Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Henry Harrier's Character, Part 17--Moral Outrage

On p. 11. Fenton tells Henry about Ian's death. "What's that to me?" Henry says. Fenton says it's a public relations nightmare. Henry is appalled. He says, "Your own brother's dead, and this is all you can find to say."

Well, that's the Kearney family for you. And that attitude stokes Henry's furnace. Of course it's not enough to get Henry to act. Only his prized student being arrested moves him to action.

What do you think? I'd like to know. Post a comment.

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing. For my entrepreneurial course, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com. For entrepreneurial real estate to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Henry Harrier's Character, Part 16--Captivating Quality

Henry has a captivating quality about him. This is directly from Orlando Cole. When you're with him you're with 100 years of western musical culture. For someone interested in classical music, you have a window into another time and another place. This will shut once he dies and moves on to his fourth order world.

Take this bit of exposition from Will on p. 10:

We finished dinner just before 7:00 p.m. Conversation had been pleasant. it had been limited to Henry's lecturing me on the proper teaching of the cello. I wouldn't have sat still for such a lecture by an ordinary person. But from Henry? I don't think so. He deserved my attention, no matter how boring the material. I felt almost flattered to be with him. I was sorry when the time came for us to hurry back. It didn't feel then as though he were complicating my life.
I still feel that way: the man deserves being paid attention to because of the "giantness" of him in the evolution of western music.

What do you think? I'd like to know. Post a comment.

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing. For my entrepreneurial course, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com. For entrepreneurial real estate to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Monday, December 29, 2008

Henry Harrier's Character, Part 15--Keeper

Henry was a keeper of things. He was the only one who kept the recordings of his quartet. Will asked him why. He says, on p. 9, "I don't know that...but I do know it's just about time for the dining room to open."

Henry also wants to keep to himself the reasons. He'll reveal some things but he keeps everything else inside. We begin to wonder what all is he keeping inside?

What do you think? I'd like to know. Post a comment.

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing. For my entrepreneurial course, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com. For entrepreneurial real estate to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Henry Harrier's Character, Part 14--Literate

Henry is a very literate person, well grounded in world literature. And eclectic, witness this from p. 9:

I ran my eyes over his bookshelves full of biographies of composers. There were the collected works of Shakespeare, espionage thrillers, and poetry. The collected works of Carl Jung was right there with them.
Smiley I suspect was widely read, Sherlock not so much. He just read in detail things that would be of use to him: cigarette ashes, crime, poisons, etc.

Orlando Cole was an avid reader. He had read a lot despite, maybe because of, not having much formal education beyond high school. I suspect you get that intellectual curiosity when you confront the musical creations of the last 400 years of history.

What do you think? I'd like to know. Post a comment.

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing. For my entrepreneurial course, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com. For entrepreneurial real estate to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Henry Harrier's Character, Part 13--Humor

Henry was one to use humor in a way to grab attention to himself and change the subject.

At the end of his discussion on p. 9 about Will's not being entirely untalented, he says:

'Did you know the Julliard School has just raised its entrance requirements for violists?'
'No,' [Will] said.
Henry smiled. 'Applicants now must be able to hold the viola accompanied.'
There are a lot of good viola jokes. That's one of them so I thought I'd put one in there. Whether a person has a sense of humor, the kind of humor he or she uses, and how he or she uses it are excellent ways of establishing character.

What about you? What do you think? I'd like to know. Post a comment.

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing. For my entrepreneurial course, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com. For entrepreneurial real estate to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Friday, December 26, 2008

Henry Harrier's Character, Part 12--Faint Praise

Damning with faint praise is one of Henry's habits. Witness this bit of dialogue from p. 9:

Henry asked me about my feeble attempts at viola playing...
I said, 'I practice when I have the chance.'
'You're not entirely untalented,' he said, 'but you have to work at it.'
There you are.

What about you? What do you think? I'd like to know. Post a comment.

