I look at it as a creative writing assignment, and even though each month's output is only rough (very, very, very rough), each one has potential. It might only be an idea that gets used down the road inside of another story, or it might be something that stews and festers and grows into something else altogether. Two of the ideas I've come up with would be horrible as picture books, but I'm hoping to pursue them further as chapter books.
I am absolutely in love with January's picture book concept. I don't really know how the story will end in words, but I saw the images immediately in my head. I've sketched out a few in order to get to know the characters and let them breathe a little. The title is Dust In The Corners...it's about a young boy who learns that perhaps Great Aunt Mildred isn't quite as lonely as everyone assumes.
In my head, this is sort of Miyazaki meets Gorey meets Gaiman. My youngest was about four when she randomly said, "It's silly to be afraid of ghosts. They're just people!" Right on! That was the total inspiration for this story.
I've also hashed out the rough story of Almond, the chipmunk that has adopted my family. For the past four year, this one chipmunk has set up his residence under our patio. While he had a mate the first year, he has been solo ever since. He doesn't seem to care for other chipmunks as he chases them off with vast quantities of bravado (chipmunk bravado includes much squeaking and dashing). Now, I know what you're thinking...1) Chipmunks are big garden pests! and 2) How do you know it's the same chipmunk every year?
1)Yes, the rest of them are big pests! But Almond won't let them eat the flowers in the back. No kidding, he chases them off and leaves all the plants alone.
2) Well, we know it's the same one because we've come to recognize him. He's got a reddish brown coloring to his backside, light charcoal streaks on his face, and he's usually found perched on the tops of the patio chairs staring in the window at us. No other chipmunk has ever done that. Sure, we've had squirrels ride the slide and teeter totter in the yard -- I kid you not. But Almond is the only one to actively get as high and close to the windows to watch us. It's such a unique thing to do that I snapped a picture the first time I saw it...4 years ago. Ever since, he has been entertaining us. Last summer, he went so far as to sit in the planter about 3 inches from the glass, and stare me down on the other side of the window. When I'd start working at the counter or flip on the news -- anything that made a sound in here, he'd shoot out of his hole to hop up and watch me. In early fall, suddenly we spotted him acting strange. When he turned around, he was missing most of his tail! The hawks like to hunt around here, and I'm guessing one got just a little too close. He seemed to be healing okay, but we weren't sure he'd make it.
Chipmunks only live 3-5 years and when he didn't come around when everything else was waking up this spring, we feared that Almond was with us no more. But then, a couple of weeks late...who do you think marched right in (with his tail fur grown back in all frizzy and gray over the stump) to chase the interloper chipmunks out? Almond is back! Needless to say, I think his story is needing to be told! He's started his own Facebook page in an effort to build a fan base (his agent told him it'd help him get his biography published) https://www.facebook.com/almondthechipmunk Here's a picture of him in his favorite spot from the other day.
Now...what to write for May. Hmmm.......
