A Tribute to Inspiration

There is a picture of a man on the cover of Rolling Stone who has proved to be the inspiration for two speculative fantasy novels, one contemporary fiction novel, one short story, one ten-minute play, and several character study poems. In the cover photograph he is a masculine fairy prince with a swan neck, crazy black hair, a full lower lip, and hypnotic green eyes. His expressive face communicates vulnerability and strength. The characters are related in that quality, each with different histories, motivations, and patterns of speech. They are not the real man, yet there are elements of his own life that play out, grief and loss, because that is the heart of his vulnerability, along with a need for approval, and the capacity for love and acceptance. I saw the real man in a live performance, impressed by his incredible energy, his showmanship, his singing voice, and his ability to draw together a crowd, so that the concert was a participatory experience. The real man is not any of my characters, but I thank him for that inspiration. The short story, play, and poems are complete. The novels are in progress.