Inspiration, Frustration, and Triumph

 

Jeff–Saturday

 

An author I deeply admire recently posted elsewhere about the influence his subconscious has on whether a work in progress is headed in the right direction, and how often a novel that begins with spectacular promise, fades off into oblivion at around short story length.  From the replies to his post, I think many authors share that experience–especially these days.

 

After all, in pandemic times it’s difficult to bring full creative power to bear while your subconscious is continuously running a fight or flight survival loop in the background.  To that extent, we’re no different than prehistoric man whose mind was far too preoccupied with what predator was intent on having him for (not over for) dinner, to give serious thought to redecorating the cave.

 

Personally, I find it difficult to write without my muse nearby…by that I mean Greece. Yes, I made it over there for seven weeks this summer, but that’s not nearly enough time for me to gain the immersive perspective I seek in creating a new locale for a story.  Place for me—as for all of us at MIE–is seminal to our work, and not something lending itself to compromise. 

Luckily, I’m familiar with enough heavenly (and hellish) places in Greece to keep Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis on duty, but stories set in some magical venues I’d like him to visit will just have to wait out the pandemic. One must play the hand you’re dealt—or kick over the table and face the consequences.

 

On a more upbeat note, I’m honored to share my achieving a childhood bucket list moment.

 

I grew up in working class Pittsburgh, where a Reader’s Digest magazine was always to be found lying somewhere around the house, and most assuredly in every doctor’s and dentist’s office.

The big kahuna for Reader’s Digest fans was the bi-monthly hardcover collection of four abridged novels, first published as “Reader’s Digest Condensed Books” in 1950, and since 1997 as “Reader’s Digest Select Editions.” Whenever I saw one of those anthologies, the authors whose names appeared on the binding appeared like gods to me.

 

To see my name this month on the cover of Select Editions #383 as the author of A Deadly Twist (Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis #11), has me feeling as if my game jersey is about to hang in the rafters alongside some of my writing idols.

 

Undoubtedly, there are far greater triumphs to achieve in the writing life, but for me, this is a childhood-dream-come-true moment.  One to relish and savor in these times.

Congratulations to my fellow cover mates, William Kent Krueger, Mia P. Manansala, and Freya Sampson, and sincere thanks to all who made this possible.

 

–Jeff