by
Paula Gail Benson
Generally, as mystery writers, we’re cautioned about not giving characters their answers too easily and making them face conflict or adversity before reaching resolutions. However, most of us remember in the course of our individual writer’s journey being the beneficiary of good fortune through serendipity.
Two instances where I’ve experienced an unexpected writing benefit were in becoming a member of Sisters in Crime (SinC) and meeting New York Times bestselling and Edgar nominated author Robert Dugoni. How those two separate fortunate incidents came together is the story of this message.
In my post yesterday on The Stiletto Gang, I described how current national Sisters in Crime President Diane Vallere’s association with Sisters in Crime had influenced and advanced her writing career. Similarly, I credit joining that organization with giving me the information and boost I needed to start submitting my short stories to publishers and to become involved in the mystery blogging community.
Cathy Pickens, author of the Avery Andrews mysteries and former President of Sisters in Crime (thus properly recognized as “Goddess”), encouraged me to become a member. Due to her influence, I joined not only Sisters in Crime, but several of its chapters, including the Guppy Chapter, where I now serve on the Steering Committee and one of my stories appeared in the third Guppy anthology, Fish or Cut Bait.
Meanwhile,
after we met at the South Carolina Book Festival, Robert Dugoni invited me to
collaborate with him on a short story that was published in Killer Nashville Noir: Cold Blooded.
So,
when I learned that Robert was headed to Beaufort, S.C., as part of a book
tour, and that his trip coincided with the Palmetto Chapter of Sisters in Crime’s
celebration of SinC’s 30th anniversary, I asked if he could make a
stop in Columbia. As serendipity would have it, Robert was able to attend the
Palmetto Chapter meeting, where he was made an honorary member. In addition, he
was interviewed by his good friend Cathy Pickens and told the group how it felt
to receive the Edgar nomination for his novel The Seventh Canon.
Of
course, there was cake and Cathy Pickens had the honor of making the first “stab”
into it, as is benefiting a celebration of mystery authors.
The serendipity
continued the following day when Robert accompanied me to a church service and met
a fan of his Tracy Crosswhite series. She was thrilled to receive an autographed
copy of the latest novel, The Trapped
Girl.
So,
while I’ll be careful of allowing my characters to experience too much
serendipity, I’ll keep enjoying all that I encounter in life.
Has
serendipity ever taken you down a happy pathway?
Yes, it has, but the only one that comes to mind now is one when I was teaching. I always put up a word the children wouldn't know, but if they looked it up in a dictionary and wrote down the meaning on a paper and put it in the envelope, they'd win a star - ten stars meant a funny money and ten funny monies got them a prize. That day I put up the word physiognomy. Without realizing the connection, I skimmed to a poem in one of the children's poetry book's I had after attendance and lunch count was taken and came across a poem by Carl Sandburg titled Phyzog, I think, but it was about the same thing my morning word was. I didn't tell my third graders that.
ReplyDeleteAlso, there have been more times than I could count when I've been thinking of someone I haven't talked to in quite some time, and the phone rings and they're on the other end. I
know there have been so many other times that serendipity has surprised me, too. I probably wrote them down in my journal, too, and maybe some day when I'm really old, I'll go back and read those journals.
Everything that happens to us or that we do is the result of what has gone on previously. How wonderful when our past experiences, etc, lead to those precious moments of serendipity!
ReplyDeleteI have had the great good fortune of attending the Border Crimes chapter of Sisters in Crime where I learned a great deal from other authors, especially Nancy Pickard.
ReplyDeleteI prefer to think of it as the stars aligning.
ReplyDeleteI do think your stars aligned, Paula! How wonderful!
ReplyDeleteGloria, I think serendipity in the classroom is a truly special experience.
ReplyDeleteKM, I agree totally!
Warren, our local chapters offer so much, particularly for those who can't travel to writing conferences. Isn't it wonderful to have brilliant authors like Nancy Pickard, Cathy Pickens, and Robert Dugoni willing to take time to talk with local chapters?
Margaret, you're exactly right!
Shari, I feel very fortunate.
Many thanks to you all for stopping by!