The following is a three part series, given my penchant for not writing long e- mail posts. The following appeared on the web page Writers' Weekly - a US based webpage that caters to American writers. Those interested in writing could review this weekly web page (revamped every Wednesday) for serious tips on and about writing. This is the final of three parts.
EXPERIENCE of writing a novel in America (part 3 / 3) COMMUNITY FEEDBACK The majority of readers read what is written. They are encouraged, even amused by the information which reinforces the facts with which they are already familiar. The learned always find something they did not know and are appreciative for being further informed. A few readers, however, disregard the style and substance and proceed to discern what is not printed. What they read is either not important or is known to them. They proceed to comment on what is not written and should have been in black and white even if it is understood. Sometimes, the information they consider vital has no bearing on the story. Most readers are not sensitive to the word count of the manuscript which is of concern only to the author, publisher and the printer (understatement). It turns out that some readers who comment on the book have perused only parts of the book in their attempt to hurry to the end and unravel the mystery. In the process, they lose out on the style, substance and interesting details of the story. In their haste to beat a self-imposed deadline, these speed- readers do not kick-back, relax and get in sync with the main character or the author who aims to take the readers on a journey, albeit fictional. Reading a book is not unlike watching a movie. The end does matter but in the right place and at the appropriate time. As the Spanish proverb advises, reading and eating should both be done slowly. As seasoned writers are aware, the secret to good writing is to stay focused on the topic. Yet in this wide world, one never knows who reads the script and how it is interpreted and utilized. As mentioned earlier, the reviews of "On Thin Ice" by knowledgeable peers were the satisfaction of our efforts. The first review of the novel was from a perceptive anesthesiologist. She commented on the learning and sharing experiences of different cultures within a society, thus enriching the whole. She and other reviewers praise the novel and the concept of different ethnic groups working together. Another reviewer went on to comment on the growing trend of mixed marriages (among ethnic groups) not only as it affects the young couple but also the in-laws. Mixed marriages bring together people who have perhaps grown up in different regions with different languages (often with different scripts), religions, dietary preferences, religious and cultural rituals. If the two individuals do resolve and unite these differences, their in-laws may not. Such challenges are surmountable in the eternal human desire to make a success of any endeavor, Compared to other challenges in life, as the side-stories of our novel depict, these may be insignificant. We recently met an elderly couple of two different ethnic backgrounds who have been happily married for eons. They informed us that both sets of in-laws never got along with them. Whatever one's perspective may be, this is not an ideal situation. We hope our novel breaks the thin ice and helps mitigate such situations. CONCLUSIONS Many readers have written to inform us that the story could be their very own. It is! The Reddy family is a composite family that has adapted to the ever evolving challenges that life presents. Many of the supporting stars are representative of Uticans who provide ample inspiration and stories which made writing easier fiction based on many facts. This book may be a useful resource for those who feel misunderstood by their co-workers, neighbors and friends. It is up to us to educate the wider community on our values, culture and customs before we are defined by a fringe or fanatic individual or group within or outside our community or our country. In addition to enlightening others about Asian-Americans, On Thin Ice helps Asians understand themselves their values, culture and customs. This educative process is vital as in todays society many of them interact with us at work as employers or employees, as customers, clients, friends, and, in the case of Dr. Reddy, as patients. In recent years, more and more of them are related to us directly or indirectly through marriage. Thus them-us become Americans with deep values and long cultural traditions. The setting for the novel is the small but exciting multi-ethnic city of Utica, in upstate New York. Utica is located on I-90 between Syracuse and Albany. Competitive curling is played as a four-person, men or women or as a mixed doubles team. Team Utica overcomes many challenges to reach the top rung of the sport. Uticas autograph culinary delight is Italian Greens" made with escarole, prosciutto, peppers, cheese and bread crumbs. In fact Utica as second autograph dish called and "Chicken Riggies". Any city with its own signature dishes cannot be Dullsville. The February 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, will no doubt draw world attention to curling. After reading On Thin Ice, the sport will be even more enjoyable. ABOUT THE AUTHORS Meena and Gilbert Lawrence make a wife-husband writing team. They were born in Bombay (Mumbai), India, where they completed their postgraduate studies. They immigrated to the U.S. in 1977 and live in Utica, New York. Meena is a reporter and a human interest feature writer. Gilbert is a physician. On Thin Ice - ISBN 1-59113-826-4 (Publisher Booklocker Inc.) Web page for book reviews: http://www.booklocker.com/books/2194.html
