Topics for Discussion from Anne Frasier

[Killroy]

Before reading any further, let me warn you that some of the questions may spoil things in the book if you haven't gotten to the parts being mentioned. So be warned.

Question 1:

Did it bother you when David Gould ordered a hooker, or did it give you more insight into his character?

Question 2:

The foundation of the story – plot, setting, events, spells, Gullah culture, characters -- is rooted in reality. Jackson Sweet was based on Dr. Buzzard, a famous Lowcountry root doctor who was known for wearing blue glasses when conjuring. Did borrowing from real life enhanced your reading experience?

Question 3:

Many people have a fear of being conscious, but unable to speak, move, or communicate. How is this theme mirrored in the lives of the characters?


She also provided some additional reading material for anyone who may be interested in the books subject matter.

Blue Roots, by Roger Pinckney (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0878441689/dreamindemon-20/)
Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic, Catherine Yronwode (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0971961204/dreamindemon-20/)

[Killroy]

Now that I have finished the book, which was great, I figured it was safe to answer some of these questions.

Question 1:

Did it bother you when David Gould ordered a hooker, or did it give you more insight into his character?

Didn't bother me in the slightest. It made perfect sense, actually. Being familiar with anti-depressant drugs and what they can do to someone while they are on them AND when they come off them. To me, it was also a sign that David was deciding (albeit not whole-heartedly yet) to start taking the steps to join the world and face the all-to-real possibility that he was going to have to grieve.
Question 2:

The foundation of the story – plot, setting, events, spells, Gullah culture, characters -- is rooted in reality. Jackson Sweet was based on Dr. Buzzard, a famous Lowcountry root doctor who was known for wearing blue glasses when conjuring. Did borrowing from real life enhanced your reading experience?

Absolutely. Always does in my case. So much so that I actually did some reading\research of my own on the Gullah culture and the Savannah tunnels (http://savannahbest.com/savhist/tunnel.htm). I especially like it when the real life subjects are about things I am not aware of (like in the case of this book)

Question 3:

Many people have a fear of being conscious, but unable to speak, move, or communicate. How is this theme mirrored in the lives of the characters?

Very mirrored in the Elise and David characters. David for obvious reasons, and of course Elise and her past. Even Luna is a victim of the same sort of circumstance, as revealed in the end. All three characters were kind of trapped by tragic events in their past, and all three seemed to have been living their lives suppressing these events from what all seemed to be varying degrees of shame? Maybe?

[madame sosostris]

[QUOTE=Killroy;2693]Now that I have finished the book, which was great, I figured it was safe to answer some of these questions.

Question 1:

Did it bother you when David Gould ordered a hooker, or did it give you more insight into his character?

Didn't bother me in the slightest. It made perfect sense, actually. Being familiar with anti-depressant drugs and what they can do to someone while they are on them AND when they come off them. To me, it was also a sign that David was deciding (albeit not whole-heartedly yet) to start taking the steps to join the world and face the all-to-real possibility that he was going to have to grieve.


That's good to hear. I always ask readers this question because it was something my editor and I disagreed on. I normally have pretty thick skin and can take a lot of criticism, but I've never been able to walk away from her intense dislike of Gould. And as a writer I still wonder what she saw in him that made her hate him so much. And I know her reaction was her own truth. She did hate him. "Despicable, with no redeeming qualities" were her exact words. I was asked to drastically tone him down throughout the book, and remove the hooker business. Normally I comply with editorial requests, but I felt this request would damage the book and I couldn't do it. But years later I still think about how much she hated a character I liked. As more time has passed, I'm more certain my choice was the right one, but that kind of stand doesn't win a writer any popularity contests. :rolleyes:

[Killroy]

I was asked to drastically tone him down throughout the book, and remove the hooker business. Normally I comply with editorial requests, but I felt this request would damage the book and I couldn't do it. But years later I still think about how much she hated a character I liked. As more time has passed, I'm more certain my choice was the right one, but that kind of stand doesn't win a writer any popularity contests. :rolleyes:

Geez. I mean, I guess I could understand why someone may feel that way if the anti-depressants had not been introduced, or the clues that something tragic had happened to the guy in the past as the guy would seem like an anti-social ass. But not only were those brought up very early, the hooker incident (to me) was the first sign that Gould was not happy in his state and something had happen to "wake" him up a bit, that his real self had stirred, so to speak.

But even beyond all that, the character was perfect in such a gothic setting. Not an anti-hero, as he wasn't, but just a flawed one. I thought that made him more real. Oh well, strange how people interpret the same things so differently.

(I just realized how much I love to use commas, even when they are not needed)

[McVain]

Now that I have finished the book, which was great, I figured it was safe to answer some of these questions.

Question 1:

Did it bother you when David Gould ordered a hooker, or did it give you more insight into his character?

I didn't have a problem with it at all. When Flora asked David what was wrong with him, he replied with something like "I'm anti-social. I'm not going to go to a bar and pretend to be interested in a girl just to get laid. I'm not interested in socializing.". That explanation made perfect sense to me. By calling an "escort" service, he was getting what he wanted and in some strange way, he was doing something very commendable by not hurting a girl that he would have found at a bar. Also, in calling the "escort" service he was slowly bringing himself back into the population.

Question 2:

The foundation of the story – plot, setting, events, spells, Gullah culture, characters -- is rooted in reality. Jackson Sweet was based on Dr. Buzzard, a famous Lowcountry root doctor who was known for wearing blue glasses when conjuring. Did borrowing from real life enhanced your reading experience?

Yes. It makes it more believable to me, and that is a definite bonus. It can add to the atmosphere and possibly spark more interest in the reader. I don't know very much about the Gullah culture, but I'm sure I will now read more about it because of this book.

Question 3:

Many people have a fear of being conscious, but unable to speak, move, or communicate. How is this theme mirrored in the lives of the characters?

I think Killroy hit it right on the head with his reply. To add to it though; I feel that much of the town was subjecting themselves to this by [for the most part] ignoring the strange things that go on in their town. The town was filled with legends and myths as opposed to fact because of their inability or unwillingness to ask the right people the right questions.

[madame sosostris]

Geez. I mean, I guess I could understand why someone may feel that way if the anti-depressants had not been introduced, or the clues that something tragic had happened to the guy in the past as the guy would seem like an anti-social ass. But not only were those brought up very early, the hooker incident (to me) was the first sign that Gould was not happy in his state and something had happen to "wake" him up a bit, that his real self had stirred, so to speak.

But even beyond all that, the character was perfect in such a gothic setting. Not an anti-hero, as he wasn't, but just a flawed one. I thought that made him more real. Oh well, strange how people interpret the same things so differently.

(I just realized how much I love to use commas, even when they are not needed)

thanks so much for the input, killroy. i think a lot of editors like to play it safe, because they fear flawed characters are too risky and won't have broad appeal.
it's nice to get reader feedback on the issue.

lately i've found myself using little or no commas. :eek:

[madame sosostris]

Now that I have finished the book, which was great, I figured it was safe to answer some of these questions.

Question 1:

Did it bother you when David Gould ordered a hooker, or did it give you more insight into his character?

By calling an "escort" service, he was getting what he wanted and in some strange way, he was doing something very commendable by not hurting a girl that he would have found at a bar.



that's what i thought too!

and about the gullah culture and everything savannah -- i've never gotten so caught up in researching a book. everywhere i turned i found something else that was fascinating. i even hope to start spending part of my winters in savannah soon. i think they need to restore some of the tunnels so people can visit them.