I began this blog with the intention of chronicling my thoughts as I completed the first book in my children’s book series: Alex and Theo. So, what has become of this series?
I wrote the first book at the start of the year, and the artist drew it. This occurred over some months, with a lot of communication back and forth. But, once it was done, I felt unsure of the end product. I was not certain that the artist’s illustrations conveyed what I wanted. And, my concerns were solidified when my brother (who visited over the summer) read it and said, “I don’t get it.” My brother is both brilliant and an artist. If he couldn’t see the story, then the story was not there.
The issue lay not in the story itself. The issue lay in the artist’s rendition. The stories of Alex and Theo are completely dependent on the artist’s ability to convey emotion. There are almost no words. If the artist cannot convey the characters’ emotions, the power and magic of the story is lost.
So, I had to decide what to do. I cannot draw the illustrations myself (I cannot draw). But, I had a few options. I could try to get an agent for the book and then see if any interested publisher would provide an artist for the series. Or, I could seek another artist myself. Finally, there was the possibility that my brother might illustrate the first book for me, and given that he is an artistic genius, that would solve my problem of finding a new artist.
I was unsure of what would happen, but I was filled with the desire to see something come to fruition. So, I decided to examine all the many writing projects that I had begun (and abandoned).
Over the years, my attempts to write have been blocked by the fact that I have not been able to put a consistent effort into writing. My life has been full of upheavals and demands. There has been little consistency, even in the most basic aspects, including such simple things as sleep.
I would begin a project, and then something would intercede (usually something big), and by the time I took care of my responsibilities (which could take years), I had forgotten where I was in the project. I’d go back to it, but then another interruption would occur. And, soon the inspiration would fade as I dealt with the basic needs of survival and reality.
So, there I was in August 2023. Alex and Theo was back to square one. I was going back to teaching in the classroom in a couple weeks (something that absorbs huge amounts of time and energy). The interior of my house was being painted. And, as I looked at the heap of old writing projects to choose from, I knew I needed to make a wise choice. Besides the picture book series, I have three novels I have started. They didn’t have titles at the time, but to differentiate them we will call them:
The Hacendado’s Daughter
The Necklace
Despair of a Mother
The hacendado’s daughter is a historical novel, set in a different country. The research for that book would be difficult and time consuming. This book was my first attempt at a novel and is probably one of my favorite projects, but I knew I wouldn’t have time for research (given I am also teaching). So, I chose The Necklace because it was my second project, and I like to finish things in order.
Even though emotionally I was still only catching my breath (I had barely survived the 2022-23 school year, and I had just finished a four-year total house remodel), I didn’t care about the emotional cost anymore. I needed to write.
Since the end of August, I have been writing for 6-10 hours a week (I wish I had 6-10 hours a day, but maybe someday). I am up to 60,000 words (about 113 google doc pages).
The Necklace now has a real title which is The Legacy of Light.
The fragment called the necklace which I had started years ago (maybe 2007) is developing nicely, and at the same time, I am learning how to weave a story. At first, I created moments, like milestone markers. Then, taking the milestones, I began to build the road between them, connecting the moments to develop the story.
As I did this, I found that sometimes I need to allow the road to meander and at other times, I need to go directly to my destination. But I can never know which is the best until I practice. So, I am learning how to write. I see writing a story as similar to controlling a fishing line (though I don’t fish). The line needs some slack, but it cannot be too loose. You have to find just the right amount of tension to make it work.
And, what is happening with the picture books? Unfortunately, the reality is that my brother doesn’t have time. Which means I have no illustrator for my picture books once again. So, I have decided that I will begin the search for an agent for the Alex and Theo books.
Can I find someone who can see the beauty, magic, and poignancy without the illustrations? We shall see. And, though I don’t know what will happen will the illustrations for Alex and Theo, I will continue to doggedly write The Legacy of Light.
Well, the children (including the real Alex and Theo and their sister), laundry, pets, and other responsibilities call to me now saying, “You have spent enough time at that computer! Come take care of us.” So, good-by dear reader. Thank you for reading my update, and I hope I will not allow the silence to extend for too long again, and I hope that one day soon I can bring you happy news about the Alex and Theo series.