‘Eau de Lamb’, how neat and moving! I have a dear friend who is like a big brother to me, in that he’s protective and even indulgent towards me. When he stays over at mine or when I stay over at his, I can smell him in his room. I’m a constant bag of nerves, but his smell can, albeit momentarily, make me feel relaxed and safe.
Thank you for your lovely stories, Troy. It may take me a while to catch up on the whole series, but I’m enjoying every single instalment of it.
Thank you so much, Zibow, and thanks for sharing about your friend too, that's the feeling I think my narrator is trying to capture, although maybe in reverse - his wish to protect Lamb. Really appreciate your being here. 🩷
Bravo, Troy. That's all I've got--I'm loving this so far. I read aloud often (I think it has a lot to do with my day job and staring at a screen for days in a row, but now when I read silently, I tend to skim, so reading aloud slows me down), and the voice in here is wonderful. The rhythm. Excited to read future installments!
Thanks Garrett!!! That's the trick I used to work on voice, reading aloud, sometimes I feel like an actor settling into a role and trying out different getting the phrasing just right. :)
This idea of the perfume fading...it's like holding onto grief, isn't it? Trying to feel those memories of a person and then they start drifting away in an uncontrollable way. Or at least pieces of them. I guess with smells I often find (not just if you lose someone, one way or another) that they can come back and hit you at another moment when you're not prepared for it. I guess music is like this, too.
The voice is everything here and I'm looking forward to this story told from Lamb's perspective.
Yes I've heard smell is one of the strongest senses tied to memory - this particular detail is tied to several different experiences of it in my past. Thanks Kate!!
Giving us (the reader) these different snippets of Lambs story through letters, his belongings (the smell was a beautiful touch), stories from his friends, and soon a short story. It is a masterful way to use mystery to keep us pulling at this thread.
Thanks Michael! Learning as I go, but also finding it very freeing - to embrace these constraints (episodes, not too long because I know MY heart sinks a bit when I see double-digit read times, and creating that little "pull" as you say at the end of each to keep you anticipating the next one) also means I can let go of a more traditional linear narrative. Also I've done very little with/been a bit nervous about 1st person POV but this narrative is helping me get over that. Glad to have you here - Lamb will be back in two weeks :)
I've heard people say 1000 words is their top limit, which seems crazy short for deeper posts; and I've read that 1600 words (7-8 mins) is the ideal based on studies. A lot depends on the person - if you're reading on your phone on the train, for example, you might be catching up on posts in between stops or something. I've only had two posts go for 10 mins, none for more than 10 - I'm always whittling away the excess to try and be mindful that Substack is an ecosystem with a lot of voices, let's call it a jam session with 10 minute slots.
Thank you, Brother Michael, so glad you are enjoying. ::))
Thank YOU Donna - and Looking forward to your How to Change series in the New Year - change is coming, one way or another, better to embrace it than fight it, huh? ;)
Saved this for my Sunday morning treat. And oh, a face full of lamb. Did not disappoint.
You’ve brought Lamb to life so well that, despite what we already know, I ache for him to be at that camper, flower tattoos gleaming in the sun as he harvests nasturtium.
The line "Now that the boxes are open and it’s all been airing out for a while, the smell is gone." made me cry. It holds so much inside - nostalgia, love, comfort, grief, severance, joy, death even. What a heartrending story that leaves so many questions unanswered, maybe or maybe not for the best.
Totally hooked. And sweet Lamb. Can’t help but picture him with four hooves now, nibbling around on fresh grass. Someone’s disappearance can be so unsettling. I learned about my biological father’s disappearance through his siblings. The obvious culprit was a sailing accident. But with no body ever found, and get this, a book called Pseudocide on his bookshelf AND a draft of a short story in his last notebook about a sailor feigning his death...err...the mystery may never be solved. Eager to hear the pieces of Lamb’s story unfold.
Oh my goodness! What a limbo to find yourself in with these questions, Kimberly. I've mentioned before that I was adopted, but had not said that I found out my bio father and a half-sister both had died before I ever knew of their existence (I connected with some family through 23andme) - such a feeling of inverted absence... Are these details mentioned in later episodes of your memoir?
Yes, I should've added a *spoiler alert* at the top of my comment. :) My memoir is heading into a lot of these discoveries now. "Inverted absence"—this is such a great way of putting it. Like a black hole that spits us out instead of sucks us in. Have you been able to find out much about your half-sister and father?
Haha that's ok, I've read snippets from later chapters as I've been catching up 😉 Just a bit of info about bio family, a family with a history of demons and lives cut short by substance abuse and mental health issues, it seems - I've decided to keep my distance, not least because I only made contact with a niece and cousins shortly before we moved to Spain.
