Madeline Gornell's Latest
Thank you, Marilyn, for inviting me to visit and talk about my latest book. This one was a little different, in that it is my first Novella. I started my writing journey with short stories, with my first published story being rather short, and in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine—eons ago. I was working for a company at that time, but when that chapter of my life closed, I went to writing full-length books.
With Rhodes – Never Forgotten, I finished telling my story in less than a full-length book—and a short story was just not enough. Voila! A novella.
This Leigh Everett Rhodes’s adventure was inspired by the song, “Battle Hymn of the republic.” A little backstory information about me personally will explain. I’m tone death and “can’t carry a tune.” Basically, those statements mean I can’t tell one note from another, except maybe that one is high, and one is low. A circumstance which made for some interesting events—in that in my youth, I went to schools that required singing.
My hubby kindly says, I can carry a tune, it’s just on another scale. Consequently, I seldom sing with other people. But another circumstance is, we live about 30 miles from the supermarket, and I usually drive in alone for groceries—at which time I belt out a couple phrases I know the words of. “Glory, glory, halleluiah,” is my favorite—sung loud, and on my alien scale. From there came the idea of singing in a tour van on Route 66—and combined with a seeing a really cool-looking Mercedes tour van pass me by on Interstate 40. Then there was the “Occam’s Razor” part came from a dream about my school days…
Oh yes, I also wanted to use the first name Delyth(fell in love with the sound of it) in a story. I stole “Delyth” from a Midsomer Murders mystery where slate mining in Wales was part of the story.
That’s the “where did the idea come from” winding road that ultimately led to Rhodes – Never Forgotten.
Bio: Madeline (M.M.) Gornell is the author of many award-winning novels. Of her nine novels, her current literary focus is Route 66 as it traverses California’s Mojave Desert. Madeline is a lifetime lover of mysteries, and besides reading and writing, is also a potter. She lives with her husband and assorted canines in the High Desert. Her books are:
Comments
Hi Madeline- see you at the next conference?
John S.
So appreciative you've read my books! Rhodes is a later series, and writing is a little different (improved I hope!) Thank you for stopping by, much appreciated . Keep safe.
I'm new to novella, but I think there are a couple more ideas I have that haven't made it book form that just might be right for a novella.
Great hearing from you!
Waiting for a new Storyville adventure(smile) Thanks for stopping by!