"Cherish your
visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints
of your ultimate achievements."
Napoleon Hill
Readers have asked many questions about Peace by Piece—are my scenes autobiographical/ based on my own life
experience, is Maggie me, and are my characters real people I know?
Years ago, I heard a writer say in an interview—sorry,
can’t remember who it was—that every character and scene must be part of me
somehow, since it all comes out of my head.
I have had pieces of Maggie’s experiences, or felt her feelings, but not
always in similar circumstances or for the same reasons she feels them. There
are more differences than similarities between Maggie and me—maybe the most
important—I had the good fortune to marry the love of my life the first time around.
Some of my own traits and the mannerisms and quirks of
people I know regularly show up in my characters, but no character is based
solely on one person. For instance, Rose is named after and physically resembles
a kind-hearted neighbor from my childhood, sews and cooks like my Aunt Mary,
and her quips and humor come right from the mouths of Bella and Julie, my
Scottish friends from across the pond.
A more personal question for me to answer is why did I
publish as Carol Fragale Brill, using my maiden and married names, when for years I have been
known simply as Carol Brill? That is a question I have also asked myself.
When we married 30 years ago, I intended to use a hyphenated name. Imagine
my surprise when I returned from our honeymoon to find my employer had changed
my name on my office door, ordered new cards and a desk placard, and changed all
the company directories to Carol Brill. I was in banking at the time, and my
boss convinced me we needed to keep my name simple for customers. In hindsight, I gave in too
easily, but that is a blog for another time.
This is where the quote that headlines this post comes in.
You may know me well enough to know I have never had children, and even
if I did, they would be Brills and wouldn’t carry on the Fragale name. Neither
of my brothers or our one male Fragale cousin has children either. That means
our branch of the Fragale name ends with our generation. Sure, there will be
other Fragales in the world, but none of them will be direct descendants of my
father and his siblings. That makes me a little sad.
And so, Peace by Piece, and
my second novel in progress, Cape Maybe—the
children of my soul—will in their small way, carry on our Fragale name!
Capice?
Capice! I like how you explained it, and it's the same for me. Great post.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully said! I can relate!
ReplyDeleteThank you Carol FRAGALE Brill, for the lovely post.
ReplyDeleteThanks all
ReplyDeleteReally interesting because when I'm in conversation about my book, more than once people have referred to one of my main characters by my name and not her own. I promise she's not me in real life! I think as writers we naturally draw on what we know but we have lots of imagination and that's what people are reading in our pages. A piece of us and the world that we create around that. I repeat - I am not Angelica. Lovely, frank post, Carol.
DeleteReally well said, well written. I get the same questions all the time about my work too. Think I'll print this out as a response! LOL I've downloaded your book to my Kindle...can't wait to get to it :)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteCarol Fragale BrillMarch 03, 2013
DeleteJacquie feel comfortable shamelessly stealing my response :)
And thanks for downloading Peace by piece.
I know you know I look forward to your reviews. Carol
Delete
Well, the best thing is, people are READING your book. I have always found that my writing rings truest when my heart is in it. So, actually, I am in all of my characters. And all of them are a little bit of me. Even the "bad" ones.
ReplyDeleteAnd I am the last "Fox" in my father's family. He had two sisters and four daughters. So, I'd better get my novels published! Thanks for even MORE incentive.
Great post!
Yes, knowing Peace by Piece is being read is very exciting, and hoping after reading all will take a few minutes to review on Amazon and Goodreads
DeleteGlad this post gave you even more incentive. Carol
Carol, Your characters are so vividly drawn, I found myself imagining that they were an aunt, a neighbor, a good friend (and not so beloved in Donald's case.) Of course there would be elements of yourself in one or more of them, because how can any writer avoid that? I think you made the right choice including your maiden name on the cover. There was just a New York Times Magazine essay about that. People notice and respond more favorably to a compound name. And think you made your dad proud too. "My daughter, the writer!" Congrats again on your FIRST novel.
ReplyDeleteThanks Chris. As an early reader, you've known these characters at many stages in their development, just as you've known me in various stages of mine.
ReplyDeleteCarol, I love that your soul children will carry on your name. What a beautiful thought. I just got my copy of Peace by Piece in the mail - can't wait to dive into it!
ReplyDeleteGreat insights. More than half way through half way through Peace by Piece and am loving it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Peggy. I know you know how exciting it is to hear that, especially from another published novelist.
ReplyDeleteDear Carol....my uncle Fred Guido (my mom's brother) married Isabel Fragale from Philadelphia. I remember her brothers Tom, Yatch, Carl and Frank visiting my grandparents in the 50's. My mother kept in touch with Ruth Mctigh up until 4 years ago when she passed at 95. Would like to connect with you about family....nrbbb@hotmail.com. My mom was Rose Borrelli from Arnold, Pa.
ReplyDeleteHi "Rose's daughter??
DeleteI will email you at the addy you included , i'm intrigued about how you found me and my blog