Background

Friday, April 27, 2012

The Lucky Meme

Thanks to all of you who have suggested I should put my stories into a book. In fact, I have. I’ve collected my favorite childhood memories and created a memoir called The Kid in the Kaleidoscope: A Chubby Chatterbox Grows up in the 50s, 60s and Beyond.


I was recently tagged by Teralyn Rose Pilgrim over at A Writer’s Journey and asked to participate in a manuscript hop called The Lucky Meme! Teralyn is a fine writer and an excellent historian. Her novel Sacred Fire, the story of a Vestal Virgin in Ancient Rome, is nearing completion.


The Rules:

#1 Go to page #77 of your current manuscript/WIP.

#2 Go to line #7.

#3 Copy down the next seven lines—sentences or paragraphs—and post them as they’re written. No cheating.

#4 Tag a few other authors.

#5 Let them know.


Background: Page #77 falls in the middle of an event that took place when I was eleven. This story is called The Monster in the Monastery. I’d been duped into thinking an ape as big as King Kong was being concealed behind the massive adobe walls of the monastery on the outskirts of our town. I’d risked my parents’ wrath for proof of the ape’s existence. My best friend, Ricky Delgado, had come along to prove that I was a gullible idiot.


Pg. #77, Line 7:


Before we could say anything else, something stirred in the underbrush and we both realized we were being hunted. It materialized before us as if from thin air. It was huge! It was black! But it wasn’t King Kong—it was the biggest nun I’d ever seen. She evidently wasn’t one of the non-talking varieties, because she boomed in a deep construction worker’s voice, “What are you children doing here?” With a cobra’s swiftness, a hand shot out from beneath her habit and locked like a handcuff around my wrist. But Ricky was too fast for her; he leapt up the wall and scurried over the top, leaving me in the nun’s grip.


Now for seven bloggers to join the challenge. Some of these writers might be too busy to participate, but at least they will know how highly I regard them.

#1 Jo Barney

#2 Nikki Broadwell

#3 Stephen Tremp

#4 Mindy Halleck


The entire short story (The Monster in the Monastery) and other stories from The Kid in the Kaleidoscope are posted under the Pages section of Chubby Chatterbox.



14 comments:

  1. I'll have to buy that book when it comes out.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congratulations on The Kid in the Kaleidoscope! It's terrific to know authors, especially those who are already blogging friends. I always enjoy reading your stories, and I will check out Monsters in the Monastery~

    ReplyDelete
  3. Awesome!! Thanks for pointing me to your book. I was actually thinking about your blog earlier this morning and pondering how someone could have so many great stories. I was also thinking that you probably shouldn't ever go near a boat again. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. You really get yourself into lots of trouble don't you? Yes, you do. Bwahahahahahaha.

    Have a terrific day. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I think that we would have been great friends as kids. Then again, I'm still game for crazy adventures!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love your stories Chubby...when will The Kid...be available? It sounds like the kind of book my grandsons would enjoy and enjoy...and then try to better your escapades I'm sure. Smiles - Astrid

    ReplyDelete
  7. Let me know when i can buy this. It will be worth it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I guess I'm not the only one trying to make a book out of these stories. I'm hoping to someday have enough stories in my blog to be able to turn it into a book.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Good God, you are a gullible idiot.

    Love,
    Janie Junebug xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  10. Good luck on your publishing venture.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'll be on the look-out for your book. I'm hoping I can do the same sometime.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Book. WANT!

    I am so glad that the biggest crazy I had about a church was misunderstanding the idea of a baptismal "pool", and wondering why the one church didn't dress in swimwear on Sunday... Long time to get over that one... (blush)

    Cat

    ReplyDelete