As I promised in my previous post, the first draft of the Snowflake is now complete. But as I celebrate writing circa 100K words (I still can’t believe I’ve done it!), the Gardener pulls at my thoughts, distracting me, demanding my attention.
The Gardener is a continuation of the idea behind the Snowflake, but not a continuation of the story itself. The plot is different, the characters are different, even the location and timespan have been changed. What two books share in common is topic – modern computer/cyber crime, focus on a single human flaw – a feeling minor in itself, but which has a capacity to lead to severe consequences, and a legend – a story that is told by one of the characters explaining the meaning of the novel. Just as the Snowflake, I’ll try to make Gardener modern, engaging and realistic, while trying to deliver a greater meaning (though I promise, no preaching). And so, to the story and its main players...
Mid 90-ies, Great Britain
Professor Tony Walker, a nuclear physicist specialising in nanotechnology and an outspoken supporter of the global warming theory, dies in an explosion that resulted from his own carelessness during routine experiment. He goes, leaving behind a grieving wife and an eight-year-old son, Alan.
Present days
Alan Walker, despite being diagnosed with asthma at a young age, gets a place on the British Olympic team, due to swim for his country at the London 2012 Olympics. However, all his hopes are destroyed when a global disaster, a massive tidal wave that consumes most of Europe, strikes on Christmas Eve one year before the Games. Alan survives, but the wrath of nature, something his father predicted all those years ago, takes everyone dear to him.
As part of a global aid mission, Alan ends up in California continuing his University studies, while earning some money as a gardener. It is while creating a magnificent garden – a small tribute to his mother – that he learns the truth about what happened on that fatal Christmas Eve, the truth about people he came to trust. But is his knowledge enough? Will he be able to convince the others? Will he get a chance to come out on top and get his life back?
The question I would like to ask today is: Does it take somebody special to commit a great deed or is it great deeds that make us special?
Saturday 8 August 2009
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Most often great deeds are committed in times of trouble. Our boys and girls have proven themselves time and time again in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are risking their lives to keep us all safe and that’s a great deed in itself. But when they’re back in UK, they might not do anything special for the rest of their lives. Special conditions are needed to become a hero and even then only select few can actually become one.
ReplyDeleteI do like the plot for the Gardener. I’ve read a few books on a similar subject and it’d be interesting to see how you are going to present it.
ReplyDeleteWith regard to great deeds, I guess it depends on what you mean by a deed. Sometimes a simple thing, like being able to give up bad habits, to forget and forgive, to withstand difficulties life throws our way can become a great deed and a great achievement.
I agree with Alex. For me, giving up smoking was incredibly hard. Now I’ve done it and I’m proud of myself. I know it’s not quite enough to make me into a superhero, but then if I ever get a chance to become one, I’m sure it’ll be much easier.
ReplyDeleteNot every man can commit a great deed and unfortunately there’s less and less of those men around nowadays.
ReplyDeleteI think I’ve got a fairly good idea of what the Gardener is going to be about. Modern, fast, yet with enough substance to make your readers think.
ReplyDeleteAchievement of great deeds does not depend on gender or age, on time or social status, but on state of mind and soul. If people are capable of understanding their own shortcomings and have great desire to help others, then they have an enormous potential to commit a great deed.
I do like the fact that you’re going to make a young man the main hero of your new novel. I’m sure you’ll write a good book and my boys will enjoy reading it.
ReplyDeleteI agree that age doesn’t matter when it comes to great deeds. My husband and me were extremely proud when we found out that our 10 year old Craig helped an elderly neighbour up when she fell coming back from the shops. He even helped her take her shopping up the stair afterwards. And he never bragged about it!
I liked the plot for your new book and I can’t wait to meet with your new characters.
ReplyDeleteI think there is a hero inside every one of us.
I didn’t have a problem with the main hero of the Snowflake being a little girl. Now I’m intrigued. It would be very interesting to see how a young woman will to write about a young man. I think it’s going to be very hard. Personally, I would never be able to write convincingly about life, thoughts and worries of a girl.
ReplyDeleteCommitting a deed is easy if you have enough tools and resolve to do it.
Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Eliot
Our deeds follow us, and what we have been makes us what we are.
ReplyDeleteJohn Dyke