CHRIS RICE COOPER BLOG is ART and HUMANITY Framed In The PhotoFeature Story

CHRIS RICE COOPER is a newspaper/fiction writer, poet, photographer, painter. CRC Blog is an INCLUSIVE & NON-PROFIT BLOG acknowledging ALL voices, ALL individuals, ALL political views, ALL philosophies, ALL religions including Islamism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaism, Agnosticism, Atheism. She has a B.S. in Criminal Justice & completed her workshops required for her Master’s in Creative Writing. She lives in St. Louis. CRC website http://chrisricecooper.com/

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Jim Picariello’s screenplay "Igor and Frankie" is #183 in the never-ending series called INSIDE THE EMOTION OF FICTION

Chris Rice Cooper

caccoop@aol.com

https://www.facebook.com/car.cooper.7

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***The CRC Blog welcomes submissions from published and unpublished fiction genre (including screenwriters and playwrights) for INSIDE THE EMOTION OF FICTION. Contact CRC Blog via email at caccoop@aol.com or personal Facebook messaging at https://www.facebook.com/car.cooper.7

****Jim Picariello’s screenplay Igor and Frankie is #183 in the never-ending series called INSIDE THE EMOTION OF FICTION where the Chris Rice Cooper Blog (CRC) focuses on one specific excerpt from a fiction genre and how that fiction writer wrote that specific excerpt. All INSIDE THE EMOTION OF FICTION links are at the end of this piece

What is the date you began writing this screenplay and the date when you completely finished the piece of fiction? I thought about the concept about 10 years ago, but what the story was really about hit me, mostly all at once, while traveling to the Austin Film Festival Writer's Conference in 2017. I completed my second major revision in early 2020.

Where did you do most of your writing? And please describe in detail. I have a desk with two screens, one for cards and one for the script. On the desk I have good luck charms and little notes around my screen, reminding me to get in a state of play, and that death will come soon enough (what a motivator!)

What were your writing habits while writing this screenplay - did you drink something as you wrote, listen to music, write in pen and paper, directly on the laptop; specific time of day? I don't write during a certain time of day, it's more when I can guilt myself enough to do it. Then nothing stops me. I write on a computer and mostly outline like crazy first, and actually writing the script is like 30% of the entire effort. For this one I had a custom girl-power rock Spotify playlist I listened to to get me in the mood every session, and then I would listen to someone else's "music to read by" playlist when I was working on dialogue.

What were some of the songs and singers you listened to while writing Igor and Frankie? Here's the top 10 songs in the I&F song list:

Volcano Girls by Veruca Salt

Frankenstein by The Edgar Winter Group

Hit Me With Your Best Shot by Pat Benatar

I Hate Myself For Loving You by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

Barracuda by Heart

Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper

One Way or Another by Blondie

The Warrior by Patty Smyth

Just a Girl by No Doubt

Bad Reputation by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

What is the summary of your screenplay? Chaos abounds at the MIT women’s dorm when Igor mistakenly creates a serum that brings stuffed animals to life. When the formula’s stolen, she must team up with Frankie, her manic-inventor roommate-from-hell, to steal it back and subdue the resulting rampaging, fluffy abomination.

Please include just one excerpt. This one excerpt can be as short or as long as you prefer.

This is the opening:

EXT. FOREST DIRT ROAD – NIGHT

LIGHTNING and THUNDER.

Rain pelts a small, pasty-white HUNCHBACK (12) in a gray poncho, who wheezes and runs, terrified.

HUNCHBACK

Papa... Papa!

A lightning flash silhouettes two TEEN BOYS giving chase.

TEEN BOY

Yeah, try and run, you freak!

The Hunchback limps, trying to free a leg from a tangle of brambles. A stone cottage nears, a candle lit in the window.

INT. STONE COTTAGE – MOMENTS LATER

The plain, heavy-wood, front door slams shut in the dark.

A candle appears, illuminating the still-wheezing IGOR. Her wet, dirty-blonde hair covers her face.

She tries to catch her breath as PAPA (30’s) -- bearded, broad shoulders, warm eyes -- leans in with the candle.

Power turns back on, revealing a simple, modern-day living room: couch, TV, piano, etc. Papa blows out the candle.

PAPA

(Upstate NY accent)

Ah, there it is. We’re not much without
electricity, are we?

Igor whips off her poncho as she struggles to breathe. She wears a baggy, untucked, gray flannel shirt.

She's the embodiment of a wheezing frump-with-a-hump.

PAPA

Time for some box-breathing, love.

Igor focuses as an imaginary square floats above her, each side lighting up as she completes a 4-beat:

Inhale - - - -

Hold - - - -

Exhale - - - -

Hold - - - -

And as the classic Igor-wheezing slows....

Her tiny "hunch" (same color/pattern as her shirt) opens its eyes and unfurls its CHAMELEON tail.

It hobbles around on her shoulder and kisses Igor with its long, sticky tongue.

IGOR

(Upstate NY accent)

Thanks Sklodowska. I feel better now.

Why is this excerpt so emotional for you as a writer to write? And can you describe your own emotional experience of writing this specific excerpt? *and humor is one of many emotions. I wanted to challenge expectations about what kind of movie this would be. We all imagine this being an old-time story about a young male hunchback, but she's female in a modern day story, with a chameleon hunch, and this begins to turn everything we think of the Frankenstein story (the movies, not the book) on its head.

Were there any deletions from this excerpt that you can share with us? And can you please include a photo of your marked up rough drafts of this excerpt. I did a hell of a lot of word-smithing in this script, especially this page, to focus the misdirection and give us a tiny bit of insight into this Igor character. I don't have any of the many hard copies of my marked up notes to share, they've all been recycled.

Has this screenplay been made into a film? And if NOT which actors would you like to portray your characters in this screenplay? It hasn't been made yet, and it was written as an animated feature, though readers have said it could be shot as a highly stylized live-action. But as an animation, my dream would be Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to voice Igor and Frankie.

How many pages? What does that equate to how long the film would be? It is 100 pages and is written to be approximately 100 minutes of screen time.

Jim Picariello is a screenwriter/filmmaker who is trying to break into the industry from rural, coastal Maine. It's a surefire plan!

