Unmistakably a tale of Hiram Falls -- loved your reading of it (made me miss the Cowbird days). Some lovely, quiet, expressive details that convey Lucien's deep longing. And of course it makes me want to hand you a novel I recently read with characters (albeit in Ireland and not Vermont) who stand on a similar knife edge between despair and possibility. (Snowflake by Louise Nealon). I think you'd like it.
OH, bg, so good to hear from you and so glad you liked Lucien & Amber. (https://geoffreygevalt.substack.com/p/lucien-and-amber) It was created in the penultimate Thursday Night Writing Session (lasted four years, but we ended it in November). I had them choose a line from any of three of Reuben Jackson's poems and use it as the opening of a story or a poem. Reuben's 'the stars wink above the diner...' got me going and all of a sudden these two new Hiram Falls souls appeared. Even after the writing and the final, 12th, revision! Can't get that town out of my head!
Thank you. Yes, it is. I guess I was in that kind of mood.
Which is surprising, given the derivation of the story: I gave a prompt to my writing group to pull one line out of three Reuben Jackson poems and use it as the first line of a story or poem. The one I chose, is actually a pretty harsh poem and conveys what it's like to be a black man coming into a white diner:
-thinking of emmett till-
stars winked above the diner
where I asked
a blonde waitress
for sugar,
and got threatened
by a local
with a bloodthirsty smile.
But, I guess I was just in a good mood....
And I had been thinking about the invisible people in our lives -- the clerk at a store you go to often, the mailman, the butcher, the youngest member of the town road crew ... I was and remain interested in exploring those characters more.
Nice story Geoff. I just finishded reading it on a starry chilly night...and of all palces here in Tallahassee, not usually chilly.
thanks, Alan. Sorry it's so dang cold down there.
Unmistakably a tale of Hiram Falls -- loved your reading of it (made me miss the Cowbird days). Some lovely, quiet, expressive details that convey Lucien's deep longing. And of course it makes me want to hand you a novel I recently read with characters (albeit in Ireland and not Vermont) who stand on a similar knife edge between despair and possibility. (Snowflake by Louise Nealon). I think you'd like it.
OH, bg, so good to hear from you and so glad you liked Lucien & Amber. (https://geoffreygevalt.substack.com/p/lucien-and-amber) It was created in the penultimate Thursday Night Writing Session (lasted four years, but we ended it in November). I had them choose a line from any of three of Reuben Jackson's poems and use it as the opening of a story or a poem. Reuben's 'the stars wink above the diner...' got me going and all of a sudden these two new Hiram Falls souls appeared. Even after the writing and the final, 12th, revision! Can't get that town out of my head!
Happy holidays.
Aaaaaw! Just lovely! Now I want to see them sitting down to dinner together. And after... holding hands as he walks her home. Just lovely!
Thank you so much, Douglas. So glad you liked it.
Be well.
gg
❤❤
Terrific short story. I enjoyed listening to it. You are skilled in description and painted some great imagery throughout. Thank you for sharing.
Oh, Bonita. Thanks so much. That means a lot to me. Particularly at the end of a long day. Peace be with you.
gg
Impressive Geoffrey. I didn't want to stop reading. Please keep going.
thank you so much. i’m thinking on it.
Well done. Joe
thanks, Joe.
A real feel-good story xx
Jane,
Thank you. Yes, it is. I guess I was in that kind of mood.
Which is surprising, given the derivation of the story: I gave a prompt to my writing group to pull one line out of three Reuben Jackson poems and use it as the first line of a story or poem. The one I chose, is actually a pretty harsh poem and conveys what it's like to be a black man coming into a white diner:
-thinking of emmett till-
stars winked above the diner
where I asked
a blonde waitress
for sugar,
and got threatened
by a local
with a bloodthirsty smile.
But, I guess I was just in a good mood....
And I had been thinking about the invisible people in our lives -- the clerk at a store you go to often, the mailman, the butcher, the youngest member of the town road crew ... I was and remain interested in exploring those characters more.
They’re often more interesting than the local notability.
so true
Lovely.
You wonderful romantic! Love the moment of exploding cedar shakes; the painting of Ouellette men; and of course Amber’s turn under the stars. Bravo!
Thanks, Tom. Glad you liked the story. And, yes, in the last analysis I'm a sucker for romance.
gg
thanks for reading it and glad it made you feel warm o a 0-degree day under the blanket with your still cold feet.
We have sun here in Hiram Falls, which has warmed things up to a balmy 7 after waking to -3.