Cloud Studies

by Michael Carson

Many years before I had anything published - or any hopes in that direction - I tried my hand at a children's story about a cloud called Peter Cumulus. About ten years ago, I returned to 'Peter Cumulus The Cloud'' after being knocked sideways by John Constable's 'Cloud Studies' at the Mellon Gallery for British Art in New Haven, Connecticut. Hmm, I thought. I've written that story about Peter Cumulus, and it's really about that character studying and being blown about by meteorological beings.I returned to 'Peter Cumulus the Cloud' and found that I still liked it.. though that often happens with me and it is often a snare and a delusion. But I also felt strongly that the twenty-something who had written the story had been telling his own story, and that there was a lot more to tell. My 'children's story' had of necessity become clouded by adult experiences.The title was changed to 'Cloud Studies' and I got back to work on it over a ten year period, changing, eldering, the while. I returned after many wanderings to my home town, a rundown seaside resort looking out to the west and Ireland. It buoyed me up to be able to look out on a cloudy world that is forever in flux, and had been painted by several of Britain's greatest painters. It gave me inspiration.Several drafts followed. I got much from 'The National Audubon Society Guide to North American Weather' was a real help, though I realise it's a trifle odd looking for inspiration on fictional characters in such a book The textbook of the Cloud Appreciation Society, 'The Cloud Collector's Handbook' by Gavin Pretor-Pinney also gave me much food for thought. So, if you can get your head and heart around the deceit that a cloud called Peter leaves his home on Dunrominpeak and meets friendly Smokes and arrogant winds and a sort of education at Cloud College, and is expelled in disgrace and is still hopeless at raining, cloud drama, and cloud control; who meets up with Professor Torrentialus, Mrs Connemara Mist and Mr Sisiphus Cyclone, hears tales of Hurricane Edith and serves as sofa for Princess Margaret in paradise...then this story might be for you. And you might, after reading it yourself, fancy passing it on to the kids. At 35,000 words 'Cloud Studies' is a very short novel, or a bit of a big-shot short story

86 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 4, 2011

About the author

Michael Carson is the pen name of British author Michael Wherly. He is best known for his Benson trilogy of novels, about a young man growing up Catholic and homosexual.