Cover
Page 4 + supplementary illustrations
{capsule} Marsha the Monkey, who lives in the Enchanted Treashure [sic] forest, is upset because her friends work all the time (“they got up bright and erly to start thier jobs”). When she answers the phone, expecting it to be her friend, Ronda the River Fish, she rather rudely quips, “All right now Ronda…I’m not answering any of your old busy business questions from you.” It turns out to be a magical “Life Saver” leprechaun who has heard she has been having trouble. When the two finally meet at the Patch Work Swamp, he offers this sage advice: Tell her friends how she feels. Marhsa does, and “they undersood. The End.”
{notable excerpt} Marsha had to be very brave to go to patch work swamp. But she did not know this life saver lepercon. What will I do? she said. Right that secent there was a knocking from her celler door. How quere said Marsha as she was getting the door. Why its you. Marsha said when she was looking down to find two small creachers. It was Jakie the jumping frog and Mileasa the mole. What are you doing here. You live in the rainbow forest.
{comments} I find it humorously coincidental that my protagonist is seemingly unemployed and frustrated by a lack of time (“Know time, know time!” she snaps to one friend). Though the leprechaun who “watches over [Marsha] every night” is mildly creepy, the happy ending suggests I wasn’t too disturbed. I do wonder if certain dialogue (Leprechaun to Marsha: “Don’t cry so we can get started”; Marsha to Leprechaun: “You mean you don’t want me to keep it inside, right”) might have been inspired by therapist-speak. My favorite detail is the utter lack of punctuation, which makes the quotes that much more entertaining. Also, I seemed to be fond of alliteration, animals and bright colors—none of which has changed.
{author} Christine Sisson, née Tyler, wrote “Marsha’s Problem” at age 7. In her communications-centric career path, Christine has worked in both editorial and PR, with an emphasis in design/home/lifestyle. Currently, she is blogging, taking low-paying freelance assignments and dreaming up crazy ideas as she searches for the perfect full-time position. She is also drinking lots of wine at networking events and, subsequently, revisiting old novel ideas.
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Brilliant! Who knew what a great combination wine/novel ideas/networking events were.
This is a great idea for a blog. Personally, I was never adept enough to draw AND write. In fact, my most prolific period was mid-teens. Just think bad guitar playing and unrequited love.
well done.