In our upcoming title, The Novelist, you can follow copywriter and poet, Laura, as she tries to figure out how the hell to write a novel to meet Megan Willow’s challenge: a book by September.
Megan has a thriving tea business and does everything in a big way. To her, the idea of writing a novel in a matter of months is beyond simple. All you need is the will, and you’ll find the way.
Laura delves into her own past, as she tries to bring a novel into the present. To tutor her efforts, she culls wisdom and hope from greats such as Mario Vargas Llosa, Mary Shelley, and medieval story-weaver Murasaki (whose real name has been lost to history, because she was a woman).
Can Laura write a novel by September? She might not even make a cup of tea by midnight. So who’s to say.
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The Novelist, a novella by L.L. Barkat, T.S. Poetry Press, coming in September 2012. Cover image by Sarah Elwell. Thanks to James Cummins, the poet who agreed to lend his name and his friendship for this book.
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Maureen Doallas says
Congratulations!
Should we wager that Glynn will be the first to have a review?
Monica Sharman says
What do I get if I beat Glynn to a review?
L. L. Barkat says
Lol, what do you want? 🙂
L. L. Barkat says
Thanks, Maureen. I have to smile that it’s a novella that ended up being written… well, by September.
Now to see if our character can do the same.
Charity Singleton says
This makes me smile a hundred smiles, and it sounds remarkably like a real life Laura and Megan I know. Hmmmm . . .
LL – You amaze me on so many levels. Can’t wait to read!
L. L. Barkat says
Do you know a Megan Willow? 😉
she was gracious, btw, to let me include her. Ish. In the book, she does tea in the biggest of ways. Big like the soul I picture in our own MW.
Megan Willome says
You just made me cry–again! (And this is while my son is playing me his running playlist, which is full of all kinds of profanity from various rap artists.)
L. L. Barkat says
You might cry again once you read it 😉 Hopefully, though, some of the laughing you’ll do will make up for it. (There should be some laughter available for those who want to take me up on it 🙂
Maureen Doallas says
I think you should tackle translation next . . . of the most romantic poet.
Monica, I knew I could start something. It’s a plot related to sales of, you know. . . .
Kimberlee Conway Ireton says
Flipping A, Laura! You wrote a NOVEL? Yes, I’m yelling. A NOVEL? I’m…I don’t have words…amazed, awed (and maybe just a teensy bit jealous). Is there anything you don’t do? 🙂
You go, girl. I look forward to reading it 🙂
L. L. Barkat says
Ah, Kimberlee. 🙂 A novella, if it makes you feel any better.
No better way to write one than to write one about writing one, and try to teach others how to do it along the way 😉
Linda says
I’m looking forward to this Laura. I’m in the middle of trying to write a novel myself. I can hardly believe I even have the nerve to say it let alone do it!
Megan Willome says
You go, girl!