Stuck on Chapter 8!

Do you remember the Star Trek episode "Spock's Brain"? In it, in order for McCoy to be able to put Spock's brain back in and reconnect it, he had to put on the alien head device called "The Teacher" (that strangely looked similar to a salon over-the-head hair dryer with spikes) which filled his head full of knowledge to perform the complex surgery. He did, and later regretted re-connecting Spock's vocal chords. (How rude!) 8-)

In McCoy's case, the knowledge only stayed with him for about 3 hours.

I wish I had my own alien head device to fill my mind permanently with the knowledge of how to be both a novel strategist and a military strategist. The two things I seem to struggle with most in my novel.

In my last chapter's revisions, I was bouncing back and forth between characters in the chapter, and with one character set up a situation that now, in chapter 8, I don't know what to do with. I've been puzzling over it for a few weeks. But thus far, I haven't figured out how to write myself out of that box.

And it's also tied to military strategy. If any of you readers write historicals that involve to any degree the implementation of military strategy, I'd love to hear from you. When you are laying out the scenes of a novel that has action/adventure elements, in this case military, each event has to fall in a particular timeframe. And if you goof up in one scene, it effects the next several.

Writing historicals requires a lot of work, but I especially find it difficult to think like a strategist. Maybe that's my kind way of saying I have a chaotic mind. 8-)

But I have been praying to the Master Strategist for help in overcoming the obstacles in my 8th chapter and I'm confident He will deliver in His time. Until then, I think I'm going to work on another part of the story till I can pull my brain out of the mud.

Love of History a Stumbling Block to Writing Historical Fiction

Yeah, I know. That doesn't make much sense. At least not on the surface. But it is true.

I love history. Even more specifically, I am absolutely passionate about learning all I can about Arizona's history. From the minute I switched my focus from screenwriting to novel writing, I knew I wanted to make my mark as a writer of fiction, with every book set in Arizona.

If it were possible, I would spend my life researching Arizona history and writing it. I hope some day to be able to retire to Tucson and volunteer at the Historical Society Museum there.

But being a writer of historical fiction and loving history too much can be hindrance to your writing. Especially if you're a perfectionist. I simply can never read enough about Arizona's history. I cannot tell you what joy I receive out of reading one of the pioneer's diaries. Or an account of post life at one of the forts, or reading the account of the early Arizona entrepreneurs.

It's fascinating. It's exhilarating. It's captivating.

And probably geeky. 8-)

But it leaves me wrestling with myself. "Stop all this historical reading! You've got a book to write!"

"Oh shut up!" my other self will say. "I have a right to enjoy the journey. Back off, toots!" (pistols drawn like Yosemite Sam on the mudflaps)

And so it goes. It's why I'm a very slow writer. Well that and it takes me a while to put together all my plot elements.

However, there's no one standing by, tapping their foot and looking at their watch expectantly waiting for the manuscript. On the other hand, I think about the future. When I finally am published. Publishers like you to churn out books these days. Let's hope I'll have several novels under my belt by then because I don't see how I'll ever write to expected speed in this market.

Speedy Gonzalez I am not.

But eh well. I'll just have to be patient and trust that at the right point in time, the writing and reading will converge and I'll have a finished novel in my hands. Until then, I'm going to enjoy the journey.

And by the way, Arizona will be celebrating her 98th year of statehood come February 14th. Happy Almost Anniversary!

Mourning The Irreplaceable Pernell Roberts

Pernell Roberts

1928-2010

A friend just emailed me the sad news that Pernell Roberts passed away on January 24 from cancer at the age of 81.

I knew it had to happen some day, but I admit, I wasn't prepared for it. In all honesty, I figured him to live to his 90's at least. And I am crushed.

I've watched lots of TV shows, had lots of actors I respected or drooled over, or both. But out of that huge pool of actors, only two ever rose to the top for me, and the numero uno one was Pernell Roberts.

While he played a variety of roles on TV, film and stage, to me he will always be Adam Cartwright. It's funny--Mr. Roberts was only on Bonanza from 1959-1965, leaving the show a year before I was born. So when I first started watching Bonanza as a tot, there was no Adam Cartwright. I loved the Cartwrights and drooled over the Ponderosa.

But I remember the moment very distinctly when I first saw Bonanza reruns in the mid-70's---suddenly there was this gorgeous, tall, dark-haired, black-clothed man with a hypnotic voice that could melt butter. His character's name was Adam Cartwright. And I can tell you, the first moment I laid eyes on Adam Cartwright, all those other Cartwrights faded into the woodwork. And I loved his tall, rangy chestnut horse, Sport, best of all the Cartwright horses. Still hope to have a Sport of my own one day. 8-)

To this day, it is the image and persona of Pernell Roberts I have in my mind when I am creating male characters for my stories--some element of him always finds its way into my heroic characters. I have never seen an actor as appealing as he always was, even as he aged.

And of course I'm biased, but some of the very best episodes of Bonanza featured Mr. Roberts because he was also a very talented man. One in particular that comes to mind is an episode called "The Dark Gate." What a premise that episode was based on. "What if you're best friend goes insane then goes on a murderous rampage and no one else can stop him?" Pernell Roberts performance in that episode will pull your heart up through your throat.

To this day he gets bad press for his choice to leave Bonanza after six years. But that's one of the reasons I've always respected him. Life is too short to live miserably--or to let anyone else define what success means to you in your career. There's only one who has a right to define who we are--God. No human on earth has that privilege. And doing what everybody else feels is a big mistake takes a lot of guts. I have often wished that when I face difficult decisions, I make them with that same courage.

Ironically, this is one of the few days in the last several that we HAVEN'T had any rain, but it feels like it ought to be raining big-time right about now.

And with Pernell Roberts' passing goes the end of an era. None of the Cartwrights remain. Nor have I yet seen any actors in the years since who can match Mr. Roberts for charisma, presence, good looks and just generally being my idea of the perfect guy.

Thankfully his memory does live on, in the minds and hearts of decades worth of fans, and in those who are inspired by his roles and use them as a springboard to craft their own forms of art.

My prayer is that his family, friends and legion of fans will be comforted by God's loving presence during this time of grief and that we celebrate his life and accomplishments.