Miracle Myx Plays

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"It's windy," Myx said.

"Refreshing, isn't it?"

"Hard to be refreshed when you're about to fall."

"Just don't think about it. Pretend to be on a nice soft couch somewhere--safe and sound." That should allay all of Myx's trepidations. (Notice how I can dazzle with words I hardly know!?)

"You should be on a couch, Dave--a therapist's couch. Here you are in a children's playground talking to a book."

"If you distract me by pointing out my psychological issues, I might not notice you're falling," I said. "Besides, when have I ever let you fall before, Myx?"

"Do the words 'ice fountain' bring any tragic scenes to mind?"

"No." I'd let Myx decide whether lying or memory loss was a greater psychological issue with me.

Ice Fountain

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Miracle Myx Makes News

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"So now that you've gotten me up," Myx said, "what's the big news?"

We were just down the street, at the corner vending machine; I was shivering a little in the pre-dawn darkness.

"How do you get someone up that doesn't sleep?"

"Would it kill ya to play along?--I am by sitting here on top of this dirty thing," Myx said.

"Good point. Well--the news, my potent-paged friend, is that you've been nominated for an Alex!"

"This is where I play along and ask what that is--even though I know--so our readers can get filled in?"

"We each have our roles, Myx."

"Gee, Dave--an Alex? An Alex? Oh my God! Really?--an Alex? Can it be true that--"

"OK--enough. You always overdo it! Yes, MIRACLE MYX has been nominated for the American Library Association's Alex Award, given annually to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults.

"But--I'm REALLY an adult novel, if you know what I mean--and the nomination ...."

We looked at each other in the dark and cold for a few seconds, and then said as one:

"We'll take it!"

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Miracle Myx Gets Roped In

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"I bet a woman feels knot-y when wearing this dress," Myx said.

"Don't make me upbraid you, Myx! Pretty good, right?"

"Tell me--please--you're not going to try a battle of wits with me, Dave--you're only half equipped."

"That half wit thing is old, Myx."

"Old is bad?"

"Well--we should be aiming at new, contemporary, or even cutting edge like this dress here," I said.

"The designer really had to have a cutting edge to pull this off--like a knife!.

"Is it hemp?" I asked.

"Got a match?"

"Yeah--my socks and--"

"Wow! Talk about old!"

"What kind of woman would wear this?" Maybe it was time for a serious question.

"Sugar and splice ... and everything nice!" Myx said.

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Miracle Myx Caps It Off

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"Buy me a cap," Myx said.

"Yeah--that's gonna happen," I said.

"You don't feel I deserve a cap after all we've been through together?"

"Deserving and getting are two different things, Grasshopper," I said.

"You think anybody's gonna get a thirty-year-old reference to David Carradine's Kung Fu TV series?" Myx asked. He didn't sound pleased.

"Is that where that came from?" I knew it did, but felt like diverting Myx's attention away from the baseball caps.

"Anyway, the implication is that you want to sound zen-like and wise," Myx said.

"Sounding and being are two different things, Grasshopper." I think I had Myx diverted for sure.

"Buy me a cap," Myx said.

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Miracle Myx Pedals

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"We're back to nighttime shots," Myx said.

"You can get some cool effects at night," I said.

"Knowing something about photography might be a prerequisite to 'cool' I think."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked the question before realizing I didn't want to know the answer, especially if told from Myx's perspective.

"Well--take this photo for example. I would guess you thought the neon would be a good subject in the background, right?"

"Myx, I took this--"

"And, you've been talking about bicycles lately--so I can see the connection there. But, come on: the flash got reflected, the fluorescent light is distracting, and there's condensation on the window," Myx instructed.

"Hey, I got you in the picture, didn't I?" I might have sounded defensive at this point.

"AND--you cut my feet off!"

"A book has feet?" Touche!

"Ever hear of footnotes?" Myx asked with that tone.

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Miracle Myx's Swan Song

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"The pen is mightier than the sword!" Myx said.

"I recognize the line, but--"

"That's from the 1839 play Richelieu by Edward Bulwer-Lytton."

Myx loves to show off his photographic memory. His synesthesia allows him to effortlessly retrieve words, images, voices, and even movements that he's experienced for the briefest time. I usually find it easiest to play along.

"That may be interesting to some information-starved recluse, but not me!" I blurted. I guess I wasn't in the mood to play along today.

"You want me to tell you how I fit that info in with this setting, Dave. Admit it!"

