A number of years ago when I was looking here and there for a character and a voice for my writing, I came across "Jay Hughes," who is -- without embellishment -- me. It means JU's.
Ol' Jay shows up in most of my work as the guy I'd rather be than not. I see the world through his eyes and he is what I am at times.
But as I dabbled, I decided to explore some diversions to 'white guy meets white girl, they have an adventure and live HEA.'
So, I thought, let's see if an interracial relationship can work. Regardless of intent, content, or camping tent, I thought the story initially had legs. Lacking true context, I tried to envision a plot that could hold the story line together.
After 40 pages or so, I came to the conclusion that an interracial relationship would contain the same elements of any other with the contrived exception of the friction such a relationship might have endured at a time in our nation's past.
Bigotry. I know about it, have observed it and probably have endured it as much as my own victimhood will allow.
So, I trashed the whole thing and thought, why not just make her green, from another planet and see what works. I wrote the thing. There was a real story attached to that.
It sat around for a long time, living inside its pointless bigot-free world. Last spring, I dredged it up, re-wrote it and it's now a story I can hopefully sell.
I don't harbor illusions much these days. I am running out of tomorrows, having squandered a lot of yesterdays. But what I have written is mine, it's done for the right reasons and is worth sharing.
"Jill" could be an important person in a world that may someday exist. She's impetuous and full of adventure. She likes beer, Paul Anka and eats redwood planks for a snack. She deals with bigots in her own unique way.
And she likes Klinger, the dachshund.
"Jill" is a good yarn.
Really, it is. You might also like to learn about Segoy, but that's another story.
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