Cause and effect.
The relationship of one event to another – for example a left jab and a bloody nose.
Two separate events – where the first (the left jab) causes the second (the bloody nose).
Pretty simple. Left jab…cause. Bloody nose…effect.
It’s usually not difficult to follow the sequence from cause to effect…usually.
In some cases the cause may be separated from the effect by a chain, or several chains, of other events. In our example the effect was seen almost immediately after the cause, but it is entirely possible for the two to be separated by time – seconds, minutes, days, months or even years.
It’s like math – it can be really simple
or it can be really complex ,
but it always works and, if you’re willing to spend enough time and effort, it can always be proven.
Every event in the history of the known universe has been the effect (directly or indirectly) of another event.
Nothing just happens.
I believe that it is possible to follow the trail from a seemingly random event to its original cause. Sometimes the path may not be easily recognizable because it may intersect with, or overlap the path of a completely separate chain of events, nevertheless it’s there.
To oversimplify my point – consider the day your parents met (which was the result of other events, but let’s start there). As a result of that meeting you exist, therefore everything you think, do and say can be seen as a result of that meeting.
So you’re at work and you spill coffee on your computer keyboard. The guy from I.T. is in the middle of something when you call and request a new keyboard. He drops what he was doing to bring you a replacement. The guy who was relying on him to finish the interrupted operation is now waiting longer than he had anticipated, so he decides to walk across the street for a latte. The barista is cute so he asks her out. She accepts, they date and eventually get married. Their first child is born three years after the day you spilled coffee on your keyboard, so your clumsiness could be seen as the causation of the birth of their child…but remember, if your parents hadn’t met, you never would have spilled that coffee…
And it goes on and on and on…
Nothing just happens.
Picture an infinite number of chains, of an infinite number of sizes and shapes. Each chain has an infinite number of links. Links from some of the chains connect to links from other chains. Some of the chains never intersect – directly.
Your life is one of those chains.
My life is another.
The act of you reading this blog post, written by me, means that a link from my chain is now connected to a link form your chain, thus altering both of our courses.
If you think about it long enough it can be absolutely mind boggling.
So…why am I waxing philosophical, you ask?
Because I want to tell you about my next novel.
The book is called Full Circle and it’s about the simple belief that what goes around, comes around.
Karma.
Life is not a coincidence.
“Being in the right place at the wrong time” is not the real reason for anything.
Full Circle will be a departure from my usual Florida crime fiction stories (sorry, ladies…no Ike in this one). It will have more in common with Unfinished Business, but without the paranormal element.
For the uninitiated among you, I actually began writing Full Circle in 1988.
At the time I had a deep interest in Karma, and a lot of spare time.
So I grabbed a spiral-bound notebook and started writing (remember, there were no personal computers in 1988). I wrote about fifteen chapters before I shelved it.
Although it’s been over 25 years, I’ve never forgotten Full Circle.
When my first novel, Living the Dream, was released I told myself that Full Circle would be my next project.
It didn’t exactly work out that way. There have been nine other projects since then, but Full Circle is now officially my current project.
It has the potential to be my Magnum Opus, but then again it could be the biggest mistake of my writing career…only time will tell.
There are two schools of thought on changing horses in mid-race…
Some say I should stick to what I’ve been doing. It may not be classified as great American literature, but it has a certain appeal, and my readers seem to enjoy it.
Others tell me I should stretch my writing muscles and venture off into new territory.
I’m a believer in personal growth and all that stuff…so what the hell?
The worst that could happen is Full Circle crashes and burns – and I go back to writing Florida Crime Fiction – which I was going to do anyway.
Regardless of the outcome, one thing is for sure – 25 years ago I began writing a novel…and we are now seeing one of the effects of that event.
As always – thank you for reading
blindoggbooks 