"I'm not the slightest bit curious, Myx," I said. I thought about it for a few seconds while framing the shot--then lowered the camera and asked: "OK--what's that line got to do with a swan?" Dammit!

"A pen is a full-grown female swan," Myx said with a flourish.

"That's a female?"

"Not the first time you've asked THAT question--is it, Dave?"

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Miracle Myx Takes Off The Gloves

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"These should look familiar, Myx," I said.

"Tools of the trade."

"You've got a funny trade, since you're not talking about anything medical related."

"Let's just say that in MIRACLE MYX I need gloves like these on a regular basis," Myx said.

"You tend to go places you'd rather not leave evidence."

"Isn't evidence kind of a strong word, Dave?"

"Meaning what?"

"Meaning 'evidence' implies a crime of some sort--a wrong."

"And what do you do, Myx?"

"Pay friendly visits that I don't wish my hosts to know about!"

Myx sounded positively proud of himself. In MIRACLE MYX, he has to get in and out of some places where detection would be--at the very least, embarrassing--and, at most--deadly.

"I wrote some awesome scenes with you and the gloves, didn't I, Myx?"

"Maybe 'awesome' is too strong a word!"

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Miracle Myx In Texas

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"I look like a cowgirl," Myx said.

"Ever hear of the reverse cowgirl?" I thought I'd prod Myx a little.

"Hearing is all you've--"

"How do you like Texas, Myx?" Maybe prodding is a bad thing to do.

MIRACLE MYX had traveled the amazon and wound up in Texas with a new owner (who took this pic!). Readers who take a creative photo of or with Myx can email it to me (check my blogger profile for my addy). From time to time, I'll definitely post pics from Myx's fans.

"Texas is nice--and, it's good to meet new people--but this dressing up thing ..." Myx said.

"Get used to it, Annie Oakley. You remember what Bruce Willis said in Die Hard?"

"Yippee-ki-yay?"

"Yep! And you know what she's probably gonna put on you next?" I was rather enjoying this.

"Oh nooo! Not the thong ...!"

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Miracle Myx Slides

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"Wheeee!" I said.

"Easy for you to say," Myx replied.

"Quiet. I quit tryin' to get you on the way down, didn't I?"

"Only because you weren't fast enough," Myx said.

I had placed Myx at the top of the slide and, as quickly as I could, gotten out in front of the sliding board--but, each time, Myx beat me to the bottom--he tumbled out the chute before I could get the pic. Flying onto the gravel didn't do anything good for his disposition.

"We'll pretend you just had a nice ride, Myx."

"You do lots of pretending, don't you, Dave?"

"Only as a substitute for reality!" I thought sounding cheerful would assuage (yeah! I looked it up!) Myx's irritation.

Just before Myx groaned, he said, "I'll have to pretend not being sore tomorrow."

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Miracle Myx Races On

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"Hey--lookit me!"

Yeah, yeah ... I promised myself I wasn't going to do this ... but ...

"Make it fast, Myx. People are staring," I said.

This was the starting line for the Boston Marathon. A group kindly parted along the edge of the road when I said I wanted a photo of my book on the line. I chose a moment when there was no traffic imminent, but soon there were some courteous drivers who were stopped--giving me time to snap my picture without ruining the shot. Whoever you were--thanks!

"Bring on the Kenyans! " Myx said.

The Kenyan contingent had won the race repeatedly in recent years. Of course, it was just like Myx to only want to challenge the best.

"Meet me in Boston, Dave!"

"Sometimes, you forget you're a book," I said.

"So? ... isn't this all about fiction?--making something seem real that hasn't actually happened?"

I looked at MIRACLE MYX down there on the line, then we both said: "Bring on the Kenyans!"

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Miracle Myx Does Hopkinton

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"I wanna race!"

Myx sounded determined.

"That ain't gonna happen, Myx."

I sounded determined.

"Twenty-six miles."

"And 385 yards," I added. "I'll run the 385 yards part."

"You do a couple of miles a day," Myx said.

"That means that it takes me almost two weeks to run a marathon. You can time me with a calendar, not a stopwatch."

We were in Hopkinton, the starting point for arguably the most famous race in the world, the Boston Marathon. It takes place each year on a Massachusetts holiday, Patriot's Day.

"Let's go where that crowd is, Dave."

"That's the starting line, Myx--I'm NOT going to explain why I have a book that--"

"I wanna race!"

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Miracle Myx Gets Checked Out

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"SShhhh!"

"Myx, this is a photo; there's no need to be quiet," I said.

"I was doing the 'library' thing. Yanno--how librarians tell you to keep it down?"

