I'm already thinking about and planning out my newest new book, and this one ...well, it won't be like the others. I knew it from the first time I began thinking about it, but I wasn't quite sure what genre I could or would eventually categorize it in so that I could plan the ending. You see, you have to have the end before you have the beginning -- at least, that's how I write anyway.
I knew the title of the book very early on; it comes from a place I love, absolutely love, and of course, it's in Edinburgh, Scotland. Oh, it's not Arthur's seat, the Salsbury crags, or even Calton Hill, Castlerock, or Canongate. The place that will be captured in the newest new book, is a cemetery called The Grange. Wait...what? Did she say it was going to take place in a cemetery? OK, that's weird, and it may be a little creepy too. OK, you've got me.
I wanted to write a horror book. I did. I wanted to write a big, fat, scary, crazy-suspenseful book about blood, gore, and wickedness until I realized I'm not good at being all that bad. I keep thinking if I write something wicked, I may invite demons to dance in my head or something. No one wants that. I can't pull it off. I can pull off creepy. I can pull off strange, odd, weird, bizarre, and fringe -- but I can't pull off evil. It's just not there, and really, that's a good thing.
The Grange is a relatively younger or newer cemetery, at least by Edinburgh or Scotland standards. Established in 1847, only a few graves were dug for a few years; it took a while for the dead to catch on. There will be a good enough story to tell about the place, and of course, as always, there will be some truth to it, and enough fiction to keep the book honestly untruthful. I can't have anyone accusing me of writing a true historical book -- not when I'm a novelist. That can't happen. The disclaimer may be a couple of pages if I need to be really clear about some facts.
Anyway, that's the big new story coming out of my heart right after the big new story I'm writing now, which took the place of another big story that I've set aside and will write it right after I write The Grange. I could use an entire year off so I could sit myself down and write the 10-12 books I have floating around in my head at the moment -- at least I have a plan! If I die before the plan comes to pass, so be it - if the Rapture comes before the plan comes to pass, even better. But...if we're all here, and nothing happens, I'll be the one writing -- and writing...and well, you know.
No comments:
Post a Comment