Friday, January 14, 2011

How I Came to My Inheritance, by Seana Graham

I deleted this post, which was originally to take part in a story challenge by John Kenyon. Plans are now at work to put these all in an anthology, and as I've revised the story from this version, I don't think it really serves to keep it up. If for some reason the anthology doesn't happen, I will probably repost the newer version somewhere else.

I'm keeping the comments up, partly because I don't like to delete other people's words, but also because I appreciated them and they are good contact info. 

25 comments:

  1. I enjoyed this immensely! Quite a twist on--Cinderella, I presume?

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  2. Thank you, Kaye George! No, it wasn't Cinderella in my mind, but I can see how you might think that. I think I'll leave it undeclared, though other readers can guess if they want.

    Haven't had time to check in at the site yet, but I will be getting to the other stories as soon as I have a chance.

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  3. I thought it was Cinders, too. The Prince and The Pauper?

    Anyway, a bloody good bit of writing, that.

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  4. Seana- That was a tremendous story. Well written, engaging, and kept my interest the entire time. At first, I expected Gato to be revealed as some kind of freak, but you transitioned him so well. I'm thinking it based on "Puss in Boots"

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  5. Paul and Sean, thanks for the kind comments. I find it fascinating that Cinderella felt like a model for it, as it hadn't crossed my mind. I suppose some of the story motifs in fairytales echo each other a bit, in that the poor and outcast often win out.

    Sean gets the prize, though. If there was a prize. It was Puss 'n Boots. I originally thought it would follow the tale a little more exactly, but word count cut into an earlier idea, and I think in the end actually led me to a better story.

    Sean, thanks for the link to the contest. I'll be reading everyone else's today and am excited at the prospect!

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  6. See, now to me, Puss in Boots is a brand of cat food. But this is one fine story.
    ==========================
    Detectives Beyond Borders
    "Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
    http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

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  7. Thanks, Peter. I'm glad you liked it.

    I think Puss 'n Boots might have been a bit pricey for our poor cats. Unless it was the economy brand. It's been a long time and I kind of forget.

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  8. We never had cats. I just remember the television commercials.

    I also read and liked Sean's story. I'll try to read some of the others. This keeps up, and I may try to write a story of my own.
    ==========================
    Detectives Beyond Borders
    "Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
    http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

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  9. Yes, I've read Sean's and a couple of others. I will read all of them over the next few days. It's an interesting premise and people have done some imaginative things with it.

    Sean's a great one for keeping us all posted on story challenges and such. I'd say, watch this space, but you'd do better to watch his.

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  10. I'll watch both spaces; I've just added his to my RSS feeds, and your blogs are already on my list.

    I liked these stories for the same reason I like "Requiems for the Departed." A fresh, thoroughly contemporary story can restore the original power to fairy tales that myths that have lost their oomph in our culture.
    ==========================
    Detectives Beyond Borders
    "Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
    http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/

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  11. Yes, I was reminded of that collection too, especially since I only recently got around to reading it.

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  12. Seana- What tipped me off was the character name "Gato", which I thought might be a tip off to the fairytale being adapted.

    Peter- I say go for it. I bet you can come up with some great stories.

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  13. My French is far better than my Spanish, so I think of gateau as "cake". I should have flipped over to Spanish obviously!

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  14. Right, I actually thought 'Gato' might make it a bit too obvious, but I guess I wasn't thinking about other sound associations to the word...

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  15. SEANNA, I LOVED THIS!

    I'd figgered Puss & Boots and then "Gato" sealed the deal in my smilin' mind - how well and swell you told this tale - title swung it all in ... then, I had the 2nd joy of reading through the comment*zing and the smiles rose the more. Funny, twas Sean that I too followed in on this crime'tale from fairy'tale scene.

    Back to your tale - was if I was sitting back, sitting back, sitting back, listening to your writer's voice wondering how all would shake down. Gosh, your boots were made for good steppin' out. ~ Absolutely*Kate

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  16. Lovely story in every way. Puss in Boots was one of my favorites. I guessed with Gato and knew for sure when Gato pushed Frank in the water.

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  17. Right, RL, it's a very fine line between just following the program of the original story, and bringing something of your own to it without taking it too far afield. I have no idea if I managed it, but it was a very interesting challenge.

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  18. Evan, just got over and read your fine story, as you will see. It's taking me longer than I thought to get to everyone's but that's a good thing. Recognizing more than a few names here from Christmas Noir and am hoping to encounter all of you at the next writing challenge soon.

    Absolutely Kate, I love reading your comments. Not just here, but absolutely everywhere.

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  19. (( And, coming across this and You, in about every 'Once Upon A Crime'tale' tonight, I'm absolutely smiling in the dark to see you say that Seana ... geeeez, now you're stuck wit'me hangin' around your great writes. )) ~ Absolutely*kate

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  20. Well, it would be nice if all of us flotsam and jetsam found some kind of glue to hold us together a bit, wouldn't it? Between this and the Xmas noir writers who didn't overlap, it's a very good crowd, I'm thinking.

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  21. Right you are, talented Lady ~ tis a damn good crowd. So put your flotsam where your jetsam is and spread the word -- There's a FAB*FEB*FILM*FEST coming very soon AT THE BIJOU.

    Time to 'stick together' with a cinematic flair -- I'm very sure you're up to it. (slip it under the projection room door @ RiverviewStudios@gmail.com) *THANKS!*

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  22. Very intriguing, and I hope some others are reading down here as well...

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  23. Very fun story Seana. I've never read Puss 'n Boots so now I'm curious.

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  24. A Mad Men break, Glenna? You can try Puss n Boots, but I think I might have kind of given away the general plot.

    The book with the Fred Marcellino illustrations is worth looking at just in itself.

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