There was a strange stereophonic quality to Myx's voice as it came from multiple directions. Copies of MIRACLE MYX had arrived, and we were visiting the Framingham Public Library. The librarians there graciously welcomed me and Myx, making me feel like a real author amidst the multitude of time-proven classics housed there.

"You get to pose with the ladies today, Myx!"

"I like Harriet," said the Myx to my far left.

"Yeah, and--"

"Well, I like Phyllis," said the Myx next to the first.

"You're not--"

"I think Carrie is nice!" chimed in Myx, the third.

"You all don't have to--"

"Deb is actually reading me!"

"She's got you open, but I think--"

"Look how Lucy is holding me--with respect, Dave--respect!" said the Myx second from the right.

"Is that what you're calling it. I would--"

"Clare knows how to treat a book, Dave--take a lesson!" said the last Myx.

Dealing with just one Myx wears me out, but six! There would have been seven, but an important phone call tore away the last of our group. Maybe a seventh voice would have driven even me past my endurance for a daily Myx fix.

Suddenly, all six asked: "Where's Kelly?"

"SShhhh!" I shhh'd, and snapped this photo.

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Miracle Myx Flows

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"Aayy!"

"You're trying to tell me something," I said.

"Exactamundo!" Myx said.

Myx has the ability to mimic voices. I could tell this was one of his TV impressions.

"Now you're the Fonz from Happy Days. I'm sure I'll have time to regret this later, but may I ask why?"

"Where are we?" Myx asked back.

I hate when he does this. All he wants to do is act smart--which is always at my expense--making me look less than smart.

"We're at a fountain," I said. "That's a clue?"

"What's the etymology of fountain?"

"What do bugs have to do with this, Myx?"

"That's entymology, Dave. I'm talking about the history of the word--which in this case is the Latin word fons, which means source.

"Which translates into Henry Winkler's Fonz," I said as if it made sense.

"Aayy!" Myx said. A double thumbs up would have seemed appropriate if he wasn't a book.

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Miracle Myx Gets Drilled

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"Spit," I said.

"You think this is funny," Myx said.

"Funnier than me sitting there!"

We were at my dentist's office for a checkup. The good doctor was patiently standing behind me while I framed this photo. I explained what I was doing, but sometimes the whole concept of taking a picture of your book for a blog seems kind of convoluted when trying to synopsize it. Thankfully, he nodded as if it all made perfect sense.

"OK--you're turn, Dave."

"What's the rush?"

"Too many things here to harm a book: drills, x-rays--even that water over there," Myx said as if I would buy it.

"We'd need an earthqauke to get that water to spill, Myx."

"Could happen. Hey, Dave, the doc looks concerned.

Maybe me actually talking to a book had him puzzled. Maybe I should shut up and--awww--what the heck!

I smiled. "Spit!" I said loudly.

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Miracle Myx Visits Wellesley

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"You take one more step backwards, and I'll need a ride home," Myx said.

"You're concerned about me, Myx? I'm touched."

"You'll be touched--by a fender if you're not careful."

Myx was right. I was concentrating on getting this photo instead of watching the traffic on Route 135 in Wellesley, MA. The sidewalk was not wide enough for me to get Myx and the store facade all in without stepping back into the street. To make it even harder, I had to shoot over a parked car--so I had the camera high over my head.

"I wonder what drivers are thinking?" Myx said above the noise of the busy street.

"Who's that incredibly handsome, innovative photographer?"

"Yeah, I'm sure that's it, Dave."

"I liked it in the bookstore," Myx said. "It was full of Wellesley College girls--all svelte and pretty and smart-looking. You know what they smell like?"

"Now, Myx, you really--"

"Class, Dave, pure class."

"What do I smell like, Myx?

"Errr ... you put me in an awkward position," Myx said.

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Miracle Myx Flames On

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"Now we're just taking pictures in front of signs?" Myx asked.

"Not just any sign, Myx. This is the Hall of Flame."

Little did I know we were being keenly observed. Watched by the Keeper of the Flame inside.

"I talk of Malik, the arsonist, in MIRACLE MYX."

"You do, Myx. You tend to learn something from everyone you meet. I suppose you got something useful from the encounter?"

"Useful might be too strong a word, but I was able to--"

"You don't want to give too much away. Let's just say your meeting with Malik didn't go to waste."

I would have thought that taking a photo of a book would be quite unusual to most people. But, the jaded, almost bored reaction I got inside makes me laugh still. After misplacing Myx, the guy who ran the whole place by himself saw my agitation and calmly mentioned he had seen our photo shoot! Then suggested I go look for HIM!

