You have no idea how skeevy it feels to have a statement like “I’m writing a book” just hanging out there in the blogosphere. But, I’m going to just let it hang, and live with the discomfort, and even compound it by sharing what the book is about, to the extent that I know what it’s about.
My dad was a huge Harley-Davidson aficionado. In September 2002 he took a solo road trip around the perimeter of Texas–a distance of 4,000 miles. His goal was to ride through each of the perimeter counties in Texas. (I’ve mentioned this before on the blog.)
He kept a journal of the experience, which I have been reading and writing responses to over the past couple of months. Many of the places he went have triggered my own thoughts and memories and questions. He intended to take that journal and expand it into an article, or maybe even something longer, but as most of you know, he died four months later. So I’m writing on his behalf. Only it’s not about the trip per se, the trip is a metaphor for his life and our lives as father-daughter, and it forms the structure for the book.
Why I waited to share this is I needed to talk to my brothers and my stepmother more fully about this–I need their cooperation since there are lots of gaps in my memory. I’ve been doing some outlining and some research, and I will need to interview various family members as I put the pieces together.
So I’m working a little bit at a time, with the sense that sooner or later I will have to actually visit some of these desolate places and tiny towns he writes about–the Texas Gulf Coast, Big Bend National Park, the wide stretches of highway (and gravel road, and dirt road) in West Texas, a tiny town that has our last name (actually a former town that’s nothing but an abandoned railway station and grain elevator), and so on. My current thought–I’m eligible for a sabbatical in 2008 (SO hard to believe), so next year I hope to apply for a Lilly grant and part of my proposal will be to retrace portions of his route.
PPB’s comment in the last post [she asked whether I had a book deal–yeah right!] makes me think about the book proposal. I’ve been holding off on that because I’m told if you’re unpublished folks want to see the whole thing. And I’m also not convinced that I can pull this off. One of the things that struck me though is that this book would be interesting to market because it would have elements of memoir, travel, Texana (not a category outside of Texas I know), and spirituality (think Kathleen Norris’s Dakota). And of course, motorcycles.
So there it is.
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Asides
» I have been remiss in posting SBJ’s latest stats: 23 pounds and 27 inches at six months. Yes, I’ve got the big mama biceps.
» Aaaaaand little she-who-is lost another tooth this week!
» SBJ is four months old, 19 pounds 5 ounces, and 26 inches tall. GIGANTOR!
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
It will be wonderful. I have my own memories of your dad too, and many are really wonderful and good.
What a neat project! Good luck with it!
Here’s a potential resource
http://www.ourstory.com/
Which makes it easy to have a group work on a biographical project. The site’s software helps keep things in historical sequence.
Very cool!
Any way you could retrace the whole thing? Aside from the obvious dramatic benefits, it would make a great marketing hook.
Sounds like a very meaningful project, RM.
I want a signed copy when this happens…cause I truly believe that it will happen.
Ready for you to come to west Texas.
This is wonderful. And I think that putting it out there like you are is brave.
We have extra room at the house! Stay with me, eat with Mindy! ha ha!
Honestly, this sounds like a wonderful premise for a book. Best of luck with it.
If only from your last paragraph, I’d want to read it. Thanks for sharing where you’re at with it.
I think you should retrace it on a HARLEY! I think little side cars for each of the girls, and a leather jacket with reverendmother: you’ve read the blog, now read the book on the back.
kathleen norris is one of my favorite authors. and you, like norris, are an “old soul” who sees more deeply than most and is then willing to share what you see.
how can i encourage you?
It would also have elements of grief too, I would imagine.
Mercies on the journey,
Joy in the discoveries,
Comfort in the remembering,
Peace in the creating.
Go for it sister. Can’t wait to read it.
Great Scott! The place has exploded.
Keith, I’ve definitely had that thought. I too think it would be ideal to do what he did. The major thing is to figure out how my family fits into it. He took about two weeks to do it, which means he didn’t stop anyplace for long. (I think he would have taken it a little slower but there was a hurricane coming by the time he got to East Texas.) I would want to see a few of the places in more depth; for example, he spent a night in a Catholic retreat center in the middle of nowhere, and I could see spending several days there. But I can’t imagine dragging the family along the whole time, yet the thought of being away from them for several weeks isn’t great either.
Luke: definitely.
PPB: lol.
Everyone: thanks.
Write large, girl! Large in spirit, large in love, large in the essential truth of memory, although several people can have different memories of the same time/event. This is about seeing him and the adventure through your prism…it will be wonderful!
ppb - I love the image of RM and the reverendgirls on a road trip together on the Harley!
RM, this book will be incredible. CGAuntie might be persuaded to tag along your with you on your route as a nanny/homeschooler (’cause you know I couldn’t take care of them w/out teaching them something!)
Your dad would have loved this idea and he would be so proud of you. What a wonderful tribute.