Novel Approaches: Underlying Themes

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.

Close to Finishing Shaman in Exile - one chapter left!

I'm doing 50/50 on my New Year's Resolutions, didn't fare too well with the attempts at becoming more social or in bringng my lunch to work instead of eating out, but did do much better on the others.
I am now one chapter away from finishing the first draft of Shaman in Exile, the follow up novel to my magical realism foray, Shaman Circus, which was published by ATTM Press one year ago this month.
I started Shaman in Exile in July of  2006, and lived part of those early months in New Hampshire so part of the novel takes place there, but it also wanders to France and then Folly Island, South Carolina, following the trail of Jacob La Querre, the voudou shaman. The book picks up with him a year or so after an accident in which he becomes partly disabled and has decided to leave the temple, his lover, and friends. The second novel incorporates more magical realism than the first and  its a good bit more free wheeling due to the fact its not tied to a large real event, but rather a series of smaller events.
I wrote Shaman Circus in 8 months. Shaman in Exile over 3 1/2 years.  I could never come up with an ending, because the earthquake in Haiti took place before I finished it and Jacob's family is from Haiti.  So I had to decide whether to incorporate the earthquake aftermath or not.  I realized, returning to Haiti would have to be another book.  There are too many complications with family, let alone the earthquake devastation or how Jacob would handle it. Jacob grew quiet for a while, couldn't tell me which way he wanted the book to go and so I started a other projects.
Now I'm glad I waited and didn't rush it.  It's working, and its another of those life lessons for writers to stand back from their book and let the characters tell their story.  This time, Jacob, Max, and Lily are doing the work.  I'm just a transcriptionist. At this point, the novel is running over 100,000 words and 59 chapters.  Not sure if that's how it will stay. 
Once It's finished, I plan to launch immediately into editing since there may be things that need changing due to the ending.

Rare White Christmas in S.C.

A fun Christmas with my family made more so by the snow, which was the first time for both my daughter and granddaughter to experience a white Christmas.  They found much delight in this, their best Christmas present as they celebrated by making a Santa Snowman complete with greenery scarf.  My son and I were old fuddy duddies and stayed indoors during the snow, having experienced white Christmas with snow measured in feet not inches before we moved from New England to South Carolina, but we watched with indulgence and recalled pleasures as Beth and Kendall maxed out on winter bliss.  My son celebrated in his way by skateboarding on Christmas day in a secret location not far from here (you tube video here for all old school skateboarders) and I indulged myself in the plethora of books I rec'd including. Wicked Plants,  a book of poisonous plants and The Disappearing Spoon (A view of life and the world thru the Periodic Table of Elements) Both are witty, hilarious and factual showing how oddly interconnected and affected we are by some of of oddest aspects of our planet. Both of these books are research for the three novels I have in progress.

This year was a mix of old and new traditions, lots of the foods our family always makes (and devours), and some interesting learning experiences.

One new tradition may have to be a trip to Nation's Bakery, one of the most awesome locally owned bakeries I've ever been to. My friend John took me there and it reminds me of bakeries you could only find in big cities. The Nation's in the title is just what it says. The owners hail from, NYC and make pastries from all over the world. Their creations are magnificent.  It reminds me of bakeries from the Italian neighborhoods in Boston or a little one Frank, Danny and I found in Atlanta.  The coffee and espresso are wonderful, the atmosphere is old olde world, not new trendy new old world and among the hundress of items they create, they make cream puff swans, a selection of cheesecakes (including a chocolate cheesecake with a pig on top) and lemon meringue pies where the meringue is at least a foot tall.
We ate until we were silly, roast beast on Christmas, and then indulged in books and movies. A perfect holiday!