Carny Girl

 I've had an idea for a book for years called Carny Girl. About a teenager who runs away from the carnival life. Only I've yet to sit down and figure out why she's running and who she's running to.

My local Barnes and Noble is in  plaza roundabout which also includes my place of employment.

Three days ago, the carnival arrived and began their set-up. They come to this particular parking lot about once a quarter or so--usually coinciding with school holidays. Imagine that.

I love carnivals. Well, I love watching carnivals.

From the arrival of semi-trucks with broken down rides--the promise of what's to come.

I like watching the installation--wondering about the workers--carnies, do they travel the countryside--or maybe just the I-5 corridor? Do they have families at home or have they created their own family on the road? Where do they go to relax? 

I love it when the carnival is in full-swing, watching the rides rise high in the sky, lights all aglow in the waning night. 

I even like the canned music background that seems to accentuate the laugh track of children as they pull their parents from one attraction to the other. Carnivals--on the whole--are happy places. 

And that makes me think of Esme. Why is she running away from her carnival? And what will she find when she leaves? Will life be harder than she imagined? And what about her father--the carnival master(I don't know what they call him, but that's what I'm going with)--does he mount a search for her? Or is he one of those live and let live type of dad's? And what of her younger brother, Toby? Does Esme regret abandoning him?

These are the questions that go through my head when the Carnival arrives in town. One day I will find my answers and they'll be called Carny Girl.



Comments

  1. I remember being fascinated by the cute little wagons circus people lived in in the movies, and my mind has never completely left that picture behind. I'm pretty sure it's a tough life, but there's a mystery to it that attracts.

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  2. I love those things! I am fascinated by the old-time gypsies as well. Like the ones in Ever After.

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  3. I love carnivals! We rarely see them here, I think because there is a huge amusement park in our town, but when they do come we always go to walk around...and eat too much cotton candy! The people who work carnivals fascinate me, too, maybe you should go interview one or two to see if anything sparks your imagination for your book! :D

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    1. That's a great idea! I may just do that one of these days. There's a mostly-year-around amusement park in Portland but I have to suffer through traffic. LOL

      And in my opinion, there's a different vibe to carnivals than fairs or amusement parks. Something that harkens back to the past.

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  4. o, confession--I'm not a fan of carnivals. I think it probably goes back to my childhood because I have vague memories of being freaked out by a scary clown at a carnival. And I get sick on rides... yeah, I'm a downer... Great post, Margie and fun idea for a book!

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  5. LOL, Nan. I don't actually go on the rides--not in many, many years. I just enjoy the ambiance of the carnival. And fortunately, I have never been terrorized by a clown. If you don't consider IT. That clown scared the heck out of me but then he turned out to be a not-so scary spider and all was well.

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  6. I LOVE this idea and really hope you write it! I love stories about carnivals and circuses - Water for Elephants is one of my all time favorite books, and I recently read The Night Circus and found the descriptions to be mesmerizing. Agree with you -- there's something fascinating about the setting. I selfishly hope you write this because it sounds right up my alley! :)

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    1. The Night Circus is one of my all-time favorite books! I love the world she created. For you, I might just give this one a go again :)

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