He is a 2018 Stowe Story Labs alum. His dark romantic comedy screenplay, The Cult of Us, was a Quarter-Finalist in the Nicholl Fellowship. His short script, Ninja Chiropractor, was a Semifinalist in the 2019 Austin Film Festival screenplay competition, and he's a 2-time Pitch Finalist at Austin.

Jim’s first 4-minute short film, This Time It’s Shopping, made for $100, was selected by 18 film festivals and won 5 top awards. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kjo-creLVk

This earned the attention of Sesame Street, who hired Jim to make a short film about “The Number 6” on a Maine farm, which aired on HBO's Sesame Street in 2018.

Jim’s subsequent 5-minute short film, Passive Aggressive Dads, was selected by 22 festivals, including Sedona, Nantucket, Breckenridge, SOHO, and BFI London. The film has also won 3 top awards, including Best Comedy (up against features) at the Beaufort International Film Festival. https://vimeo.com/275326334

He has co-written and directed a family-friendly short film, The Mushroom Huntress, starring Hoyt Richards (the world's first male supermodel) and Lacey Hannan, and is currently in festivals.

Most recently, Jim's feminist, animated, family feature screenplay, Igor and Frankie, has been a Austin Film Festival Second Rounder, Nicholl Fellowship Top 10%, a quarterfinalist script (so far) at the Nashville Film Festival, and an Official Selection at the Austin Revolution Film Festival.

Jim's Contact Info:

jimpicariello@gmail.com

http://jimpicariello.com

https://www.facebook.com/jimmypicariello

http://twitter.com/jimpicariello

https://imdb.me/jimpicariello

INSIDE THE EMOTION OF FICTION links

001 11 15 2018 Nathaniel Kaine’s

Thriller Novel

John Hunter – The Veteran

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/11/001-inside-emotion-of-fiction-nathaniel.html

002 11 18 2018 Ed Protzzel’s

Futuristic/Mystery/Thriller

The Antiquities Dealer

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/11/002-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ed.html

003 11 23 2018 Janice Seagraves’s

Science Fiction Romance

Exodus Arcon

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/11/003-inside-emotion-of-fiction-exodus.html

004 11 29 2018 Christian Fennell’s

Literary Fiction Novel

The Fiddler in the Night

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/11/004-inside-emotion-of-fiction-christian.html

005 12 02 2018 Jessica Mathews’s

Adult Paranormal Romance

Death Adjacent

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/12/5-inside-emotion-of-fiction-jessica.html

006 12 04 2018 Robin Jansen’s

Literary Fiction Novel

Ruby the Indomitable

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/12/006-inside-emotion-of-fiction-robin.html

007 12 12 2018 Adair Valerez’s

Literary Fiction Novel

Scrim

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/12/007-inside-emotion-of-fiction-adair.html

008 12 17 218 Kit Frazier’s

Mystery Novel

Dead Copy

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/12/008-inside-emotion-of-fiction-kit.html

009 12 21 2019 Robert Craven’s

Noir/Spy Novel

The Road of a Thousand Tigers

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2018/12/009-inside-emotion-of-fiction-robert.html

010 01 13 2019 Kristine Goodfellow’s

Contemporary Romantic Fiction

The Other Twin

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/01/010-inside-emotion-of-fictions-other.html

011 01 17 2019 Nancy J Cohen’s

Cozy Mystery

Trimmed To Death

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/01/11-inside-emotion-of-fiction-nancy.html

012 01 20 2019 Charles Salzberg’s

Crime Novel

Second Story Man

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/01/12-inside-emotion-of-fiction-charles.html

013 01 23 2019 Alexis Fancher’s

Flash Fiction

His Full Attention

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/01/13-inside-emotion-of-fiction-alexis.html

014 01 27 2019 Brian L Tucker’s

Young Adult/Historical

POKEWEED: AN ILLUSTRATED NOVELLA

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/01/14-inside-emotion-of-fiction-brian-l.html

015 01 31 2019 Robin Tidwell’s

Dystopian

Reduced

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/01/15-inside-emotion-of-ficton-reduced-by.html

016 02 07 2019 J.D. Trafford’s

Legal Fiction/Mystery

Little Boy Lost

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/02/16-inside-emotion-of-fiction-little-boy.html

017 02 08 2019 Paula Shene’s

Young Adult ScieFi/Fantasy/Romance/Adventure

My Quest Begins

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/02/017-inside-emotion-of-fiction-my-quest.html

018 02 13 2019 Talia Carner’s

Mainstream Fiction/ Suspense/ Historical

Hotel Moscow

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/02/18-inside-emotion-of-fiction-talia.html

019 02 15 2019 Rick Robinson’s

Multidimensional Fiction

Alligator Alley

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/02/19-inside-emotion-of-fiction-rick.html

020 02 21 2019 LaVerne Thompson’s

Urban Fantasy

The Soul Collectors

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/02/20-inside-emotion-of-fictions-soul.html

021 02 27 2019 Marlon L Fick’s

Post-Colonialist Novel

The Nowhere Man

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/02/21-inside-emotion-of-fictions-nowhere.html

022 03 02 2019 Carol Johnson’s

Mainstream Novel

Silk And Ashes

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/03/22-inside-emotion-of-fictions-silk-and.html

023 03 06 2019 Samuel Snoek-Brown’s

Short Story Collection

There Is No Other Way to Worship Them

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/03/23-inside-emotion-of-fictions-there-is.html

024 03 08 2019 Marlin Barton’s

Short Story Collection

Pasture Art

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/03/24-inside-emotion-of-fictions-pasture.html

025 03 18 2019 Laura Hunter’s

Historical Fiction

Beloved Mother

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/03/25-inside-emotion-of-fictions-beloved.html

026 03 21 2019 Maggie Rivers’s

Romance

Magical Mistletoe

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/03/26-inside-emotion-of-fictions-magical.html

027 03 25 2019 Faith Gibson’s

Paranormal Romance

Rafael

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/03/27-inside-emotion-of-fictions-rafael-by.html

028 03 27 2019 Valerie Nieman’s

Tall Tale

To The Bones

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/03/28-inside-emotion-of-fictions-to-bones.html

029 04 04 2019 Betty Bolte’s

Paranormal Romance

Veiled Visions of Love

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/04/29-inside-emotion-of-fictions-veiled.html

030 04 05 2019 Marianne Maili’s

Tragicomedy

Lucy, go see

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/04/30-inside-emotion-of-fictions-lucy-go.html

