Day twenty-three. We’ve crested the ridge and are on the downhill slide. Striking Balance: The Peculiar Making of Beatrice Benjamin Sophia Scott Schnell Gow is now available for purchase. To celebrate its release and the fact that it is my tenth novel, I have created a one-of-a-kind companion mixed-media art book, the Striking Balance Mixed Media Journey, but creating the book has become been more a personal challenge than anything. That said, I’m sharing the mixed media pages with you because the art created such a direct tie with the author’s, meaning my mind that it can’t help but enrich the reading experience.
Below you’ll find three opportunities to interact with the novel. First, you’ll see the chapter number and its corresponding epigraph. Second, you’ll find images including the book open to the chapter page, a digitally enhanced version of the same spread, and 1-2 detail pieces that may or may not be digitally enhanced. Lastly, you’ll see a link to the corresponding song from the Striking Balance playlist on YouTube and get to read First Lines, one or two sentences from the beginning of the chapter.
Today, we’re delving into Chapter Twenty-Three.
Chapter Twenty-Three: Fire, Ice, and Johnnycakes
From the Striking Balance playlist – Chapter Twenty-Three Selection
Steve Earle “The Mountain” performed by Benjamin Todd of Lost Street Dog Band
First Lines
“You do not have enough magic in you, in this entire kingdom between you all, to thaw the springs?”
I told you things were about to turn cold, didn’t I? Make certain to check back tomorrow for Chapter Twenty-Four for a physically warmer but emotionally bitter cold atmosphere.
