My Third Novel's Conclusion, My Heartbreak

My heart begins to break when I think about completing this particular book -- because this narrative has sustained me like no other story I've known. It's both more personal and more universal than my other works. But beyond memory and archetype, it's a cri-de-coeur about needing to become the person one is destined to be. And in the writing, I have met my own life's work, my own fated journey -- having the sense all the while that the pages are suffused with a resonance, an energy, an electrified field that defies explanation. Writers hope and pray to be overtaken by a work in this way -- to be conscripted into passionate service of a profound story. To experience it even once in a lifetime seems a great privilege. I still have several months before this novel is complete, and this constitutes my reprieve. Because I'm not ready for the beauty to end.




Monday, April 9, 2018

Bright Lights

To bring a great play to the stage requires the best of courage and creativity combined.  On Saturday night, I had the privilege of celebrating the remarkable work of Carey Perloff, the longtime Artistic Director of the American Conservatory Theater.  Tom Stoppard traveled from London to lend his appreciation for the remarkable acts of faith and perseverance that Carey has undertaken in the name of great art over the years.  We joined together with scores of bright creative lights at The Four Seasons in San Francisco to share champagne, dinner and dancing.  A fantastic night -- with laughter, gratitude, artistic passion, camaraderie, renewed ambitions -- and courage abounding.  My kind of celebration.

If you haven't already seen it, try to catch Carey's theatrical adaptation of Khaled Hosseini's novel A Thousand Splendid Suns, which is currently touring around the country -- and will return to the Bay Area for two weeks in July.  I had the privilege of witnessing this work in various stages of development -- and what I can tell you is that it was thrilling to see Carey bring together musical, literary, visual and performing talents in one room to facilitate the creation of this extraordinary production.  The resulting play is evocative, resonant, moving, transformative, inspired.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/san-francisco/article/A-THOUSAND-SPLENDID-SUNS-Returns-to-ACT-for-Limited-Two-Week-Engagement-20180216
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14 comments:

  1. MiaApril 9, 2018 at 5:28 PM

    Wow, I wish I could have been there. Did Tom Stoppard speak at the event?

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  2. DavidApril 9, 2018 at 6:11 PM

    I saw A Thousand Splendid Suns. Amazing play.

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  3. AnonymousApril 9, 2018 at 6:58 PM

    How were you allowed to see the play in development?

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  4. AnonymousApril 9, 2018 at 8:10 PM

    I'm curious about whether you yourself have written any plays.

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    1. Lane von HerzenApril 10, 2018 at 8:05 PM

      I've written screenplays for Sony/Columbia and for indie producers -- but I've not yet written any plays, strangely enough! I suspect I would enjoy exploring this form.

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  5. DanApril 9, 2018 at 8:50 PM

    Are you as tall as Nicole Kidman? You do actually look a lot like her.

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    1. Lane von HerzenApril 10, 2018 at 8:08 PM

      Thank you for the kind appraisal, Dan. I'm an admirer of Nicole Kidman's work. I'm 5'10".

      Delete
  6. AnonymousApril 10, 2018 at 12:15 AM

    What did Tom Stoppard say in his remarks?

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    1. Lane von HerzenApril 10, 2018 at 8:12 PM

      Among other comments, he read a poem titled "Come to the Edge," by Christopher Logue. Extraordinary.

      Delete
  7. AnonymousApril 10, 2018 at 12:24 PM

    I loved reading A Thousand Splendid Suns, even more than Kite Runner. I will buy tix for the play!

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