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing. For my entrepreneurial course, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com. For entrepreneurial real estate to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Henry Harrier's Character, Part 11--Appreciation of Talent

Moving along on p. 8, Henry and Will have this bit of dialogue about the playing on the CD Henry has turned on:

The first movement ended, and Henry asked me what I thought of her playing.
'Nice,' I said.
Henry frowned. 'Did you not perceive the marvelous facility of the left hand?
The strength in the bow arm? The secure technique and rich tone?'
'It was beautiful.'
'Remarkable is what is is,' he said. 'Even for someone at the highest level.'
Will doesn't want to stick his head out and concedes the floor to Henry.

What about you? What do you think? I'd like to know. Post a comment.

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing. For my entrepreneurial course, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com. For entrepreneurial real estate to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Henry Harrier's Character, Part 10--Feeling caged

This bit from p. 8, describes Henry. He's put on a CD of one of his students for them to listen to. "Henry turned on the music and paced like a lion in a cage waiting for someone to let him out."

My own father-in-law, Orlando Cole, has always had this feeling to me. He was a wonderful player in his prime who always played with more emotion and heart than any other cellists around. His students caught this from him. They could play anything, but this emotion, this passion for the music, that was the hallmark of Orlando Cole. And also a wonderful, feathery, soaring quality to their playing. I think I translated some of this into Henry's character. This idea of a lion trying to get out of a cage seemed like a good metaphor for him

Now that Orlando is 100, he's definitely caged. The passion and intelligence is still there, but his body is failing him. He quit playing, even in private, several years ago. He said, "I just get warmed up and I'm worn out." It takes some doing to play the cello. It's a tremendously physical experience. I suppose playing the base is moreso. Now, he's a car with a robust engine and exhaust system but who's body is rusting away. He's beloved by thousands and has given so much to so many.

What about you? Have you ever felt caged? I'd like to know. Post a comment.

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing. For my entrepreneurial course, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com. For entrepreneurial real estate to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Henry Harrier's Character, Part 9--Passion and Resentment

On p.7, at the top, Henry's passion and resentment at the Kearney school is obvious: "That bastard put me out like yesterday's garbage and then runs to me when he as a problem." His resentment is released when he hits a constraint keeping him from persuing his passion.

What about you? Have you run up against a constraint keeping you from doing what you want to do? I'd like to know. Post a comment. What else does this tell us about Will?

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing. For my entrepreneurial course, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com. For entrepreneurial real estate to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Monday, December 22, 2008

Henry Harrier's Character, Part 8--Observant

Henry on p. 6 does his Sherlock Holmes thing. Henry says, "'And you should use gloves when you waterproof your deck.'" Will asks him how he does it, Henry says, "'Quite simple, really. I observed your fingers. Most people se, but they do not observe. The fingers of your right hand are just slightly orange. You've gotten most of the water seal off.'"

Note the distinction in Henry's mind between "seeing" and "observing."

What do you think of this? What are your ideas? I'd like to know. Post a comment. What else does this tell us about Will?

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing. For my entrepreneurial course, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com. For entrepreneurial real estate to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Henry Harrier's Character, Part 7--Nimbleness

We remarked before about Henry's almost overbearing quality sometimes in snatching Will's hat from his head although Will wanted to wear it. Well it's the quickness and nimbleness of mind and action that's impressive about him.

As in this speech by Will on p. 6: "He snatched my hat from my head and gave it to me all in one motion. He moved fast, like a cat. His movements were almost a blur they were so fast."

He's expressing his dominance over Will by acting quickly in a way that Will can't defend himself. It's almost like Henry's giving Will his head in his hand.

What do you think of this? What are your ideas? I'd like to know. Post a comment. What else does this tell us about Will?

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing. For my entrepreneurial course, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com. For entrepreneurial real estate to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Henry Harrier's Character, Part 6--Age Acquired Skepticism

Henry has gotten a bit cynical about life in general. If a lot of people are doing something, there must be something wrong with it.

Will says at the bottom of p. 5: "You haven't put up your Christmas decrations yet." Henry responds, "Oh ther's plenty of time for that. People go so overboard.

I feel that way a lot. I'm suffering from it as well.

What do you think of this? What are your ideas? I'd like to know. Post a comment. What else does this tell us about Will?

