Tuesday, June 25, 2013

A candid writing moment with Anna Marie Kittrell



"In my YA suspense novel, Witcha'be, Molly has an encounter with grasshoppers. Lots and lots of grasshoppers.
I snatched this scene idea from a real life event that I've never forgotten, 
even though I've spent a lifetime trying.

My sister and I were twelve years old and bored, as usual. We trudged from the front door, into the muggy Oklahoma heat, looking for something interesting to get into. Boy, did we ever succeed. 


Right off, we stumbled across two neighbor boys hiding a yellow margarine tub inside the crawlspace under our house.  

"Whatever you do, don't open the lid," the older one warned as they turned to go


We waited until they were good and gone and then, like any self-respecting twelve year old girls, opened the lid.


 Grasshoppers in plague proportions burst from the container, whirring into our long hair, sticking to our faces and clothing. We screamed, cried, jumped in circles. The boys came running back. 

"That was our fishing bait!" They shouted, mad as hornets. 


Apparently they were trying to keep it cool under our house. 


Ooops."

Anna Marie Kittrell, author of Witcha'be

22 comments:

  1. Hahaha. You have the best stories, Anna. Non-Fiction and otherwise. Congrats on your upcoming release, and thanks for the laugh.

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    1. I can't think of a better compliment than my own editor telling me I "have the best stories"! Thank you, Alicia.

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  2. It wasn't funny! Well, okay, guess it's funny now. A little.Remind me to tell you about the time I zipped a cricket up with me in my red footie-pajamas. One of my sister's favorite stories. Thank you so much for stopping by, Alicia :)

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  3. It's usually the most annoying things that seem the funniest later. Isn't it great when you can put them to use in a story?

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    1. Yes! You are so right, Sharon, McGregor. I always have my eyes open for material, but it's usually the spontaneous happenings that make the best writing. Like I always say, truth makes great fiction! Thank you for commenting!

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    2. Funny story! Y'all were modern day Pandoras! Carlene

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    3. Haha,that's funny Carlene. And so true! A Margarine tub Pandora, that's me. Somehow, that description is a pretty accurate fit. :) Thank you for commenting.

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  4. You just made me realize--in rural areas, something is usually nearby that can scare you, scratch you or bite you. Glad you were able to use your experience in a story!

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    1. True! I hadn't really thought about that before. Suddenly I'm agoraphobic! Never leaving my house again. Well, at least until July 22, when I have to go back to work at the school. :) Thanks for posting!

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  5. OMG! You addressed your acridophobia without even realizing it! Congratulations. I'm soooo proud of you.

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    1. Haha, thanks, Kathy! And to think you played a role in helping me identify the source of my fear :) Just wish I knew what the next step to combating it was... Don't dare say to pick up a grasshopper! Not happening. So glad you stopped by to see me!

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  6. LOL. I can vision it! so funny

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    1. Mary, it was horrific, then. But hilarious now! The scene in my book isn't funny at all...unless you are amused by bathing in a tubful of grasshoppers. Bleh! I am so glad you commented!

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  7. That is so funny, Anna! Of course it wouldn't be if it were me, but I can just see two girls pulling that and my favorite part? The boys' reaction! Typical. LOL

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  8. Typical for sure, Calisa. My sister swears the whole reason they collected them was to terrify us. She thinks they planned the whole thing, and used reverse psychology by telling us not to open the lid. LOL.

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  9. A boy once used a preserved grasshopper in biology class to scare the wits out of me. Why do we respond that way? Surprise, I guess.

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    1. I respond that way out of fear. I seriously have a phobia of grasshoppers. Crickets too, but I'm worse about grasshoppers. Oh, and frogs. Come to think of it, I guess it's anything that hops...except cute little bunnies :)

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  10. Great story, Anna. Being married to a fisherman, I could understand where that one was going :) I don't care for the crawly things myself.

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    1. I wish I would've understood where it was going at the time. LOL. Worse than a can of spring-loaded snakes!

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  11. Too cute. I can see it happening to you!

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  12. Exactly, Jess! I guess maybe crazy attracts crazy. LOL. Crazy things seem to happen to me all the time. That's why I would never be able to carry off a sophisticated facade. It's just a matter of time before craziness strikes and I'm once more publicly humiliated :) But that's okay. Life is so humorous to me, I can always find something to laugh about. Those crazy situations make it even more fun. Later, of course. Much, much later.

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  13. Oh my! I didn't see that coming! Now excuse me while I go scratch. Suddenly I am feeling a bit creepy-crawly :)

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