"We're being watched, yanno," Myx whispered.

"Nonsense," I said.

Of course, Myx was right--as usual!

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Miracle Myx Quacks Up

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"You got me going in circles," Myx said.

"Just like the intricacies of my plot in MIRACLE MYX will have readers," I said with a swagger.

"I set you up, didn't I?"

"Always ready for a nice opportunity to tell our readers a little about the book," I said.

"You think telling them they'll be going in circles is good?"

"Not exactly--I want them to know the plot will keep them guessing and interested the whole way through. I dare them to guess the ending!"

"I'm getting dizzy," Myx said.

The ride was slowly revolving, and I thought it unlikely that Myx would get sick soon.

"Hang on another minute and I'll get you off there," I said.

"It's not the ride, it's your claims."

"Not everyone has your attention to detail, memory, and deductive abilities; it'll be tougher for them. And, besides--don't you usually tell me to promote the book more?"

"You got me going in circles," was all Myx would say for the rest of our outing.

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Miracle Myx Necks

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"I think 'Necks' will be in the subject line of this one," I said.

"As in real necks or the old term for kissing?"

Myx sounded vaguely interested. Usually his interest was only for the purpose of getting me to admit or commit to something he could lampoon me with later.

"Hmmm? Which would make me seem smarter?" Maybe a little mental jiu-jitsu would serve me well--get Myx to commit first!

"Of course the ambiguity of the two would be best--but you knew that, didn't you, Dave?"

"Huh? ... I mean ...exactly!"

"I have a few kisses in MIRACLE MYX. Hardly call it necking, though," Myx said.

"We're not under oath here, yanno!"

"You know why they have no heads? So you're not distracted from the clothes--freaky, isn't it?"

"I'll have to write about that in my next book, using my wonderful and clever style," I said. "You like my writing style, don't you, Myx?"

"Still not under oath, right Dave?"

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Miracle Myx Tattoos

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"Cold and dark," Myx said.

It was 4:30 am. But I thought this was the perfect time to get a photo of blazing neon without drawing any attention or distractions.

"And early," Myx added.

"When does early mean anything to you, Myx; you never sleep."

"I meant for you--although you already ran today, didn't you?"

"Yep! Run and done," I replied with a sense of accomplishment. I had a 30-year plus running streak going. Hadn't missed a day in all that time.

"Tattoos," Myx said. He was giving me an opening to explain.

"Yeah--they play a big part in MIRACLE MYX. They're clues and stuff."

"And stuff! Well said, Dave. Sheesh!"

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Miracle Myx Weighs In

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"And, why are we here?"

"Myx, this is a fun theme--I got an idea how--"

"You're going to bring up how there are some weighty matters in MIRACLE MYX."

DAMMIT! I hate when Myx is right. How do I get out of this one?

"Wrong, smarty panties!" There--so far so good. "I wanted to show everyone that there's no fat in MIRACLE MYX--just pure protein--reading enjoyment," I said.

"I have to admit, Dave, for someone who can't think on his feet--that was pretty good."

"I thought so! ... I mean ... I'm insulted!"

"Back to the weighty theme thing:" Myx said, "why not just say what you imagined was so clever?"

I thought Why not?

"Besides explaining and showing synesthesia, MIRACLE MYX explores ambivalent morals, emotional survival, mysticism, and forbidden love. All, as you would say, weighty matters. Myx, anyone ever tell you you're a pain in the ass?"

"All the time," Myx said.

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Miracle Myx Booklist Starred Review

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"You should feel pretty good about this, Myx," I said.

"I'd feel better if you didn't intrude in my moment."

"Someone had to show the cover of Booklist; who better than me?"

"You don't want a real answer, right?"

"Of course not, " I said.

We had been fortunate to have gotten a starred review from Mary Frances Wilkins for MIRACLE MYX in the April 1st issue of Booklist--and NO, it wasn't an April Fool's joke!

"I'd better read it to our blog followers," Myx said. He cleared his throat and read:

In the Massachusetts town of Miracle lives Myx Amens, only 14 years old but a key player in the Miracle police force. Heck, Myx has already died twice, so what’s a little danger in the line of duty?

His first death (by lightning) left him with a photographic memory. His second death (at the hands of a bully) left him unable to sleep and his senses discombobulated: he can smell sounds, feel tastes, and hear feelings. This unusual affliction is called synesthesia, and with a doctor’s help Myx has learned to live with it.

