Ask the Author: Thomas D. Clagett
Answered Questions (6)
Thomas D. Clagett
That's a tough question what with so many to chose from. But the couple that immediately comes to mind is Augustus McCrae and Woodrow Call from Larry McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove." For all the humorous bickering and needling they exchange, the respect they have for each other and those they care about is deep and comforting. And even with their faults, they are at heart good and decent men.
Thomas D. Clagett
I write. Be prepared to let your story and characters live on the page.
Thomas D. Clagett
It's what I've been wanting to do for a long time. It makes me happy.
Thomas D. Clagett
Read and write every day. It's the best way I know to learn about writing. And write what you are passionate about.
Thomas D. Clagett
Different ways. Something I hear, something I read. For my novel "The Pursuit of Murieta," I was doing research for another project when I came across a story about Joaquin Murieta, California's first notorious outlaw. Inspiration is a funny thing. It can come from almost anywhere.
Thomas D. Clagett
A few years ago I heard a true story about the construction of the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
It was about 1875. Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy needed more money to continue the building of the cathedral. Money was always in short supply. He'd accepted donations from numerous businessmen and others in and around Santa Fe for years. Now, he decided to ask for loans from the parish priests of the Santa Fe Archdiocese. (The archdiocese then included present-day Arizona, New Mexico and parts of southern Utah and Colorado. Also, many of the parish priests had been recruited by Lamy during his visits back to his native France.) He set out on horseback, but managed to get only a few dollars in as many weeks.
When he arrived at the church in the little town of Mora in New Mexico Territory, the young priest there explained that his parish was very poor. Lamy was about to leave when the priest asked him how much money he had collected. Lamy showed him the scant coins. The priest asked the archbishop if he would trust him with the money and be willing to wait a few days because if so, he might be able to help. Lamy agreed but asked what he had in mind. The priest told him that if he returned with any money, Lamy would have to promise never to ask how he got it. Lamy agreed.
The priest saddled his horse and rode away.
Three days later, he returned and handed Lamy a bag containing about two thousand dollars. Stunned, the archbishop asked where the money had come from. The priest reminded him of his promise not to ask. Grateful, Lamy thanked the priest and left.
About ten years later, Lamy lay sick and dying. Priests from around the archdiocese came to pay their respects. When the priest from the Mora parish sat by his bed, Lamy recalled his promise not to ask how he'd gotten the money, but hoped the priest might tell him now.
Smiling, the priest said that before he had joined the priesthood he had been in the French Army and learned much of the ways of the world. One of those things was how to gamble. He said he had ridden to Fort Union some thirty miles away. The officers there had invited him to play cards before but he'd always turned them down. Not this time, though. He cleaned them out that night.
After hearing this tale, I thought, what if the priest had been robbed on his way back to his parish? That was the inspiration for "West of Penance."
It was about 1875. Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy needed more money to continue the building of the cathedral. Money was always in short supply. He'd accepted donations from numerous businessmen and others in and around Santa Fe for years. Now, he decided to ask for loans from the parish priests of the Santa Fe Archdiocese. (The archdiocese then included present-day Arizona, New Mexico and parts of southern Utah and Colorado. Also, many of the parish priests had been recruited by Lamy during his visits back to his native France.) He set out on horseback, but managed to get only a few dollars in as many weeks.
When he arrived at the church in the little town of Mora in New Mexico Territory, the young priest there explained that his parish was very poor. Lamy was about to leave when the priest asked him how much money he had collected. Lamy showed him the scant coins. The priest asked the archbishop if he would trust him with the money and be willing to wait a few days because if so, he might be able to help. Lamy agreed but asked what he had in mind. The priest told him that if he returned with any money, Lamy would have to promise never to ask how he got it. Lamy agreed.
The priest saddled his horse and rode away.
Three days later, he returned and handed Lamy a bag containing about two thousand dollars. Stunned, the archbishop asked where the money had come from. The priest reminded him of his promise not to ask. Grateful, Lamy thanked the priest and left.
About ten years later, Lamy lay sick and dying. Priests from around the archdiocese came to pay their respects. When the priest from the Mora parish sat by his bed, Lamy recalled his promise not to ask how he'd gotten the money, but hoped the priest might tell him now.
Smiling, the priest said that before he had joined the priesthood he had been in the French Army and learned much of the ways of the world. One of those things was how to gamble. He said he had ridden to Fort Union some thirty miles away. The officers there had invited him to play cards before but he'd always turned them down. Not this time, though. He cleaned them out that night.
After hearing this tale, I thought, what if the priest had been robbed on his way back to his parish? That was the inspiration for "West of Penance."
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