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charlie_cochraneWonderful to have Barry Brennessel back here, talking about his A Pride of Poppies story “Ánh Sáng”.
Barry, what grabbed you so much about the Pride of Poppies submissions call that you had to send in a story?
I’m so fascinated with imagining what life was like for GLBTQI people throughout history. Egypt during the time of the pharaohs. Ancient Rome. Medieval Europe. Japan in the 17th Century. New York City in 1940. An African village in 1960. When I saw the submission call for A Pride of Poppies, of course I was instantly drawn to it. I thought about how the Great War was really a global war. I wondered about what was happening outside of major areas of battle, and the sacrifices people had to make far away from the main theater of battle. That opened up so many doors for story ideas. I knew I had to write a story about a place one usually doesn’t associate with the Great War. I ended up focusing on Indochina in 1917.
What were the particular challenges about writing a story set a hundred years ago?
The challenge, I think, for any historical setting is getting all the details right (as best you can, anyway). This involves figuring out the vocabulary of the time; the clothing; modes of transportation; diet; where people worked and how they relaxed, etc. It’s work, sure; but the research is also great fun for me. There’s so much to learn!
Do you have a 'hero' (or heroes!) from WWI? Who and why?
Because Clara Barton was a resident of my hometown (Dansville, New York) during the Civil War in the U.S., and started the American Red Cross there, I’ve always been inspired by those who volunteered their services in the medical field. One in particular, Lenah Higbee, was the first woman to be awarded the Navy Cross, and had a ship named in her honor after her death.
What are you working on at present?
I recently released a collection of linked stories set (mostly) in Japan, that span several decades, called Sideways Down the Sky. I’m also working on a screenplay version of my novel Wellspring (another story that takes place, to a large extent, during the Great War). Meanwhile, I keep glancing up at the sky, and realizing I haven’t created any characters who are zooming around the far edges of the galaxy. Hmmm….
Barry, what grabbed you so much about the Pride of Poppies submissions call that you had to send in a story?
I’m so fascinated with imagining what life was like for GLBTQI people throughout history. Egypt during the time of the pharaohs. Ancient Rome. Medieval Europe. Japan in the 17th Century. New York City in 1940. An African village in 1960. When I saw the submission call for A Pride of Poppies, of course I was instantly drawn to it. I thought about how the Great War was really a global war. I wondered about what was happening outside of major areas of battle, and the sacrifices people had to make far away from the main theater of battle. That opened up so many doors for story ideas. I knew I had to write a story about a place one usually doesn’t associate with the Great War. I ended up focusing on Indochina in 1917.
What were the particular challenges about writing a story set a hundred years ago?
The challenge, I think, for any historical setting is getting all the details right (as best you can, anyway). This involves figuring out the vocabulary of the time; the clothing; modes of transportation; diet; where people worked and how they relaxed, etc. It’s work, sure; but the research is also great fun for me. There’s so much to learn!
Do you have a 'hero' (or heroes!) from WWI? Who and why?
Because Clara Barton was a resident of my hometown (Dansville, New York) during the Civil War in the U.S., and started the American Red Cross there, I’ve always been inspired by those who volunteered their services in the medical field. One in particular, Lenah Higbee, was the first woman to be awarded the Navy Cross, and had a ship named in her honor after her death.
What are you working on at present?
I recently released a collection of linked stories set (mostly) in Japan, that span several decades, called Sideways Down the Sky. I’m also working on a screenplay version of my novel Wellspring (another story that takes place, to a large extent, during the Great War). Meanwhile, I keep glancing up at the sky, and realizing I haven’t created any characters who are zooming around the far edges of the galaxy. Hmmm….
