My SPARK was Alice in Wonderland.
When I was about seven I wanted to climb into those pages and follow that white rabbit just as Alice did. Since that wasn’t possible I started creating my own worlds and climbing into those instead. I still have the book that I read when I was seven and every once in a while I read a passage or two. I’m never disappointed, and I never cease to have a wonderland experience that reminds me why I write stories.
“The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself falling down what seemed to be a very deep well.”
And so the journey begins . . . again and again and again. And each time I’m so ready for it and for the Mad Hatter and the hedgehog and the Queen of Hearts.
Alice in Wonderland is the biggest "reread" of my life. I never get tired of taking a trip down the rabbit hole. Thanks for reminding me about one of my favorite books. Great spark!
Cheryl may be brilliant, but I still <B Alice's adventures. Alice didn't need to grow or change for me, she just needed to meet wacky creatures and let me imagine what was possible outside the realm of reality.
Thanks for stopping by and saying hi. Appreciate your visit.
I loved Alice too. Interestingly, I recently read something by Cheryl Klein (editor at Scholastic) where she said that when somebody submits an ms and compares it to Alice, it's an immediate turn-off. Her reasoning? Alice doesn't grow. The narrative is episodic, and she ends up back in exactly the same place at the end, as exactly the same little girl, unchanged, untouched. I happen to worship Cheryl Klein, I think she's so brilliant, but what do you guys think about this?
Great spark and a very imaginative way to leap into the world of novels and writing. Good luck with your journey :O)
I loved Alice in Wonderland when I was a kid. My dad had a really pretty leather-bound copy and I felt so special curled up in a chair with it.
Alice in Wonderland! A good spark if ever there was one!
I just watched your interview and it was fantastic! I'm so glad to be a part of your group and I look forward to getting to know you through the campaign. 🙂
Reading these posts reminds me of all my favorite books I so wish I had time to read them all again. Mad Hatter was my favorite, un-happy birthday to you
Yes, I loved Alice as a child and it did pique my imagination. It wasn't until I read Tolkien that I wanted to turn that imagination into writing.
Alice is a great story. I felt the same way about the Phantom Tollbooth. I wanted to be with Milo and eat letters and numbers. I really wanted to know what they tasted like. 🙂
So glad to find your blog. And thanks for visiting mine. This is a good spark!
The Mock Turtle was always my favourite….:-)
I'm afraid I'm with Marcia on this one. At that age, Alice and her weird adventures (and "friends") freaked me out. But I love your post and completely understand how you wanted to follow her down that hole.
How interesting that this was your spark! Alice going down that hole freaked me out! At that age I was much more a Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle fan. 🙂
Oh isn't that so true! I loved Alice in Wonderland, felt even as a child reading it that I recognised the chaos of her mind…! My only grumble back then and which I've carried into adulthood was that it turned out to be a dream. I felt so let down and continue to do so wherever in a story I've been caught and glued and then the author says, 'ha ha, got you, it was a dream'. But yes, the rest of the story, brilliant! Great post!
I love hearing what book influenced a writer to start writing. Yours is a classic, and a great one at that. It's wonderful that you still have that book. What a treasure!
What a very cool "spark"
LOVE 😀
Alice is fabulous! I haven't read those stories since I was a kid, though. I have this great anthology of short stories called "Fantastic Alice: New Stories from Wonderland" (edited by Margaret Weis) that's a really fun read. I like re-reading them from time to time!
I've heard rumors that Lewis Carrol was high when he wrote Alice in Wonderland. Do you believe it?
I enjoyed watching your interview. Best of luck with your newest novel. It sounds interesting.
Joyce
http://joycelansky.blogspot.com
What a beautiful post.
I have never read the whole Alice in Wonderland believe it or not. When I was a kid I had the Disneyish mini version story book. And I loved it though!
Alice and Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass were such huge influences on my childhood too. The proof: I named my most important stuffed bear Jabberwocky. (I'm not sure how that made sense to me at the time either, but regardless Carroll certainly captured my attention!)
Alice and Wonderland is great inspiration.
I didn't actually read Alice in Wonderland until I was an adult. Can you believe that? It's truly wonderful, though. 🙂
"Alice" is a great story. I can see how it would be an inspiration. I loved your interview 🙂 So cool.
I have never read Alice in Wonderland. I know, crazy right? But I haven't and I know its on my hubby's nook so maybe one day I need to steal it from him. Just sometimes, I find it hard to jump into a book when I've seen a movie version a million times.
How neat that you still have the book that was so important to you. I still have tons of books from my childhood, but I can't really remember one that was particularly special.
Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" surely provided you with some fond memories and perspectives, as did Jefferson Airplane's "Go Ask Alice" offer some intriguing insight into life and the mysteries of the world, to me.