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing. For my entrepreneurial course, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com. For entrepreneurial real estate to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Friday, December 19, 2008

Henry Harrier's Character, Part 5--Generosity of Spirit

On page 5, Henry shows his generosity in this bit in which Henry talks about the cello he gave away:

A baby grand piano centered the room. Something didn't seem right. 'You buy a new piano?'[Will} said.
Henry chuckled. 'Guess again.'
'Your Strad. I remember now. It was right here, in the middle of the room.'
'Very good,' [Henry] said.
'What happened to it?'
'I gave it to a young Swedish cellist,' he said.
'Your Strad?'
'I still have my Moennig cello.'

What do you think of this? What are your ideas? I'd like to know. Post a comment. What else does this tell us about Will?

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing. For my entrepreneurial course, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com. For entrepreneurial real estate to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Henry Harrier's Character, Part 4--Perception

On p. 5., witness this bit of dialogue:

"Inside,he took my coat. 'Marriage certainly agrees with you.'
'I nodded.'
'You've gained seven and a half pounds since last August.'
He was a shart old guy. I admired that in him from the start.
'Seven, actually,' I said.
'Slightly more, I should think.'"

So we see a little of Will here, a little defensiveness and self-delusion. A minor point, but see what comes later. In writing fiction it's often efficient and effective if you can use the same bit of dialogue to characterize two characters at the same time.

What do you think of this? What are your ideas? I'd like to know. Post a comment.

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing. For my entrepreneurial course, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com. For entrepreneurial real estate to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Henry Harrier's Character, Part 3--Age Acquired Cynicism

Henry displays his cynicism with this bit of dialogue:

"[Will] shook his hand. "I'm sorry to be so late."
"Planes are never on time anymore," [Henry] said."

Of course it's an exaggeration that planes are never on time. But there is enough hard evidence of planes being late and so much negative affect associated with putting up with the consequences of that lateness, that when you get away from traveling a lot and there are news items about late planes after a time that's what you associate with air travel, it's a natural tendency in humans to be cynical. And Henry, at 89, suffers from this in spades.

By the way, Orlando Cole, on whom Henry's character is in part based, is 100, so at 89, Henry seems pretty young to me.

What do you think of this? What are your ideas? I'd like to know. Post a comment.

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing. For my entrepreneurial course, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com. For entrepreneurial real estate to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Henry Harrier's Character, Part 2--Inability to See Others

It takes Henry a while to see Will. When Henry first opened the door for Will on p. 4, we have the following exchange:

"Henry looked around, then at me, and did a double-take.
He said, frowning, 'Ah, there you are, Will.' He pushed the door open wider. "It took me a while to see you.'"

We'll find out that Henry, though off to a slow start, understands Will very well.

What do you think of this? What are your ideas? I'd like to know. Post a comment.

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing. For my entrepreneurial course, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com. For entrepreneurial real estate to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Sunday, December 14, 2008

What Will's Up Against

This first bit of dialogue with on p. 4. is instructive: Will shows the depth of the chasm between them at the start.

'Okay,' I [Will #1] said.
"And bring clothes for any kind of weather," [Henry] said.
"I know all about that," I said.
"I mean it, Will. You never know what it will do when," he said.
By the end of my time with Henry, I would certainly know that, too."
A nifty piece of foreshadowing, if you ask me.

What do you think of this? What are your ideas? I'd like to know. Post a comment.

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing and real estate practice. For entrepreneurial ideas go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com and for entrepreneurial real estate go to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Henry Harrier's Character, Part 1--Strength

Henry, as I noted early in the history of this blog, is a composite character: part Henri Poirot from Agathe Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, part Sherlock Holmes from Arthur Conan Doyle's many stories I read as a child and then have reread every so often since, Orlando Cole, my 100-year old father-in-law, who was the cellist of the Curtis String Quartet for 50 years, and part George Smiley, from the John LeCare spy series.

Also as I said before, the book owes a lot to the afore-mentioned Agathe Christie mystery and Smiley's People. In fact, literary agent once rejected the manuscript calling it "too Agathe." I guess we know where she was coming from. Apparently, to her "Agathe" was an adjective.

It's clear from his first appearance in the book he is a very strong character. Presumptuous even. On page 4, Will comments, quoting, "My first mistake had been the courtesy call to Henry.

