Calvin Dean's Blog - Posts Tagged "novella"
The Back Story
Do you know anyone who opposes something simply because you support it––a contrarian? Or maybe you know someone so hard-headed that they’ll never admit they’re wrong? If so, you already know some of the characters in my new book.
Geriatric Delinquents is about a state-wide marijuana proposition and two sisters who plot to defeat the initiative––at least in their fictional community. Unfortunately for them, their older brother who happens to be a famous rock star uses his gravitas to support legalization. When he reunites with his old bandmates to host a benefit concert back in his Mississippi hometown, his sisters counter with sanctimonious resistance. Like all of us, the sisters have secrets to hide, which cause a world of trouble.
Along the way, you’ll meet a stereotypical evangelical preacher who opposes legalization, an executive from a marijuana freedom group who supports legalization, and other home-spun characters from small-town Mississippi who play important roles in the story.
I wrote this thirty-thousand-word work of fiction in 2016 but set it aside never expecting the legalization of marijuana to become a serious issue in Mississippi. To my shock, Initiative-65 found its way onto ballots in 2020.
Well, now. Suddenly, I’m facing a dilemma. Do I publish the book in its original form? Or do I sit down at my computer and re-write entire chapters to reflect the reality of the situation? I decided to do the right thing and re-write. Of course, I couldn’t help but find humor in the events that transpired, so I employed comedy and a heaping helping of good ole southern parody. Because…why not? I’m happy to tell you that my fictional story which suddenly became non-fiction is fictional again. Whew!
When I consider who might read this book, I looked across the USA and realized marijuana legalization is a growing issue. Many states already sell pot for recreational use. Other states are placing the issue before their voters. Wall Street tycoons, even ordinary mom-and-pop investors can now purchase cannabis stock on the New York Stock Exchange. Just about anyone of legal age can get their hands on the stuff. So, I figured if marijuana is this popular, why not write a story? People are interested in the topic even if it is a fictional account. And why not poke fun and create characters who behave exactly like someone we know. I have it on good authority that pot smokers enjoy a good laugh now and then.
Let me add that I didn’t pick political sides on the issue of legalization when I wrote this book. In fact, I did my research to find out what both sides had to say about the product. I did my best to sprinkle these points throughout the book. While I intended to poke fun and have a few laughs, I also wanted the story to be factual, and appeal to people on both sides of the argument. Of course, being from Mississippi and living through the emotional debate that happened in 2020, I knew plenty of people who frowned on legalization, so I told the story from their point of view. If you’re looking for a “how to” book on this topic, this ain’t it. This book is purely for entertainment.
As you read the story, keep in mind that I envisioned someone like Shirley McClain and Goldie Hawn playing the parts of the two sisters, and someone like Mick Jaggar playing their famous rock-star brother. (Okay, so what if Mick Jaggar doesn’t have a southern accent!)
Someone asked me why I write. I’ll be honest. As an aspiring independent author, I don’t get my hopes up too high with illusions of fame and fortune. To be honest, I’m a bit of an introvert. When I see a spotlight, I run the other way. It’s just that I’ve been intricately involved in a creative medium my entire life. I worked in radio as a teen, television as a young man, and video production later in life as a writer, producer, director, and editor. I’ve done it all––mostly corporate stuff for firms like FedEx, Kellogg’s, Kroger, and others.
In fact, in the 1980s I was fortunate enough to work with enormously talented people who produced ZZ Top music videos, animations for The Beatles Yellow Submarine, and sound engineers for Bob Dylan.
