This is so immersive, and yet it winds between worlds. Really love the direction you are going in. This whole child perspective is really intriguing, too. Enjoyed catching up today, Ben!
Wow. How do you do it Ben? The way you lead us into Marabelle’s interior, the trauma playing out in real time and how she copes…it’s all so real. I’ve never been kidnapped but I could feel all the ways she was feigning and placating and compromising, the way a child tries to understand reality but only through the fragmented lens of innocence. I’m starting to understand how this is a story about Marabelle as much if not more than Daedalia.
Honestly, Kimberly, it’s readers like you showing up book after book, year after year and urging me on. That’s the juice. Thank you so much for being here. I’m so glad Marabelle feels real to you. She’s real to me now too.
What a terrible experience and how it must have shaped Marabelle and her relationship with her parents.
Perhaps this tale will turn out to be more about her than about Daedalia? I think relationships and how they shape us are a huge part of what makes stories interesting.
“If this chapter stayed with you…” yeah, Ben, I don’t think this chapter will ever leave me. It was so intense, I literally got goosebumps when M ran into the motel office, and K tracing her, and the line about a mermaid bandaid…I’m a wreck
Realizing your parents are more and less than what you thought, if you ever thought about it before, is probably a universal experience but to have Marabelle come to it in such a traumatic way and so young has given you the opportunity to dramatize it nicely. These last few chapters make me want her parents to step up and care for her better! She seems so alone.
That’s really what drew me to set up the story in this way. I think every person, as an adult goes through a period of putting their parents on trial. Having Marabelle be able to do this in a very public way by writing this novel/memoire/biography about her parents complicated relationship felt too good to pass up. Thanks so much for the thoughtful read, as always.
Wow Ben!!! I never imagined you would make the narrater feel as real as you do both Lefty and Kelly but this chapter proved me so wrong... I am not surprised you are proud of it!
"I stared out at the front yard, my eyes fixed on the place where, just six days before, I had been a child playing in the dirt."
How quickly a child realises she is not a child anymore... if indeed Marabelle ever was.
I feel like there is both guilt and blame ahead...
Thank you, Susie. Marabelle started the story before I really knew who she was and she’s just gradually emerged in a way that I totally understand her now.
Marabelle’s emotional distance from Kelly and Lefty in her narration makes more and more sense. I’m heartbroken for them all, the tangled web that’s woven, the choices that there’s no going back from, the path ahead… and the dream. Woah.
OMG! The idea that Daedalia is an energy that has animated the likes of Da Vinci and William Blake!! Hellya! I’m all in for that! So cool! I love how courageous Marabelle is. Another banger chapter. 👏👏👏
A banger indeed! I love when you throw around the slang of the youth in the comments. Thank you for always being here, Julie, even when they’re not always bangers.
This is so immersive, and yet it winds between worlds. Really love the direction you are going in. This whole child perspective is really intriguing, too. Enjoyed catching up today, Ben!
Thanks so much, Kate. I’m glad you’re enjoying the direction.
Wow. How do you do it Ben? The way you lead us into Marabelle’s interior, the trauma playing out in real time and how she copes…it’s all so real. I’ve never been kidnapped but I could feel all the ways she was feigning and placating and compromising, the way a child tries to understand reality but only through the fragmented lens of innocence. I’m starting to understand how this is a story about Marabelle as much if not more than Daedalia.
Honestly, Kimberly, it’s readers like you showing up book after book, year after year and urging me on. That’s the juice. Thank you so much for being here. I’m so glad Marabelle feels real to you. She’s real to me now too.
Wow, just wow. And I absolutely love that. It was that dream that saved her.
Once again, Ben, you’ve created a story in characters that stay with me.
Thanks so much, Holly. Coming from a writer and editor of your caliber, this is huge.
Sorry I'm just catching up...
What a terrible experience and how it must have shaped Marabelle and her relationship with her parents.
Perhaps this tale will turn out to be more about her than about Daedalia? I think relationships and how they shape us are a huge part of what makes stories interesting.
You never have to apologize, Sara. I’m so grateful that you keep showing up to read whenever you get to it. I’m glad you’re enjoying the story.
“If this chapter stayed with you…” yeah, Ben, I don’t think this chapter will ever leave me. It was so intense, I literally got goosebumps when M ran into the motel office, and K tracing her, and the line about a mermaid bandaid…I’m a wreck
You’re a beautiful wreck. Thank you so much for all the feedback. When I see you dive in after a long absence, it makes my week.
Realizing your parents are more and less than what you thought, if you ever thought about it before, is probably a universal experience but to have Marabelle come to it in such a traumatic way and so young has given you the opportunity to dramatize it nicely. These last few chapters make me want her parents to step up and care for her better! She seems so alone.
That’s really what drew me to set up the story in this way. I think every person, as an adult goes through a period of putting their parents on trial. Having Marabelle be able to do this in a very public way by writing this novel/memoire/biography about her parents complicated relationship felt too good to pass up. Thanks so much for the thoughtful read, as always.
Wow Ben!!! I never imagined you would make the narrater feel as real as you do both Lefty and Kelly but this chapter proved me so wrong... I am not surprised you are proud of it!
"I stared out at the front yard, my eyes fixed on the place where, just six days before, I had been a child playing in the dirt."
How quickly a child realises she is not a child anymore... if indeed Marabelle ever was.
I feel like there is both guilt and blame ahead...
Thank you, Susie. Marabelle started the story before I really knew who she was and she’s just gradually emerged in a way that I totally understand her now.
Marabelle’s emotional distance from Kelly and Lefty in her narration makes more and more sense. I’m heartbroken for them all, the tangled web that’s woven, the choices that there’s no going back from, the path ahead… and the dream. Woah.
Thanks so much, Emily. It’s all starting to come apart which means it’s all coming together for me as the writer! 😉
OMG! The idea that Daedalia is an energy that has animated the likes of Da Vinci and William Blake!! Hellya! I’m all in for that! So cool! I love how courageous Marabelle is. Another banger chapter. 👏👏👏
A banger indeed! I love when you throw around the slang of the youth in the comments. Thank you for always being here, Julie, even when they’re not always bangers.