Among the books I read on vacation was Steve Martin's autobiography, Born Standing Up. While reading, I was struck by this comment given by Johnny Carson to the emerging comic: "You'll use everything you ever knew."
How true, not only for a performer but also for a writer!
I am always astonished at how many odd little pieces of knowledge pop up in my work. I've put Gerald and Sara Murphy into a restaurant review, a tidbit of agricultural lore into a novel and kitchen wisdom from a friend into a short story. I even used the lyrics to "The Beverly Hillbillies" in the marketing of my book!
So even though most of my current fiction work concentrates on Caribbean islands, I wouldn't be surprised if any of these memories and bits of info from my Greek trip work their way in.
Sense memories from the Central Market in Athens: shouting, blood-splotched jackets, rows and rows of fish glistening with freshness.
Marble everywhere, not only in statues and temple columns but also under foot as flagstones and cobblestones.
The drama of sails unfurling as our ship gets under way.
Geological striations in the cliffs of Santorini,
Labyrinthine paths and streets in Athens, Rhodes and Hydra.
Basic strategy for prying a few coins from tourists: a small child playing "Never on Sunday" on accordion, accompanied by an adorable puppy.
Braided "hair" on the famous caryatids of the Acropolis - amazing artwork, but also a way to strengthen the statues.
Graffiti as political protest.
These are only some of many, many memories of a great trip, but I'll be interested to see how they pop up again in my life and my work.
How true, not only for a performer but also for a writer!
I am always astonished at how many odd little pieces of knowledge pop up in my work. I've put Gerald and Sara Murphy into a restaurant review, a tidbit of agricultural lore into a novel and kitchen wisdom from a friend into a short story. I even used the lyrics to "The Beverly Hillbillies" in the marketing of my book!
So even though most of my current fiction work concentrates on Caribbean islands, I wouldn't be surprised if any of these memories and bits of info from my Greek trip work their way in.
Sense memories from the Central Market in Athens: shouting, blood-splotched jackets, rows and rows of fish glistening with freshness.
Marble everywhere, not only in statues and temple columns but also under foot as flagstones and cobblestones.
The drama of sails unfurling as our ship gets under way.
Geological striations in the cliffs of Santorini,
Labyrinthine paths and streets in Athens, Rhodes and Hydra.
Basic strategy for prying a few coins from tourists: a small child playing "Never on Sunday" on accordion, accompanied by an adorable puppy.
Braided "hair" on the famous caryatids of the Acropolis - amazing artwork, but also a way to strengthen the statues.
Graffiti as political protest.
These are only some of many, many memories of a great trip, but I'll be interested to see how they pop up again in my life and my work.
RSS Feed