Now I write books because I enjoy writing. Geriatric Delinquents is my fourth book, and there’s a fifth book in progress––not to mention a couple of unpublished children’s books and screenplays. It’s enough for me to know that someone enjoys my stories enough to write a nice review from time to time. So how about checking out Geriatric Delinquents? Here’s a link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BPMBWSVV
Give it a test run and let me know what you think on Amazon and/or Goodreads. I look forward to your comments. In the meantime, follow me here:
Twitter: @jcalvindean
Facebook: Calvin Dean – Author
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Calvin-...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Geriatric Delinquents is about a state-wide marijuana proposition and two sisters who plot to defeat the initiative––at least in their fictional community. Unfortunately for them, their older brother who happens to be a famous rock star uses his gravitas to support legalization. When he reunites with his old bandmates to host a benefit concert back in his Mississippi hometown, his sisters counter with sanctimonious resistance. Like all of us, the sisters have secrets to hide, which cause a world of trouble.Along the way, you’ll meet a stereotypical evangelical preacher who opposes legalization, an executive from a marijuana freedom group who supports legalization, and other home-spun characters from small-town Mississippi who play important roles in the story.
I wrote this thirty-thousand-word work of fiction in 2016 but set it aside never expecting the legalization of marijuana to become a serious issue in Mississippi. To my shock, Initiative-65 found its way onto ballots in 2020.
Well, now. Suddenly, I’m facing a dilemma. Do I publish the book in its original form? Or do I sit down at my computer and re-write entire chapters to reflect the reality of the situation? I decided to do the right thing and re-write. Of course, I couldn’t help but find humor in the events that transpired, so I employed comedy and a heaping helping of good ole southern parody. Because…why not? I’m happy to tell you that my fictional story which suddenly became non-fiction is fictional again. Whew!
When I consider who might read this book, I looked across the USA and realized marijuana legalization is a growing issue. Many states already sell pot for recreational use. Other states are placing the issue before their voters. Wall Street tycoons, even ordinary mom-and-pop investors can now purchase cannabis stock on the New York Stock Exchange. Just about anyone of legal age can get their hands on the stuff. So, I figured if marijuana is this popular, why not write a story? People are interested in the topic even if it is a fictional account. And why not poke fun and create characters who behave exactly like someone we know. I have it on good authority that pot smokers enjoy a good laugh now and then.
Let me add that I didn’t pick political sides on the issue of legalization when I wrote this book. In fact, I did my research to find out what both sides had to say about the product. I did my best to sprinkle these points throughout the book. While I intended to poke fun and have a few laughs, I also wanted the story to be factual, and appeal to people on both sides of the argument. Of course, being from Mississippi and living through the emotional debate that happened in 2020, I knew plenty of people who frowned on legalization, so I told the story from their point of view. If you’re looking for a “how to” book on this topic, this ain’t it. This book is purely for entertainment.
As you read the story, keep in mind that I envisioned someone like Shirley McClain and Goldie Hawn playing the parts of the two sisters, and someone like Mick Jaggar playing their famous rock-star brother. (Okay, so what if Mick Jaggar doesn’t have a southern accent!)
Someone asked me why I write. I’ll be honest. As an aspiring independent author, I don’t get my hopes up too high with illusions of fame and fortune. To be honest, I’m a bit of an introvert. When I see a spotlight, I run the other way. It’s just that I’ve been intricately involved in a creative medium my entire life. I worked in radio as a teen, television as a young man, and video production later in life as a writer, producer, director, and editor. I’ve done it all––mostly corporate stuff for firms like FedEx, Kellogg’s, Kroger, and others.
In fact, in the 1980s I was fortunate enough to work with enormously talented people who produced ZZ Top music videos, animations for The Beatles Yellow Submarine, and sound engineers for Bob Dylan.
Now I write books because I enjoy writing. Geriatric Delinquents is my fourth book, and there’s a fifth book in progress––not to mention a couple of unpublished children’s books and screenplays. It’s enough for me to know that someone enjoys my stories enough to write a nice review from time to time. So how about checking out Geriatric Delinquents? Here’s a link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BPMBWSVV
Give it a test run and let me know what you think on Amazon and/or Goodreads. I look forward to your comments. In the meantime, follow me here:
Twitter: @jcalvindean
Facebook: Calvin Dean – Author
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Calvin-...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
