Thanks! I would love that! I hadn’t thought of doing more, I just wanted to get all these thoughts about that line out of my head. I’m delighted that this post is resonating with people, especially brilliant experts like yourself! I’m going to spend some time this week looking at what publishers might be open to a pitch. 🤔You’ve inspired me!
That would be so cool! Go for it :) you might need to go through an agent first. Sorry I don’t know how much you’ve investigated the publishing world 🙃
Thanks for your encouragement! With graphic novels and stuff the publishing world is even weirder. The bug there still want agented submissions, but many big indie presses publish a lot of unsolicited manuscripts. I definitely have more research to do on that front
Me too! 🤣🤣🤣 I had an interesting conversation with my kids about this book over the weekend as I was working on this. They’d never read Huck Finn or any Mark Twain.
My mom bought me Tom Sawyer when I was very small. It’s one of the first books I read cover to cover. She loved that I’d give her updates on what Tom was up to.
Thanks! I was a little worried about how this would turn out because it’s a bit different from my usual style and subject matter. I’m thrilled you enjoyed it.
You immediately ingratiate yourself to me when you write about fellow Sagittarian, Mark Twain. Being from the Elmira, NY area, most students had to visit his study and get his books pushed upon us at school. But it wasn't until I was out of college that a grasp of his mighty prose took hold. Morbid curiosity, plus a nod of admiration, pushed me to even visit his grave in Woodlawn Cemetery where I could catch a whiff of whatever ethereal strands of wisdom might still be emanating from the soil above his moldy remains.
Thanks for this spot on dissertation on Huckleberry Finn. Being a master of the Haiku, you no doubt are also aware of his best known advice for writers, "The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning." Huzzah!
I’m haunted by Twain’s advice because I’m never sure if I’m supposed to want to write lightning or if I’m supposed to want to write lightning bug 🤣
Thank you for your kind words. It’s funny what you don’t always appreciate when you’re younger. For me, we were always getting Steinbeck’s novels pushed on us because so many of them are set in California, and the Bay Area specifically. It wasn’t until I was in college that I could appreciate his work.
I love the idea of "world builders." And seeing that us poets are "makers," as Poiesis means "to make," poetry itself is the emergence of something out of nothing (though, I don't actually believe that "nothing" can truly exist.) Anyhow, to infinity and weird worlds beyond!
I'm with you that nothing can't exist (no creation ex nihilo for me). I love the way you take poetry back to poiesis. To quote "Pure Imagination" from the classic 1971film , Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory:
Thank you so much for this information, Jason. I've read almost the whole book (finally giving up after 400+ pages because of Tom Sawyer's romantic escape scenarios for Jim and Huck), but I never paid attention to the literary qualities. (I never did learn anything useful in literature classes.) So this opens my eyes.
On another note, the download didn't work for me. Don't know why.
I know a lot of people don't like the end of the book when Tom shows up and they feel the book's ending is kind of a cop out and cheats the characters. I think that the ending is that way because Twain was writing a satire and for a satire to work in his style, the underdogs have to get happy endings.
Thanks for reading! I will send you the PDF via email. I'm not sure it didn't work for you. Gremlins must be in the pipes.
Brilliant. You could pitch this to a publisher to do the whole book. :)
I agree 100%
Thank you!
Thanks! I would love that! I hadn’t thought of doing more, I just wanted to get all these thoughts about that line out of my head. I’m delighted that this post is resonating with people, especially brilliant experts like yourself! I’m going to spend some time this week looking at what publishers might be open to a pitch. 🤔You’ve inspired me!
That would be so cool! Go for it :) you might need to go through an agent first. Sorry I don’t know how much you’ve investigated the publishing world 🙃
Thanks for your encouragement! With graphic novels and stuff the publishing world is even weirder. The bug there still want agented submissions, but many big indie presses publish a lot of unsolicited manuscripts. I definitely have more research to do on that front
Good luck and keep us posted !