'You'll of course be staying with me while you're in the area,' he said. 'And you'll use my car to get around.'
I said, 'Thanks, but my company's made all the arrangements already.'
'Then they can unmake them.'
'Really, no. It's been take care of.'
'I know it has,' he said. 'By me--.'
'But Hen--.'
'I'll hear nothing more about it.'
You see what Will has to deal with.

What do you think of this? What are your ideas? I'd like to know. Post a comment.

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing and real estate practice. For entrepreneurial ideas go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com and for entrepreneurial real estate go to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Friday, December 12, 2008

Will's Character, Part 18--Sucker.

Will got played for a sucker, that's for sure. On p. 23 I lay it out: "I was the final piece of their puzzle. The go-between they ordered, the perfect patsy. Ian 'hired' me to help him design and conduct surveys for the Kearney School. That was just a sham of course."

Here's where Will's basic character is pretty much laid out. Now, it's the working out of that character and how much he learns or changes over the course of the story.

What do you think of this? What are your ideas? I'd like to know. Post a comment.

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing and real estate practice. For entrepreneurial ideas go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com and for entrepreneurial real estate go to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Will's Character, Part 17--Manipulative.

Will #2, on pp. 18-19, portrays Will #1 as a little manipulative. Witness this little bit of dialogue:

"I told her Henry had gone to see Mei Lee, and she flew off the handle again because about Mei Lee getting more attention than she did. She calmed down, and I said we were going over to the Kearney School after he go back. I knew I was a ship sailing into a storm, but I couldn't not tell here. She'd learn about it soon enough anyway.

'Why are you going?'
'To help him,' I said.
After a pause, 'You're going to help him?'
'He asked me to.'
'You said you would.'
'Yes,' I said.
'He asked you to help him, and you said yes.'
'You know yourself how convincing he is.'
'And you didn't talk to me first because,...?
'I'm sorry,' I lied.
'You don't sound sorry,' she said.
I said, 'We promised not to argue over long distance.'
So, Will's kind of weasling out of the responsibility for not talking to Julie about things. Hmmm.

What do you think of this? What are your ideas? I'd like to know. Post a comment.

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing and real estate practice. For entrepreneurial ideas go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com and for entrepreneurial real estate go to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Will's Character, Part 16--Caring?

Will shows his caring side on p. 19. You get the feeling that Will has never had to take care of anyone before. He says:

'Look,' I said, irritated, 'If you're worried he might have a stroke or something, we'll just have to keep our fingers crossed.'
'You will tale care of him, won't you?'[Julie talking]
'I'll do my best," I said. This time I really meant it.
Here is Will #2 observing Will#1.

What do you think of this? What are your ideas? I'd like to know. Post a comment.

Writing is, to me, an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing and real estate practice. For entrepreneurial ideas go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com and for entrepreneurial real estate go to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Will's Character, Part 15--Control? Simplicity? Self-centeredness?

On p. 18, Will and Julie have conversation about Julie's job as an editor. She tells him about all the trashy manuscripts she has to read. I narrate it in the book:

For the life of me, I never knew how she could stand reading all that trash. She ran on about another one, a woman imagining the sex life of Hiawatha, and yet another one that analyzing the mind of a mass murderer who went straight and became the protector of little girls. Like she's the only one in the world with problems?
What does this say about Will? Is he trying to get control back over his life? He values simplicity? Is he just so self-centered he runs out of patience for hearing about her problems?

What do you think about think about this? I'd like to know. Post a comment.

Writing is for me an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are its life's blood. For my entrepreneurial ideas, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com and for entrepreneurial real estate to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Will #2 and Will #1

Here's where the narrator's attitude toward his subject comes in. Call the narrator Will #2, who narrates the story from a distant point in time, and Will #1 who is Will at the time of the telling.

On p. 15, we have the following:

My father-in-law and one of the great living cellists is asking me to help him? Ordinary me? And I'm supposed to say no? Not a chance in hell.
Here's where Harrier's Watson differs from Holmes' Watson. Holmes' Watson never felt intimidated by Holmes. He felt curious, intrigued, perplexed, bewildered, impressed, but never intimidated.

But here's the thing. Was Will#1 really intimidated, or did he have some other motive? What do you think? I'd like to know. Post a comment.

