20 Comments
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Holly Starley's avatar

How did I not realize until the narrator told her that Daedalia would be the name?

Love it. And I love following the development of the relationship between Kelli and Lefty.

Ben Wakeman's avatar

Thank you, Holly. The narrator is all kinds of fun, right?

Holly Starley's avatar

So much fun!!

Kimberly Warner's avatar

Wow! Fabulous! The name, the collaboration, the almost metaphysical way their lives are joining to become one entity. So cool Ben.

Ben Wakeman's avatar

Thanks, Kimberly. 🙏

Kay's avatar

Thank you, Ben.

I am so enjoying this - the changing and developing relationship between Kelly and Lefty, their growing into that superhuman whole, the coming into being of Daedalia ………

And the deal ……… I am guessing and wondering ……….

Ben Wakeman's avatar

Thanks, Kay. Yes indeed, what is the deal!?

Kay's avatar

I am so looking forward to learning more - and trying very hard to be patient ……… !

Emily Charlotte Powell's avatar

I could not love this more Ben. I’ve been waiting for this moment where Kelly and Lefty create Daedalia and it’s brilliant. I love the name, it’s inspired and I love how lefty came up with it. I love that she’s a she too and Kelly’s determination that she would be. I love that they’re becoming two halves of something that is going to be epic.

Ben Wakeman's avatar

Aw, thanks so much, Emily! We all need a Lefty, don’t we?! I’m so happy this story is resonating with you, in particular. Getting the art aspect right has been really important to me.

Susie Mawhinney's avatar

Daedalia! Of course that's the name they chose... From the very beginning I wondered about the name of your book Ben, what the connection was... and like Holly should have guessed but didn't see it... I even looked up the word, left with this

"Daedalian = diːˈdeɪlɪən ADJECTIVE Ingeniously or cunningly designed; artistic, ingenious, intricate. Difficult to comprehend due to complexity or intricacy. EXAMPLE SENTENCES “The plot of the movie was Daedalian, yet somehow the complex pieces fit together by the end.”

Which of course fits perfectly!

I can't wait to see how Lefty and Kelly progress now that they have such an alliance!

Ben Wakeman's avatar

The name was a happy find. I didn't have it when I started out last year but when I came across it, everything seemed to fall into place for the story and I knew it could work. Thanks so much for reading, Susie! It always makes my day to see a comment from you.

Chloe Hope's avatar

Excellent chapter, Ben. And such an ingenious name. I imagine that falling into one her artworks feels labyrinthine...

Ben Wakeman's avatar

Thank you, friend.

Sheri Barrera-Disler's avatar

I love that Kelly knew Lefty had pretended to be the artist and just let him twist in his feelings before just saying matter of factly she knew all along. The evolution of the dynamic between them is really cool.

Ben Wakeman's avatar

Thank you, Sheri! I’m glad you’re enjoying these two characters.

Julie Gabrielli's avatar

Great origin story. I love how Lefty can sell to anyone, with his preternatural ability to see into their psyche. Now I’m curious, if you have an AMA later, which came first — the name or the visual for her artwork? Or both?

Ben Wakeman's avatar

It’s interesting you mentioned an AMA because I’m thinking of doing some kind of online meet up at the end of each of the four parts in this book. Part one will be wrapping up after chapter 10. Not sure if this would be an interesting thing for folks or not. I’ll probably make it zoom rather than a Substack live just because I like to see everyone’s faces and hear their voices. Thank you for being such a generous reader, Julie. I so appreciate you.

Julie Gabrielli's avatar

You know I'm always a yes for these. It's a joy to be reading this! I'm in a bit of a fallow period so I'm glad to see this story emerging into the world.

Stephanie Sweeney's avatar

“You’re trying to define something that has yet to become. Once you give it a name, the first limitation — the first boundary — has been imposed. Or so you think.” Love this reflection on naming, especially as someone who has trouble naming things - characters, stories, you name it. (Sorry.)

I remember hearing an author (can’t recall who) say that when the character name kept changing that meant they hadn’t unlocked the character yet or something to that affect and so of course that gets in my head when the names don’t feel set for me. Anyway, I love how the narrator gets at how weighty that decision feels.