031 04 10 2019 Gregory Erich Phillips’s

Mainstream Fiction

The Exile

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/04/31-inside-emotion-of-fictions-exile-by.html

032 04 15 2019 Jason Ament’s

Speculative Fiction

Rabid Dogs

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/04/32-inside-emotion-of-fictions-rabid.html

033 04 24 2019 Stephen P. Keirnan’s

Historical Novel

The Baker’s Secret

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/04/33-inside-emotion-of-fictions-bakers.html

034 05 01 2019 George Kramer’s

Fantasy

Arcadis: Prophecy Book

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/34-inside-emotion-of-fictions-arcadis.html

035 05 05 2019 Erika Sams’s

Adventure/Fantasy/Romance

Rose of Dance

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/35-inside-emotion-of-fictions-rose-of.html

036 05 07 2019 Mark Wisniewski’s

Literary Fiction

Watch Me Go

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/36-inside-emotion-of-fictions-watch-me.html

037 05 08 2019 Marci Baun’s

Science Fiction/Horror

The Whispering House

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/37-inside-emotion-of-fictions.html

038 05 10 2019 Suzanne M. Wolfe’s

Historical Fiction

Murder By Any Name

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/38-inside-emotion-of-fictions-murder-by.html

039 05 12 2019 Edward DeVito’s

Historical/Fantasy

The Woodstock Paradox

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/39-inside-emotion-of-fictions-woodstock.html

040 05 14 2019 Gytha Lodge’s

Literary/Crime

She Lies In Wait

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/40-inside-emotion-of-fictions-she-lies.html

041 05 16 2019 Kari Bovee’s

Historical Fiction/Mystery

Peccadillo At The Palace: An Annie Oakley Mystery

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/41-inside-emotion-of-fictions.html

042 05 20 2019 Annie Seaton’s

Time Travel Romance

Follow Me

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/42-inside-emotion-of-fictions-follow-me.html

043 05 22 2019 Paula Rose Michelson’s

Inspirational Christian Romance

Rosa & Miguel – Love’s Legacy: Prequel to The Naomi

Chronicles

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/43-inside-emotion-of-fictions-rosa.html

044 05 24 2019 Gracie C McKeever’s

BDMS/Interracial Romance

On The Edge

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/05/44-inside-emotion-of-fictions-on-edge.html

045 06 03 2019 Micheal Maxwell’s

Mystery

The Soul of Cole

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/45-inside-emotion-of-fictions-soul-of.html

046 06 04 2019 Jeanne Mackin’s

Historical

The Last Collection: A Novel of Elsa Schiaparelli and

Coco Chanel

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/46-inside-emotion-of-fictions-last.html

047 06 07 2019 Philip Shirley’s

Suspense/Thriller

The Graceland Conspiracy

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/47-inside-emotion-of-fictions-graceland.html

048 06 08 2019 Bonnie Kistler’s

Domestic Suspense

The House on Fire

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/48-inside-emotion-of-fictions-house-on.html

049 06 13 2019 Barbara Taylor Sissel’s

Domestic Suspense/Family Drama

Tell No One

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/049-inside-emotion-of-fictions-tell-no.html

050 06 18 2019 Charles Salzberg’s

Short Story/ Crime Fiction

“No Good Deed” from Down to the River

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/50-inside-emotion-of-fictions-no-good.html

051 06 19 2019 Rita Dragonette’s

Historical Fiction

The Fourteenth of September

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/51-inside-emotion-of-fictions.html

052 06 20 2019 Nona Caspers’s

Literary Novel/Collage

The Fifth Woman

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/52-inside-emotion-of-fictions-fifth.html

053 06 26 2019 Jeri Westerson’s

Paranormal Romance

Shadows in the Mist

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/53-inside-emotion-of-fictions-shadows.html

054 06 28 2019 Brian Moreland’s

Horror

The Devil’s Woods

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/54-inside-emotion-of-fictions-devils.html

055 06 29 2019 Rebecca Gomez Farrell’s

Epic Fantasy

Wings Unseen

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/55-inside-emotion-of-fiction-wings.html

056 07 02 2019 Randee Green’s

Mystery Novel

Criminal Misdeeds

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/56-inside-emotion-of-fiction-criminal.html

057 07 03 2019 Saralyn Ricahrd’s

Mystery Novel

Murder In The One Percent

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/57-inside-emotion-of-fiction-murder-in.html

#058 07 04 2019 Hannah Mary McKinnon’s

Domestic Suspense

Her Secret Son

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/58-inside-emotion-of-fiction-her-secret.html

#059 07 05 2019 Sonia Saikaley’s

Contemporary Women’s Literature

The Allspice Bath

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/59-inside-emotion-of-fiction-allspice.html

#060 07 09 2019 Olivia Gaines’s

Romance Suspense Serial

Blind Luck

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/60-inside-emotion-of-fiction-blind-luck.html

#061 07 11 2019 Anne Raeff’s

Literary Fiction

Winter Kept Us Warm

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/061-inside-emotion-of-fiction-winter.html

#062 07 12 2918 Vic Sizemore’s

Literary Fiction-Short Stories

I Love You I’m Leaving

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/62-inside-emotion-of-fiction-i-love-you.html

#063 07 13 2019 Deborah Riley Magnus’s

Dark Paranormal Urban Fantasy

THE ORPHANS BOOK ONE: THE LOST RACE

TRILOGY

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/f063-inside-emotion-of-fiction-orphans.html

#064 07 14 2019 Elizabeth Bell’s

Historical Fiction

NECESSARY SINS

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/064-inside-emotion-of-fiction-necessary.html

#065 07 15 2019 Lori Baker Martin’s

Literary Novel

BITTER WATER

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/065-inside-emotion-of-fiction-bitter.html

#066 08 01 2019 Sabine Chennault’s

Historical Novel

THE CORPSMAN’S WIFE

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/66-inside-emotion-of-fictions-corpsmans.html

#067 08 02 2019 Margaret Porter’s

Historical Biographical Fiction

BEAUTIFUL INVENTION: A NOVEL OF HEDY LAMARR

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/67-inside-emotion-of-fictions-beautiful.html

#068 08 04 2019 Hank Phillippi Ryan’s

Suspense

THE MURDER LIST

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/68-inside-emotion-of-fictions-murder.html

069 08 08 2019 Diana Y. Paul’s

Literary Mainstream Fiction

THINGS UNSAID

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/69-inside-emotion-of-fictions-things.html

