There are a series of tests I believe writers encounter involving what underlying themes or perhaps even, purposes and meaning, unfold in the course of writing a novel. We may not, in fact, until a novel is finished or cl0ose to be finished realize how many themes we address. For me, at least these have arisen while working on Shaman in Exile: Spiritual, Metaphysical, Philosophical, Scientific,Psychological Creative.
I've written a good bit over the unexpected long weekend, close to 5,000 words now and am close to the end of Shaman in Exile. I've had a lot of weird dreams - perhaps thanks to reading a number of books all at the same time in fits and starts,
The Thunderer by Felix Gilman (steampunk/fantasy novel),
Wicked Plants by (nonfiction, a compendium of poisonous plants),
The Disappearing Spoon (nonfiction a tale of the world through the period table) and
Man's Search for Meaning by Carl Jung(nonfiction - psychology, metaphysics).
So this reading list is a straight forward invitation to dip into not only my own subconscious, but perhaps even the primordial universal mind proposed by Jung. Strange weird dreams -which in fact are quite helpful, as this part of
Shaman in Exile has a great bit to do with mysticism, prophecy, ripping the veil and tapping into something larger than ourselves. Its a bit strange, but all three current novels in progress have been veering into spiritual/metaphysical/philosophical waters - lots of correspondences with Jung, Nietzsche, and Heraclitus - so obviously there's some need for me to examine these writings.
I've had little to no social life since The Upstate Steampunk Con due to the holidays and family stuff and in fact, have seen only one friend over the entire holidays except friends from work.Otherwise, I'm in major hermit mode, rethinking a lot about my life, feeling overwhelmed at times and wondering how to make it all go hand in hand. Work, family, writing, art, social life. So the social life falls by the wayside since I have few hours of alone time. I don't particularly feel the need for influences at this time in my life. There are times when I'm desperately hungry for them, the need to attend concerts, go to art shows, engage in writers meetings, see people and have experiences. But it seems I'm in one of those consolidation stages, where I need to pull inward, organize the inner swirl of thoughts, concepts and visions and put them out on paper, canvas, mixed media, metal.
I'm not complaining, just thinking out loud, because some of the directions of my writing have surprised me even more than when a character takes charge. This is a bigger picture than one character's approach. A broader expanse seeking observation.
I'm actually able to switch gears from the steampunk book I was writing to first draft
Shaman in Exile with little effort and that was a surprise - there's the rub. What do I do then? Edit
Shaman in Exile, finish
Foxglove Broadsides (which will have a new title) or both at the same time? I'll decide when at a later time.
Like my other books, I made my pages from cereal boxes etc and the front and back cover from the hard cardboard found on the backs of paper packs. I used a lot of Botanicabella papers from Graphic 45, one of my absolute favorite paper companies. K & Company, Tim Holtz, 7 Gypsies are also featured throughout as their styles fit right in with the kind of vintage look I want in my books. This book is a bit more whimsical than most of my books but birds are like that, aren't they. I've filtered in some of my own sketches as well as photos of my garden to give it a more natural feel and I've already started putting photos in of Mark and her husband Mike, who is a Harley rider, so there's even a page with a Harley theme in here! Quirky I know but Mark and Mike are a very unique couple. There are also some ocean themed pages because Mark and I spent time together on Folly Island, off the coast of Charleston, SC.
