“Flamenco & the Sitting Cat” is a twelve-part serialized adult general fiction literary novel I’m writing. The transcript of this video about “Flamenco & the Sitting Cat” is underneath it. Its sequel is, “Tango & the Sitting Cat.”
Among the events that inspired me to write it is how, when I was growing up, my mom often supported the family. Given that between my parents and me, we were from three different countries, my earliest memories have to do with questioning how gender and culture shape us.
By the time I turned forty, I had won a number of journalism honors. Among them was an Emmy nomination and then an Emmy award for documentaries that I produced on social issues. That year that I turned forty, I married a wonderful man who added yet another country to my family’s mix.
I regard my life as a series of ongoing ‘coming of ages.’ Not just the traditional one of when I was eighteen and left my parents’ apartment to live on my own and support myself. This got me to wondering, ‘what if there was a 40-year-old-virgin-woman, not in terms of sex, but as far as trusting straight men and the institution of marriage?’
I love challenges, so I decided to learn to write fiction. The protagonist would have to be the most difficult to depict; a woman who is neither young nor old. The supporting characters would have to be an intercultural mix of personalities as multidimensional and confusing as people are in real life.
The twelve installments of “Flamenco and the Sitting Cat” comprise a sort of anti-novel that illustrates the need for tolerance and that happiness is available to any of us — during any of our coming of ages!
As the story unfolds over these posts, I’d love to know what you think about the novel’s content and unfolding. Any first-hand experience with successfully promoting literary fiction for adults would be welcome too.
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That sounds like a really interesting premise. Heading on over to Amazon now to see if I can ‘Look Inside’. 🙂
Okay – I’m back. Where is this novel available? I can’t find it anywhere!
Slightly frustrated.
Kindness – Robert.
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it’s not out yet – will let all know when it is 🙂
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Excellent. I’m looking forward to it. 🙂
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da AL Awesome creativity great tittle i loved it. That’s amazing…..😍
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Thank you so much 🙂
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I wish to be like you 😭 When did you start writing novels?
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This is my first novel – I used to write non-fiction/journalism, then went on to short stories – & now, after many years, finally completed my novel 🙂
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Wow! That’s amazing. For the past years I’ve been frustrated at not being able to finish a novel whenever I try to. But then I think of JK Rowling. And now, you! It’s never too late to write and publish a novel! Cheers to you! 🙂
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the hardest thing is to get to the end of the 1st draft – a good teacher told me that one needs to get to the end as quickly as one can – otherwise it is too easy to end up rewriting the first pages over & over
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Wow! It’s such an honor to come across your website! I like cats; though I know your novel is not going to be about cats :-p I wonder what “the Sitting Cat” signifies ☺️
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Sitting Cat is shape of Iran on the map
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Oh. That’s a new piece of learning for me. Interesting for your title!
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btw – you’re off to a good start as a writer, with blogging 🙂
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[…] da AL from Happiness between Tails is a novelist and a visual artist. Before that, she was a reporter for cable TV, radio, and print. Her journalism […]
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