Writing as Hope
Romans 8:24-25
24 But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
I am working on a trilogy. The first novel is in the hands of my agent. He’s had it for two years. He hasn’t sold it . . . yet. This novel is THE BONE TRENCH. Here’s the “elevator sentence”: Mother Mary and Jesus are called back to Memphis by a devilish private prison project. THE BONE TRENCH is funny. And profane. And very, very serious. Along with MM and Jesus, it stars Little c, Mary’s acerbic guardian angel. And Cat Thomas, the son of a sharecropping rape victim on whose shoulders the fate of the world rests. The theme is white folk’s continuing inability to love our Black neighbors as ourselves, which has manifested itself in slavery, convict leasing, sharecropping, and, now, mass incarceration.
That’s novel 1.
Novel 2 in the series is JAZZY AND THE PIRATE. The manuscript is with Beta readers. “Beta readers” are kind souls who agree to read your work when it’s still mostly crap, or at least quite rough. As these readers give you feedback, the manuscript becomes smoother, more polished. JAZZY AND THE PIRATE’s sentence is: Eleven-year-old Jazzy Chandler calls Jean Laffite the pirate king back to New Orleans to save the city from the floodwaters of Katrina . . . and discovers pirates aren’t what she thinks they are. It’s funny and irreverent—how dare anything about Hurricane Katrina be funny? In addition to Jazzy and Jean Laffite, it stars a house that morphs into a pirate ship. And Jean’s mealy-mouthed brother Pierre. And the swamp. The theme is white folks continuing willingness to economically exploit the world, which has manifested itself in slavery and pirating and, now, the near-destruction of New Orleans.
That’s novel 2.
I’m working on novel 3 in the series. The title is MOSES IN THE GULF. I’m not going to tell you much about it because my brilliant mentor Rebecca McClanahan always said, “Don’t talk about works in process or you’ll talk out the energy and won’t write it.” I can tell you that it has the same elements as the first two novels in the series: fantasy; historical figures called back to address a current day crisis; irreverent humor; alternating points of view along with a third, omniscient POV; the theme of economic exploitation.
Did I mention that I haven’t sold the first novel in the series? Yet.
Romans 8:24-25
24 But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
And while we wait, we write.
convict leasing, hurricane katrina, slavery, works-in-process, writing novels
Joe Hawes
I am glad there is another novel in the works, and I look forward to reading it when the time comes. And I look forward to the time when I can say: “Yes, I knew her before she was famous.”
She is kind of a female Don Quixote, but both more serious and much funnier.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
I love Don Quixote! If someone is reading my work 400? years from now and finds it funny, that’s a win!
Susanne
I always wondered what a “Beta reader” was and now I know. I am aching to read all your novels, Ellen and will hope right along with you that the first one gets sold soon. I love the premise of the trilogy. Its original and it will sell. I’d buy it!
Ellen Morris Prewitt
I wondered about that too, then someone explained it, so glad to pass it along. And yippee for my first new reader!! I’ll tell my agent this-maybe it will light a fire under him. 🙂
Donna
All very intriguing. I’m patiently waiting for an autographed copy ?
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Thank you! Y’all will be the first to know if it sells!
Luanne
Good idea to have all three written when one is published. I’m sure you feel some impatience though. One and two sound great.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
I am terribly impatient. 🙂 I think that’s why I’ve told myself this is a trilogy—convincing myself I’m the one in charge, you know, and I’m writing all three as a group. Anyway, thanks for liking 1 & 2!
Erin Fanning
You are very wise to have the next two novels ready for when (not if!) the first sells. And I love the title of your posting–writing and hope have always been intertwined for me, returning to literature over and over again for guidance, enlightenment, and wisdom.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Thank you for saying so. It makes me feel better about, as Joe said, this Quixotic venture. And love your statement about writing and hope. 🙂
Henley
To me, it’s not a matter of hope. Just waitin’ for you to let the pit bull loose (hello, hello, here I am over here!) on Will. I have a thing or two to let loose on his Yankee butt ( oh me, should I have said noggin?). He should be on his knees right this minute hoping and praying that you keep him as your agent after “Bone Trench” hits The Times list.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
I don’t think Will could handle you. 🙂 As soon as Jazzy is ready, I’m going to start pestering him again. I’ll let you know if I need to bring in the big guns.