This book has not yet been written. I hope to write it because I love the idea, and if I had to choose an out of comfort zone challenge, I’d probably choose writing.
The main character finds himself in a world organized as a zodiac circle, hence the working title. Early in his adventures he gets a map of the world tailored to him and his adventures become personal, as the world seems to reflect his own personality.
Work in Progress
My first attempt at this book I didn’t manage to quite get out of my way, so I stopped. I was encouraged by my wife and several friends who read the bits I’ve written, but my self-doubt won. As one of perceived obstacles I figured I didn’t know how to structure the book, yet I was reluctant to study writing in fear of following the beaten path. What became the last straw was a rather sentimental chapter that included a scene with the main character and a baby elephant.
“You are a sentimental fool!” I told myself. Little did I know that in two month we would decide to get a puppy, and a little baby amstaff Lapa entered our life forever.
I promised Natasha and myself that when Old Stars, New Light is published I’ll start writing again.
In the meantime this was me talking to my book years ago when frustration got out of hand:
“Good Morning!” said The Book. Zing opened his eyes expecting to see Good Morning written in large letters, but instead he saw a picture of a rainy day in a window frame. He turned to see his real window, and it looked similar.
“It’s a cuddle with the book kind of day,” declared The Book.
“Why does one need a book if it reflects this wet and gloomy reality?” asked Zing
“Well, perhaps one likes the reality, and likes to reflect on its many faces. Consider Facebook?”
The Book opened on a new page and there was a sun rising from the ocean, lighting up the white sand. In spite of seemingly early hours there were several kitesurfers, windsurfers and wave hoppers on small motorized boards.
One kitesurfer jumped in the air, pulled by a favorable gust of wind, and landed right in front of the book frame.
Zing jumped up. It was Nata dressed in a colorful wetsuit. She put the kite high above her, in a low power zone and grabbed the book frame.
“Hi there!” she waved, smiling “I told you we will meet again soon!”
“Hi!” said Zing. “It is so nice to see you!”
Zing was excited and determined to make a good impression , but he could not shake the doubts.
“How does this work? The Book I mean. Is it like a video call?” cautiously asked Zing, half-whispering.
“Videophone? This is what you think I am, Zoom?” The book started glowing red around the edges, then suddenly closed with a loud thump and a cloud of dust in Zing’s face.
Anger overcame Zing as well. “Where is she?” he challenged the Book with a cool rage. The Book wrapped itself into a gift paper and attached a card with Arian address. The paper was actually a map of Arian shore and had an arrow that said “Nata is here”. It also contained a zoomed out version with Zing’s travels marked on it.
Zing was boiling inside, then suddenly he was back in Lavaflow, with Marcello looking at him as if he were a ghost…
