Yes, of course I’m taking advantage of today’s A-to-Z Challenge’s letter to talk about my so-far-latest book, EEL’S REVERENCE. Wanna make something of it? –Er, I mean, I do hope you don’t mind too very much.
As my tagline says: The Eel is a place. The reverence is … complicated. EEL’S REVERENCE is a fantasy, I suppose. There’s no magic in it, except the magic of the influence of strong personalities on other people. The central conflict is between the worldviews of two strong women, both priests of Micah. Micah was a man who practiced humility, poverty, acceptance of all people, the concept of The All, and non-violence. Aunt Libby, in her 80s, also practices these. Aunt Isabella, middle-aged, is a “reaver priest”, who gives lip service to Micah but practices the opposites. One of Isabella’s cronies, Uncle Phineas, has his own Facebook page, because it amuses me.
WRITING PROMPT: Does your main character’s worldview include religion? Why or why not?
MA
Sarah G
April 6, 2011 at 9:05amStrange you should bring this up. Cynthia’s grandmother is a Unitarian, and I was thinking of doing something with that in my sequel. She really didn’t have time in the first book to scope out a new congregation in California.
Marian Allen
April 6, 2011 at 9:27amSounds like a source for characters, conflict and plotlines. 🙂 I’m currently Disciples of Christ. Know who else began by being associated with D of C? Jim Jones. Yeah, THAT Jim Jones. Plotline? Yeah, aifinkso.
Mary Montague Sikes
April 6, 2011 at 11:20amI’ve never thought to bring religion into my books which tend to flirt in some ways with paranormal elements such as reincarnation that does not go over well with many Christian denominations.
Thanks!
Monti
http://marymontaguesikes.blogspot.com/
Marian Allen
April 6, 2011 at 11:46amMight make for an interesting conflict, external or internal. 🙂
The Yard Bard
April 6, 2011 at 2:27pmThe most religous statement I’ve put into my writing lately is, “Dear God, not another hailstorm!” 😉
Marian Allen
April 7, 2011 at 8:01amLOL! I hear you!
Tamara McRill
April 7, 2011 at 1:44amI don’t overtly talk about religion in mine. Although, oddly enough, the closest known thing my characters could be likened to are angels.
Marian Allen
April 7, 2011 at 8:04amTamara, that’s so cool! Do they have wings? Can they fly?
Trisha
April 7, 2011 at 1:51amI definitely try to avoid talking religion…unless it IS a fantasy in which believing in gods etc. is something I can be okay with 😀
Marian Allen
April 7, 2011 at 8:08amTrisha, maybe that’s something I can address in another post: the difference between the author’s religious worldview and the characters’. I’m fascinated by the conflict between principles and practicality and how that tension is resolved between and within people. Religious worldview is one source of that conflict, and a powerful one. It doesn’t work, though, if the author intrudes and makes one side or the other all happysauce and the other side all killerbritches.