Fun Facts about “Clean Green”
As you know from my previous post, I recently had a short story published. It is called “Clean Green” and it is available to read in Loft Issue VI. Whenever I publish a new story, I try to make a post of fun facts about it. It serves as a sort of Behind the Scenes view of my piece. Anyway, here we go!
“Clean Green” was originally written way back in 2021 as “Poor White Trash” and it had been published by Page & Spine. Well, Page & Spine went defunct sometime in 2022 (May you rest in peace, Page & Spine) and I had been searching for a new home for my story. I happened to stumble upon Loft Magazine last summer and they were kind enough to offer it a place in their upcoming Issue VI. Thank you, guys! You’re the best.
“Clean Green” was what I considered a “literary” story and it was my first attempt at writing gritty realism. I had written speculative stories in the past, but this one was out of my comfort zone. While it doesn’t show anything graphic, it references it. If it were rated, it would be PG-13.
I used Abby Ross for a face claim in “Night Without End” when I wrote it in 2021. “Clean Green” was written before “Night Without End,” and I had originally pictured Abby Ross when I wrote the character Charlie.
I pictured Dylan Schmid as Nate. I first saw him on Once Upon a Time as Baelfire.
Louisa May Alcott’s book “Little Women” is a source of hope and inspiration to Charlie. The book and the 1994 movie adaptation have been close to my heart since I first discovered it when I was fourteen.
The Festiva shown in the story was based on the Festiva my family had years ago. Ours had Fuchsia racing stripes though.
While the characters are fictional, the whole way of life displayed in “Clean Green” is quite real. This story is in no way autobiographical, but I’ve witnessed the various incidents depicted in this tale. For nearly twenty years, there has been a slum/drug house in my neighborhood and we get to witness all sorts of things.
It took me three days to write “Clean Green” and one day to edit it.
Charlie’s hiding place is based on a real hiding place. When I was a teenager, I had a friend who invited me over to her house and she showed me a small crawl space that served as her hiding place. We’d go down there and tell secrets and read stories.
Another source of inspiration for this story is the Lifetime Original Movie, “Gracie’s Choice.” If you haven’t seen this movie, you should!
All for now!
