Leeds Book Club – Initial Thoughts for August 29th Q&A on “Mirror Mirror; Halloween Party of the Century”
As I prepare for the upcoming Q&A, I’ve been exchanging messages with Hannah, the Book Club Organizer, and supporting her by answering a few questions in advance. 
Where did you leave off with the work on Mirror Mirror, and now that the book is at this stage, what are you hoping to do next with it?
The ending in Mirror Mirror is the hook that sets the expectation that something else is coming. No spoiler here… sorry, but it will become very clear when you read the manuscript. Every book I write has an ending pre-drilled with a thread for story continuation. Favorite authors like Jonathan Maberry, John Sandford, Mark Greaney, Lee Child, and Brad Thor all have threads that flow into more books in their series, using the same characters but in different stories, though the genres remain contiguous. Someday, when my name gets mentioned, I hope it triggers anticipation from a memory of an engaging story. Aspirational? You bet it is, and if I can keep writing, bend engaging genres, and stay out of jail, it just might happen.
When you step back and look at everything you’ve written so far, what part of your journey as a storyteller are you most proud of, and what is the one thing you still feel you haven’t fully explored yet?
Thanks for another great question that makes me stop and think, because responses could go in several directions – much like my stories, answers are not scripted; I go with the feelings inside of me… and none of them are scripted either. This morning at 6:30 AM, I met with 6 other men of faith who are also disciples of Jesus the Christ. We spend an hour praying every Tuesday morning. It’s a highlight of the week. Being a broken man, I struggle to live a life of strength in my faith, as inconsistent as it may be. Every book I write usually has a scriptural context built in but not wrapped in evangelical rhetoric. I’ve not thumped anyone with a bible but I’m in the Word every morning, thumping myself…
Pride is a dangerous thing, so I’ll say I’m most satisfied that every book of the Dreamscape Conspiracy Series, Puye Prophecy, and Mirror Mirror confronts the existence of good versus evil that exists in the heavenly realms as described in Ephesians 6:12:
“Our battles are not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
I’m not a doom-and-gloom kind of guy, but I am aware that there is more going on in our world than we see, and having strong faith in the goodness in the world isn’t something to hide… but something to share. Every book has battles in the storyline; often, they are private to the characters, shaped by past-life experiences that carry the baggage of guilt and a sense of being unworthy or unredeemable – baggage that translates to similar things each of us carries daily. I’m satisfied that my stories give the characters a way to overcome their demons, heal, shed their baggage, and thrive despite it, offering hope that even the worst conditions of the past are not insurmountable.
The Dreamscape Conspiracy series is a perfect example, with former Marine Force Recon Scout Sniper Russell Carter overcoming PTSD that made him feel unredeemable, and Dr. Cara Williams’s battle with giving or receiving intimacy derailed by sexual abuse as a teen 13 years earlier. Private battles that profoundly affect quality of life are worth pursuing in engaging stories that are relatable to most, if not all, readers.
What have I not fully explored yet? That’s kind of a I don’t know what I don’t know question… at least, not yet. I am confident I haven’t fully explored my capabilities as a storyteller and a Writer of the Things I listed in the previous paragraph. Every story feels better than the last, and the blessing of creativity is a gift that keeps on giving… so far anyway. I don’t know how much time I have left to write, but I am enjoying the journey and the readers I meet along the way. As long as the words keep coming, I’ll keep writing them down.
Has there ever been something a reader said about one of your books or a conversation you’ve had with a reader that made you stop and realize, “I didn’t know my story would mean that much to someone”?
Every comment from a reader is precious to me, and I’m not sure there is any single communication that is more rewarding than reading the words or hearing comments like… “Your words made me feel…” or “I couldn’t stop thinking about…” There is no greater feedback than knowing my words evoked a feeling when read or that a story is “sticky,” lingering beyond the reading.
It doesn’t matter what genre I’m working in, but causing a reaction in a reader’s heart or head is the best thing I can know. If the emotion behind my words stirs a reader, or if something I’ve written makes me shed a tear, transferring that same reaction to a reader is the ultimate bonus. Knowing my words can have that kind of impact is the highest form of validation I can experience.
I know I am not going to get rich by writing stories, but there is personal wealth in knowing my words influenced a reader’s reaction. I want part of me (my words) to leave a mark and last longer than the story being read.
Knowing how important the reader’s emotional and personal reaction is to you, is there anything in Mirror Mirror that you would especially like our readers to pay attention to while reading, not because you want to steer their interpretation, but because it might help them notice something you deliberately placed beneath the surface?
Peace!
Gary G. Wise
Writer of Things – Storyteller – Grief Coach
gdogwise@live.com
