Writing last week from the hospital bedside of her dear friend, Charli Mills invited Rough Writers to compose a 99-word story featuring a rose. I immediately thought of a scene from my forthcoming novel, Sugar and Snails, in which the main character, Diana, looks back on her childhood. There’s not much of a narrative arc in this episode, but I thought I’d share it anyway, slightly amended, although it works better in context where it gains an additional layer of meaning:
“Don’t think it’s all a bed of roses,” said my mother, handing me the potato peeler and nudging me towards the sink.
Since my sister had left home, I’d taken to helping out with cooking and cleaning. I didn’t mind, but I was embarrassed that my mother would think I was hankering after a future as a housewife. It seemed to me that a bed of roses summed up my mother’s life exactly: perfumed petals imprisoned within a tangle of thorns. I wanted to ramble beyond the pot of soil in which she’d planted me. I wanted to bloom.
“Don’t think it’s all a bed of roses,” said my mother, handing me the potato peeler and nudging me towards the sink.
Since my sister had left home, I’d taken to helping out with cooking and cleaning. I didn’t mind, but I was embarrassed that my mother would think I was hankering after a future as a housewife. It seemed to me that a bed of roses summed up my mother’s life exactly: perfumed petals imprisoned within a tangle of thorns. I wanted to ramble beyond the pot of soil in which she’d planted me. I wanted to bloom.
Then I got to thinking, a prickly rose would make a good symbol for my character and, if I didn’t already have such a gorgeous cover, and if it hadn’t been done so much before, a rose among thorns might have done the trick. Diana wants to be a rose but she thinks she has to excise all her thorns to become one. Painful as the process is, she still doesn’t manage to remove them all. Sadly, until she can recognise the flower she’s always been, her remaining thorns hold back the very people who might be able to help.
I suppose much of life is like a bed of roses; if we’re lucky, if we’re nurtured, we’ll blossom so vibrantly we’ll hardly notice the thorns. In the slice of life that is the publication journey, however, the thorns are so dense it can be hard to believe those tiny buds will ever break through to the light. Even with a thick pair of gloves to hack back the thicket, we’ll get scratched in the process of bringing our darlings into the world.
I suppose much of life is like a bed of roses; if we’re lucky, if we’re nurtured, we’ll blossom so vibrantly we’ll hardly notice the thorns. In the slice of life that is the publication journey, however, the thorns are so dense it can be hard to believe those tiny buds will ever break through to the light. Even with a thick pair of gloves to hack back the thicket, we’ll get scratched in the process of bringing our darlings into the world.
But, with just over six weeks to publication day, I’m at a very good point in that journey at the moment. Of course, I’m nervous that my roses won’t smell sweetly as I’d like them to, the petals won’t be as silky as they ought. But they’re genuine blooms and, most importantly, much bigger than the thorns.
So enough with stretching metaphors; let me give you a quick update on what’s been happening since the cover reveal seven weeks ago. The text has been proofread and formatted, and advance copies sent out to early reviewers and potential endorsers (the results of which I’m hoping to be able to make public soon). Mr A has read it for the first time and found it “not a chore to read” (high praise from him and, to be fair, it’s not his genre, but I don’t think we’ll be using his feedback as part of the promotional guff, even though he reported feeling rather emotional at the end). I’ve read it for the nth time and generated a lengthy list of minor changes (mostly word substitutions) that will improve the flow. (Interestingly, although it’s a serious book on a serious subject, it’s not without humour, and I’ve found it funnier each time I come back to it.) I think we’re on track for the e-book version to be available for preorder early next month.
So enough with stretching metaphors; let me give you a quick update on what’s been happening since the cover reveal seven weeks ago. The text has been proofread and formatted, and advance copies sent out to early reviewers and potential endorsers (the results of which I’m hoping to be able to make public soon). Mr A has read it for the first time and found it “not a chore to read” (high praise from him and, to be fair, it’s not his genre, but I don’t think we’ll be using his feedback as part of the promotional guff, even though he reported feeling rather emotional at the end). I’ve read it for the nth time and generated a lengthy list of minor changes (mostly word substitutions) that will improve the flow. (Interestingly, although it’s a serious book on a serious subject, it’s not without humour, and I’ve found it funnier each time I come back to it.) I think we’re on track for the e-book version to be available for preorder early next month.
Meanwhile, we’re sampling wine for the launch parties – sounds idyllic, but we’re not big drinkers in this household, and we’re going for boxes, being both more economical and easier than bottles to transport to the venues – and (excited about meeting up with old friends and with new ones from the blogosphere) trying to keep track of who’s confirmed they’re going to come. There’s been a brilliant response to my request for bloggers to host guest posts and I’ve had the pleasure of completing my first author Q&A. I’ve also got three events booked so far in local libraries during August and my publisher is organising bookshop signings as well. It feels rather frantic at times keeping on top of it, but mostly it’s great fun and I’m so pleased it’s happening.
Any other suggestions as to where I ought to be at this stage are most welcome. Thanks, as always, for your feedback and support.
Any other suggestions as to where I ought to be at this stage are most welcome. Thanks, as always, for your feedback and support.
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