Author's Comments # 7

Some of my comments are long, but that's because the questions are only simple if you just look on the surface; they are much more detailed in the depths. Please bear with me.

a. This is a complex book with many characters and a multitude of subplots. Initially I was trying to identify the main settings and introduce you to the main characters. The scenes were longer, often a whole chapter because that was needed to paint the word pictures that would establish the story.

Now in the mid part of the book, you have a feel for the characters, the good guys and the bad girls, the setting and the activities; so the scenes can be shorter, just portraying the important events and character development. This also generates excitement.

As the book nears the end, and subplots begin to intertwine, more of the characters will begin to show up in scenes together. As some of you have guessed, maybe there will be an explosive ending where a lot of things get decided all at once. It took a lot of thought for me to devise a way to try to bring all the characters and plots together at the same time.

b. Catcher, the respected elder statesman of the fishers, and Everett, the young man who gave so much of himself, are working side by side with Jack. This can only show others that Jack is a fellow to be trusted and respected. Perhaps tentatively at first, but eventually others come to see Jack through the eyes of Catcher and Everett.

c. Jack, Catcher and Everett love the sea and the fishing as so many of you mentioned, but there is more. All three have had great losses. Everett his leg and part of his independance, Catcher his ability to fish, and Jack his reputation and his family. The losses are as important as the fishing. Together they have rescued each other from their losses and this has bound them to each other. They are also very giving people: Catcher has given his beloved boat, Everett has given his friendship to Jack the outcast, and Jack has reciprocated that to Everett... also don't forget the way that Jack treated the dog who needed help. These people have fished, sacrificed and given to each other.

Kyle B, you mentioned some of that in your answer... well done.

Josh B, You mentioned almost the same thing when you said that they had frustrations in their life and were just having to handle them differently.

Brett S, I really liked your analogy about changing from channel to channel to watch three shows. In the case of the book, you can rely on the author to make sure that you still get all the important parts. You identified three subplots in the book and these are some of the major ones, but in fact there are many more; some that resolve as we go through the book, and some that need the ending to reveal the final outcomes.

Kayleigh K, I like the way that you mentioned that the story was more interesting when you see the action through the eyes of different people. This is called point of view. Flu Shot had a single point of view, that of York. Two Island light has multiple points of view, and I think is more interesting but also more difficult to craft.

Some of you mentioned that you thought the story was coming to an end. It will eventually, but there are lots of plots yet to resolve, and the best action yet to come.