Writing to me is an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are its life's blood. For entrepreneurial ideas, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com and for entrepreneurial real estate to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Will's Character, Part 14--Invisibility

On p. 15, Will shows us his unique ability to become invisible. Henry comments on it after his interview of Fenton Kearney. Here's this interaction between Henry and Will, Henry speaking first:

'Do you know you were very good back there?'
'I was?' I said.
'I almost thought you'd become invisible.'
This idea of invisibility interests me. Joni Mitchell has a song about wishing she had a river so she could sail away. Kind of the same thing. In fact, I have the beginning of a novel about it. Ralph Ellison of course wrote his terrific novel Invisible Man. H.G. Wells wrote his novel, The Invisible Man , and H.F. Saint wrote his very engrossing Memoirs of an Invisible Man, published in 1987. There's also a non-fiction book entitled How to Become Invisible showing how to not show up anywhere so you can't be found. I'm interested, though, in a character who really is invisible. Sort of like Kafka's Gregor, who turns into some big cockroach-like bug in The Metamorphosis, the only short story Kafka ever finished, and one of my all time favorite short stories. These are all interesting stories. I recommend them to you.

Anyway, if you're interested in invisibility, or anything else about this novel, post a comment. I'd like to know.

Entrepreneurship informs all my professional activities. Entrepreneurial ideas supply their life's blood. For my entrepreneurial ideas, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com and for my ideas on entrepreneurial real estate, go to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Will's Character, Part 13--Susceptible to Suasion

On p. 10, Will is at dinner with Henry. Will is clearly bored by the table talk, but feels almost honored to be with Henry because Henry is famous in the world of classical music, the world which Will has always been attracted to. He says:

I wouldn't have sat still for such a lecture [on the teaching of cello] by an ordinary person. But from Henry? I don't think so. He deserved my attention, nor moatter how boring the material. I felt almost flattered to be with him. I was sorry when the time came to hurry back. It didn't feel then as though he were complicating my life.
So will gets converted by Henry. He is capable of change.

What do you think about this? Do you like Will? I want to know what you think.

Writing is for me an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial ideas are the life's blood of my writing and publishing. For those ideas, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com and for entrepreneurial real estate to www.yourstopforrealestate.blogspot.com/blog.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Will's Character, Part 12--Natural Reticence

On page 8, Henry plays a disk by one of his former students. Here's how Will's conversation goes:

The first movement ended, and Henry asked me what I thought of her playing.

'Nice' I said.

Henry frowned. 'Did you not perceive the marvelous facility of the left hand? The strength in the bow arm? The secure technique and rich tone?'

'It was beautiful.'

'Remarkable is what it is,' he said. 'Even for someone at the highet level.'

'How's she doing now?' I said.
Will doesn't seem willing (no pun intended but I'll take it) to offer much of an opinion. Is he intimidated by Henry or is this just a natural reticence on his part? Note he changes the subject pretty fast. That shows that he has some skills to use in his jousting with Henry. Or at least this is the way that later Will portrays his earlier self.

What do you think about this? I'd like to know. Come post a comment.

Writing is to me an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurship supplies the life's blood of my writing. For my thoughts on entrepreneurship, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com and for my entrepreneurial real estate practice, go to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Will's Character, Part 11--Honesty

On page 6, Will talks about calling home to talk to Julie, his wife and Henry's daughter:

I dialed home, but I got nothing but our recording machine. I left a message that I was safe and would call back later. I was honest about the calling back part.
So Will, telling the story from a future time says pretty clearly that he didn't feel safe and that he wasn't always honest. Is this a correct assessment? What is he unsafe?

Any ideas? If so, come post a comment. I'd like to hear them.

Writing is for me an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurship is the life's blood of my writing and publishing and for all my professional activities. For my ideas on entrepreneurship, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com and for entrepreneurial real estate go to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Will's Character, Part 10--Nosiness

On p. 6:

I picked up a piece of paper from the piano. I read it over, sensing an intense interest from Henry. [I wish I had laid this out more clearly.] It was a fax from Fenton Kearney, the managing trustee of the Kearney School.
Remember this zstory occurs before e-mail was so widely used as now, so faxes had more prominence than now. That Will picks up a letter clearly written to Henry and reads it is really minding other people's business. Is a nosiness stemming from the need to protect himself? I don't think I would be so nosy.