070 08 10 2019 Phyllis H. Moore’s

Women’s Historical Fiction

BIRDIE & JUDE

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/70-inside-emotion-of-fiction-birdie.html

071 08 11 2019 Sara Dahmen’s

Historical Fiction

TINSMITH 1865

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/71-inside-emotion-of-fiction-tinsmith.html

072 08 19 2019 Carolyn Breckinridge’s

Short Story Collection

KALIEDESCOPE & OTHER STORIES

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/72-inside-emotion-of-fictions.html

073 08 21 2019 Alison Ragsdale’s

Emotional Women’s Fiction

THE ART OF REMEMBERING

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/73-inside-emotion-of-fiction-art-of.html

074 08 22 2019 Lee Matthew Goldberg’s

Suspense Thriller

THE DESIRE CARD

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/74-inside-emotion-of-fictions-desire.html

075 08 23 2019 Jonathan Brown’s

Mystery/Amateur P.I.

THE BIG CRESCENDO

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/75-inside-emotion-of-fictions-big.html

076 09 02 2019 Chera Hammons Miller’s

Literary Fiction w/ suspense, concern with animals & land management

Monarchs of the Northeast Kingdom

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/76-inside-emotion-of-fictions-monarchs.html

077 09 09 019 Joe William Taylor’s

Literary Mystery

The Theoretics of Love

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/77-inside-emotion-of-fiction-theoretics.html

078 09 15 2019 Linda Hughes’s

Romantic Suspense

Secret of the Island

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/78-inside-emotion-of-fiction-secrets-of.html

079 09 19 2019 Max Elliot Anderson’s

Middle Grade Adventure/Mystery

Snake Island

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/79-inside-emotion-of-fiction-snake.html

080 09 22 2019 Danny Adams’s

Science Fiction

Dayworld: A Hole In Wednesday

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/80-inside-emotion-of-fiction-dayworld.html

081 09 24 2019 Arianna Dagnino’s

Social/Historical/Adventure

The Afrikaner

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/81-inside-emotion-of-fiction-afrikaner.html

082 09 29 2019 Lawrence Verigin’s

Thriller/Suspense

Seed of Control

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/82-inside-emotion-of-fiction-seed-of.html

083 10 05 2019 Emma Khoury’s

Fantasy

The Sword And Shield

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/83-inside-emotion-of-fiction-sword-and.html

#084 10 07 2019 Steve McManus’s

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

SEVEN DEVILS

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/84-inside-emotion-of-fiction-seven.html

#085 10 08 2019 Sheila Lowe’s

Mystery/Psychological/Suspense with Scientific Bent

PROOF OF LIVE

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/085-inside-emotion-of-fiction-proof-of.html

#086 10 10 2019 Jess Neal Woods’s

Historical Fiction

THE PROCESS OF FRAYING

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/86-inside-emotion-of-fiction-process-of.html

#087 10 11 2019 Karen Odden’s

Historical Suspense

A TRACE OF DECEIT

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/87-inside-emotion-of-fiction-trace-of.html

#88 10 14 2019 Kate Maruyama’s

Love, Loss & Supernatural

“HARROWGATE”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/88-inside-emotion-of-fiction-harrowgate.html

#89 10 17 2019 Sherry Harris’s

Mystery

“LET’S FAKE A DEAL”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/89-inside-emotion-of-fiction-lets-fake.html

#90 10 18 2019 Linda Mooney’s

Science Fiction Apocalyptic/ Post Apocalyptic

“THE TRUNK”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/90-inside-emotion-of-fiction-trunk-by.html

#91 10 19 2019 Jayne Martin’s

Flash Fiction Short Story Collection

“TENDER CUTS”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/91-inside-emotion-of-fiction-tender.html

#92 10 22 2019 Janice Cole Hopkins’s

Inspirational Romance

“IT ALL STARTED AT THE MASQUERADE”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/92-inside-emotion-of-fiction-it-all.html

#93 10 29 2019 Kristi Petersen Schoonover’s

Short Story Collection

“THE SHADOWS BEHIND”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/93-inside-emotion-of-fiction-shadows.html

#94 11 01 2019 David Henry Sterry’s

Fiction: Sexual Violence

“THE TENDERLOIN WARS”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/94-inside-emotion-of-fiction-tenderloin.html

#95 11 03 2019 Jay Requard’s

Dark Fantasy/Horror

“DEATH & DUST: THE PALE SAND ADVENTURES”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/95-inside-emotion-of-fiction-death-dust.html

#96 11 04 2019 Caroline Leavitt’s

Fiction

“WITH OR WITHOUT YOU”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/96-inside-emotion-of-fiction-with-or.html

#97 11 06 2019 Kelsey Clifton’s

Science Fiction

“A DAY OUT OF TIME”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/97-inside-emotion-of-fiction-day-out-of.html

#098 11 13 2019 John F Allen’s

Urban Fantasy Tale

“The God Killers’
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/98-inside-emotion-of-fiction-god.html

#99 11 16 2019 Damian McNicholl’s

Historical Novel

“The Moment of Truth”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/99-inside-emotion-of-fiction-moment-of.html

#100 11 19 2019 Stacia Levy’s

Mystery/Suspense Novel

“Girl Crush”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/100-inside-emotion-of-fiction-girl.html

#101 11 24 2019 Charlotte Morgan’s

Fiction Novel

“Protecting Elvis”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/101-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html

#102 11 26 2019 T. L. Moore’s

Children’s Christian Fiction

“Ed On My Shoulder: Maria & The Candy Trail”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/102-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ed-on-my.html

#103 11 27 2019 Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg’s

Coming of Age Literary Novel

The Nine

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/103-inside-emotion-of-fiction-nine-by.html

#104 11 29 2019 Charlotte Blackwell’s

Adult Paranormal

“MYSTIC EMBRACE”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/104-inside-emotion-of-fiction-mystic.html

#105 12 07 2019 Mike Burrell’s

Satire Novel

“THE LAND OF GRACE”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/105-inside-emotion-of-fiction-land-of.html

#106 12 09 2019 Phil McCarron’s

Screenplay

“Escapement”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/106-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html

#107 12 11 2019 Wendy H. Jones’s

Crime Fiction/Police Procedural Novel

“KILLER’S COUNTDOWN”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/107-inside-emotion-of-fiction-killers.html

