Behind the Scenes of
Beyond Repair
Dear Louise,
Thank you for the wonderful review of this story! It if hadn't been for you, this story would never have been written. You told me to write out my grief -- and I did. This tale is the result. I can't thank you enough for your inspiring words, since writing the story did indeed help me to deal with my grief. And I now have the added bonus of being able to go visit my dad and Merle any time I want by picking up this tale to read. You're awesome!
Chapter 1 -- I'm glad that you picked up right away that George is a nice guy. I tried very hard to give him my father's voice. Or at least, the way I choose to remember my father. *grin* As you noted, this entire story is from George's POV. I wanted to be able to keep the suspense by showing everything from his perspective. So we find things out when he does. I liked this mystery aspect to the story, even though it probably drove some readers crazy not knowing what had happened to 'the new guy'!
And I purposely kept the new guy's identity a secret until George mentions his blue eyes. I wanted the reader to be saying that this couldn't be Straker, then wham! They find out it is, after all. This ploy worked well with my beta tester. Did it work for you?
I'm so glad you enjoyed the phrasing of George's thoughts, the quaint way he speaks using old cliches and metaphors. I love spending time with the elderly, because they have so much life and wisdom to share. So I think I kept his voice fairly true to the way the elderly tend to speak. But it was fun to put myself in George's place in this story and say things his way. If you liked it, then I did okay.
I'm glad you enjoyed George's thoughts about his food, especially the jello. And George's comments about the nurse? Oh, yeah. As I often tell my husband, people are stupid everywhere you go. Every place you go, you'll find at least one. Carol is the home's stupid one. *snicker*
I remember you emailing me when I sent this part to you and asking me what had happened to make all hell break loose like that? I'm glad it made you think and wonder. It was supposed to, after all. *grin*
Yes, I know you were worried how old Straker was in this story. The reference to the date was my way of indirectly telling the reader his age (about 50.) As you remarked, that's too young for a nursing home. So it must be something else that put him there. As for George thinking that the new guy was someone not used to command, I hope the reader can assume from this that George has a skewed view of military command. Remember his remarks about the overbearing general? It's important when writing from one person's perspective to stay true to the way they think, even when they are incorrect in their conclusions. This is one of those instances, and I hope it didn't throw you too far off.
Chapter 2 -- It makes me smile to hear you go on about the peach jello scene. It was such a fun scene to write! And George was so sweet here. This was something my dad would have done. He liked helping others and made a habit of it throughout his life. My dad never really spoke much about helping people, not until afterward and sometimes not at all. So I drew my characterization of George from that. He didn't tell even his best friend what he was thinking of doing. Yes, he is a man you could trust.
Evie is modeled after my favorite aunt, Evelyn. She was such a pistol! Actually, most of the characters in this story (the residents of the home anyway) are people I have known, loved, and lost. Sometimes I changed their names, but not always. I'm glad you liked my Evie. When the orderlies wheel Straker away, George and Merle see how important he is. I'm glad you caught that -- and glad that it made you wonder! And George's comment about him being a deposed king -- well, I knew you'd understand that one, since you’re British. Good for you!
Chapter 3 -- Yes, I kept the references to royalty a bit here, since this is how George sees him. Unlike Merle, who thinks he must be a general. *snicker* And George notices a lot of interesting things about the new guy. That he isn't old (even though he must have looked it in his emaciated condition.) That he looks like he came from a prisoner of war camp. For me, the most telling sentence in the story is when he asks himself who could be more inhumane than the Japanese? The reader should have a pretty good idea what happened to the commander at this point. Not all the details yet, but at least a strong idea. I notice that it made you worried. Good!
If you've spent much time in nursing homes visiting you'll know that nearly all visitors are female. It's a sad but true statistic, and I have George and Merle accept it as normal mostly because I want the reader to think twice about it themselves. I'm glad you liked the way George saw the different ladies. And Straker's reaction? I'm so pleased that you were surprised by this! It means that you hadn't figured it all out yet. And were still wondering.
Chapter 4 -- And life at the home settles into a routine. With our new guy among George's crowd of friends. I'm glad that you liked the part where George is envious of Straker talking to Evie. I hope you notice that this didn't make George not like him anymore, even though that could have been his response. But I wanted the reader to see just how decent George really is by making him accept this interaction without getting angry. And Straker's reference to George's 'talents' was of course referring to his discretion, his sharp eyes, and his honor -- all of which Straker saw over the course of their friendship. Who could fail to love George?
Then Saturday comes and brings Alec. I really enjoyed making Alec the reason the aliens found Straker. The irony of his best friend leading the enemy to his door was too good to pass up. But I didn't make a big deal of it, because I wasn't wanting to humiliate him. I just wanted to make him rush in without thinking. And he performed his part admirably. Don't you think?
Chapter 5 -- Ray is modeled after one of my uncles, who was a Navy man. Naturally everyone at the home turns to George for help. He's that kind of guy. And so we see here that Ray does too. I'm surprised that you thought Straker was paranoid when he told George his enemies had come. My beta tester wasn't. She gasped! But you quickly realized what was going on, so I must not have been too obscure. And I loved writing the scene where Straker goes out to face them alone -- and George follows his orders fiercely, knowing what a sacrifice he was making. I'm so pleased that you loved this scene too!
Epilogue -- Life at the home goes on, but without the new guy. Surely you knew I wouldn't end the story without them meeting again? And we get the explanation. Finally! I'm also glad that there were many special moments in this scene for you. There are for me too. And we finally come to the reason for the title of the story as Ed tells George that he was 'beyond repair.' If that choked you up, good! It choked me up too! *grin*
I know you didn't like it that I didn't have him return to command at SHADO. But to me it just didn't seem possible after what he'd endured. I hope as you continue to reread the story, you'll come to accept the ending as inevitable. I have to tell you though, that I thoroughly enjoyed giving him Henderson's job! *snicker*
Thanks again for the great review! And for the original inspiration for the story!
Love,
Denise