The Seashell(s) behind the story · 3:00am Sep 29th, 2015
I have something interesting to share today with those who enjoyed Seashell—it's a look at the real-life history behind the story.
The first little inklings and scribblings I wrote down of the thoughts which would eventually become Seashell started right after I visited San Clemente Island. I'm still not sure how to describe that experience other than to say it was three of the best days of my life. I still think about it.
Sometimes I still wish I could go back. Why exactly that is, I don't know how to explain in a way most of the world would understand. San Clemente is essentially a desert island. There's not many people around, outside of the small Naval station. For a short, wondrous time, was my very own coastal wilderness to explore.
Anyway, to get the the point, the seashell that's in the story (and appears again in Ghost Lights) is, loosely, based on a pair of shells I actually did find and take with me as souvenirs from San Clemente. Yesterday it finally occurred to me to take some photos of them. Sorry if they're a bit on the large side, but there's a lot of detail lost otherwise and their beauty is just not done justice.
This is the first one, a green abalone:
(Larger Image)
And the second one, a pink abalone:
They're old and a bit brittle, and were probably out in the sun for a long time before I got to them. They've seen some wear and taken their beatings. But they're part of my story, and they're a big part of the reason Seashell was written. Very few objects mean more to me than these.
Wow. I've seen some pretty seashells and such from time to time, but those... those are just mesmerizing. Especially the green one. I think Celestia herself would be jealous of that pastel prism.
Makes you wonder though: If the shell could talk, what stories could it tell? Or, as you have so aptly showed us all, what stories can you tell through them?
Seriously, thanks for sharing this. Fascinating stuff! :)
The first one almost looks like an instrument of some sort.
Is Ghost Lights also based on San Clemente as well? I may never fully understand, but the quiet, isolated, contemplative atmosphere you built in Ghost Lights gave me a hint of a fragment of a soupçon...
3428773 Krikey! He found the prototype Ocarina of Time!
The best stories flow from our personal experiences. I'm glad that you were able to find something and have an experience that inspired you to write, Winston.
3428783 Yes, Ghost Lights and the Seawall are definitely based on San Clemente island. That quiet, isolated, contemplative atmosphere of the place is exactly what I was wanting for that story to convey. It was a very unique experience for me and I value it greatly. It feels like there' something primal about it that most people can understand on some level.
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That's something I would love to know. I can only hope I've done these two some justice in the fiction they've helped inspire.
No problem at all! I should have done this sooner, really.
3428773 It does, kinda! Those evenly spaced holes are the pores the animal that lived inside the shell used to breathe. I suppose that someone imaginative (and who knew something about music) might be able to make an instrument out of it somehow, although I don't know if the naturally occurring holes would be at the right spacing or sizes to really be in tune.
3429375 Thanks, Descendant!