#108 12 13 2019 Sandra Arnold’s

Historical Literary Fiction

“The Ash, the Well and the Blue Bell”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/1

8-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ash-well.html

#109 12 16 2019 Amalia Carosella’s

Historical/Contemporary/Duel Timeline/ Women’s

Fiction

“DAUGHTER OF A THOUSAND YEARS”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/109-inside-emotion-of-fiction-daughter_17.html

#110 12 19 2019 Laura Bickle’s

Weird Western/Contemporary Fantasy

“DARK ALCHEMY”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/110-inside-emotion-of-fiction-dark.html

#111 12 27 2019 Brian Pinkerton’s

Science Fiction Thriller

“THE GEMINI EXPERIMENT”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/111-inside-emotion-of-fiction-gemini.html

#112 12 28 2019 Sandra de Helen’s

Lesbian Thriller

“TILL DARKNESS COMES”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/112-inside-emotion-of-fiction-till.html

#113 12 29 2019 Jo Wilde’s

Vampire Thriller

“THE CROSSING”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/113-inisde-emotion-of-fiction-crossing.html

#114 12 30 2019 Sam Richard’s

Short Story Collection of Weird and Transgressive

Horror

“To Wallow In Ash and Sorrows”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/114-inside-emotion-of-fiction-to-wallow.html

#115 12 31 2019 Duncan B Barlow’s

Literary Fiction Novel

“A DOG BETWEEN US”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/inside-emotion-of-fiction-dog-between.html

#116 01 02 2020 Allison Landa’s

Young Adult Novel

“BAD HAIR”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/116-inside-emotion-of-fiction-bad-hair.html

#117 01 03 2020 Pablo Medina’s

Literary Satire Novel

“THE CUBAN COMEDY”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/117-inside-emotion-of-fiction-cuban.html

#118 01 06 2020 William Trent Pancoast’s

Historical/Literary Novel

“THE ROAD TO MATEWAN”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/118-inside-emotion-of-fiction-road-to.html

#119 01 07 2020 Jane Bernstein’s

Contemporary Novel

“The Face Tells the Secret”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/119-inside-emotion-of-fiction-face.html

#120 01 09 2020 Terry Kroenung’s

Young Adult, Historical and Fantasy

“Brimstone And Lily”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/120-inside-emotion-of-fiction-brimstone.html

#121 01 12 2020 Melissa Yi’s

Fiction Thriller

“GRAVEYARD SHIFT”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/121-inside-emotion-of-fiction-melissa.html

#122 01 15 2020 Marcie R. Rendon’s

Crime Thriller

“GIRL GONE MISSING”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/122-inside-emotion-of-fiction-girl-gone.html

#123 01 16 2020 Tori Eldridge’s

Multi Genre Novel

“THE NINJA DAUGHTER”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/123-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ninja.html

#124 01 17 2020 Kristen Joy Wilks’s

Christian Romantic Comedy

“YELLOWSTONE YONDERING”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/124

inside-emotion-of-fiction.html

#125 01 20 2020 Susan C. Shea’s

Cozy Mystery

“DRESSED FOR DEATH IN BURGUNDY”

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/125-inside-emotion-of-fiction-dressed.html

#126 01 22 2020 Phong Nguyen’s

Improvisational Fiction

“ROUDABOUT”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/126-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html

#127 01 23 2020 Kate Thornton’s

Mystery Short Story In Its Entirety

“Ai Witness”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/127-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ai.html

#128 01 24 2020 Phil McCarron’s

Semi Fictional Essays

“The Great Facepalm: The Farce of 21^st Century

Normality”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/128-inside-emotion-of-fiction-great.html

#129 01 27 2020 Kenneth Weene’s

Historicized Literary Fiction

“Red And White”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/129-inside-emotion-of-fiction-red-and.html

#130 01 28 2020 Graham Storrs’s

Science Fiction Thriller

“TimeSplash”

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com

/2020/01/130-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html

#131 02 08 2020 Angela Slatter’s

Short Story “Terrible As An Army With Banners”

From her Short Story Collection THE BITTERWOOD BIBLE AND OTHER RECOUNTINGS

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/02/131-inside-emotion-of-fiction-terrible.html

#132 02 11 2020 Joan Joachim’s

Romance

Just One Kiss

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/02/132-inside-emotion-of-fiction-just-one.html

#133 02 16 2020 Kelsey Clifton’s

Science Fiction

A DAY OUT OF TIME

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/02/133-inside-emotion-of-fiction-day-out.html

#134 02 17 2020 Soraya M Lane’s

Women Historical Fiction

THE GIRLS OF PEARL HARBOR

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/02/134-inside-emotion-of-fiction-girls-of.html

#135 03 07 2020

Linked Fiction

BLEACHERS Fifty-Four Linked Fictions

By Joseph Mills

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/135-inside-emotion-of-fiction-bleachers.html

#136 03 15 2020

Science Fiction Romance

BLUE VISION

By Marie Lavender

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/136-inside-emotion-of-fiction-blue.html

#137 03 17 2020

Crime Fiction

12 Bullets

by O’Neil De Noux

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/137-inside-emotion-of-fiction-12.html

#138 03 18 2020

Flash Fiction Piece

Radical

by Kelle Grace Gaddis

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/138-inside-emotion-of-fiction-radical.html

#139 03 20 2020

Mystery

HERE BE MONSTERS

By Jamie Sheffield

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/139-inside-emotion-of-fiction-here-be.html

#140 03 21 2020

Character Driven Novel

UNBROKEN

By Jamie Lisa Forbes

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/140-inside-emotion-of-fiction-unbroken.html

#141 03 23 2020

Literary Murder Mystery

COLD COUNTRY

By Russell Rowland

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/141-inside-emotion-of-fiction-cold.html

#142 04 01 2020

Sci-Fi/Paranormal

SWEET SLEEP

By Kim Cormack

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/142-inside-emotion-of-fiction-sweet.html

#143 04 02 2020

Western Noir Short Story

“Night Rounds”

by James Reasoner

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/143-inside-emotion-of-fiction-night.html

#144 04 03 2020

Southern Fiction

LITTLE TEA

By Claire Fullerton

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/144-inside-emotion-of-fiction-little.html

#145 04 04 2020

Mainstream novel with elements of crime, mystery, and magic

THE FORGETTING FLOWER
by Karen Hugg

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/145-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html