I love how you characterize Lamb’s scent as though his presence is always there even years after he’s gone. It is so unusual how people and households have their own distinct smell, that is almost impossible to describe. As a writer, I find describing smells with any level of satisfaction the hardest thing to do. I love how the story is unfolding, and look forward to the next chapter. Reading in these little weekly sips is far more satisfying than I expected.
Writing in a serial really forces you to think of each episode as a self-contained story (as you well know) - it's been a wonderful exercise so far... Thanks Ben!
"I was always like, Ah yes, that whiff of “Eau de Lamb.” Even though he never lived on Guerrero with me, it hung around the whole time in the closet where I stored his clothes and boxes. I’d open the door and get a face full of Lamb, and it was like he was hiding in there or something, sometimes I opened it on purpose just to remember. Very strange."
Very strange, indeed and yet—so familiar! Great use of the senses here, Troy. Eau de Lamb!
Great continuation, looking forward to the next part.
"Now that the boxes are open and it’s all been airing out for a while, the smell is gone." Beautiful way to end this chapter, with Lamb's possessions standing in for him and beginning to fade...
Thanks Nathan - much more on the way! I guess you can go ahead and hit subscribe again, Substack is taking their sweet time on resolving the issue but others have resubscribed without cataclysmic consequences 😂
Hey, I’m slowly catching up. And entering the world of Lamb.
🤗
‘Eau de Lamb’, how neat and moving! I have a dear friend who is like a big brother to me, in that he’s protective and even indulgent towards me. When he stays over at mine or when I stay over at his, I can smell him in his room. I’m a constant bag of nerves, but his smell can, albeit momentarily, make me feel relaxed and safe.
Thank you for your lovely stories, Troy. It may take me a while to catch up on the whole series, but I’m enjoying every single instalment of it.
Thank you so much, Zibow, and thanks for sharing about your friend too, that's the feeling I think my narrator is trying to capture, although maybe in reverse - his wish to protect Lamb. Really appreciate your being here. 🩷
"... and just live, grow his own food, read, write, be free of the trouble he always seemed to have dealing with people." Isn't this the dream?
It is, it is... :)
Bravo, Troy. That's all I've got--I'm loving this so far. I read aloud often (I think it has a lot to do with my day job and staring at a screen for days in a row, but now when I read silently, I tend to skim, so reading aloud slows me down), and the voice in here is wonderful. The rhythm. Excited to read future installments!
Thanks Garrett!!! That's the trick I used to work on voice, reading aloud, sometimes I feel like an actor settling into a role and trying out different getting the phrasing just right. :)
Uggggh…you’re killin’ me, Smalls! This is why I’m usually a binger. TV, book series, etc. That’s ok. This is a good thing.
😂😘
This idea of the perfume fading...it's like holding onto grief, isn't it? Trying to feel those memories of a person and then they start drifting away in an uncontrollable way. Or at least pieces of them. I guess with smells I often find (not just if you lose someone, one way or another) that they can come back and hit you at another moment when you're not prepared for it. I guess music is like this, too.
The voice is everything here and I'm looking forward to this story told from Lamb's perspective.
Yes I've heard smell is one of the strongest senses tied to memory - this particular detail is tied to several different experiences of it in my past. Thanks Kate!!
I love the way you’ve done this, Troy.
Giving us (the reader) these different snippets of Lambs story through letters, his belongings (the smell was a beautiful touch), stories from his friends, and soon a short story. It is a masterful way to use mystery to keep us pulling at this thread.
Another great instalment. :)
Thanks Michael! Learning as I go, but also finding it very freeing - to embrace these constraints (episodes, not too long because I know MY heart sinks a bit when I see double-digit read times, and creating that little "pull" as you say at the end of each to keep you anticipating the next one) also means I can let go of a more traditional linear narrative. Also I've done very little with/been a bit nervous about 1st person POV but this narrative is helping me get over that. Glad to have you here - Lamb will be back in two weeks :)
I think you are doing very well with the 1st POV, I am certainly enjoying it.
It’s funny, I don’t like seeing double digit read times either, but when I come to writing my own pieces I find it hard to reel them in haha.
Looking forward to Lamb’s return (and whatever may pop in between) :)
I've heard people say 1000 words is their top limit, which seems crazy short for deeper posts; and I've read that 1600 words (7-8 mins) is the ideal based on studies. A lot depends on the person - if you're reading on your phone on the train, for example, you might be catching up on posts in between stops or something. I've only had two posts go for 10 mins, none for more than 10 - I'm always whittling away the excess to try and be mindful that Substack is an ecosystem with a lot of voices, let's call it a jam session with 10 minute slots.
