Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Is This Really a Road Not Taken? by Rolynn Anderson

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ever wonder if you are leading or following?  As much as I want to take up my machete and hack a path through a jungle of overgrowth, I have to wonder if some trailblazer got there before me and I’m merely retracing an old route.  Emerson speaks of risk and originality; I worry I’m a retread.

A banal example: My husband and I have ripped out the carpet in our entire house, replaced by gorgeous (and expensive!) wood floors.  My husband is skeptical of this move, not just because of the expense.  He likes the feel of carpet under his feet, even if those feet leave trails on carpet that appear only weeks after the new stuff is installed.  I hate that about carpet, along with the general difficulty of keeping carpet clean.  How do you keep little critters out of the pile?  Is it even possible?

The house looks gorgeous, like something out of an interior design magazine.  But it looked pretty before, too.  Now, think.  You ever watch those house renovation or house hunter shows on TV?  Note how the house built in 1930 is fully carpeted, but the sales person gleefully lifts the carpet from a tack strip and says to the potential buyer, “It’s got wood floors!  Aren’t you lucky?”

An entire population took the wood ‘trail’ in 1930.  Millions decided to tread the all-carpet path in 1960.  Here in 2015, wood rules.  And don’t get me started on tile, granite and/or Caesar stone for kitchen counters.

As much as I want to be a trailblazer as writer, spouse, friend, gardener, golfer and interior designer, I have a sneaking feeling that I’m the follower...not the leader Emerson had in mind.

All that being said, not many writers have set a double murder mystery in Petersburg, Alaska.  I hope.  Take a look at my last novel, LIE CATCHERS:



Here are the Amazon and Wild Rose Press buy sites:


11 comments:

Leah St. James said...

Congratulations on your new wood flooring, Rolynn! My house is carpeted throughout, except the kitchen, downstairs hallway and bathrooms. I hate carpeting in the dining room. I just want to ask the former owners...WHY??? You eat in the dining room. Food falls on the floor in the dining room! (Of course it also falls on the floor in my living room and office, but that's beside the point). I really want to rip it all out and install wood flooring (even if it's less-expensive fake stuff). Hubby will fight me though! Aside from the cost, he likes the feel of carpeting under his feet. :-) Enjoy your lovely home!

Margo Hoornstra said...

Rolynn. Whether you are a follower or a leader, give yourself credit for taking such an expensive - and successful - plunge. Bet it is beautiful. My mother always said you get out of a house what you put in it. I'm a carpet girl, myself. Not sure why. Love that cover! On the book, not the floor.

Rolynn Anderson said...

Leah and Margo, I loved carpet when I had it, except for the 'how do I keep it clean?' question. I have my own carpet cleaner and I bought an iRobot Roomba to run over it every day. Both those methods helped. I have now added the little iRobot that uses a swifter on all the floors. My iRobot names: Wall-e and Poll-e. They get along together famously :-)

Thanks for the compliment on Lie Catchers, Margo!

Jannine Gallant said...

We have carpet upstairs (cream colored with flecks, installed when we had no kids and no dog) and wood floors downstairs. After 18 years in the house, the wood floors look a heck of a lot better than the carpet. Just saying. Enjoy them!

Betsy Ashton said...

Gad, the world is against me today. Let's try the post again.

When we built our current and last home, we went with carpet throughout. Why? Because the logs that form the outside are also the interior walls. The 25' peaked ceiling is covered in knotty pine. Wood floors would have been a) way over the top and b) too noisy. They do make it easier to find dust bunnies, though.

Jana Richards said...

It's tough to come up with a completely original storyline. I think the best we can do is put our own special spin on a story. Our voice makes a novel original, a trendsetter, if you will.

As for carpet or wood, I'd go with the wood any day!

Ashantay said...

Congrats on your new floors! I think you'll love your wood. As far as writing - I'm sure you've heard that the number of basic plots are limited & the difference lies in the twists you make. Or maybe in your voice. In that scenario, you are a leader.

Rolynn Anderson said...

You're right Betsy...lots of wood in the house can be 'too much.' It's always a balancing act, interior design.

Jana, I agree about your point on voice...that aspect energizes/makes the story.

Ashantay, bless your heart. You are sweet to tell me I've been able to tell a story in a unique way. You made my day!

Angela Adams said...

Friend, where do you get your energy (smile!)? Enjoyed your post, and best wishes with "Lie Catchers."

Rolynn Anderson said...

Angela, thanks for the good wishes. I've always been an energizer bunny, but much slower these days! Wine helps :-)

Diane Burton said...

In our last house, the original owners (c. 1970) covered the entire house in shag carpet. We pulled almost all of it up and underneath was hard wood floors. Gorgeous, never touched floors. I love hardwood in the kitchen. So easy on your back but difficult to clean. In this house, we opted for laminate, except in the bedrooms (& baths). I do love the feel of carpet in the bedrom. I hate to say it, but real hardwood feels better than laminate.