I like Theresa's idea of an adult novel told from a child's POV. I also want to know what happened to Ruthie's father and what the key opens. And who doesn't love "The Soldiering Life"?
Thank you for sharing! I think it would have worked well as an adult novel told from a child’s perspective. It’s very easy for the child in all of us to relate. It may be over, but I’m not going to stop wondering what happened to Ruthie’s father!
I like the last chapter. A lot. And, yes, it was really frustrating when it ended so... abruptly.
I get there are good reasons why you don't have the time or energy to write more of Ruthie's story. At least not right now. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed that someday, more of her story will start emerging once more from your pen onto the page.
When that day comes, in addition to showing us more of her future, would you please also let us dive into some of her past?
I'm thinking specifically of the stuff she mentions in Chapter 7, when she speculates whether her previous misdeeds might have caused her father's disappearance. Like the time she stayed out in the woods so long that M. Baumbaum panicked and sent Pyotr to the village to organize a search-and-rescue mission for his wayward offspring. Or the time she threw a cricket ball which smashed one of the Chateau's priceless Victorian French windows. Times when she was so memorably 'incorrigible' that her father truly hated her. Just as much as she probably hated him - for sending her to bed instead of letting her stay up and hear the rest of the soldier's story - or for locking her in the gunshed after catching her eavesdropping. I get why Ruthie hates Madame Rigmor; but things might get more twisted if we find out how much she and her father both hated and loved each other. I can't help wondering-- is he secretly as eccentric and rebellious as she is - but just does a better job hiding it from the world?
I'm also wondering... If her father & everyone else really WERE kidnapped - and the kidnappers didn't find what they were really after (the key the soldier left behind) - when will they discover there's someone they failed to grab cause she was locked in the gunshed? Are they devious enough to pose as a wealthy couple who show up at the Gormenghastian Kingsley Memorial Home looking to adopt the perfect darling young orphan for their childless marriage?
There are so many wonderful (and wonderfully twisted) possibilities. No matter which one/s you choose, Ruthie is already a memorable character... and the world will be a better place when we get to read more of her adventures. (And see more too! it goes without saying that the handful of illustrations in your 23-year-old manuscript are really the bees' knees)
Just one other thing: I'm curious. Really, really, curiosity-killed-the-cat curious.
I like Theresa's idea of an adult novel told from a child's POV. I also want to know what happened to Ruthie's father and what the key opens. And who doesn't love "The Soldiering Life"?
Thank you for sharing! I think it would have worked well as an adult novel told from a child’s perspective. It’s very easy for the child in all of us to relate. It may be over, but I’m not going to stop wondering what happened to Ruthie’s father!
I like the last chapter. A lot. And, yes, it was really frustrating when it ended so... abruptly.
I get there are good reasons why you don't have the time or energy to write more of Ruthie's story. At least not right now. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed that someday, more of her story will start emerging once more from your pen onto the page.
When that day comes, in addition to showing us more of her future, would you please also let us dive into some of her past?
I'm thinking specifically of the stuff she mentions in Chapter 7, when she speculates whether her previous misdeeds might have caused her father's disappearance. Like the time she stayed out in the woods so long that M. Baumbaum panicked and sent Pyotr to the village to organize a search-and-rescue mission for his wayward offspring. Or the time she threw a cricket ball which smashed one of the Chateau's priceless Victorian French windows. Times when she was so memorably 'incorrigible' that her father truly hated her. Just as much as she probably hated him - for sending her to bed instead of letting her stay up and hear the rest of the soldier's story - or for locking her in the gunshed after catching her eavesdropping. I get why Ruthie hates Madame Rigmor; but things might get more twisted if we find out how much she and her father both hated and loved each other. I can't help wondering-- is he secretly as eccentric and rebellious as she is - but just does a better job hiding it from the world?
I'm also wondering... If her father & everyone else really WERE kidnapped - and the kidnappers didn't find what they were really after (the key the soldier left behind) - when will they discover there's someone they failed to grab cause she was locked in the gunshed? Are they devious enough to pose as a wealthy couple who show up at the Gormenghastian Kingsley Memorial Home looking to adopt the perfect darling young orphan for their childless marriage?
There are so many wonderful (and wonderfully twisted) possibilities. No matter which one/s you choose, Ruthie is already a memorable character... and the world will be a better place when we get to read more of her adventures. (And see more too! it goes without saying that the handful of illustrations in your 23-year-old manuscript are really the bees' knees)
Just one other thing: I'm curious. Really, really, curiosity-killed-the-cat curious.
How DID she end the War?!?!
Thanks for sharing! I heard you talk about this story in an old Wildwood interview and I always yearned to hear the predecessor
Thanks for giving us a glimpse into Ruthie's world! Enjoyed reading every new chapter each Friday.
That was delightful!
I now sense my Friday email checking will be a bit less exciting.
What else ya got back in the ol closet folks?
This was a fantastic read! Thank you for sharing it. Certainly hoping you might choose to finish it yet. So many mysteries left unsolved!
I love this story, Colin. You need to get your rear in gear and finish this sucker! PUHLEASE...