Thursday, January 3, 2008

The Wit of the Staircase

The Wit of the Staircase:
On a train from Amsterdam to Paris, Americans Sam Wyatt and Haley Dane, both in Europe for their own reasons, meet and after a sudden turn of bad luck, find themselves stranded and about to embark on an adventure that will take them across the European countryside together – whether they want to be stuck together or not. A story of love finding you in the most unexpected of places.

L'esprit de l'escalier (the wit of the staircase) is a French term that describes the predicament of thinking of the right comeback too late.

My goal as a writer is to always try to grow and try different things within my stories. The Wit of the Staircase has been an idea stewing in my head for some time now and I am finally going to be brave enough to attempt it. After I complete A Fairy Tale, this is the story I am going to work on next. In all of my previous stories, I have used a large "cast" of supporting characters but in this newest story of mine, it is going to rely heavily on just Sam and Haley - their conversations, their arguments, their chemistry together. There will be people they meet during their journey but for the most part, the story is going to feature only them.

If you have seen the movies Before Sunset, Before Sunrise or It Happened One Night, that is where I have driven my inspiration from this time. That and for Christmas, I received a book of photos of Europe and the countries there have such a romantic feel/look to them that I wanted to use it as a backdrop for a story. I have visited England and Scotland and have used them as settings in my stories before. I think it is time I return there. I am eager to write this and I hope there are some that are eager to read it. I will announce progress on the story once I have completed A Fairy Tale.

Happy 2008, everyone. A new year, a new crop of stories.

Sam

Haley

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

This sounds like an amazing idea! My smile grew bigger and bigger as I read the "summary". I cannot wait for this story, it sounds very interesting and different, something I'd like to read.

Keep us updated!

love,
Alessandra

Anonymous said...

AWED BY YOUR TALENT AND CREATIVITY, I CAN'T WAIT TO READ IT.

SHANNA

Anonymous said...

Wow that sounds like a fantactic story and one I cannot wait to read. Happy 2008

Anonymous said...

Fantastic plot ^^ Can't wait to read it XD

But just, I know that for people who have never been in France it's easier to talk of Paris thanks to pictures, TV, movies... but IF this couple goes through France, I hope they won't only visit Paris, I have been there once in my life and yes it's beautiful, but to us non-parisian French people, it looks as if for foreigners France=Paris ^^"
I live in the south of France, I lived 4 years in French Guyana in South America, I have been in Strasbourg, Montpellier, Nimes, there are beautiful others sceneries in France =D

Well I stop annoying you, I don't even know if they will go in France, and I know that it's really easier for writers to talk about Paris, and I will love that story whether they only go to Paris or not, and it's not my place to tell you that. ^3^

bulma-veggie

Anonymous said...

Hi Kate:
This story sounds wonderful, but all your ideas sound good to me. I love th pictures of your characters. I love him in the Notebook and her in The Phantom of the Opera and now I can love them in The Wit of the Staircase. As usual I appreciate your writing for us and your blog because I read this just like a story.
Happy New Year!
Judy

Anonymous said...

Is my computer going bad or did you give the blog a new makeover?

Well, whatever it is, I love it!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a GREAT story - I can't wait!

New makeover looks superb by the way - neat color scheme.

Sara