Welcome to another installment of If My Book, the Monkeybicycle feature in which authors shed light on their recently released books by comparing them to weird things. This week Elizabeth Splaine writes about Devil’s Grace, her new novel published by Green Writers Press.
If Devil’s Grace were a fruit it would be a pomegranate. Deep red hues reflect the angry sky that unleashes chaos on the protagonist’s life. Seeds within provide nourishment as Angela (the protagonist) reaches deeply to find a resilience she didn’t know she possessed.
If Devil’s Grace were an opera it would be Carmen, as Angela is strong yet vulnerable when she loses that which she loves the most.
If Devil’s Grace were a river it would be the Colorado, wide and deep, yet narrow when it tumbles over hidden rocks below.
If Devil’s Grace were a water bird it would be a duck. Sleek and beautiful above the water while frantically paddling below the water to get away from what troubles it.
If Devil’s Grace were a tree it would be a bonsai. Structurally sound only when cared for.
If Devil’s Grace were a dog it would be a pound puppy. Newly adopted, evaluating its surroundings to see if it will fit in.
If Devil’s Grace were a fireplace tool it would be a poker. Practical yet sharp, one must use it carefully in order to awaken the fire.
If Devil’s Grace were a nail polish color it would be blood red to symbolize death, passion (for the truth) and love.
If Devil’s Grace were a cloud, it would be a cumulus cloud. It looks pretty and has rounded edges but can develop into a storm cloud when provoked.
If Devil’s Grace were a flower it would be a chrysanthemum. Its roots develop throughout the year and present leaves only when it receives sun and water. It blooms late in the year, offering a last bit of color before the cold, dark winter sets in.
If Devil’s Grace were a wine it would be a cabernet, as it initially feels heavy, yet converts to soft overtones of lightness as you swirl it in your mouth.
If Devil’s Grace were glass it would be stained glass. You can’t easily see through it, but its color distracts you and draws you in, so you stare long enough to discover the intricacies and beauty.
If Devil’s Grace were a protest it would be a Black Lives Matter protest as it invites the reader to grapple with injustice and inequity in a situation that is thrust upon the protagonist.
If Devil’s Grace were a retailer it would be a Costco or BJ’s. It’s large enough to offer something for everyone while simultaneously entertaining and educating the shopper.
If Devil’s Grace were a telephone it would be a rotary dial phone. With a rotary phone, it takes a while to dial, just as it takes Angela significant loss and a great deal of time to understand the value of life. But, in the end, it’s not how long it takes to dial, but the fact that you made the call in the first place.
If Devil’s Grace were a city it would be Boston. The roads wind around in unexpected twists and turns like Angela’s emotions. By the time you’re done driving, however, you’ve arrived safely at your destination, changed for the better.
If Devil’s Grace were a photograph it would be in sepia. Fuzzy around the edges with stark contrasts of black and white that, as you read, blur into a tantalizing gray that alters the way you examine the image.
If Devil’s Grace were a museum it would be the Salem Witch Trial museum as ghosts haunt Angela as she seeks to right the injustices her daughter endured.
If Devil’s Grace were a book, it would be a NYT Bestseller. Oh wait, it is a book. Please help make it a New York Times bestseller!
If Devil’s Grace were a person, it would be a well-meaning, yet spoiled teenager who thought she had it tough until she met someone who had lost everything. She was humbled and realized that she had a lot to learn.
If Devil’s Grace were a game it would be tennis. The ball, like Angela’s emotions, is swatted back and forth, causing the observer to turn his head repeatedly to take it all in. In the end, someone wins and someone loses, and everyone has learned something.
If Devil’s Grace were a number it would 88. The lines go in circles and cross over themselves in an effort to find an end. When complete, they form a set of beautiful curves that are satisfying to the eye while simultaneously providing information.
If Devil’s Grace were a boat, it would be a sailboat, its spinnaker puffed out to gather the winds that propel it forward.
If Devil’s Grace were music, it would be a symphony during a rehearsal, where individual instruments play in unison until one falls out of time or tune. The conductor stops to work with the stranded instrumentalist in an effort to draw the collective together again, just as Angela relies on friends to help her reinvent herself after catastrophic loss.
If Devil’s Grace were a food it would be peanut butter. Thick, rich and nutritious. Comforting to your belly and your soul.
Elizabeth B. Splaine spent eleven years working in health care before switching careers to become a professional opera singer and voice teacher. Six years ago she turned her creative mind to writing and hasn’t looked back. Elizabeth has written the Dr. Julian Stryker series of “Blind” thrillers, as well as two children’s books. When not writing, Elizabeth teaches classical voice in Rhode Island, where she lives with her husband, sons, and her dogs.
