My first introduction to Tom Robbins was through his book Skinny Legs and All, and it changed my life, taking me on a very unexpected journey and giving me a direction to follow for years to come.

Tom Robbins set me free. I figured, if he can give a bunch of inaminate objects personalities and purpose beyond their original function; if he could make a can of beans and a sock and a spoon and a stick and a conch shell speak; if he can take them all on a pilgramage to the holy land, then why can’t I grant a magical life to a magnolia tree?

Not that as a writer I could ever compare myself to the hilarious and mystical Mr. Robbins, but I can still be inspired by him.

Even though my grandmother had always challenged me to write her family history, I knew I could never have enough facts to make it more than fiction. I wanted to use the magnolia tree as a symbol of her life, of the generations of women in her family. I never imagined I could make the tree more than a symbol, but the conch shell and the painted stick, those wielders of magic and protectors of ancient religions, have granted her real life.

As I start to shop for publishers, I do wonder, though, who will be my audience. Lovers of family drama who are also fans of Tolkien’s ents? It’s a thin line, but I know you’re out there.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 9th, 2007 at 11:07 am and is filed under fantasticalities, meanderings, trees. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.