Precisely 96 years ago today at 2:20 a.m., Titanic sank, ending the lives of more than 1,500 people. It's hard to believe that it has been almost a century since the disaster. When I was very young and learning about the ship for the first time, there were a few dozen survivors who were still alive. Today, there's only one.
While it may be the anniversary, it is simply another day for me. I'll probably write a little before the evening is over. Actually, since I've gotten back in the habit of writing, this blog is probably going to become a pretty desolate place. There's no sense coming here to write about Titanic when I can actually be adding words to the novel, is there? I've never been fond of journal-writing. It's really not my style.
In short, I will continue to write, but I probably won't continue to blog unless I get stumped and need a good distraction. Holding down a job, writing a novel, and writing a blog at the same time is just too much to handle at once.
I will probably take down the blog by the end of the month, unless I can think of a reason to keep it. Of course, I will continue to work on the story, but if you want to know how it's going, you'll have to ask!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
New Beginning
I’d opened the door thousands of times, but as I reached for the worn brass knob, I hesitated. Mother had prepared me for what was on the other side—or rather, what wasn’t—but I still held out the smallest hope that she was somehow wrong. I closed my eyes and pictured the room as it had been the last time I saw it. Maybe if I concentrated hard enough, I could make the image real.
Friday, April 4, 2008
March 24, 1912
Dear William,
I am writing to inform you of the passing of George Alden yesterday evening. Of course I am sorry to convey such unpleasant news, but you can rest assured that I will be here to assist your wife and Mrs. Alden with whatever they may need in your absence.
As you can imagine, this has been an emotional time for Emilie, as it has been for the entire family. I fear the loss is too much for her to bear, especially in her delicate condition. She and the child are still physically well, but it would be prudent for you to return to Amherst as soon as is humanly possible.
I have taken the liberty of speaking with Mr. Birge, and he has understandably released you from your obligations in Europe. If this letter reaches you by the 10th, you can book passage on the steamer "Titanic" for New York.
Again, you have my sincere condolences. Please take comfort in knowing your wife and her family are being cared for, and all is going as well as can be expected.
Sincerely,
Howard
Howard
PS. William Kent tells me his brother is booked on Titanic. He says you two know each other.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Plot Revision!
About the time that I started this blog, I stopped writing The Life We Knew...temporarily. It wasn't out of apathy; I stopped because I knew the story needed to change, and I couldn't figure out what to do with it. I spent hours every day thinking about where to take the story, and I ended up getting so stressed about it that I actually began to loathe it.
A couple of weeks ago, I adopted a different approach. I decided to stop thinking about the story altogether. I didn't need the frustration, and despite my near-constant brainstorming, I wasn't getting anywhere. I hoped that once I stopped thinking about the story, an idea would come to me. And while I don't want to jinx anything, it seems that's pretty much what has happened.
Some things had to change. Originally, William Farrister was managing director of a motor car company and the son of a wealthy industrialist. I've changed that. He still works for Pierce-Arrow Motors, but he's now in the lower ranks. And his family? They're rapidly losing their wealth and status as his father's (yet-to-be-determined) industry slowly dies. All his life, Will was free to take advantage of his family's fortune. Now as that fortune disappears, he is forced to go out and try to become a success on his own.
In 1912, Will is married to his young wife Emilie and struggling to make a name for himself at Pierce-Arrow. They live in a stately home in Amherst, New York...a home which Will's father bought for him in happier times. Will begins to worry that he will no longer he able to support the lifestyle to which he and Emilie have become accustomed, as he can no longer fall back on his family's wealth.
February brings Will a shining opportunity. His employer offers him a chance to deliver a touring car to Chelmsford, England for a prominent aristocrat. But that isn't all—he is to go on a 3-month goodwill tour of Great Britain for Pierce-Arrow, kindling the interest of various potential clients. It's the big break Will has been hoping for, and success could land him a place on Pierce-Arrow's board of directors. But he is hesitant to go, as Emilie's father has been gravely ill for weeks. In the end, Emilie encourages him to leave for Europe. She promises that she will be all right without him and insists that her father's health will improve.
