I’m drawn to stories that have multiple plotlines woven like threads into a tapestry. Magnolia and Code Unknown are two of my favorites. Do you have a favorite “tapestry” movie or story?
Guy Gavriel Kay and Patricia McKillip both write enthralling fantasy “tapestries.” They’ve both had a lot of influence on my vision for The Auralia Thread.
Raven’s Ladder, by the way, has a more complicated tapestry than either of its predecessors. So you’ll need to read closely. And now, as I begin work on the final volume, I’m finding that it will be quite a challenge to weave all of these threads into one strong conclusion. But the story is coming into view, and I’ve never had more fun writing a story. I’m striving to make this a series that bucks the trend, getting better as it goes. You’ll have to be the judge of that.
Speaking of multi-thread stories… my own day-to-day story is sometimes a little too complicated. Like now. To meet my deadline for Book Four, I need to write a chapter or two every week. That means every weekend counts.
But once in a while, life doesn’t cooperate.
Few things are more important to me than writing, but one of those more important things is my community.
Over the last couple of weeks, some close friends have been stricken by a shocking, heartbreaking attack, and I needed to put the writing aside because the crisis broke my heart as well. I needed to find ways to support them, especially in prayer. I’m not just talking about “Lord, please bless so and so.” I’m talking about the kind of prayer that makes you feel as if you’ve been wrung out, and your whole body aches. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to go into detail here. But I consider my readers at LookingCloser.org to be my friends as well, and so I’d ask you this: If you pray, please pray for my friend Rob, that he will have the strength and wisdom to respond well during a terrible crisis. It also affects my community of dear friends here in Seattle, and the rest of us need wisdom and strength as well, for the trouble is still going on.
In the meantime, I’m scrambling to find time to respond to interview questions and marketing responsibilities for Raven’s Ladder. WaterBrook Press has been so generous with me over the last year as I labored to finish Raven’s Ladder, that I want to do all I can to help them share the book with readers who would appreciate it. So I’m responding to interview requests, questionnaires, and other marketing demands. Yet another time-consuming thread.
And that’s not all: There are movie-review deadlines twice a month, and some exciting speaking engagements coming up.
And then there’s Anne: Good marriages take time, and I want to spend as much time with her as possible.
I’ve heard that eating and sleeping are good too.
Whew.
Talk about multiple storylines! It’s a very, very busy time. Every day, I’ve got several threads of the tapestry to weave a little further.
No wonder I woke up with a headache!
Okay, lest I sound like I’m complaining: I am so grateful for the opportunity to share The Auralia Thread with you, and I have enjoyed more than a decade of conversations with you about movies and music and life here at Looking Closer. I love the constant surprises, the discussions and debates. And I hope to see you at one of the upcoming events… especially the release party for Raven’s Ladder at Third Place Books on March 18.
Thanks for keeping me company and providing so much encouragement.