Hooray For The Husband
I am the luckiest writer wife alive. My first reader is my husband, and not only is he supportive and kind, he's also a brilliant storyteller and writer himself. How many writers get to have not only an amazing professional editor in New York but another living in the same house! Dean made many contributions to this book:
He named it. The original title I gave it was Diary of a Lady's Maid. When my editor suggested I brainstorm other titles, Dean came up with a list of ideas. He started strong, and then as the list went on...well...
The Book of A Thousand Days
Dashti's Book
Back and Here Again
Steppesong
Steppenwolf
Vixens in Chains
12 Rats for Sister Dashti
One Steppe Forward (Two Steppes Back)
I Sing The Body Eclectic
The Adventures of My Lord The Cat, Volume One: MeowSongHe suggested a critical plot point. When I was in the outlining stage, I spoke with him often about my ideas. At one point, I identified a major plot hole and he made a suggestion. I scoffed at it and said, "Oh be serious." Then later on, I thought about it from a different point of view and eventually took his ridiculous suggestion. It made a major difference in the story and I can't imagine this book without that change now.
He wrote the pig song that Tegus sings. I emailed him one day and said, "I need a humorous song for the book." He emailed me back two songs he made up on the spot. As silly as they were, I made some minor changes to the first one and used it. And I love it! The originals:
The Pig Head Blues
One morning I rose to find
a piglet beside my bed
This piglet, she was not normal
This piglet was only a head!
Oh bodiless bodiless piglet!
How did you get this way?
Oh bodiless bodiless piglet!
Come with me, come and play!
It rolled about, a'squealing
Moving by snout and jaw
Happily snuffling for truffles
With nary a hoof nor paw!
Oh bodiless bodiless piglet!
How did you get this way?
Oh bodiless bodiless piglet!
Come with me, come and play!
That piglet, it was so happy
happy to squeal and roll
'Twould wriggle about a'grunting
While drinking up milk in a bowl!
Oh bodiless bodiless piglet!
How did you get this way?
Oh bodiless bodiless piglet!
Come with me, come and play!
One day the piglet she vanished,
Without even saying goodbye.
She rolled off to fields much greener
And left me alone to cry
Oh bodiless bodiless piglet!
How did you get this way?
Oh bodiless bodiless piglet!
Come with me, come and play!
The Family Yak
Sayyyyyy Fella
Did you hear about Joe? He's your friend I know,
He was eaten by the family Yak!
I heard it was mad, the beast had gone bad,
He was eaten by the family Yak!
No, it wasn't a horse! Yes, I trust my source!
He was eaten by the family Yak!
So when you pass his abode, don't you ask for Joe.
He was eaten by the family Yak!