We would love to hear your thoughts...please join in the discussion. :D
Hugs, Nancys
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NancyLocke |
Butterfly Tattoo Discussion Thread (with spoilers!) |
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If you have read Deidre Knight's compelling BUTTERFLY TATTOO, please share what you thought of the story. Did you enjoy the read? What did you think of the
characters? Which scenes were your favorites? What particularly struck your emotions? Did you enjoy reading this book in first person? How did you connect with
this book?
We would love to hear your thoughts...please join in the discussion. :D Hugs, Nancys
Last Edited By: Deidre Knight 04/29/09 12:03:45.
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Deidre Knight |
#1 |
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THanks for opening the thread, Nancy! There's been so much buzz and discussion about this book already (I am feeling HUGELY blessed, let me tell you), that I thought it was about time we opened a discussion thread where spoilers would be okay. So here we are! Hope you'll come into the thread and really let us know what you think. What disturbed you about the book (if anything), what moved you. The good and the bad, etc...I'm eager to discuss this book of my heart! Hugs! Deidre |
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Deidre Knight |
#2 |
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Let's get it started! Who wants to jump in first? Or should I do the honors and talk about writing the book?
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starmuser |
#3 |
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Butterfly grabbed me from the first line...and what a first line it was. Deidre, when you began the book, did you know that was how it would begin? Or did
the opening find you over time. I can't say I've ever read a more compelling first line. We're immediately drawn into Rebecca's
plight....truly wanted to wrap the woman up into a protective hug. Yet, we know from the get go that she's not a helpless victim, rather a survivor with
the determination to overcome a tragedy that's left her marked forever.
I would love you to talk about your creative process as you crafted the opening pages of Butterfly Tattoo. Let da spoilers begin! :D Hugs* Traci w/a Liane Gentry
Skye
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NancyLocke |
#4 |
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Deidre, you have such a gift for understanding your characters. How have you become so wise? Have you always been this perceptive? It truly is a gift. You
walked the reader through many thoughts and concerns while this poignant story was woven into a beautiful, harmonious tapestry. I read the epilogue with such a
feeling of peace that I know BUTTERFLY TATTOO will leave an imprint on my heart.
How did you bring the elements of this story together? What sparked your muse? Hugs, Nancy |
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Deidre Knight |
#5 |
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starmuser wrote:Hey: I actually had to work on that opening a LOT. I honestly don't remember how many iterations it went through, or even--not totally--where it began. It always started at the studio, I remember that. But there was a pt that came to me after the book was almost done when I realized that opening line..when I understood that by causing a collision between her working life and her past in that script meeting, that it could really show us her exact state of mind. It seems that, prior to that realization, we had Michael show up a little sooner. But his arrival lacked the powerful context that it needed. It's interesting, but I've seen some reader comments and reviews where they said they didn't feel Rebecca had as clear a resolution in her struggles as Michael did. I've found that surprising because to me we see her retreat out of her fear and self-protective instincts, and then we see her go through an entire process of revelation and growth. From her, "I've been a fool" moment with Jake the Snake (lol), to visiting her mother...to her final talk with Trevor. That understanding that love is never without risks--and she takes the ultimate one by going to the ice skating party. I wonder if it's a difference in them as characters. That Michael's journey requires him to become the pursuer whereas Rebecca goes into retreat mode. I don't know, but for me, I felt she had an equal resolution in the story. It was just different than Michael's. More internal, too, b/c Michael had to work things out with Andrea...Rebecca had to work out much of her issues within her own heart. Still, as the author, I wonder if I didn't quite deliver enough of a completion to her journey. In fact, I am more than willing to accept that although I felt I'd delivered that fully satisfying journey for Rebecca, something must not have quite hit the mark or I wouldn't have seen this from several sources. And that alone is an interesting part of the writer's journey for me with this book. Because I really thought I had given Rebecca just as as strong of a resolution to her issues. She tried lying to herself, tried running, went into self-protection mode, but in the end--on her own and with the support of those close to her like her mother and Trevor--took the ultimate risk by showing up at that party. And took the greater risk beyond that, by deciding to begin a life with Michael and Andie. Sob. I miss those characters. (And shocker: I have a fair amount written on a book about Laurel.) Love the comments. Thanks! Anyway, back to your other question about creative process, one of my biggest challenge stemmed from the altnerating POV. It didn't give me the same freedom to advance the story from the POV I wanted at jsut the right time. So at some point, I actually broke the rhythm and did a few double chapters with one character. But I felt hemmed in at times, and especially with the way I love third person/multi POV, you can imagine it was an interesting challenge! OTOH, first person can create more mystery. For instance, if we'd had Andrea or Laurel's POV, then I couldnt have kept those certain secrets. They would have busted them open from their own POV. So I think one of the things I most came to appreciate in writing the book was that first person has its limits--but also can stock your arsenal with unique power. Oh, and of course, the present tense completely adds a major layer of immediacy and intensity. It was absolutely the only way this story could have been told. Thoughts, me peeps?? :) Love, D
Last Edited By: Deidre Knight 05/03/09 12:38:39.
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Deidre Knight |
And a question of my own | #6 |
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I'm thinking of creating a kind of reader's guide for this book and posting the questions on my site. Here's a question that I'd love to hear
your thoughts on--or, rather, a few questions:
--Is Alex truly dead throughout this book? And does being alive mean that a character must still be walking the planet? In other words, did you feel that Alex was as vital a character on the canvas as Michael, Rebecca and Andrea? Does he prod and challenge Rebecca as surely as if he were in her own life? --What do you think was Alex's ultimate gift to his family and to the people whose lives he touched? |
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NancyLocke |
#7 |
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>>> That understanding that love is never without risks
To me that was a defining moment in the book!!! I think Alex had unconditional love for his family and that enabled them to move forward after he was gone. Alex touched Rebecca's heart too, even though she hadn't met him so he did have a huge impact in this story. She had gone through tremendous pain and an identity crisis just as the story began. It's much easier to hide away so the world can't see the suffering you have gone through. She didn't want the bad world to claim what was left of her - was in survival mode. Her struggle to face her scarred physical and emotional past and move forward by embracing love took a mountain of trust. I thought the H/h were well-matched. Good morning! Hugs, Nancy |
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