For Your Consideration:

"Three Steps Past the Monkeys"

"The brave writers whose work is represented in this volume have acted in good faith, faced their demons, stayed the course, and revised relentlessly. And in taking on the subject of themselves—making themselves vulnerable to the unseen reader—they have exchanged powerlessness for the power that comes with self-awareness."--Wally Lamb

These powerful stories, testaments, hit us on all levels: we can't escape the power of their story, Let's reflect on anything and everything that comes to us as a result of reading them, INCLUDING the art of writing them.

1. Wally Lamb begins his introduction explaining what goes on in editing, quoting different authors on the art of writing, and lists several techniques the authors in this book may have used. Are you familiar with any of these Writing Techniques? Let's keep an eye out for particularly good examples of the writer's craft.

2. What does the title Three Steps Past the Monkeys mean? Why only THREE steps?

3. The story is told through almost an "assocation" technique: it begins and ends with a viewing of The Wizard of Oz, first as a child and then as an adult, and in the middle mentions the viewing in the Film Class. How does the recurring image of a trip through Oz act as a metaphor for the events in the author's own life depicted here?

4. "Monkeys" are a recurring image throughout the piece, what are some of the things "monkeys" symbolize?

5. "Selling drugs is a serious offence, " he said. (page 123). Is it clear to the reader what the author is being sentenced for? What is the Son of Sam law and how long does it apply to writings of prisoners?

6. The plot seems to continue on three different three levels, what are some of the clever transitions or seques the author uses to take us from childhood to the present and back to the Film class?

7. "Why do such normal things feel abnormally scary to me? (page 131). How would you answer this question?

8. "The panic attacks continued but so did I." (page 139). What was your reaction to this sentence?

9. "Wounding myself quieted whatever had felt unquiet inside of me that day," (page 128). Do you understand this passage? How could hurting yourself ease other pain?

10. "You never finish anything you start," Bobby reminded me. " Face, it, you're a failure, and you're going to fail at this thing, too." (page 138).

It's difficult to read the account of Life With Bobby, what is your opinion of Bobby shown through his words and deeds? Why do you think the author continued with him as long as she did?
What is the effect on a person who lives with this kind of negative feedback?

11. "And that was when Nonna came to me. Dead for twenty years, she entered the room…Grandpa was with her." (page 134).

Have you ever personally experienced or heard of this type of experience?
Do you think it really happened?
Why would it be her grandmother and not her more immediate family, do you think?

12. How did they de-tox people in the prison where you were? Were certain prescribed drugs and therapy offered along with 12 Step programs, or was the only method of detoxification "cold turkey"? . . . . Mal

13. I am wondering if there is some way we can get people to understand addiction and therefore find better ways to treat it? . . . . Jerilyn

14. . . . . an impression among the general public that prison guards tend to be 'bottom of the barrel' in law enforcement. More brutal, more judgmental, harsher, less qualified, less educated. Is this an unfair assessment, based on Hollywood misrepresentations, or would you say it is accurate?

15. Was there ever a time that anyone tried to help you with your spirituality as you were learning how to make wiser choices in life and to take responsibility for your own lives? . . . . . Andrea

16. I am wondering what the hole is like now? . . . . Ginger

17. Did you think of Judy Garland when watching The Wizard of Oz? Did you compare her life to yours? . . . . Hats

18. Wouldn't we all like to know how they train guards in prison? What behaviors are they taught and who supervises these guards? . . . . Ella

19. How long did it take you to write this? Did you add the Oz and the Monkeys from the first or later on?

20. What did the evaluation sheet assessment mean by "expansive personality?"

21. How is the conquering regret over the past part of this sequence?

22. Nancy, why did you title it "Three Steps Past the Monkeys?"

23. Nancy, is there a particular book (or books) about the writer's craft that you would recommend? Is there a text that was used in the classes at the prison?. . . .Zinnia

24. Did you ever have counseling or therapy? Your parents never suspected that something of this nature could have happened when you were a child? . . . .Ella

25. Do your current colleagues know about your background and how do they react to it? . . . Pedln

26. Do you feel your incarceration has had an effect on their relationships with you? . . . . Pedln

27. How do you feel about monkeys today?

28. I'm trying to say you had said you can watch the Wizard of Oz now, without trauma, does seeing a monkey bother you?

29. I sort of was taken by the possible monkey imagery? symbolism?

30. Surely you are not suggesting that there is really a direct connection to drug abuse? . . . Horselover

31. The need is then to address the underlying issues. Right? . . . . Bobbie

32. Nancy, if you saw any of the links I posted about Shadow Work, did any of them relate to what you are doing? . . . . Zinnia Are there any stats, or studies on this, that the influence of a pre school teacher can overcome a bad home enviromnent? I know about Head Start, but aren't you talking about something other than reading readiness?

33. Do you see any analagy between the pay for pre-school teachers, and that for under-paid prison guards.? . . . . Pedln

34. Do prison guards receive any kind of training? And are there programs such as an assoc. degree in Criminal Justice with a focus on institutions? . . . . Pedln

35. I wonder if Nancy isn't reminding us, also, how close an addict can be to falling back into addiction... just three steps away from that monkey on the back? . . . Zinnia

36. Are you open to a question on the pins or would you rather pass on that one?

37. Nancy when you first started your draft, how did you begin it?

38. Are your journal entries the same as what you wrote or have you altered them for the same of the chapter?

39. Were his (Wally Lamb's) thoughts more on arrangement or presentation than content or both?

40. What are some of the devices he (Wally Lamb) suggested?

41. Do you have any more insight today into why that (using the pins) seemed to help?

42. What was their ( your parents') reaction (to the book)?

43. Was your family worried that your writing for publication would hurt you? Or were they afraid it would hurt them?. . . Mal

44. What made you decide to include your Journal entries into the story and are they changed from when you first wrote them for the sake of the story?.

45. Nonna seems to be the first one to tell Nancy B that God loved her. So I would like to inquire if it's not too nosy, what religious education you received as a young child?

46. You mentioned Wally Lamb's work as Editor with you on this piece, what was the biggest thing you diagreed with him on? And what was the outcome: in other words what did he want to see and what did you finally decide?

47. Did you work while you were in prison? If you did, what did you do? (Malryn)

48. Was the treatment you received unduly harsh while you were in prison? (Malryn)

49. What do you think the average person can do to help improve the quality of life in prisons? (Malryn)