It’s Tuesday, and I find myself surprisingly at peace with the world this morning. The sky is a grayish blue with small hints of breaks in the clouds that cover the area. Spring is still a distant dream of warmer days and greener earth.
My iPod is playing the original playlist that I came up for Mira when I first started writing the Dark Days series so many years ago and I have to admit that the Fire Starter and I are feeling a bit nostalgic. Books 4 and 5 have been completed and we’re looking ahead to Book 6. I have to admit that we’re past the halfway mark in the series with Mira as the lead. We look ahead to the events that lay ahead and frown while shaking our heads. From the beginning of Nightwalker, certain events were set into motion and there is simply no escaping them. It’s time to pay the piper and he’s trilling a frightening tune.
But as I work on the final edits for Pray for Dawn, I find myself looking back to Book 1 more than looking forward to Book 6. I keep thinking about how Mira and Danaus’s relationship has progressed, moving slowly from enemies to tentative and untrusting friends. I find my thoughts drifting to Gabriel and sweet Michael. I think of Mira’s lost time with Jabari. I find myself worrying about Tristan. These are my family members one and all – the lost, the hated, and the loved.
I think Mira is taking a moment to reflect and wonder if she should have acted differently. Could she have saved anyone that she lost? Could things have progressed differently between her and Jabari? So much hinging on bad and misinformed decisions.
In her time, less than a year has passed. At one time, she was vibrant and gungho about jumping headlong into any situation. She was resolute in her prejudices and confident in her the few that she believed to be her friends and her enemies. In less than a year, her world has been turned upside down. She’s grown more cautious and introspective. She has begun to scheme with the rest of her race and plan for her own survival. She changed, making me both a happy and a little sad. There are times I miss the overconfident and perpetually cocky Mira. But time has taken its toll.
And yet, neither Mira nor I have any regrets.
For the curious, here are some of the songs on today’s playlist:
“Time Is Running Out” by The Muse
“Rev 22:20” by Puscifer
“Gabriel” by Lamb
“I Remember” by Stabbing Westward
“Don’t Fear the Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult
“Coming Undone” by Korn
In some other news, I have to admit that I don’t read a lot of blogs. However, during the past two day, I have run across some really great entries.
For a great perspective on the Amazon/Macmillan debacle go to Whatever by Johm Scalzi
For some just great thoughts on the creative process of the writer, please see Neil Gaiman’s latest blog entry.
Have a great day!
2 comments:
I try to avoid reflection. BAHAHAHAHAHAHA Okay, I guess that would be called Denial.
It's really interesting to read your thoughts about Mira. When I read book three I realized how little time had passed in her world. It's cool though that she is learning and perhaps growing with each book rather than being "bigger than life" and not changing at all. I wonder if you have changed during this time of writing her? Just a thought.
This is the second time i've seen the song 'coming undone' on someone's playlist!
And it's very cool to read your thoughts on mira's character development. I love it when authors do that kind of reflection! It's nice to know that even someone several centuries old has room for growth!
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