100% !! definitely some kind of weird i'd love to see
Thanks!
Seriously, do it.
Everyone's comments have me very excited to look at expanding this into a longer project!
Makes me want to re-read the thing.
Me too! 🤣🤣🤣 I had an interesting conversation with my kids about this book over the weekend as I was working on this. They’d never read Huck Finn or any Mark Twain.
My mom bought me Tom Sawyer when I was very small. It’s one of the first books I read cover to cover. She loved that I’d give her updates on what Tom was up to.
Fabulous!
Thank you!
This was the first thing I read this morning. It's just wonderful!
Great job Jason.
Thanks! I was a little worried about how this would turn out because it’s a bit different from my usual style and subject matter. I’m thrilled you enjoyed it.
Wow! I agree with all the comments so far. This is absolutely brilliant! Now I want to re-read the book again.
Thanks! I’m going to have to reread it as well. 🤣. I think I might even still have the paperback from high school when I first read it.
What a perfect blending of your gifts-- and a truly engaging experience for your readers. Well done, Jason! You are one in a million.
Aww, thanks Ann.
You immediately ingratiate yourself to me when you write about fellow Sagittarian, Mark Twain. Being from the Elmira, NY area, most students had to visit his study and get his books pushed upon us at school. But it wasn't until I was out of college that a grasp of his mighty prose took hold. Morbid curiosity, plus a nod of admiration, pushed me to even visit his grave in Woodlawn Cemetery where I could catch a whiff of whatever ethereal strands of wisdom might still be emanating from the soil above his moldy remains.
Thanks for this spot on dissertation on Huckleberry Finn. Being a master of the Haiku, you no doubt are also aware of his best known advice for writers, "The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ’tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning." Huzzah!
I’m haunted by Twain’s advice because I’m never sure if I’m supposed to want to write lightning or if I’m supposed to want to write lightning bug 🤣
Thank you for your kind words. It’s funny what you don’t always appreciate when you’re younger. For me, we were always getting Steinbeck’s novels pushed on us because so many of them are set in California, and the Bay Area specifically. It wasn’t until I was in college that I could appreciate his work.
For sure. The "Grapes of Wrath" and "Of Mice and Men" are school standards (or at least were) but Tortilla Flats has always been one of my favorites.
This is outstanding. This is really a thing, love it.
Thank you!
Love that haiku!
Thanks!
This was phenomenal! You are such a creative, and such good food for thought about what 25 words can mean.
And by the way, the haiku at the beginning is beautiful.
Thank you!
This is very awesome, Jason. That's all I gotta say!
Thank you!
I love the idea of "world builders." And seeing that us poets are "makers," as Poiesis means "to make," poetry itself is the emergence of something out of nothing (though, I don't actually believe that "nothing" can truly exist.) Anyhow, to infinity and weird worlds beyond!
I'm with you that nothing can't exist (no creation ex nihilo for me). I love the way you take poetry back to poiesis. To quote "Pure Imagination" from the classic 1971film , Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory:
Come with me and you'll be
In a world of pure imagination
Let's go, Willy!
Thank you so much for this information, Jason. I've read almost the whole book (finally giving up after 400+ pages because of Tom Sawyer's romantic escape scenarios for Jim and Huck), but I never paid attention to the literary qualities. (I never did learn anything useful in literature classes.) So this opens my eyes.
On another note, the download didn't work for me. Don't know why.
I know a lot of people don't like the end of the book when Tom shows up and they feel the book's ending is kind of a cop out and cheats the characters. I think that the ending is that way because Twain was writing a satire and for a satire to work in his style, the underdogs have to get happy endings.
Thanks for reading! I will send you the PDF via email. I'm not sure it didn't work for you. Gremlins must be in the pipes.
I agree with everyone above regarding pitching this to a publisher. This is incredible!
Thanks!
Thank you, Jason.