egg in Vegreville, Alberta, the giant cross-country skis in 100 Mile House, B.C. and now, if you drive along Deep Creek Road between Armstrong and Salmon Arm, you'll pass the giant push lawn mower. Believe me, it's worth the trip!

All of these giant things inspired for the short story for adult readers, "Unfriendly Giants," which appears in the December edition of Other:_________ magazine. I don't want to disappoint any T.V. fans out there, so I'll forewarn you that Jerome and Rusty do not appear in the story. Nor is there a chair for one who likes to rock or a chair for two to curl up in. In spite of these shortcomings, please check the story out if you manage to get your hands on a copy of this magazine.

Happy Holidays!

On behalf of Buddy, Deedee, Arlo, Pinball, Rocko, Cedric, Mr. Butterworth, Trixi, Martin, and the newest members of our team, Max and Diggory, I'd like to wish everyone an enjoyable holiday season full of all the good things in life.

And, maybe it's just me, but I have a feeling 2011 could be a good one.

The Box of Shocks

NEWSFLASH!

The Box of Shocks

That's the tentative title of my new novel due out in 2011 with Orca Books!

Beware of hidden boxes buried in basement floors!

Watch out for dogs that chew on old cars and metal appliances!

Be cautious standing on the edge of bridges!

Never go trick or treating at a pseudo-zombie's house!

Never trust a parrot that doesn't talk!

Never use too many exclamation marks!

Watch for further details!