What do you think about this? I'd like to know. Post a comment.

Writing is to me an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurship is the life's blood of my writing. For my thoughts on entrepreneurship, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com and for entrepreneurial real estate to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Will's Character, Part 9--His Hat

On page 6, Henry takes Will's hat off: "He snatched my hat from my head and gave it to me all in one motion."

The story goes:

"I like hats," I said. I had about a dozen of them at home." [I do, too.]
"Whatever for?" [I love this phrase. Only people older than me say it.]
"I guess I just like them," I said. "I just don't feel comfortable without one on my head."
It turns out Henry doesn't like men wearing hats unless it's cold outside. Will wears his hat everywhere. It's part of him. He takes it off only on concession to convention. When Henry snatches it from his hat it's like tearing his heart out.

Now, when Henry asks Will why he likes hats, albeit in a challenging phrase, Will becomes defensive and doesn't give a reason. He just says because he does. Is he being secretive here or is it that he just has not thought out the reasons for liking hats? Maybe both.

Myself, I always wear a hat. I have several regular ones. Which one I wear depends upon the season of the year and the weather. When the Phillies won the World Series, I wore my Phillies hat for a few days. If you ask me about it, I'll tell you about my history of hat wearing.

What do you think about men in hats? Post a comment. I'd like to know.

Writing to me is an entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurship is the the life's blood of my writing. For entrepreneurship, go to www.hatman2.blogspot.com and for my entrepreneurial real estate go to www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog.

Synopsis:

Ian Kearney, the director of the Kearney Music School, an elite musical training school in Philadelphia, dies after a fall from a balcony during a recital. World-famous cellist, Henry Harrier, recently forced from the faculty, returns to investigate Ian's death when his prized former student is arrested. Henry shows through his brilliant and single-minded pursuit of the truth that, as usual, they have it all wrong. This Sherlock Holmes-type mystery leads the reader through the world of classical music and lays bare the conflicts which dominate the lives of talented adolescents when placed under the pressure of studying for a demanding, stressful, and often elusive career as a classical music performer. Henry Harrier is part John Le Carre's George Smiley, part Arthur Conan Doyle's Holmes, and part Orlando Cole the beloved teacher, renowned chamber musician, and until his own retirement, the premier cellist of the Curtis Institute.

Author Profile:

Tim was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on January 30, 1946. In 1951 he moved with his family to Schenectady, New York, where he lived through high school. He attended Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio, from 1964 to 1968. He graduated in 1968 with a B.A. in history and philosophy. He received his Ph. D. in history in U.S. history in 1980 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison after spending 2.5 years in the U. S. Army. Most of his army service was completed in Wuerzburg, Germany, from 1969-1971. In 1972 he returned to Madison to complete his doctoral study. His dissertation, Those Who Moved; Internal Migrants in American 1607-1840, combined the statistical analysis of genealogical and biographical data with the study of traditional literary diaries, letters, and journals.

Tim was a market and survey research consultant from 1983 to 2000 and a smoking cessation researcher from 2000 to 2003. His consulting practice focused primarily on conducting community health needs assessment. He authored hundreds of market research reports and published a number of his assessments in Community Health Needs Assessment published by McGraw Hill in 1996 and in a revised volume published in 1999. In 2000 he joined the staff of the Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention of the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he conducted smoking cessation research. He published several articles in peer-reviewed journals and spoke at national smoking cessation conferences.

In 2003 he moved to Philadelphia and earned his real estate license. He now practices real estate, works on publishing his novels, and studies and teaches entrepreneurship.Tim has written a dozen novel-length stories, a volume of short stories, and about a 3-foot stack of pages poetry. He is currently working on earning his 4th million in real estate sales, publishing his novels, and working on an entrepreneurish handbook as a support for his students.

Tim is a trained violist and an experienced string quartet player. He is an avid listener to classical music and regularly attends classical music concerts. He has two grown children by his first wife and a stepdaughter with his second wife. He likes to cook, read, write, entertain, develop relationships, and help other people. Formerly Tim used to travel frequently. He doesn't so much anymore. Now he regards the combination of real estate practice, writing and publishing, and the teaching and studying of entrepreneurship as enough of a trip.