Imagine what it would be like to wake up one morning to the news that your next door neighbor, the guy who borrowed your hedge trimmer last week and has yet to return it, has been arrested for being a Russian spy. Chances are pretty good you won't be getting the trimmer back. And isn't this the week his wife is supposed to drive the kids to soccer practice? Well, she's been arrested, too. What about the kiddos? Where are they? What's happening to them? Who are they? Apparently, they weren't born where they thought they were. If you think you're confused, try to imagine what it's like for them. It's challenging enough to be a teen without learning that you've been living a lie--one contrived by your very own parents. Or are they? Is that part of the lie?
As a mother, grandmother, educator, Sunday school teacher, former kid, and regular compassionate person, my heart cries out to those children. I wish I could somehow shelter them from all the flashing cameras, probing news reporters, and uncertainties they face.
But as a writer of middle-grade fiction, my imagination slammed into overdrive as soon as the story broke. What fuel for a series! I'm not the one to write that collection. I know that. But I'm absolutely certain that some writer out there already is drawing snowflakes and plotting scenes, fleshing out characters and developing minor and major crises.
Open wide the back door and kick out the vampires, pseudo-angels, wizards, zombies, and ghouls. Here come the spies!
I didn't even think about them having kids. Poor things! Maybe one of them will write a bio. That will be an interesting story!
ReplyDeleteWho would've thought we'd find ourselves back in the cloak-and-dagger realm of Cold War espionage?
ReplyDeleteBut I think you're right, Sharon: Such intrigue excites the imagination of young readers. (Remember all the spies who turned up in the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew!)
You're right, zzzzzzzzz. It would be an interesting story. And I'll bet at least one of them will write a tell-all or a memoir one of these days, but I'm guessing that the fiction writers already are on it. If that were my genre, I would be. We have several Christian writers among ACFW members who write thrillers and high-adventure novels. I'm eager to see what happens.
ReplyDeleteWrite on!
Because of Christ,
Sharon
I know, hoosierwriter. It's surrealistic, isn't it? Just when we thought those days were gone--or did we?
ReplyDeleteI'm keeping an eye on what's being pubbed for MGs after this.
Perhaps Willie and Fern should be Russian spies. Just teasing. Besides, what am I talking about? By the time it's done, I'll have ample spying taking place in THE SECOND CELLAR, albeit, not by Russians.
Write on!
Because of Christ,
Sharon