#236 Inside the Emotion of Fiction: Paul W. Feenstra’s short story “Gangway To War” from his short story collection GUNPOWDER GREEN

Name of fiction work? And were there other names you considered that you would like to share with us? Gunpowder Green was always going to be the title of this book. It came from the name of the first story in the book, and I just fell in love with the title. Gunpowder Green sounds mysterious and historic. Do you know it is a blend of tea?

 
What is the date you began writing this piece of fiction and the date when you completely finished the piece of fiction? Gunpowder Green is a collection of short-stories. I begun writing a few short-stories a couple of years ago and kept them filed away – just in case I had need of them. Early in 2020, when I decided to write a book of short-stories, I looked at them again, tweaked them and then sat down and just began writing more. It probably took 6 months to finish the book.

Where did you do most of your writing for this fiction work?  And please describe in detail.  And can you please include a photo? Gunpowder Green is a nostalgic and colourful collection of rural New Zealand short-stories. When I was writing them, I was in fact living in a remote and rural beach in New Zealand’s far north. Yes, I was isolated, and motivated by the rural life, countryside, animals and people who inspired me.

What were your writing habits while writing this work- did you drink something as you wrote, listen to music, write in pen and paper, directly on laptop; specific time of day? When I write, I immerse myself into the story. The story becomes my life. Listening to music or having isolated sounds near me becomes a distraction. I don’t mind background noises and ambiences, but I lose focus if there is music, television, radio or even people talking nearby.
I prefer to write early in the morning and generally finish around midday. After lunch, I generally will review what I’ve written and tweak. The following morning I will re-read, and continue to tweak until I am satisfied, then move on. I consider myself a fulltime writer, and mostly write 7 days a week. I must add that while I can write for longer periods, I prefer to write quality rather than quantity and force myself to stop writing after 4 or 5 hours.

Please include just one excerpt and include page numbers as reference. This one excerpt can be as short or as long as you prefer.
Gunpowder Green
Story #6 “Gangway to War”
Chapter 3, Page 137
Set during the beginning of WWII


Kevin didn’t know much about love. If asked, he would have said he loved his dog and horse, and of course his parents and younger brother too, but when it came to understanding and acknowledging how he felt about Miss Ruth Downes, he was in a quandary. Over the months, he and Ruth spent more and more time together, and his feelings towards her grew. When they first met, he found her to be simply beautiful, witty, and engaging, but now, when he looked at her, she was just flawless. When she looked at him, he felt special, as if he was the only person in the entire world. When she spoke, her words were carefully considered and he listened with rapt attention, often forgetting to reply to a question. The sound of her voice was lilting, soft and melodic, and during the day he’d recall conversations they’d had and how much he enjoyed hearing her speak.
Water gurgled gently over moss covered rocks and disappeared around a bend where the creek would feed into a larger river. Kevin and Ruth lay on a blanket, beneath the shade of a willow tree on the bank of the stream and enjoyed the peace and quietness. Birds twittered high in the branches above them and it was idyllic and, he thought, romantic – he’d brought her here for a reason.
He rolled onto his side and reached for her hand. The softness of her skin was incredible; her touch sent shivers up his spine and he wondered for the umpteenth time if this unusual feeling was the love people wrote and spoke of. He couldn’t imagine a life without her. “Ruthy?”
“Yes?” she replied, slowly drawing the word out.
He saw her smile. The corners of her mouth twitched ever so slightly. “Uh, I, um…”
She remained silent and stared up at the tree’s leafy hanging branches.
“I love you.” He winced; this wasn’t how he wanted to tell her. He quickly rolled on to his back. “I mean–”
She sat up and leaned over him, her hair spilling onto his face. Her expression silenced him immediately. She looked down on him. Her intense gaze was soft and calming and without reproach. Her eyes sparkled as she squeezed his hand and clutched it tightly to her chest. She lowered her head and they kissed.
Ruth said it was love, and that love was a gift from God to be cherished and treasured forever. He tried to analyze his emotions, but couldn’t compare the love he felt for his dog, or his horse, with the new and unfamiliar feelings he had for her. He was sailing in unknown waters, so he simply explained to her how he felt. She didn’t laugh or make fun of him; she just smiled and held his hand a little tighter. He breathed in her smell and felt safe. Yes, he’d grown to love her, and she loved him. Of that, there was no doubt.

Why is this excerpt so emotional for you as a writer to write? And can you describe your own emotional experience of writing this specific excerpt? All of my writing, including my full-length novels, are character driven. I believe we, as a reader, connect better when we relate emotionally to a character. All the stories in Gunpowder Green are about people and it doesn’t matter what country the story is set in, people are the same everywhere and share identical feelings. In the instance of this story, ‘Gangway to War, it’s about the innocence of youthful love. This sequence resonates with me and reinforces the power of our emotions and how true love can impact our lives, not just for today, but for Kevin and Ruth, forever. This story is powerful and heartfelt, I wrote it to make a statement and remind people of the horrors of war… I want to say more but don’t want to ruin the story. Perhaps we can discuss it again once you’ve read it?

Were there any deletions from this excerpt that you can share with us? And can you please include a photo of your marked up rough drafts of this excerpt. You can see the corrections and notes of my editor on the first draft. Sometimes we argue, but most of the time she is correct.

Paul W. Feenstra is a historical fiction novelist. Meticulously researched and detailed, his character driven novels create a dramatic window into our chronicled and complex past.

       Set in beautiful and mysterious New Zealand, Paul’s first novels, ‘Boundary,’ ‘The Breath of God’ and ‘For Want of a Shilling’, detail early colonial life and the controversial impact colonialism had on native Maori. Says Feenstra, “History is about the untold story, and writing historical fiction is a wonderful way to present the past in a compelling and entertaining way.”

       The medieval ‘Falls Ende’ eBook series– ‘The Oath’, ‘Courser’ and ‘The King’, have proven to be equally successful. Originally written as three short stories, they are emotional and captivating and been seamlessly compiled together to create a full-length print book, ‘Falls Ende – Primus’. Since then Paul has completed a much-anticipated full length sequel, ‘Falls Ende – Secundus’ and a third, ‘Falls Ende – Tertium will be published in June 2021.

       His latest project, Gunpowder Green, is a light-hearted collection of New Zealand short stories that chronicle New Zealand life as it once was. Humorous and even thought provoking, each story is varied and highlights rural living, a diverse culture and a forgotten yet very familiar lifestyle.

       Born in Wellington, New Zealand, in 1959, to Dutch immigrants, Paul commuted to Los Angeles, California, where he worked as a multiple ‘Emmy’ nominated entertainment industry professional. For over 26 years he called the USA home and was fortunate to travel extensively throughout the country. His two grown children now reside in New Zealand.

       Sought after as a public speaker by various learning institutions, professional member networks, and countless organisations, Paul has toured the length of New Zealand lecturing about his unique experiences in the Hollywood film and television industry. Recognised for his contribution in helping his country, Paul was honoured by the New Zealand government and invited to join the prestigious, ‘World Class New Zealand,’ network.

       In his spare time, he enjoys photography and wrestling bears.

PaulWFeenstra@Gmail.com

www.paulwfeenstra.com

https://www.facebook.com/PaulWFeenstra

All of the Inside The Emotion of Fiction LIVE LINKS can be found at the very end of the below feature:

http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2021/03/stephenson-holts-arranged-marriage-is.html

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