My Writing Journey-Part 3 By: Annette O’Hare

Flunkies?

Me: I remember when my brother Paul and me used to make flunkies.

The Hubby: Flunkies, what do you mean you used to make flunkies? Do you mean a person who performs relatively menial tasks for someone else, especially obsequiously? Like a minion, a lackey, a subordinate, or an underling?

Me: Yes, exactly, and by the way, when did you become a dictionary?

The Hubby: Never mind that. You can’t just turn people into flunkies.

Me: No, no, you don’t understand. Flunkies aren’t people. Flunky is the name we gave to the clay figures we molded to act out the scenarios we made up.

The Hubby: Wait a minute. Is this another one of your writing journey blog posts?

Me: Why yes it is. How did you ever guess?

The Hubby: All right then, is this the part where I ask you to tell me your story?

Me: I thought you’d never ask. And please don’t roll your eyes at me. First of all, let me say that it wasn’t me, but Paul who invented flunkies. Their shape was generally the same as Spook from Wizard of Id comic strip. If you aren’t of a certain age or perhaps a comic junkie you probably don’t know what Spook looks like. That’s why I’ve included a picture. That’s generally what flunkies looked like; only they weren’t covered with hair.

Paul and I formed the clay into these capsule shaped figures and snapped toothpicks in half for their arms and legs. After we finished making the flunkies they took on a life of their own.

A few flunkies realized they were musically talented and decided to form a band. They heard about another flunky who could sing. The lead guitarist flunky asked Paul to make them some instruments. Paul knew a lot about instruments back then. As a matter of fact, he still does. He tediously formed the clay into tiny guitars, drums, keyboard, microphones and amplifiers. He even made cords for everything using yo-yo string. There were a couple flunkies left. And while they loved music, they didn’t have any musical talent. They became flunky roadies.

The flunky band was amazing! They produced covers of songs by such bands as The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and The Rolling Stones. Their whirlwind Texas tour went on for probably three whole days before Mom told us to stay out of the toothpicks and to get our clay band off the kitchen table.

The Hubby: Okay so you made these flunkies…they formed a band…they went on tour then they ended up at the back of your closet. What does any of this have to do with your writing journey?

Me: Can’t you see the amazing story world we created? This simple exercise might have been child’s play back then, but now I see it was a precursor to my love of story and my love of writing.

The Hubby: Oh. I can see how you came to that assessment. But…

Me: But what?

The Hubby: Well, do you think maybe you and your brother just might have an affinity with clay?

Me: You just don’t get it…

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Interview With Annette O’Hare

Today we will be interviewing an up and coming author who I know you will want to read, well as soon as she’s published that is! Her name is Annette O’Hare. Annette hail’s from Deep South Texas, just north of Houston.

Interviewer: So tell me Annette, what are you working on right now?

Annette: Oh, so glad you asked! I’m currently working on a historical romance novel set during the Civil War.

Interviewer: Can you tell us a little bit about the book?

Annette: Of course. Main character, Margaret Logan’s fiancé is killed in the war. And to add to her misery she’s been uprooted from the magnificent city of New Orleans and moved to desolate Bolivar Point, Texas. Her father, a lighthouse keeper, is re-commissioned to man the Bolivar light only to find upon their arrival that the lighthouse has been completely dismantled because of the war.

Interviewer: Interesting. So where does the real conflict come in?

Annette: Well, the action starts when Margaret comes across a severely wounded Union soldier washed up at the bay. Because her fiancé died at the hands of the North, Margaret instantly hates this man. Much to her surprise, her parents insist on bringing him to their home to nurse him back to health.

Interviewer: Sounds Interesting! Did the book require much research?

Annette: Most people have no idea how much work goes into researching a historical novel. Fortunately I really love this part of the novel writing experience. I happen to have a connection to the lighthouse at Bolivar Point, a real place that’s featured in the book. You see, my great aunt was married to the man who bought the lighthouse at auction in 1947. One of the two houses adjacent to the lighthouse bears the name “Maxwell” which is my grandmother’s maiden name. I understand that a Maxwell currently lives in the house with his young wife. I would love to meet them.

Interviewer: Wow! That would be wonderful.

Annette: Yes, especially if I could hand them a signed copy of my book! Hi I’m your cousin. We’ve never met, but I would like to give you a copy of the novel I wrote about this lighthouse.

Interviewer: Hilarious! Well, Annette I’ve enjoyed our interview and thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with me.

Annette:  And I thank you. I hope we can talk again soon so I can tell the readers about another book I have in the works for young adult readers called Puppy Ciao!