My Minnesota tour of Lone Dog Road starts in a few days. I’m still trying to decide how to present the book in a public forum. Readings of sections are good — even essential — but they can’t be too long. For those of you who have read the book, are there any sections of about a page or less that touched you for their descriptive power or insight?
You have far clearer eyes than I do in this regard. Let me know your thoughts.
I love the chapter called Capture. One of my favorites so far.
I found the use of Lakota language throughout the book quite effective and would be interested in how you choose what you did, the pronunciation, the significance.
I felt the visit to Pipestone was a bit rushed. Can you talk more about that?
Lakota language: I knew the values as they were expressed in English and had learned much from my Lakota friends and from the teachings of the late Joseph Marshall III. I chose the values that revealed themselves as necessary as the story revealed itself to me. This was a long process of literary and spiritual discovery for me. I went to where the story and the characters led me and tried to explicate the values that were needed to tell that stage of the story.
As to Pipestone and being rushed — everything was rushed. I could have dwelled on old Lone Dog’s philosophy, the boarding schools, the character and power of the land, and a hundred other issues that surfaced in the course of the book. I wanted pipestone to be present, but not dominant. I actually had Ida go on for several pages about how the sacred stone came to be and its significance in the history and lives of Native peoples. But I cut things ruthlessly in many areas, because I already had a long book. At a certain point, no one would read it. So, better to rush things a bit and have them read than to expound upon them at length and have people run from the book for the sheer daunting size of it.
I haven’t read it yet. I thought I pre-ordered but I guess not. I am so excited to read another of your books. I heard your interview with Marianne Pestana. It was great and hopefully good exposure.
(I was interviewed too for my Nautilus gold children’s book.) I look forward to reading it, and you are so right about the energy and weather and presence of the land called the Dakotas. If I ever move from Maine, it will be to South Dakota!
Blessings and best of luck!
Jennifer
Sorry Kent I am on Casting Spells so not far enough into the novel to answer your request but as expected I am enjoying your creation. On that note if anywhere in the process there was Divine Intervention that would be my choice of selection for you to relay in your book reading. Trust yourself.
Ok-here goes. Pgs 50-51,59, 78, 141-142, 175, 192, 213, 399, 452, 470-471.
I would want to hear more about Ida and Lone Dog and the tradition of their wisdom. I have a carved pipestone turtle that now has a name. Thanks! Have read the book and the story will stay with me for a long time. I would also like to know more about Ree. And……..the recipe of hers for those cookies. HA
Are any of your MN programs going to be available via zoom?
I truly don’t know. I do know that we are putting together a ZOOM book club event to take place on July 8. If you would like to sign up or learn more, email kim@newworldlibrary.com. She is arranging it and will be able to help. As to other events, I simply don’t know. When I find out I will post the information.
Hey Kat, good to hear from you. Who knows, there may be more in the future. For now, it’s just trying to get the book to raise its head in the marketplace and I am forced to turn from writer to promoter — ick. But the future may well hold a story that speaks to your concerns and interests. Stay tuned.
Definitely the fire storm with the attempted protection of mother animals toward their young, and the analogy of Lee’s grief over the loss of her son.
Definitely the fire storm with the attempted protection of mother animals toward their young, and the analogy of Lee’s grief over the loss of her son.
Ah, how insightful you are! I’m fine tuning the readings as I go along, finding that some I love are too long or have too many characters that have not been introduced, while some rudimentary pieces where the characters first show up communicate better. You have not only pinpointed my favorite passage in the book, you have understood it with a depth I never expected anyone to have. Thank you, Ann.
Hey Kent,
My fingers are crossed for some sort of sequel. It was sad for the book to end. So well done my friend.
Kent,
To me the unique relationships that come to be and how they develop would be the road map I would use. Yours thoughts on this as the author and then a few short reading as examples, will bring audience into your presentation when you wish for it to take place. Then it is easier to build your response on where you may wish to go because of your time frame.
Also for those who have not read book yet you can give an ‘audio trailer’ to them that will motivate them to read the book ‘for the rest of the story’….like Paul Harvey
I would love to hear you read the beginning of the book… those first few pages say so much, introduce 2 of the most amazing characters, and tell a great story in itself.
Motherless Child
It was time for Bother James to say good bye to Levi and Reuben. I felt the sorrow and lose. I felt weepy and then after playing the song “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” I cried. Absolutely love all your books!
Thanks for being you, Kent Nerburn!
Marlene Ohnstad