When corpses start turning up with odd parts missing, the cops reluctantly call on bionic Myx to use his particular skills to help investigate the crimes (hearing feelings comes in pretty handy when you’re asking questions). Myx, whose sleepless nights allow him ample time for sleuthing, proves especially adept at drawing people out, especially the beautiful, grieving mother of one of the victims.

What makes this debut novel exceptional is Diotalevi’s clever use of Myx’s sense-mingling; more than a mere plot device, the character’s synesthetic gift enables the author to wax poetic one minute ("her hand smelled pink with carved curls of green") and comic the next ("her breasts talked to me, but I’m keeping their conversation private").

A wickedly funny, surprisingly moving genre-bending tale of small-town secrets, lies, and revenge.

"That about does it, Myx," I said.

"Except: did you really hafta be in the picture, Dave?"

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Miracle Myx Hits The Slots

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"Noisy, isn't it?"

"Bright light city gonna set my soul--gonna set my soul on fire!"

"Myx, don't start singing in here because--"

"There's a thousand pretty women waitin' out there--and I'm just a devil with love to spare."

We had a short layover in Las Vegas, and Myx wasted no time getting in the mood. He was doing a rather good Elvis voice as he sang. I looked nervously about, as I often did when he got going in public.

"How I wish that there were more than the twenty-four hours in the day--cause even if there were forty more--I wouldn't sleep a minute away."

This, in fact was true since Myx hadn't slept in three years--since his second death.

"I'm gonna give it everything I've got--Lady Luck please let the dice stay hot--let me shout a seven with evry shot! Come on, Dave--let's do this ending right--together."

So, here we were in Las Vegas--and amidst the flashing lights and the clanging and chiming and music of the slots, Myx and I sang:

"Viva, VIVA, LAS VEGAS!"

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Miracle Myx Is Held

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"This is more like it," Myx purred!

"Don't get used to it," I said.

It was indeed a rare luxury to be inside, warm and safe--and to be accompanied by a real human being.

"At least she appreciates me," Myx said.

"She's read you, hasn't she?"

We were getting ready to leave Janee's home in Tucson, after an extended stay, and a wonderful vacation. Janee, and her husband Michael (who passed away in October) were among the first to read MIRACLE MYX. I can't tell you how encouraging they both were through the whole writing and publication process (Janee would say, "At least you could try to describe it!").

"Read me--and still likes me!"

"Well, Myx, you've lounged in Tucson and the inspiring countryside for almost two weeks, taking advantage of the scenery and Janee's gracious hospitality. What do you have to say?"

"You call being put on razor wire and cactus lounging? I call it--"

"Myx, what do you say to Janee?"

"Why don't we both say it, Dave."

And, even though it hardly covers the subject, on a warm and sunny day in Tucson, in the bright living room surrounded by far horizons, Myx and I said:

"Thanks for everything, Janee."

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Miracle Myx Objects

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"What the hell are we doing here? And--who's she?"

"Myx, that's Jane of Karen Harrington's JANEOLOGY," I said as if that was going to be the end of it.

"And--the 'here' part of my question?"

"What's JANEOLOGY sound like?"

"Genealogy ... awww ... noooo!"

"Yep--you're in the--"

"Family tree! Is this that legal thriller you've been spouting about?"

"Yeah. It's about a mother--"

"I object, Your Honor!" Myx declared.

"Myx, this is a good book," I said.

"Hearsay, Your Honor!"

"You're not going to keep saying courtroom lawyer phrases, are--"

"The Counsel is leading the witness, Your Honor! And, Dave: why did you leave a sinkful of water at home?" Myx actually sounded curious.

"I didn't leave any water," I said, puzzled.

"If you didn't, and I didn't--"

"Uh-oh," we both said.

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Miracle Myx High Wires

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"Don't even think of moving, Myx!"

"Move? I can't even think of thinking," Myx said.

"I did my best to--"

"To stick a barb in my ass? Couldn't you have found a more comfortable position for me?"

"I was gonna say to make sure you didn't fall."

"What's with this balancing on sharp objects mania you've been having?"

Myx didn't sound pleased. We were at the back fence on Janee's property. The fence ran the perimeter of Far Horizons. Was it there to keep intruders out--or us in? Between the barbed wire here, and the Constantine wire on the other end of the park, I must say it was an effective deterrent.

"People love your sense of adventure and disregard for physical safety," I said.

"Disregard THIS!"

I'm sure, if MIRACLE MYX were not a book, those words would have been accompanied by a gesture.

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