#146 04 07 2020

Historical Fiction

MEDICIS DAUGHTER

by Sophie Perinot

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/146-inside-emotion-of-fiction-medicis.html

#147 04 08 2020

Dark Urban Fantasy with elements of Paranormal Romance

COVEN BORN

by Stephanie Reisner aka AUDREY BRICE

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/147-inside-emotion-of-fiction-coven.html

#148 04 13 2020

Mystery With A Fantasy Twist

DEATH LIVES IN THE WATER

By Shoshana Edwards

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/148-inside-emotion-of-fiction-death.html

#149 04 14 2020

Historical Fiction

ASHES

by Sharon Glogal Friedman

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/149-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ashes-by.html

#150 04 19 2020

Vampire Horror Novelette

Blood Thrasher: The Devil’s in the Metal

by Adam Messer

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/adam

messers-blood-thrasher-devils-in.html

#151 04 25 2020

Historical Fiction

Charis in the World of Wonders

by Marly Youmans

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/marly-youmans-charis-in-world-of.html

#152 04 29 2020

Historical Fiction

The Master of Verona

by David Blixt

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/david-blixts-master-of-verona-is-152-in.html

#153 04 30 2020

General Fiction (Family)

Bread Bags & Bullies: Surviving the 80s

by Steven Manchester

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/steven-manchesters-bread-bags-bullies.html

#154 05 01 2020

Adventure-Thriller/Horror

Into The Ashes

by Lee Murray

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/lee-murrays-into-ashes-is-154-in-never.html

#155 05 06 2020

Coming of Age/Crime Novel

All Things Left In The Wild

by James Wade

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/james-wades-all-things-left-in-wild-is.html

#156 05 10 2020

Paranormal Mystery

Southern Bound

by Stuart Jaffe

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/stuart-jaffes-southern-bound-is-156-in.html

#157 05 13 2020

Mystery/Crime Novel

Yardbird

By Mark Slade

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/mark-slades-yardbird-is-157-in-never.html

#158 05 15 2020

Horror/Crime Novel

Hotel Nowhere

By David E Adkins

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/david-e-adkinss-hotel-nowhere-is-158-in.html

#159 05 16 2020

Satire/Crime Novel

THE LYING BASTARD

by Clint Margrave

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/clint-margraves-lying-bastard-is-159-in.html

#160 05 19 2020

Southern Gothic Fiction

REVIVING THE HAWTHORN SISTERS

by Emily Carpenter

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/emily-carpenters-reviving-hawthorn.html

#161 05 21 2020

Women’s Domestic Life Fiction

MERCY HOUSE

by Alena Dillon

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/alena-dillons-mercy-house-is-161-in.html

#162 05 26 2020

Screenplay/Film

BEAST MODE

by Drew Fortune and Spain Willingham

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/drew-fortunes-and-spain-willinghams_26.html

#163 05 31 2020

Coming of Age/ Psychological Thriller

MY SISTER & OTHER LIARS

by Ruth Dugdall

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/ruth-dugdalls-my-sister-and-other-liars.html

#164 06 01 2020

Psychological Thriller

IN HARM’S WAY

by Owen Mullen

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/owen-mullens-in-harms-way-is-164-in.html

#165 06 02 2020

Small Town Short Story Collection

SNAPSHOT “Old Lady”

by Eliot Parker

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/eliot-parkers-old-lady-from-snapshots.html

#166 06 04 2020

Noir Crime Novel

SKIN OF TATTOOS

by Christina Hoag

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/christina-hoags-skin-of-tattoos-is-166.html

#167 06 06 2020

Coming of Age/Historical

THE ORPHAN COLLECTOR

by Ellen Marie Wiseman

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/ellen-marie-wisemans-orphan-collector.html

#168 06 08 2020

World War Two Historical Fiction

THE PRISONER’S WIFE

by Maggie Brookes

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/maggie-brookess-prisoners-wife-is-168.html

#169 06 09 2020

Novella

(about the 1960s,

Rolling Stones in their exile,

genocide, it’s survivors, and

people from places that no longer exist.)

BLUE COAST MYSTERY: ALMOST SOLVED

by Nick Sweeney

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/nick-sweeneys-blue-coast-mystery-almost.html

#170 06 11 2020

Family Life/Coming of Age Novel

THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF SAME HELL

by Robert Dugoni

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/robert-dugonis-extraordinary-life-of.html

#171 06 26 2020

Women’s Divorce Fiction

QUEEN OF THE OWLS

by Barbara Linn Probst

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/barbara-linn-probsts-queen-of-owls-is.html

#172 07 01 2020

Short Story “The Belindas” from the Short Story Collection LOVE WAR STORIES

By Ivelisse Rodriguez

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/07/ivelisse-rodriguezs-short-story.html

#173 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

07 04 2020

Organized Crime Thriller

BLUES IN THE DARK

by Raymond Benson

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/07/raymond-bensons-blues-in-dark-is-173-in.html

#174 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

07 08 2020

Contemporary Literature & Fiction

THE ESCAPE OF MALCOLM POE

by Allison Burnett

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/07/allison-burnetts-escape-of-malcolm-poe.html

#175 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

07 09 2020

Horror Novella

TERMINUS STATION

by Jeff Lyons

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/07/jeff-lyonss-terminus-station-is-175-in.html

#176 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

07 12 2020

20^th Century Historical Romance

“The Bootlegger’s Wife”

by Denise Devine

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/07/chris-rice-cooper-blog-176-inside.html

#177 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

07 24 2020

Literary Fiction Novel

“What Drives Men”

by Susan Tepper

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/07/susan-teppers-what-drives-men-is-177-in.html

#178 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

07 27 2020

Short story

“Tidings of Comfort and Joyce”

by Kimberly Kurth Gray

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/07/kimberly-kurth-grays-short-story.html

#179 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

07 28 2020

Historical Fiction

“Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey”

by Kathleen Rooney

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/07/kathleen-rooneys-cher-ami-and-major.html

#180 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

08 04 2020

Screenplay

“BUNNY”

by Shaun Hughes

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/08/director-shaun-hughess-screenplay-bunny.html

#181 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

08 09 2020

Short Story

“Wrong Road” from the Short Story Collection George’s Mother and Other Weird Stories

by Susan Berliner

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/08/susan-berliners-short-story-wrong-road.html

