Deby
asked
Jonathan Odell:
Explain the relationship between your novels A VIEW FROM DELPHI and HAZEL AND THE ROSA PARKS LEAGUE. I have read HAZEL and have a Copy of the other to read. What is the difference? Thanks so much for your help. Deby Coley
Jonathan Odell
Hello Deby, a good question. And an important one. I talk about this on my website, so I will both give you the link and paste it below. Thanks for asking. http://www.jonathanodell.net/a-word-a...
A Word about the Previous Version
Much of the story and many of the characters in Miss Hazel and the Rosa Parks League saw an earlier life in my first novel, The View from Delphi, released in 2004 by a small West Coast publisher to positive reviews but limited distribution. After the success of my second novel, The Healing, Maiden Lane Press was convinced that Delphi deserved to reach a larger audience, in a revised edition. I enthusiastically agreed to the project. Do overs may be common in kids’ games, but they are extremely rare in the world of publishing.
A survey of the book releases over the past ten years since the publication of Delphi proved to us that there was plenty of room in the marketplace for a book that attempts to place a fully developed white character and a fully developed black character in the same story, on the same page; in other words, without having one playing the finely drawn hero and the other the stereotypical victim who needs saving or villain who needs disposing of. We authors, white and black, are still learning to tackle the issue of race in America without resorting to trite formulas with timeworn morality lessons.
So what are the differences between the two works?
First of all, the new title and cover better reflect the promise of the book, i.e. a 1950’s small-town Southern setting, an intimate feeling of family and friendship, a twining of black and white storylines, and an irreverent strain of humor.
Miss Hazel is nearly a hundred pages leaner than Delphi and has been restructured to make it move more logically. There is less backstory and side-story. The goal of this version was to tighten, intensify and deepen the relationship between to two major characters, Vida and Hazel. Anything that distracted from that focus was condensed or eliminated completely. I believe the result is a richer, more directed and fast flowing read. I hope you agree.
Personally, one of the pleasures of the rewrite has been opportunity to revisit a cast of characters with whom I had once fallen I love, but then had to bid farewell. It was a delight to find that they were all still alive and well, excited about being put back on the page to tell their story once more, but with renewed vigor. I know I’m biased, but I do believe they outdid themselves.
A Word about the Previous Version
Much of the story and many of the characters in Miss Hazel and the Rosa Parks League saw an earlier life in my first novel, The View from Delphi, released in 2004 by a small West Coast publisher to positive reviews but limited distribution. After the success of my second novel, The Healing, Maiden Lane Press was convinced that Delphi deserved to reach a larger audience, in a revised edition. I enthusiastically agreed to the project. Do overs may be common in kids’ games, but they are extremely rare in the world of publishing.
A survey of the book releases over the past ten years since the publication of Delphi proved to us that there was plenty of room in the marketplace for a book that attempts to place a fully developed white character and a fully developed black character in the same story, on the same page; in other words, without having one playing the finely drawn hero and the other the stereotypical victim who needs saving or villain who needs disposing of. We authors, white and black, are still learning to tackle the issue of race in America without resorting to trite formulas with timeworn morality lessons.
So what are the differences between the two works?
First of all, the new title and cover better reflect the promise of the book, i.e. a 1950’s small-town Southern setting, an intimate feeling of family and friendship, a twining of black and white storylines, and an irreverent strain of humor.
Miss Hazel is nearly a hundred pages leaner than Delphi and has been restructured to make it move more logically. There is less backstory and side-story. The goal of this version was to tighten, intensify and deepen the relationship between to two major characters, Vida and Hazel. Anything that distracted from that focus was condensed or eliminated completely. I believe the result is a richer, more directed and fast flowing read. I hope you agree.
Personally, one of the pleasures of the rewrite has been opportunity to revisit a cast of characters with whom I had once fallen I love, but then had to bid farewell. It was a delight to find that they were all still alive and well, excited about being put back on the page to tell their story once more, but with renewed vigor. I know I’m biased, but I do believe they outdid themselves.
More Answered Questions
Cheryl
asked
Jonathan Odell:
Any chance Hazel and The Rosa Parks League will be made into an audiobook?
Nicole Mckenzie
asked
Jonathan Odell:
Mr. Odell, I've heard you speak at Uncommon Good Books--Minneapolis and read both of your novels. I appreciate your work and perspective. You have taught writing courses through the Loft Literary Center--Minneapolis in the past. Do you plan to teach again? If yes, when and where?
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