I’ve pasted below the opening pages from Fishing for Light. I think it might be of interest to point out a few words and more important, why I chose those specific words. I spent a great deal of time researching content, with the equal challenge to use unique, but simple words. I want the reader to enjoy the read with words that will entertain, but not be condescending. It is a lot harder than I ever imagined.
I chose the Emerson quote for two reasons, my interest in the Transcendentalist core belief in the ‘goodness of man and nature’, and the idea that in a sense, that a higher power, God if you will, might be communicating to us through our instincts. (If we can only stop and listen. )
I did research the exact moment of the Winter Solstice in 1990, because Eddie’s life mattered, I think it was important to be specific because you are born at an exact moment and you die at an exact moment. “Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the basis for civil time in many places worldwide. Many timekeeping devices use this 24-hour time standard, which is determined using highly precise atomic clocks. ~ from DateandTime.com”
I’ll share one more insight, why would a ‘Kingfisher’ build its nest in Appalachia? Actually, it is symbolic, the reference comes from the mythological story of Alcyone. As the story goes, Alcyone was happily married to Ceyx, but they angered Zeus, and while Ceyx was out at sea seeking the Oracle, Zeus hit his ship with a thunderbolt. (This might be useful information to be aware of at the beginning of Chapter 2.) It is from this mythology, the term, ‘halcyon days’ is derived, which today, is generally known to mean, ‘a lucky break’ during a time of adversity.
The reason I’m writing this, is to express that I am committed to writing simple, yet entertaining and in my way, deeply philosophical stories. I want the reader to get something different each time they read, Fishing for Light.
NS
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“Trust your instinct to the end, though you can render no reason.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Chapter 1
On December 22, 1990 inside a university hospital complex, Edward Tiberius Wilcox was born at exactly 3:07 Coordinated Universal Time. After the physician snipped the umbilical cord and untethered Edward from his mother Sophia, the obstetrics nurse inspected him. She did not document any obvious defects. His APGAR score registered as a 9, he had brown hair, blue eyes, and an average Caucasian body shape and size. She wrapped him in a soft baby blanket. Then she kindly grinned as she handed him over to his father, Adam, who immediately began to cry as he held his warm son for the first time. His mother’s brown hair tangled and matted along her sweating forehead, she simply beamed up at her men. For the departing delivery team it was just another day, but it was not just another day for Adam and Sophia. From their combined 46 chromosomes, they had created a unique life. It was as random and common as their first meeting on an early Monday morning at the curved counter within a busy Starry Eyed Coffee Hut. That day the barista had wondered who had ordered the black coffees.
“What’s up with this?” the Barista had asked.
“I like it black,” Sophia had said. She shrugged.
“Me? Oh it was my father,” Adam had said. He glanced over at Sophia. “Drink it black, so I wouldn’t be disappointed.”
“Oh?” Sophia said. She finger twirled with her straight hair. She whispered, “Mine too.”
At that moment, Adam and Sophia had an instant lover’s connection. In the blink of Sophia’s hazel colored irises, they were married. As they frolicked during their indoor Caribbean honeymoon, Edward’s conception was not the result of any selective breeding process by powerful families trying to protect vast generational wealth. For they had no kingdom for Edward to inherit, they passed on to him the only widow’s mite they equally possessed; they bathed his DNA with their unconditional love.
For the next three months, Adam and Sophia sleeplessly cared for their precious child. During that time, they did the customary things, and they even sent in a birth notice to the Nashville Sun. But not long after, Professor Quan noticed the name in the Lifestyle section on page D6, about mid-way down in tiny black print, Edward Tiberius Wilcox.
“Tiberius?” Professor Quan said. He chuckled. “Must be a Star Trek fan?” After he spread the newspaper across a stainless steel laboratory table, he circled the name with a black ink pen. “No, Tiberius was a Roman emperor from the time of Jesus. Edward’s a king’s name.” From a paper cup, he slowly sipped his green tea. “How interesting-” As he glossed his forefinger across the newspaper, the name caused his instincts to nag at him. And he always listened to his instincts because he thought that was how God talked to him. He snapped open his astronomy logbook. From his astronomical calculations, he realized Edward was born at the exact moment of the Winter Solstice. And it had been the clear night he was observing Orion’s Belt when he saw a Kingfisher build its nest as a Delphian shooting star streak across the Appalachian sky. He knew that happened as rare as a cosmic super bubble. Professor Quan fidgeted with his kaleidoscope; he gazed through the eyehole at the colorful reflected symmetry, aware his particles of time would eventually dwindle down his hourglass. And his creation Ms. Prosperina was quietly becoming quite powerful. She would seek him. He knew it. She knew it. She could not hurt him. But what he did fear was the thought she might discover her ancestral organic material, material that he and Captain Lovins hid deep within the earth encased in a lead box.
So, Professor Quan asked Captain Lovins to do a background check into Edward’s parents and his whereabouts. He easily located Adam and Sophia’s Nashville address, and early one morning hidden behind a thick, barnacled hundred-year-old live oak, Captain Lovins crouched down near the Wilcox’s backyard. He stared up into the sparkly night sky.
“Light from other worlds,” Captain Lovins said. He sipped his black coffee as a wave of grainy steam particles washed across his hardened face. This morning’s home invasion was not like performing a HALO jump off a C-130 flying just below heaven’s gate, but he was happy with his ghostly existence. His cell phone vibrated.”
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