Today's guest post comes from Bram Stoker Award nominated author Daniel Keohane. You can find out more about him and his books on his website. I think you'll find the book he discusses here interesting... what if God decided to repeat himself and have another flood? What if he did it today? And what if there were quite a number of people he decided were worth saving?
Big thanks to Matt for letting me share his spotlight for
the day, inviting me to talk about – well, whatever I’d like, related to my
recent novel Margaret’s Ark. Though
it took a long time (years) to get this novel to where it is now, writing it was
such a joy it was easy to pick a specific topic: asking for help from complete
strangers.
Briefly, in Margaret’s
Ark thousands of people around the world have the same dream, telling them
to build an ark on their from yard, the town square, anywhere they can, then convince
thirty others to join them before a new flood occurs. I know, I know, most of
you reading this are thinking, wait! God
said He wouldn’t.... but I actually addressed this issue in the book and, at
least I hope I did, to avoid nasty-grams from fellow believers (I must have
succeeded, since I really only had two people slam me for the concept).
There were two moments (among surprisingly few) where I
found myself staring at the page and wondering – what do I do now? One came
early on when my main character Margaret Carboneau stood on the grass of her
hometown common (what we New Englanders like to call the town square) staring at
a load of lumber with no idea what to do with it all. I had literally been
typing this scene when it dawned on me I had no idea how to build a boat,
either (obviously, back then I didn’t outline). I had one requirement: everything
used must come from the local Home Depot
or other home goods supply store.
I went online to a popular message board for writers and
posted my question: anyone know how an average person might build a seaworthy
boat for 30 people using only Home Depot supplies? I got a couple of brief
suggestions, then a man I still have never met named John Craig emailed me
directly after reading of my plight. He explained the type of wood to use, how
to bend and shape it, then waterproof everything. He included hand-drawn
diagrams (scanned into jpeg’s)! I could tell he was having a great time with
these emails, being deep in his element (John was an amateur ship builder who
visited the message board occasionally). I used almost EVERYTHING he told me,
detail-wise. Some of his other suggestions (“You’ll probably have kids on
board, so don’t forget to build some compartments for children’s books.”) made
so much sense I worked them ito the story, too.
In later drafts, I added a significant setting in the Arctic
Circle in order to better illustrate some “scientific” concepts (quotes
deliberate – I’m a writer, Jim, not a
scientist) used in the book on how the earth could be flooded. In Googling
websites on the town of Resolute Bay, I came across a man named Dave who blogged
about his year living in this northernmost town. I emailed him, explained I’m a
writer working on a scene in the town. I understood he lived there for a time
and could he answer some questions. (This is key – if you explain you are a
writer most people will be happy to answer questions... through email, phone
calls or in person.) He replied and after about three back-and-forths, I had
what I needed. He was very detailed, too, having truly enjoyed his stay there.
His love for the town came through in his descriptions and when my characters
stepped into the town in the book, it felt very real to me and my readers.
So, as we hear often in church and Sunday school: God
provides when you ask, as long as you ask for the right thing. Just remember
that sometimes you need to step outside and put your question to the people
around you, knowing He’ll get the right person to see the question and answer
you. Sometimes the burning bush comes in the form of an email from a stranger
you may never talk to again, but you will get your answer. It’s how Margaret’s Ark gained more depth than my
own imagination could muster – it’s even how I got my new washing machine... but
that’s another story. J
What do you think, folks? Questions or comments for Daniel? Leave 'em here and we'll get him to come by and respond!
