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Jon?s first trip to the city of brotherly love, my second. The event was the smallest to date, between a 107 and 130 people. Line numbers said 107, my arm, and our escort?s estimate said 120 to 130. Opinions differ as they say. The drive from Philly to Bryn Mawyr was both picturesque and valuable. I saw an old cemetery, just a glimpse through the trees. The tombs seemed to be clinging to the side of the cliffs over the river. I have no idea what it was about that one brief glimpse, but it sparked something. People are always asking how do you get your ideas, well here?s how I got this one. That one glimpse, I didn?t even make a note, because I notice cemeteries all the time, sort of an occupational hazard. We went onto the event, and I didn?t really think anything more about it.
The event was good. We actually saw some faces fro the Maryland and Virginia signings, but most of the faces were new ones. We got to meet John Passerella and his entire family; wife, sons, and daughter. Very cool. His son, Matthew, looked wonderful. Thanks again to everyone who bid on our goodie basket for the Matthew?s Miles.
The next day we took the train to New York. Well, first off let me just say if I hadn?t said it about the train ride from Washington D. C. to Philly, I may finally have found a mode of transportation that doesn?t terrify me. Yea! But on the train ride to New York I started making notes. I?ve had an Anita idea set in D. C. for years, where Anita gets to talk to the senate subcommittee on undead rights. I?ve just got to find time to do the research for it, and time on the ground in our capitol. Hard to find with my schedule. About the time I was ready to try, we had 9/11 and I figured that everyone had more important things to do than answer my questions. So I thought the Philly idea would tie into the Washington idea, but I realized somewhere in the train ride that there was too much plot in the new idea to combine it with the D. C. idea. That one glimpse of a cemetery through the trees, and our brief ride through the Philly area had given me an idea so complete, I?ve got the first chapter in rough form. I?ve made notes about the first third of the book. I think we?ll get to invite Edward to come play on this one. We might even get to see him use his flame thrower on stage. Cool, and scary.
I know the Philly idea is sometime after Anita 13 because at least one character that?s going to be introduceded on stage in Anita 13 will be in the Philly idea. I know the idea is good because it?s already attracted other characters to come play. An entire new book idea for Anita, and it?s all from one brief glimpse through trees from a speeding car, of an old cemetery clinging to the side of a bluff. I can?t explain to you why that one brief glimpse sparked so much in me, but it did. I think getting ideas is like a muscle, the more you work it, the more you can lift. The more you work at being open to ideas, the more ideas you get.
I also made some serious notes on the Washington D. C. book, as well. Some pretty scary stuff in that one, personally for Anita.
Sorry if this is like serious teasing, but I don?t share ideas until they?re really ready. But for all those who ask how do I get my ideas, I thought you?d find it interesting.