Wildlife. Real. Magical. Maybe …. Both
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In my “Mystery In Maine” series, I had my narrator say this, but I think it might apply to me as well.
“Up close with wildlife of all sizes and attitudes, I liked to create conversations that took me some place I needed to go. Sometimes the effort saved me from trouble. Sometimes it got me into trouble.”
Recently, I met with a book group who’d read my first novel, “Deadly Trespass.” The opportunity to talk intimately with people who now had relationships with my characters and the book’s contents, was exhilarating. I came home and made a list of what they liked, so I could make sure their enthusiasm got transferred and infused … in detail … with my current writing.
One woman said she very much liked the narrator’s imaginary conversations with animals … the “magical realism” of them.
Wow. Didn’t think I was doing magical realism. I only offer up animal conversations occasionally and they are short and used to reveal character, move the plot, or add to the drama of a situation.
I think most of us have conversations with animals. Often, it’s just us speaking, but sometimes we imaginatively supply their possible replies. I think when this happens, the moment is magically real.
So I thought about some special animal moments I’ve experienced and have decided they were prepping me for my author foray into magical wildlife realism.