Troublemaking Through Writing (page 3)

Chapter Thirty-One The Ace of Cups Joel is amused to learn of Zest when Gabriel tells him what is going on. Joel is more impressed by the fact that Gabriel is confiding him him when he’s not told anyone else…

Chapter Fifteen 13: Concordance (Tóng Rén) Joel’s research leads to a likely candidate for Geneva’s grandfather–former NYS state senator Derek Baker, who lives in Rochester. Joel also wants to discuss practical things about the relationship, like wills. Gabriel is uneasy…

Chapter Two/The quote that frames the chapter: Walt Whitman, Each of us is inevitable. Connection to the story: The great poet Walt Whitman was a master at constructing his persona, reinventing himself, becoming his destiny as a poet after working several…

Trigger Warning: This recap briefly mentions sexual violenceMeese/The quote that frames the chapter: George Orwell: Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past. George Orwell invokes Orwellism even in his legacy. Generally Orwellian implies a…

Grace The quote that frames the chapter / Robert Louis Stevenson Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant. Connection to the story: RLS is one of my favorites for being an exquisite wordsmith,…

Recaps Home Page Previous: Chapters 1, 2, 3 Next: Chapters 7, 8, 9 Chapter Four, The Nine of Swords Gabriel takes note of what has happened to Raymond, and the state of the scene where his body is, before calling…

Recaps Home Page Previous: Chapters 4, 5, 6 Next: Chapters 10, 11, 12 Chapter Seven–The Knight of Swords Alex prints a story on the video of Raymond’s abduction from the coffee shop, which pleases Gabriel. After a long day on…

Recaps Home Page Previous: Chapters 7, 8, 9 Next: Chapters 13, 14, 15 Chapter Ten–The Knight of Wands Gabriel visits various used bookstores to track down the purchase of the vintage BDSM mags. While two of the stores are strikeouts,…

The Book of Joel has been in progress since Joel insinuated himself in my creative consciousness. He became more than a side character or sidekick, and I could see his past life unfolding over the last two books as well…

In writing this book, I decided it would have a different framework. I didn’t want Gabriel to be tied to tarot. The I Ching sprung out of me as I had taught my world religions class the importance of the…