NOT YOUR USUAL SUSPECTS

A group blog featuring an international array of killer mystery, suspense, and romantic suspense writers. With premises and story lines different from your run-of-the-mill whodunits, we tend to write outside the box. We blog several times a week on all topics relating to romantic suspense and mystery, our writing, and our readers. We welcome all comments and often have guest bloggers. All our authors can be contacted separately, too, using their own social media links.

We find our genre delightfully, dangerously, and deliciously exciting - join us here, if you do too!

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Julie Moffet . Cathy Perkins . Jean Harrington . Daryl Anderson . Nico Rosso . Maureen A Miller . Sandy Parks . Lisa Q Mathews . Sharon Calvin . Lynne Connolly . Janis Patterson . Vanessa Keir . Tonya Kappes . Julie Rowe . Joni M Fisher . Leslie Langtry

Monday, November 14, 2016

OBITUARIES






     I find a wealth of information, history, humor and the stirring of my imagination in the obituaries of people—some who I may have heard of and, others who are strangers to me. Addicted to the columns for years, I learn about people driven by need to prove themselves, unexpected heroes and heroines, or another side to a well-known celebrity or politician. The obits, many written by prominent journalists are joined by others penned by loving friends and family. Grief and humor share space with the loneliness of people who have died alone. There are so many stories to tell about so many lives. If the narrative seems to have left a part of life unfinished, the sketches published may encourage a writer to write one of her own.
     Obituary comes from the Latin obit or death and has denoted published death notices ever since the 18th century. Concise pronouncements of death were published in America in the 16th century. Lengthier, more comprehensive notices took another 300-years to go to press.
     Obits can range from the life of a Klansman who evolved into a civil rights activist to the demise of a Plant named Pluto—demoted by the International Astronomical Union to the level of a humble dwarf planet. Then there are theatrical luminaries and Hollywood stars--who would have thought that Hedy Lamarr, a sex symbol (who shocked the 1930s public when she walked out of water as nude as the day she was born) would become an inventor?
     Often the deceased write their own obits or leave instructions to the folk they leave behind. People today often share reminisces about a life well-lived and enjoy a smile and a laugh. Recently, the partner of an opera lover delayed the production, and set the audience and security on edge at Lincoln Center’s Metropolitan Opera House when he ran down the aisle during intermission to sprinkle white powder into the orchestra pit. Turned out to be his lover’s ashes. A fitting tribute to a successful relationship or? Now that gets the creative juices flowing.

5 comments:

Rita said...

Sisters from another mother! Great post. Obits and remarks on tombstones can be crazy. The guy who wrote his own and his wife published one with the 'real story' A wife and mistress each published one for the deceased. A posted in an oline obit said the obit must be for another person cause the deceased he know was an sob. And as for the guy spreading ashes on the audience.....not nice.

Elise Warner said...

Rita: Love the first two you mentioned. I would like to write "Perpetually 29," on mine.

Anne Marie Becker said...

Interesting topic, Elise! I didn't know the history of obits, and publishing them. And yes, what a rich source of inspiration for creating characters!

Marcelle Dubé said...

Well, Elise, this is a completely different side of you... Addicted to obituaries, eh?

Elise Warner said...

Hey, Rita--as the lottery players say--you never know.

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