Sights, Sounds, and Smells
My friend and mentor Dr. Digby from CW Post LIU (my alma mater) has asked be to take her small English class to Manhattan to see the world of Cid Wymann first hand. They’re reading Open Wounds now. I’m going to talk to them about how you can make the past come alive in a historical novel.
I’m very excited about it (not the amount of work I will put into it – more than I need to probably but that’s my problem). I went to talk to The Fencer’s Club (on 28th) folks today to see what time on a Saturday October 20th, would be good to bring a dozen non-fencers to watch the goings on and maybe get a short talk about the history of the club – and… not get in the way of the fencing.
I’ll have them sit and listen to the sound of fencers going at it. I love that sound. Then there’s that smell of sweat from fencers who haven’t cleaned their uniforms in ages. Ahhh.
Then the Hotel Chelsea where Cid lives with Lefty down on 23rd. It’s under construction with a new interior renovation and new owners so we can’t go inside but at least the outside looks the same.
Then two avenues over to where I placed the fictional Gotham Fencer’s Club but where at some point prior to 1930 there was an author’s club near 28 West 24th Street.
Then down by subway – the R train – to the bloody angle (not from Gettysburg) in Chinatown on Doyers where the Rescue Society Mission used to be and where I placed an alley that leads down and deep underground to an opium den where Lefty tries to disappear from the pain of life.
Finally we’ll end up a little north at the lower east side on Grand where Siggy lived at the Amalgamated and over to Orchard where he worked selling pickles from a push-cart.
I might be a little too ambitious.
We’ll see.
I’ll let you know as I get closer.
Oh… and just ignore the fact that I’ve been away form a month and some. I’ll tell you about it later.
Lunievicz 
I have been wondering why you’ve been out of touch, but whatever.
The setting in Open Wounds is one of the most living, breathing settings I’ve ever read, so I’m actually totally jealous of this tour. But still, nerdiness aside, I really think you’re doing something awesome, Joe.
September 28, 2012 at 7:57 pm
Thanks. Mostly I’ve been writing. Time has been short and work has been intense so the blog has fallen behind. This has been a summer of rearranging priorities in many ways.
September 29, 2012 at 8:46 am
Well I do miss interacting with you some, but if it means there’ll be another book of yours to read, I’ll put up with it. 🙂
September 29, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Hey, I read you’re way into manuscript two WIP on Warrior Monks. How is that coming?
September 29, 2012 at 8:35 pm
Oh no, it’s not a sequel, it’s something new. I’m sort of terrified to do anything new with the WM series until I know what’s going to happen with the first one. If I can get an agent, I’ll definitely start working on it again … or if I end up self pubbing, I suppose I’ll have to write the other volumes, but for now I’m just writing something new.
I call it a YA Contemporary Thriller with a hint of ambiguous Magical Realism, and the working title is Running from Ruby Ridge. It’s darker, grittier, and angrier than WM, but don’t worry, I’ll be asking you for feedback once I have it done. I’m 55,000 words into what I expect to be about a 65,000 word MS.
September 29, 2012 at 8:43 pm
Awesome. Simply awesome. Looking forward to hearing more about it (and reading it when you’re ready).
September 30, 2012 at 11:28 am
Thanks, Joe!
September 30, 2012 at 4:42 pm