William's tour of England is hardly a success. Few people seem interested in importing an American motor car, as there are many quality British, French, and Italian marques from which to choose. Will is disheartened, and just as he starts to give in to desperation, he receives a letter from his trusted friend/attorney in Buffalo. Emilie's father has died, and Will's lawyer insists that he cut his tour short and return home on Titanic. "The loss is too much for Emilie to bear," he writes, "especially in her delicate condition." This takes Will by extreme surprise—he had no idea his wife was pregnant. She kept it from him so he wouldn't give up his trip to Europe. Needless to say, Will boards Titanic as fast as he can.
Aboard the ship, Will meets a host of interesting characters and even runs into a few friends, some of whom are shocked to learn of his father's financial misfortune. Between his failure in Europe, his family's vanishing wealth, his father-in-law's death, and the thought of becoming a father, Will is infinitely vexed. But opportunity is about to come knocking. Several prominent businessmen are aboard the ship, and are very interested in enlisting Pierce-Arrow's services for an exciting new project in Montreal. The future suddenly looks very bright for young William. But of course, you know what happens next.
A couple of weeks ago, I adopted a different approach. I decided to stop thinking about the story altogether. I didn't need the frustration, and despite my near-constant brainstorming, I wasn't getting anywhere. I hoped that once I stopped thinking about the story, an idea would come to me. And while I don't want to jinx anything, it seems that's pretty much what has happened.
Some things had to change. Originally, William Farrister was managing director of a motor car company and the son of a wealthy industrialist. I've changed that. He still works for Pierce-Arrow Motors, but he's now in the lower ranks. And his family? They're rapidly losing their wealth and status as his father's (yet-to-be-determined) industry slowly dies. All his life, Will was free to take advantage of his family's fortune. Now as that fortune disappears, he is forced to go out and try to become a success on his own.
In 1912, Will is married to his young wife Emilie and struggling to make a name for himself at Pierce-Arrow. They live in a stately home in Amherst, New York...a home which Will's father bought for him in happier times. Will begins to worry that he will no longer he able to support the lifestyle to which he and Emilie have become accustomed, as he can no longer fall back on his family's wealth.
February brings Will a shining opportunity. His employer offers him a chance to deliver a touring car to Chelmsford, England for a prominent aristocrat. But that isn't all—he is to go on a 3-month goodwill tour of Great Britain for Pierce-Arrow, kindling the interest of various potential clients. It's the big break Will has been hoping for, and success could land him a place on Pierce-Arrow's board of directors. But he is hesitant to go, as Emilie's father has been gravely ill for weeks. In the end, Emilie encourages him to leave for Europe. She promises that she will be all right without him and insists that her father's health will improve.
William's tour of England is hardly a success. Few people seem interested in importing an American motor car, as there are many quality British, French, and Italian marques from which to choose. Will is disheartened, and just as he starts to give in to desperation, he receives a letter from his trusted friend/attorney in Buffalo. Emilie's father has died, and Will's lawyer insists that he cut his tour short and return home on Titanic. "The loss is too much for Emilie to bear," he writes, "especially in her delicate condition." This takes Will by extreme surprise—he had no idea his wife was pregnant. She kept it from him so he wouldn't give up his trip to Europe. Needless to say, Will boards Titanic as fast as he can.
Aboard the ship, Will meets a host of interesting characters and even runs into a few friends, some of whom are shocked to learn of his father's financial misfortune. Between his failure in Europe, his family's vanishing wealth, his father-in-law's death, and the thought of becoming a father, Will is infinitely vexed. But opportunity is about to come knocking. Several prominent businessmen are aboard the ship, and are very interested in enlisting Pierce-Arrow's services for an exciting new project in Montreal. The future suddenly looks very bright for young William. But of course, you know what happens next.
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