#182 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

08 11 2020

Thriller Mystery

“Death in the Time of Ice”

by Kaye George

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/08/kaye-georges-death-in-time-of-ice-is.html

#183 Inside the Emotion of Fiction

08 13 2020

Screenplay

“Igor and Frankie”

by Jim Picariello

https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/08/jim-picariellos-screenplay-igor-and.html

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

Ralph Savarese’s "Reasonable People: A Memoir of Autism and Adoption" is #005 in the never-ending series called THE MAGNIFICATION OF ONE MEMORY IN MEMOIR. All THE MAGNIFICATION OF ONE MEMORY IN MEMOIR

Chris Rice Cooper

caccoop@aol.com

https://www.facebook.com/car.cooper.7

**Some of the links will have to be copied and then posted in your search engine in order to pull up properly

***The CRC Blog welcomes submissions from published and unpublished memoir writers for THE MAGNIFICATION OF ONE MEMORY IN MEMOIR. Contact CRC Blog via email at caccoop@aol.com or personal Facebook messaging at https://www.facebook.com/car.cooper.7

****Ralph Savarese’s Reasonable People: A Memoir of Autism and Adoption is #005 in the never-ending series called THE MAGNIFICATION OF ONE MEMORY IN MEMOIR. All THE MAGNIFICATION OF ONE MEMORY IN MEMOIR links are at the end of this piece.

Name of memoir? And were there other names you considered that you would like to share with us? The memoir is called Reasonable People: A Memoir of Autism and Adoption. Its subtitle is “On the Meaning of Family and the Politics of Neurological Difference.” I wanted the title to come from something my son had typed on his computer. (He’s nonspeaking and uses a text-to-voice synthesizer to communicate.) I remember teaching him the word “reasonable” in the context of what psychologists call “perseveration.” To perseverate is to persevere too long in something, to obsess you might say. He was perseverating over what I was wearing to work. He wanted me to don the same black jeans and white collared shirt each and every morning.

One day, I said with some annoyance, “Be reasonable!” This led to looking up the word online and marveling together at its many meanings, including “as much as is appropriate” or “moderate.” My son later deployed the word with his aunt who had just lost her son to brain cancer and was distraught. “Do you have reasonable people to help you with your hurt?” he typed, later adding, impishly, “It makes me reasonably happy to see you reasonably happy.” As someone who had been brutalized in foster care, my son helped my sister-in-law find a way forward; he knew intimately the morass of unspeakable loss. The word “reasonable” also has a disability resonance. The Americans with Disabilities Act speaks of “reasonable accommodations.”

In 2017, my son graduated from Oberlin College as its first nonspeaking student with autism.

Has this been published? If yes, what publisher and what publication date? Yes, the book was published in 2007 by Other Press.

https://otherpress.com/product/reasonable-people-9781590511299/

What is the description of this memoir? The book is an account of my son’s belated emergence into language and his inclusion in a regular school. It’s also a story of alternative family making. It tries to answer the question: “Why would anyone adopt a badly abused, nonspeaking six-year-old with

autism from foster care?”

What is the date you began writing this memoir and the date when you completed the memoir? I wrote the first chapter in 2003. I then worked on it consistently from 2004-2005, revised it in early 2006, and it was published in May of 2007.

Where did you do most of your writing for this memoir? And please describe in detail. I wrote the memoir in a small study in a rundown house I was renovating. It was un-air-conditioned, and I wanted out! I’ve never been able to write in a comfortable space (Right)

What were your writing habits while writing this memoir- did you drink something as you wrote, listen to music, write in pen and paper, directly on laptop; specific time of day? The rule I followed was this: write three pages and then work on the house. Some days I was working on the house by 10:30 or 11:00; other days not until 3:00 or 4:00. I did this every day for a year. Took Sundays off. Both the book and the house got built!

Out of all the specific memories you write about in this memoir, which ONE MEMORY was the most emotional for you to write about? And can you share that specific excerpt with us here. The excerpt can be as short or as long as you prefer, and please provide page numbers as reference. I’ll choose this one, though there were many. I had been spending time with my eventual son—he was three and a half—as a kind of “big brother.” Because his birth mother was a drug addict and prostitute, he had been in and out of institutions and foster care.

He’d taken a shine to me, and I’d devoted a great deal of effort to teaching him the American Sign Language sign for “more.” I did this by tickling his belly and then making the sign, again and again for months. He learned it, but I’m certain that at the time he thought it meant “tickle.” Later, in his second foster home, he was attacked physically and sexually by a much older boy who had been sodomized by his father. The Department of Children and Families called my wife and me to the hospital. I’ll pick up the story in the book.

Entering the room where DJ was being held, we spotted him pacing back and forth, frantically flapping his arms, as deeply in a fog we had ever seen him. From a distance, he didn’t look injured—physically, that is. His clothes were on; a nurse was trying to get him to sit down in a chair so she could take his blood pressure. The room—I don’t know I remember this—was pale blue, with animal pictures on the walls: realistic photographs with sweetly unrealistic captions. The fluorescent lighting made DJ’s skin and curly, blond hair seem even lighter than they were.

Upon seeing us, he stopped in his tracks, paused (as if to allow some associative chain to complete itself), and then began, to our tremendous astonishment, to make the sign for “more.” As he was doing so, a doctor came into the room, a middle-aged woman with a doctor’s slightly harried look. “What’s he doing?” she asked.

“He’s signing ‘more,’” I said, still in shock. “He wants to be tickled.”

“He wants to be tickled now?” the doctor asked.

“It’s the only sign he knows,” my wife replied, fighting back tears. “We taught it to him. I think he’s reaching for something familiar.” Again, DJ signed “more,” this time coming over to me and placing my hand on his belly. He even managed something of a giggle, while still flapping his free arm and continuing to make a sound I’d never heard from him before: what might be imagined as the sound of a gerbil being smothered by a pillow.

“I’m not sure you should tickle him,” the nurse remarked. “Have you seen his chest and stomach?” At which point, the exam began. His clothes were removed—he winced when we took off his shirt. I winced when the doctor proceeded to inspect his anus for signs of sexual abuse.

“It happens,” the doctor said casually, snapping photographs.

