We are at the bar, and we have a special guest here to help us deal with Linda G. Hill’s fun Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. I should mention that this post required more planning than a typical SoCS post.
“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘roc.’ Find a word with ‘roc’ in it or use it as a word all by itself. Enjoy!”
While the book isn’t new, I have only just recently finished reading The Choice. If we were having a beer, I think Gwen will help us knock that prompt right out of here.
“Hey Dan. Cheryl said you’re having guests here today. Would you prefer a table?”
“One guest, Skippy. I think we’ll be fine here at the bar.”
“Guest? I didn’t know we were having a guest. Why didn’t you tell me, Dan?”
“I did tell you, David. Last week, I said…”
“Gwen, Gwen Plano, that’s right. I remember now. Well, where is she?”
“Give her a minute, David. I told her three o’clock, it’s still early. Skippy, I’ll get the tab today. When our guest gets here, please pour from the top shelf.”
“Depending on what she wants, you might have to help me with that.”
“Dan, I have a confession, I haven’t read The Choice. Can you tell me a little about it?”
“I think you’ll have to ask Gwen, David.”
“OK, one cold Corona, one glass of John Howell’s Bourbon, one snifter of seltzer and a glass of ice and some cherries. Dan, it looks like your guest is here.”
“Skippy, the cherries go in the bourbon, not the ice.”
“Gwen, welcome to our little slice of paradise. Let me introduce you to David, oh, and the guy rearranging the cherries is Skippy.”
“Thanks Dan. It’s great to be here. David, I feel like I already know you, and Skippy, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Thanks Ma’am. What can I get you to drink?”
“Hmmm, I rarely drink alcohol these days, but it’s a special occasion, so, in keeping with my Irish and Scottish heritage, I’ll have Scotch.”
“On the rocks, or in multiple glasses as is the habit with some people?”
“On the rocks, with a splash of water. No offense, David.”
“None taken. I just don’t like to dilute John Howell’s Bourbon.”
“You know, John and I co-wrote ‘The Contract,’ the story that precedes The Choice. I think he’d be happy you’re keeping his bourbon pure.”
“You know John Howell? That’s cool. I almost met him when he was here, but Cheryl, that’s the regular bartender, bumped me.”
“Skippy?”
“Yes David?”
“The scotch, off you go. I’d recommend Macallan’s”
“Speaking of your previous co-author, Gwen, did you always plan to write the subsequent books yourself?”
“Truthfully, we didn’t have a plan. John began The Choice with me and then decided to finish another book he was working on, so I proceeded alone.”
“Here you go, Macallan Eighteen on the rocks. Can I get you guys anything else?”
“Nothing else for now, Skippy, thanks.”
“No problem, Dan.”
“Thanks Dan, and cheers Gwen. I have to apologize, I read ‘The Contract’ but I haven’t read ‘The Choice.’ Can you give me a quick synopsis?”
“Certainly, David. Especially since Dan told me you’ll be buying the book later today.”
“He what… I mean, yes, I will, but I wasn’t aware he told you. Anyway…”
“The Choice picks up where ‘The Contact’ ends, at an Air Force Base in norther California. The base commander invites Brad’s former Navy SEAL instructor to help him figure out who was behind the murder of Brad and Sarah. It’s evident that their deaths are part of a bigger plan, and the commander wants to stop that plan.”
“That sounds like an exciting story.”
“Take my word for it, David, it is.”
“Aww, thanks Dan.”
“Gwen, that brings me to a question I’ve been wanting to ask since I started reading the book. There is a lot of exciting military action in the book. Is that the result of experience or research?
“I never thought about writing a military thriller until I started waking up with a haunting story that ultimately resulted in ‘The Contract.’ There are many in my family who have served – my husband is a Navy veteran, as is my brother, and as was my father. That said, none of them talked much about their experience, but they did read the manuscript for accuracy. Otherwise, I depended upon research.”
“Early in the story, one of the military characters, the guy who lost a leg in combat, downplays his loss. He says ‘The way I look at it, the loss of a leg is so much less of a big deal than losing your life. Also, I’ve known some who lost neither, but through fear, seemed to have lost much more.’ You came back to that comment again. Is there a reason you gave that such importance?”
“When I worked in college administration, I oversaw Veteran Affairs. The college was near Camp Pendleton, a Marine base in Southern California. I worked closely with these young men and women and remain deeply moved by their courage and sacrifice. Many were injured, even more suffered from PTSD. To this day, I consider them part of my family. We could all learn a lot from their stance in life. They stand up while others might recoil.”
“Do you need another beer. Dan?”
“I do seem to be at the bottom of this one, Skippy. Thanks.”
“No problem. Do you guys want any food?”
“Not right now, but that reminds me. Food is featured throughout your book, Gwen. It’s kind of fun to see your characters working through such a complex plan while munching away. Is there anything special about the food?”
“I’m chuckling now because I’d forgotten about the food. It really was just a means of situating conversations to build the story.”
“You know, Dan, the idea of people working around a complex conversation while munching on, say a large pizza, does sound interesting.”
“You’re right, David. Skippy, David would like to order a pizza.”
“No problem.”
“Gwen, with all the bad guys in this book, I was picturing you using some elaborate org-chart to keep track of them. How did you manage that?”
“I didn’t have an org-chart, but I had a list of characters at my desk always. And with the list, I kept tabs on what they were doing in the story.”
“What they were doing? Gwen, weren’t they doing what you told them to do?”
“Well, David. When I write, I’m dimly aware of the trajectory of the story and its conclusion. Sometimes, I wake up in the middle of the night with scenes and conversations and try to capture these revelations as I write. It’s unsettling at times, but with this series, I accompanied the characters. “
“Now I need more bourbon. Skippy, can you bring us all another round?”
“Sure, David.”
“That’s a good idea, David. Gwen, there’s a soft religious undertone in the book. Is that a carryover from The Contract or is that something you would have included anyway? I like the way it makes the characters seem more robust.”
“I’m glad you like it, Dan. I think the undertone is simply part of me. I’ve a background in theology and when I was younger, I spent five years in Japan practicing meditation. It’s natural for me to bring in spirituality.”
“Here’s another glass of bourbon, David, Ma’am, here’s another glass of scotch and one more Corona for Dan. Your pizza will be up in about ten minutes.”
“Thanks Skippy.”
“No problem.”
I want to thank Gwen Plano for joining us today. I have one more question, but it’s not about The Choice. I recently purchased “The Culmination: a new beginning” the third book in this series – I find the subtitle interesting. Is it less of a finale, or is it more complex than that?
“That’s an interesting question, Dan. Without revealing what occurs, I’ll admit that it brings the reader to an international turning point. The Culmination is my favorite in the series, but that is because it transformed my way of thinking. I spent enormous time researching all-things-military. Missile systems, military bases across the planet, locations of our carrier strike groups, political investments, etc. I tracked troop deployments and kept a huge map of the Middle East in my office. Through it all, I stumbled on information that still haunts me.”
If there are others like David who are still planning to purchase “The Choice” or Gwen’s other books, you can follow this link to her Amazon Author Page.
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