... you suffer a grave disappointment and you console yourself by thinking, "Well, at least I can use this in my book." What was this grave disappointment? Well. If you are a regular reader of this blog (Dad), you will know that I am involved in a deep and abiding love affair with roller derby. You may remember this post from 2008, when I first tried out for the New York team, or this one when I was trying to come up with a kid-lit themed name.
My grave disappointment came in the form of the Fresh Meat tryouts for Rose City Rollers a few weeks ago, alas. Despite the athletic prowess you see below, I did not make the team.
Seriously though- it DID make me feel better to think, "Well, now I have a better understanding of my character and how HE feels when he loses one Olympic event after another... and another... and another." And really, how many times as adults do we get the chance to experience the excitement and and anticipation of trying out for something, and the disappointment or elation that follows? Besides job interviews, which frankly, I do NOT consider fun.
And here is the part that tickles me... You know how authors always say there is a bit of themselves in the characters they create? Just as Boomer is sure he's going to win his next competition, there is a part of me that is just as sure that at the next tryouts, I am going to ROCK IT.