How can I describe DJ’s body? Irregular streaks of blue, purple, and black, along his chest, back and abdomen; his left ear kicked in, also blue, purple and black—hardly resembling an ear. (That side of his head had been turned to the wall, thus preventing us from initially detecting his injury.) His porcelain face untouched, as if the perpetrator had merely gotten careless with the ear, otherwise careful to beat him in places his clothing would conceal. His legs and arms similarly untouched….

We’d end up doing an emergency foster care placement for DJ, and when we arrived at our house, he insisted I tickle him.

“I can’t tickle you,” I said. “You’re hurt.” Not understanding me, though clearly understanding I hadn’t yet tickled him, DJ signed “more” again, becoming particularly agitated and, in fact, smacking his head. “Here, let me tickle your feet,” I suggested, bending down to untie his shoes. DJ stopped me from doing so and, as he’d done at the hospital, stubbornly placed my hand on his stomach. “I can’t tickle you there,” I repeated, agitated myself. “You’re hurt.”

DJ was now in a frenzy. He was hitting his head against the wall and shrieking and, every few seconds, continuing to sign “more.” “Go ahead and tickle him,” my wife said, standing next to me. “Just do it very gently.” Lifting his shirt, I searched for patches of white among the purple, blue, and black. Finding a few—there were only a few—I brought my fingers down and hardly moved them, hardly applied any pressure, at all. DJ, who seemed to know I wasn’t really ticking him, calmed immediately. More than once, I made him wince, and in return he proffered a sad, half-hearted giggle. He was that disciplined in his quest for familiarity and dare I say love. (Reasonable People, 52-54)

Can you describe the step-by-step process of writing about this ONE MEMORY? When I write, I look for little moments of incommensurability—things that can’t be reconciled. Those animal pictures on the wall and DJ’s terrible bruises and sexual abuse. Or his wanting to be tickled. These moments, by definition, have complexity; they can’t be reduced. I had the story, of course, but it was like a bare Christmas tree. The moments of incommensurability enrich the basic narrative and allow the reader a deeper access to what happened.

Were there any deletions from this excerpt that you can share with us? I’m sure there were, but too much time has passed for me to remember them.

Other works you have published? In 2018, I published a hybrid memoir of reading called See It Feelingly: Classic Novels, Autistic Readers, and the Schooling of a No-Good English Professor.

https://www.dukeupress.edu/see-it-feelingly

In October 2020, I will publish a collection of poems called Republican Fathers. This link will take you to one of the poems in that collection: http://www.ralphsavarese.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Savarese_The_Justice_and_My_Father.pdf

Anything you would like to add? Check out the trailer for the PBS documentary that my son stars in and co-produced. In 2018 he won a Peabody Award for it!

https://www.deejmovie.com

Ralph James Savarese is the author of three books: Reasonable People (memoir); See It Feelingly: Classic Novels, Autistic Readers, and the Schooling of a No-Good English Professor (ethnographical literary criticism); and Republican Fathers (poetry). He is also the co-editor of three collections: Papa PhD: Essays on Fatherhood by Men in the Academy; "Autism and the Concept of Neurodiversity,” a special issue of Disability Studies Quarterly; and "The Lyric Body,” a special issue of Seneca Review. A fourth co-edited collection, “The Futures of Neurodiversity,” is under contract with the Modern Language Association.

Savarese is the recipient of a number of awards: the Irene Glascock National Undergraduate Poetry Competition (the judges were Seamus Heaney and Grinnell alum Amy Clampitt); the Hennig Cohen Prize from the Herman Melville Society for an “outstanding contribution to Melville scholarship”; an Independent Publisher’s Gold Medal for Reasonable People in the category of health/medicine/nutrition; a Mellon Foundation “Humanities Writ Large” fellowship, which supported a year-long residency at Duke University’s Institute for Brain Sciences; two “notable essay” distinctions in the Best American Essay series; two Pushcart Prize nominations; and a National Endowment for the Humanities summer stipend.

His scholarship, creative work, and opinion pieces have appeared in more than 60 journals, books, and newspapers: American Disasters; American Literature; American Poetry Review; the Atlanta Journal Constitution; the Austin American Statesman; the Baltimore Sun; Bellingham Review, Beloit Poetry Journal; Bridge Eight; the Cincinnati Post; Cream City Review; the Dallas Morning News; the Des Moines Register; Disability Studies Quarterly; Edge City Review; The Ethics of Neurodiversity; Family Trouble: Memoirists on the Hazards and Rewards of Revealing Family; Foundations of Disability Studies; Fourth Genre; Frontiers of Integrative Neuroscience; the Gainesville Sun; Graham House Review; the Grinnell Herald Register; the Haven; the Houston Chronicle; the Huffington Post; Inflexions; Inside Higher Ed; the Journal of Literary and Cultural Disability Studies; Keywords in Disability Studies; the L.A. Times; Leviathan: A Journal of Melville Studies; the Louisville Courier; Love’s Executive Order; Modern Poetry in Translation; Narrative; New England Review; Nine Mile Magazine; the Oxford Handbook of Cognitive Literary Studies; The Palm Beach Effect: Reflections on Michael Hofmann; Ploughshares; Poetry International; The Poker; Politics & Culture; Prose Studies; Psaltery & Lyre; Rattle; Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities; Rethinking Ahab: Melville and the Materialist Turn; Rethinking Empathy through Literature; Salon.com; Secret Sharers: Melville, Conrad, and Narratives of the Real; Segue; Seneca Review; Southern Humanities Review; Southern Poetry Review; Southwest Review; Stone Canoe; the Tallahassee Democrat; Thinking in the World: A Reader; and Verse Virtual.

He can be seen in three documentaries about autism: Loving Lampposts, Living Autistic; Finding Amanda; and Deej. The third, which appeared on PBS, is about his son’s inclusion journey. It follows DJ from eighth grade through his first year at Oberlin College, where he was the institution’s first nonspeaking student with autism. The film’s many awards include “Best of Festival” at Superfest, the international disability film festival, and a Peabody Award.

Professor Savarese teaches American literature, disability studies, medical humanities, and creative writing at Grinnell College in Iowa.

https://www.see-it-feelingly.com/

http://www.ralphsavarese.com

savarese@grinnell.edu

THE MAGNIFICATION OF ONE MEMORY IN MEMOIR links

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03 18 2020

“Two Minus One”

by Kathryn Taylor

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/001-magnification-of-one-memory-in.html

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03 19 2020