Thursday, June 4, 2009

Art before News

This is just a short entry on an odd coincidence. I received an email from Shirley, a member of my writing workshop, referring to the amnesiac woman whose family has doubted her story in public (front page Houston Chronicle today). She remarked that the story offers surprising parallels to the novel I'm writing--begun more than two years ago.

Then tonight I received a similar notice from Andrea White, who also spent time in the workshop with me--and whose books for young adults have received nice attention.

It's a little spooky to see something one imagined receive a realistic parallel like that and I'm not sure how it will affect the story, if at all. The woman's face, as it was shown in the paper a few weeks ago, is haunting.

On another matter, I feel as though I'm being stalked a bit. What does one do? I'll blog further about this later perhaps. Maybe you readers can help me figure out whether I should be worried.

But now, bonne nuit!

7 comments:

mybillcrider said...

Life imitates art again.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Oh gosh - this all sounds very strange. As Bill says - life imitating art. Sometimes coincidences happen in real life and we think that could not possibly be put in a novel because nobody would believe it - they would think it far-fatched. How far have you got with your novel - one wonders whether the outcomes of the novel and the real story will be the same?

PJHornbergerFolkArtist.com said...

oh do tell more of the stalker... you've left me hanging....

Sydney said...

I first thought you meant stalked by people telling you your story reminds them of this one in the Chronicle, or perhaps you were feeling a little haunted now that life imitates art. Then I re-read it and you mean a stalker. Is this person aware of your blog?

Jinksy said...

By the time your book got to the publication stage, all but the relatives of the actual woman in question, would probably pay no heed to any similarities. Isn't it true, there are no new stories on earth, when you come down to the grass roots?

Texas Legacy Lady said...

Don't know about the life immitating art part. I've read novels that seem like I have read about the events in them before or known people like the characters. It is wierd but it happens.

Regarding the stalker...get a handgun that you can shoot, get a concealed handgun license and carry a big can of wasp spray in your vehicle as well as a tire iron or heavy pipe under the seat. I probably sound rather rough but if it comes down to them or me, I want it to be me that walks away. Blessings.

Anonymous said...

I have had experience with what you mention.

If your stalker is not a former boyfriend,it makes it tough to get restraining orders if needed. Though they don't do much good if you do get them, but they serve at least as something to get the authorities you and the situation them more seriously. When I went in the police always said, look unless they kill you or rape you, we can't do much until then. NICE.

I would alert the LOCAL police to it, so it's on record, and get to know your local patrol guys for both night and day... I don't mean to alarm you by saying this. It just helps to have them be aware in case you ever need them. And keep a record of dates and times of interaction -- any calls, visits, those e-mails, etc. just to have in case you'd need to take action.

Stalkers can be utterly harmless and can get quite intimidated if you take a strong stand and tell them you're not playing... or they can snap and need to be taken seriously. I say better safe...