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Genre: Literary Fiction
About smallgodsLocation: Westport, Ma Home Region: Age:91 Website: http://drumfish.bravehost.com/ Favorite novels: Jitterbug Perfume Favorite writers: Tom Robbins, Terry Pratchett, Favorite music: N'Awlins jazz, baby. Non-noveling interests: see web site |
Joined: October 19, 2008 This Year: Official Participant NaNoWriMo History: NaNoWriMo posts: 5 NaNoWriMo buddies: 2
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Brief Author Bio: Grizzled, curmudgeonly hack writer of short humorous prose intending to expand into extended metaphor and the Larger Questions. Going for the Really Big Questions this year. |
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Synopsis: (Will use clever phrase from novel when I write that part- this may take time)
An irascible, sarcastic zen monk in charge of a monastery in a damp, forlorn coastal city. A preacher with an Amway approach to salvation. A 12 year old runaway girl with a potty mouth and a badass attitude. A college with an out of control philosophy department. Greedy real estate developers, a little old lady's last will and testament, and a visit by the representatives of a living reincarnation of the Buddah- who happens to have Alzheimers.
I didn't mean it to be literary fiction, honest. But there's all these wonderful characters and they also have these profound things to say or muse on or deal with and philosophy and theology and The Meaning Of Stuff and oh, crap, it is Lit Fic.
Excerpt: (Will use clever phrase from novel when I write that part- this may take time)
Brothers , said the Abbot, We are a people rich in lore and sacred stories but that doesn’t mean we can pretend they are literally true. You know you do not believe all those stories of past Ascensions, Where in the Most Holy and Venerated corporeal form has breathed it’s last and The committee has unsealed the Vault of Ascension. They go to seek the new Vessel, only to find him striding towards them on the road, smiling beatifically- magically aware of his status at the moment of his predecessors passing. There is another tradition, less storied but I am certain more likely to be true. This tradition says that the office of the Most Holy and Venerated, True and Undisputed Vessel of the Soul of the Buddha is not foisted upon an unsuspecting monk but is offered. And it is accepted or demurred freely.
An unwise choice, made in a vulnerable man’s dottage should not be abused, began the Pompous Rabbit
I was offered the job more than 50 years ago the Abbot interrupted sharply.
But you would have been only....
Twelve, finished the Abbott. The year before the Return and Diaspora I don’t recall his exact words, but He said something like: You want my job someday, kid? I asked if that meant I got to ride around in the big covered cart with all the curtains. He said yes, I said yes and that was it.
