Being an Odd Duck in Beaumont, Texas

Post from JR's notes-

In "The Long Road to Extradition," part of the plot involves Nicholas discovering his sexuality and falling in love. In the time reference of the book, being gay was still a very difficult subject for a small town to embrace of it's citizens. In fact, it could be downright dangerous. While the gay community has made tremendous strides in equal rights, there is obviously still alot of work to do.

There is a reason I portrayed the MC, Nicholas as gay. In order to realize the full meaning, you'll have to read the book! But, for the sake of this post, for those of you not familiar with being gay in a small town back in the late 70's or not knowing anyone that is gay, I will try to describe what it was like.

When I was a young lad, I was blessed with having alot of gay friends. Through their eyes, I was able to experience if just for a bit, the moments of fun, camaraderie, homophobia from others, violence and day to day life as a gay teen. During my teen years, I was taken to my first gay bar, "The Copa" in Beaumont, Texas. It was located in downtown Beaumont on Orleans street and was fraught with all the things taboo that teenagers shouldn't see or do.

I haven't been back to that club in years, but my first outing as it were included my friends taking me to this building hiding in the blanket of night for an experience I'll never forget. There wasn't a door or doorman outside. Too dangerous. Instead, those who had been to the club previously, knew precisely where to push on this wall outside the club that would lead to an entryway inside. Call it the secret handshake or secret entry, in any event. Once I entered that door, I saw a great deal more than a room full of homosexuals. I entered their world of being less than. And, the injustice has stayed with me since.

The smoky, forbidden rite of passage led me more to than just observing a world I never knew existed; it also reinforced to me that being an odd duck isn't so bad. Not even in Beaumont, Texas.

Have You Ever Been to the "Golden Triangle?"

Since my novel is set in Groves and Beaumont, Texas, I thought I would introduce you to my hometown.  People from this area call it the "G-T," short for Golden Triangle.  The reason why is pretty simple, the areas that are listed together as a community form the shape of a triangle if you were to look on a map (Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange).  Some of the better known areas are:  Beaumont and Port Arthur. 

Beaumont has really grown since I was a kid.  I remember back in the day when it had the first indoor mall, (Parkdale Mall).  Port Arthur is famous because of it's former resident:  Janis Joplin.  This area, or the "G-T" is roughly 90 miles southeast of Houston, Texas.  If you were to travel from Houston on I-10 to Port Arthur, the first thing you would notice would be the oil refineries.  From a distance, it looks pretty in the night, but during the light of day, you can see the work that these refineries actually do.  Constant puffs of smoke producing the retched fumes they produce is enough to make you gag at times. 

That's what I remember about the G-T.  The sound of the ocean, seagulls squaking, the smell of rotten eggs from the oil gases, high school football and the weather.  The hottest weather you can imagine.  Remember, you are spitting distance from the Gulf of Mexico.  Imagine getting up in the morning and taking a shower, dressing and step outside.  Standing outside for less than 1 minute can reduce your efforts of getting clean and fresh to nill.  The hair will be saturated with sweat, the bottom of your sneakers will start to melt (literally) and your shirt will have unsightly sweat stains.  The heat is unbelievable.  In fact, as Neil Simon once aptly said about another region as hot as this one; "This is hot.  Africa hot." 

So there you are, the G-T is a forever small town incapsulated in the growth of modern day southeast Texas.  Small town in every way; friendliness, attitude, politics and some might say small minded with regard to diversity.  Every town has their blemishes and it's an important part of Nicholas's problems in "The Long Road to Extradition."  Read about the G-T HERE.

JR-

How Does Writing a Novel Begin?

After I got this gig writing for JR, I sent him a list of questions I had regarding his book. In order to give you a "behind the scenes" look at this novel, I thought I would delve into his emails and discuss that very topic with him.

Question: How did you come to write this novel? What was the first thing that got you to thinking about this plot line?

Answer: I don't know if other authors do this or not, but when I create characters, I try to create a unique human being in my mind's eye. Covering everything from physical traits to clothing they would wear, verbal slang, music they like and so on.

I was in my car one day running some errands. I had Jonny Lang's CD, "Wander This World" playing and was listening to the title track. The lyrics paint a picture of a man that feels alone and is homeless. Exhausted both physically, emotionally and hope in short supply. I began to "see" a character in my mind's eye that would feel this way. I could literally envision the character, Nicholas Fontenot walking in time with this song on the streets somewhere in middle America. Feeling desperate and tormented. That's when the creative juices start flowing.

I think the lyric that grabbed me most in that song was, "Even God has lost track of my soul." It's a very lonely, hopeless feeling to really feel that way. The story of "The Long Road to Extradition" was born from that song.

My hat's off to Jonny Lang. He introduced me to Nicholas Fontenot.

~~~~~~~

I encourage readers to listen to this song. It's very interesting to see how JR crafted a novel from this song. The links provided for Jonny Lang's music is a free listen.

Til Next Time-

The Freelance Writer

Welcome to Author JR Stone's Blog

You were thinking that JR would be writing his own blog?  Nah, that would be left to a freelancer such as myself.  It's not that he's beneath the idea of writing his own blog, it's just that...well, he's a recluse and doesn't find that much about himself to be interesting.  I, on the other hand am a freelance writer and can find something interesting about ketchup if that is what the job requires.  So, when I was contacted by his management, I thought I would go for the job since I need to pay my electric bill. 

I thought that I would be meeting JR Stone either via phone or email at least but I thought wrong.  Instead, I was given a copy of his latest novel to read that is about to go to print.  In this "interview process" I was to read the novel and tell his management truthfully what I thought about it.  Okay, you get my dilemma.  I'm all about being supportive to other writers but by the same token, I wanted this gig.  I thought it would be interesting to offer my insight regarding this writer that no one seems to know but yet they do. 

So, I picked up "The Long Road to Extradition" and began reading.  I thought the novel was a dark subject yet offered laughter along the way.  It wasn't the least bit predictable.  I cried in several spots and I laughed out loud in others.  My heart ached and I wanted to cheer for Nicholas at the end.  Oops, maybe I gave too much away.  Anyway, I wrote down what I thought and emailed it to his people and I got the job.  Don't get me wrong.  I don't gush over most authors.  But this JR Stone...he's a helluva writer.  He's the kind that when you read his book, you'll be thinking about it days after and hoping that someone makes it into a movie. 

It's like I know Nicholas (the main character) personally.  And, I'm a better person because of it.  So here's to the beginning of the launch of "The Long Road to Extradition."  Just a freelance writer giving my opinions about this author I've never met and the stories he writes. 

JR will write some posts, but he will be busy getting the novel and publicity together with his management for the most part.  In any event, I am here to keep you, the reader abreast of all things JR Stone.  Questions?  drop him a line at AuthorJRStone@AOL.com .  Or better yet, visit him on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/AuthorJRStone , Twitter:  @AuthorJRStone

Til Next Time, The Freelance Writer