CURRENT WORK
... and left at the Piggly Wiggly.
Midlife crisis, wanderlust, or mental breakdown, you decide.
Recent empty nesters, Ted and Allison Moretti, are on a journey to visit all fifty states in an effort to share in a little culture, eat a little food, and perhaps find themselves along the way.
Ted, anxious for a change, drums up the idea of pairing one town in each state with a like-named country around the world. His intention? To visit each town, sharing with its inhabitants a little of the culture and the primary dish for which its twinned country is famous. In return, they will likewise sample the customs and foods local to the area.
A foodie's delight.
Progress Update on ...and left at the Piggly Wiggly
did you know...
the original working title for this story was - "Around the world in 50 states."
Outline & Research
The framework and research for this project is mostly complete, with character arcs and pivotal plot points fully mapped out... but subject to change at any moment.
First Draft Production
Ted and Allison are currently, happily—and at times not so happily—making their way across the United States. (Anyone who has ever survived a family road trip will understand.)
They’ve logged 5,178 miles so far, while I’m at 87,000 words and counting.
Of course, this is just a first draft. My style is to throw in everything, including the kitchen sink, at this stage. It will be pared down bit by bit in subsequent edits.
See Structural Editing.
Structural Editing
Did I not mention the attention deficit... the editing is constant and forever ongoing.
A Glimpse Inside
Happy wife, happy life. That’s what they say, isn’t it?
An admirable sentiment, sage marital advice, and, possibly more importantly, just plain-ass sensible words to live by. I sometimes wonder whether the guy (or gal) who first uttered that model motto for marital bliss really had any idea just how close to the mark they had hit.
That adage ran on a continuous loop in my mind, while a little voice deep inside begged me to take heed and understand. However, as has been the case so many times in my life, I chose to ignore the damn little bugger.
(Why it wouldn’t just speak up a little louder, I don’t know. It’s been right so many times before.)
No. Instead, I blundered forth into uncharted territory.
Perhaps I should set the scene...