Monday, August 19, 2019

#72 Inside the Emotion of Fiction's "KALEIDOSCOPE JANE & OTHER STORIES" by Carolyn Breckinridge



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****Carolyn Breckinridge’s KALEIDOSCOPE JANE & OTHER STORIES  is #72 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. 
Name of fiction work? And were there other names you considered that you would like to share with us? What a difficult task choosing which of my works to discuss, as there are unique characteristics I’d love to share about each of them!  But I have chosen ‘kaleidoscope jane & other stories.’  Kaleidoscope Jane is one of the characters in this book, and I believe her story encapsulates the book’s main themes.  But there is another character, Ladybug Lou, who has a major part to play.  At first, I considered titles such as ‘Ladybug Lou and Friends,’ and ‘Jane, Lou and Friends.’ An ARC reader felt both these tended to sound like children’s titles.  So, I settled on the final title with no caps on any of the words.

Has this been published? If yes, what publisher and what publication date? The collection was self-published through AuthorHouse in 2018.
What is the date you began writing this piece of fiction and the date when you completely finished the piece of fiction? For me, writing is a process in which seeds germinate and sprout and only find their way onto paper at the very end of the process.  In this case, I was engaged in writing my third in a mystery series when fifteen unruly women began stomping around in my head, demanding to be released.  They were raucous and noisy and I finally relented and suspended work on the novel.  They were so ready to make a break for it that this creative process, including editing, ARC reading and publication took less than six months.

Where did you do most of your writing for this fiction work?  And please describe in detail.  The important part of my writing is done away from the word processor.  I create when I am most relaxed and not distracted.  This will be times such as weeding in the garden, playing with my animals, driving in the country, and so forth.  Most of my writing is completed in the garden.    My laptop sits on the dining room table because this room has windows across one side and allows me to feel as though I’m outside while I work. 
     
     I word process my works directly, brain to fingers, generally with my African Gray parrot (Left) on my arm and two dogs (Above Right) at my feet.  The conure prefers her perch and the koi prefer to stay outside in their pond! I read to the Gray and dogs as I write.  They are very patient listeners. After I finish writing a piece, I rest it for a couple of days and then return to edit it, rest it again a couple of weeks and return again to edit.  
     Once a month, I seek positive critique from the Tuscaloosa Writers and Illustrators Guild.  This is always an important part of the process, the comradery and helpful opinions of fellow artists. I value critique highly and seek it, also, when I am a book club guest.  Oh, I guess I should add that Carolyn Breckinridge is a pen name.

What is the summary of this specific fiction work? Kaleidosope Jane & Friends is a compilation of stories intended to reflect the many facets of human existence.  The stories range from funny to sad.  Most have endings I hope will surprise and challenge my readers, with plenty of twists and turns.  Some might be classified as slice-of-life stories.  All of my characters are eccentric, and hopefully, they remind us all of what it means to be human.
     It’s well-known that our Western culture glorifies youth and older members of society are often ignored or overlooked. This story challenges readers to recognize there’s more to those of every age than meets the eye.

Can you give the reader just enough information for them to understand what is going on in the excerpt? This excerpt helps set the scene for one of the major themes of this book—things are rarely what they appear and it is important in life to assume nothing.  As an author, I loved to write about this grandmother as my own grandparents played such a sweet and fundamental role in my life.  And, I love to celebrate the importance of the grandparent role in the lives of today’s children.

Please include just one excerpt and include page numbers as reference.  This one excerpt can be as short or as long as you prefer. The plastic crown parked itself sideways across Nancy’s forehead.  It was damned annoying, scratchy little plastic teeth digging into her skin.  Her hand started up toward her face, but halfway there her fingers fluttered, paused as though reconsidering their intent and lowered slowly toward the chair’s side.  She would indulge them.  After all, hadn’t she already?
     “Sit down, Grandma!  Sit down and let us put this on your head!”  She’d responded obediently, watching Judy pull the glittery silver children’s toy from its plastic wrapping.  It had a purple plastic rhinestone in the middle.  And if that weren’t enough, there was a plastic rhinestone ring to match.  The ring fit only on Nancy’s left pinky finger.  “Let me get this in your hair, Grandma! A person doesn’t turn eighty-five every day!”  (From ‘Nancy.’  Page 1.)

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 edit relentlessly as this is the most important part of the evolution of any story.  But, once edited, I don’t save what I’ve changed.


Other works you have published? I can’t remember a time when I didn’t write stories so I’ve had some publishing successes and won some lovely awards and honors through the years.  But, since retirement, I’ve published two mysteries, a children’s picture book, and this book of short stories.  I have a file full of drafts and works in progress, as well.  ‘Tuscaloosa Moon,’ (2013) a mystery set in my adopted hometown, has enjoyed fun success.  Its sequel, ‘Tuscaloosa Boneyard’ followed in 2016 and received a delightful review on Alabama Public Radio.  I’m currently completing the third of this series, tentatively titled, ‘Tuscaloosa Trolley.’ It will be released this year.  I also love to write for children and recently released a picture book, ‘The Messy Room,’ (2019) under my married name, Carolyn W. Ezell.   

Anything you would like to add? Thank you for featuring me in this blog and thanks to everyone who chooses to read my works.  Thanks also to those who leave reviews.  They are so important to authors! 

          I was born in New York City to adventure-loving, risk-taking parents who offered my brother and me the opportunity to live in the faraway lands of Tanzania, Lebanon and Pakistan, and to travel the globe extensively.  In the process, I cohabitated with a pet monkey, bush baby, lamb, mynah bird, parrots, a Parson’ chameleon, and since then, all manner of creatures, as well.  
          I can’t remember a time when I didn’t read books and as a child (Above Right), I slept with all my books in bed with me every night.  It made for lumpy sleeping. 

     I graduated from the University of Alabama in cultural anthropology and English/creative writing and never left Tuscaloosa.  I returned to earn my Master’s degree in clinical social work.  All of my writing reflects my passion for this field in one way or another.  I worked as a child, adolescent and family therapist for more than twenty years and taught at the University during this time.  I live with my husband, two dogs, two parrots and a pond full of koi.  Over the years, I have been a parent, grandparent, foster parent, international host parent and youth mentor. My personal writing mentor is 98 years young and is still very active as a working author.  Every human being has so many stories to tell! 
Carolyn Breckinridge (Facebook)
Carolynbreckinridge@gmail.com       

   INSIDE THE EMOTION OF FICTION links


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002   11 18 2018 Ed Protzzel’s
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003   11 23 2018 Janice Seagraves’s
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004   11 29 2018 Christian Fennell’s
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005  12 02 2018 Jessica Mathews’s
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006  12 04 2018 Robin Jansen’s
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007  12 12 2018  Adair Valerez’s
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008  12 17 218 Kit Frazier’s
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022 03 02 2019 Carol Johnson’s
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023 03 06 2019 Samuel Snoek-Brown’s
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024 03 08 2019 Marlin Barton’s
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026 03 21 2019 Maggie Rivers’s
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027  03 25 2019 Faith Gibson’s
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070 08 10 2019 Phyllis H. Moore’s
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072  08 19 2019 Carolyn Breckinridge’s
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