What's in Your Ordinary World?

by Mary Brady

At the beginning of many novels, characters are shown in their "ordinary world" as a way of sharpening the contrast to what the world is like after the "inciting" event.

Instead of blogging about my whole world because there are way too many ordinary things in it, (Like do you care that I’m driving my son to the train station in an hour or that there are a couple of pans soaking in my kitchen sink that I’m—we’ll call it—too stubborn to deal with right now?) I decided to be less drastic and “blog” about what’s on my desk. Well, not even everything there because I think I’m supposed to keep this under a hundred thousand words.

In my writing world, looking down from a platform above my monitor are five woman and two men. I’ll deal with the men first because they’re easy.

There is a tiny conquistador (on the right, behind the glass angel and an adoring distance behind Quan Yin, the dark form peeking out from behind her elbow) and a small lapis Buddha (up front in the shadow on the left) who happens to have a hole in his head. He’s a bead. The conquistador was given to me by a friend. It helps to have a little of the conqueror in me when I write books. Buddha is there to share some Zen whenever I need a little “in the moment” stuff.

The women, my wonderful guardians. The angel standing protectively in the front was given to me by my sister, who knew I could surely use a bit of heavenly watching over and I concur. I have glued this dear angel's halo back on twice and I suspect there is something of a highly psychological nature behind my breaking it in the first place.

Quan Yin, carved from the stone known as Howlite, is ever vigilant and never judgmental. She is known for many things, all good, but the theme that seems prevalent amidst her attributes is compassion. When the critic who lives inside my head gets too loud or annoying, I sic QY on it.

A rhinoceress, I call Henrietta, is peeking out from QY’s other side. She was given out at a conference lecture because, as writers, it’s helpful to have rhino skin—shocking as it may seem, not everyone likes all of our books—there's a grin here. Anyway, Henrietta is always mumbling things like, “Keep whining and you can trade places with my sister and you’ll see how much fun it is to out smart poachers all day.” Or “If you think that cottage cheese you’re having for lunch is boring, try munching grass all day.”

In the middle, in the white flowing robes, Mon Mothma, the wise. I keep hoping she’ll rub off on me. She led the Rebel Alliance in Star Wars and in her wisdom remained calm and got the job done.

And the Klingon Lursa, who perhaps embodies me more closely than any of the others—oh, and, we’re definitely not talking about her breasts here, we're talking temperament—with her bat'leth in hand, ready for battle, a little testy at times, helps to keep the group balanced.

Most helpful of all because she stands as a constant reminder of success, there is the glorious rendition of Maude DeVane, MD. Note the cowgirl boots, jeans, vest and great big smile—so very Montana. My sister-in-law, a most excellent woman and craftswoman who is also named Mary, made a doll of the heroine of my first book. Dr. Maude DeVane, of He Calls Her Doc fame, encourages me when I’m stuck and clucks when I’m dawdling. The other day she held a crystal so the sun would shine through and create vivid rainbows on my desk and wall.

So! What’s on your desk or what do you keep in your work area or a special spot that speak of you or to you?

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Out this month, Winning Over the Rancher. Baylor Doyle is a big, handsome, rancher who knows what has to be done and sets out to make it so. He didn’t plan on hiring a pregnant woman to help save his family’s ranch. He didn’t plan on staying in Montana, but then, he didn’t plan on falling in love either.

Hope everyone has a most excellent week!