Thank you, Brother Michael, so glad you are enjoying. ::))
I respect your attention to detail and sticking to what is considered ideal for the platform.
I think I will try to make my posts a bit shorter wherever possible, but that resolution comes too late for the piece I’m posting tomorrow hahaha
Thanks brother :)
haha no worries, there are certain people i would read anything of any length 😘 thanks for the note!!
Our unique smell is so interesting, I love that you wove this characteristic into Lamb's story. Thank you Troy.
Thank YOU Donna - and Looking forward to your How to Change series in the New Year - change is coming, one way or another, better to embrace it than fight it, huh? ;)
Saved this for my Sunday morning treat. And oh, a face full of lamb. Did not disappoint.
You’ve brought Lamb to life so well that, despite what we already know, I ache for him to be at that camper, flower tattoos gleaming in the sun as he harvests nasturtium.
Can’t wait to hear his short story.
Yes I like that imagining of Lamb too. Thanks Holly - have a glorious Sunday :)
The line "Now that the boxes are open and it’s all been airing out for a while, the smell is gone." made me cry. It holds so much inside - nostalgia, love, comfort, grief, severance, joy, death even. What a heartrending story that leaves so many questions unanswered, maybe or maybe not for the best.
Oh my dear, thank you - I don't want to cause you tears but I'm glad you are connecting with Lamb... More to come - answers and questions. 💛💛💛
I just felt deep sadness of the narrator and worry for Lamb. Your words pierce hearts. :-*
You're piercing my heart!!! 😂💛🥰
Hahaha. Well, you're piercing mine!!!
Totally hooked. And sweet Lamb. Can’t help but picture him with four hooves now, nibbling around on fresh grass. Someone’s disappearance can be so unsettling. I learned about my biological father’s disappearance through his siblings. The obvious culprit was a sailing accident. But with no body ever found, and get this, a book called Pseudocide on his bookshelf AND a draft of a short story in his last notebook about a sailor feigning his death...err...the mystery may never be solved. Eager to hear the pieces of Lamb’s story unfold.
Oh my goodness! What a limbo to find yourself in with these questions, Kimberly. I've mentioned before that I was adopted, but had not said that I found out my bio father and a half-sister both had died before I ever knew of their existence (I connected with some family through 23andme) - such a feeling of inverted absence... Are these details mentioned in later episodes of your memoir?
Yes, I should've added a *spoiler alert* at the top of my comment. :) My memoir is heading into a lot of these discoveries now. "Inverted absence"—this is such a great way of putting it. Like a black hole that spits us out instead of sucks us in. Have you been able to find out much about your half-sister and father?
Haha that's ok, I've read snippets from later chapters as I've been catching up 😉 Just a bit of info about bio family, a family with a history of demons and lives cut short by substance abuse and mental health issues, it seems - I've decided to keep my distance, not least because I only made contact with a niece and cousins shortly before we moved to Spain.
Seems wise to tread lightly and slowly. ❤️
I love how you characterize Lamb’s scent as though his presence is always there even years after he’s gone. It is so unusual how people and households have their own distinct smell, that is almost impossible to describe. As a writer, I find describing smells with any level of satisfaction the hardest thing to do. I love how the story is unfolding, and look forward to the next chapter. Reading in these little weekly sips is far more satisfying than I expected.
Writing in a serial really forces you to think of each episode as a self-contained story (as you well know) - it's been a wonderful exercise so far... Thanks Ben!
"I was always like, Ah yes, that whiff of “Eau de Lamb.” Even though he never lived on Guerrero with me, it hung around the whole time in the closet where I stored his clothes and boxes. I’d open the door and get a face full of Lamb, and it was like he was hiding in there or something, sometimes I opened it on purpose just to remember. Very strange."
Very strange, indeed and yet—so familiar! Great use of the senses here, Troy. Eau de Lamb!
Great continuation, looking forward to the next part.
The nose knows ;)
"Now that the boxes are open and it’s all been airing out for a while, the smell is gone." Beautiful way to end this chapter, with Lamb's possessions standing in for him and beginning to fade...
That's the ticket - thanks Jeffrey! 😁
A most compelling continuation and circling back to Fugie and where this all began. More more more, please, Mr Troy.
Also, do I need to hit Subscribe again? Or not yet?
Thanks Nathan - much more on the way! I guess you can go ahead and hit subscribe again, Substack is taking their sweet time on resolving the issue but others have resubscribed without cataclysmic consequences 😂
Haha ok, I shall hit the button right now 😁
This story is intriguing, I am looking forward to the next episode.
I'm glad - thanks kōtare! Next episode drops in two weeks...