We, John and Laura, both have stories in the new fiction book, Pilgrim Tales: the inaugural anthology by the Catholic Writers Guild (CWG). The other ten authors in the anthology are top-notch, and we feel blessed to have this opportunity to be included with them.
We have been members of CWG for several years. When the call for proposals came out, and we saw the theme was pilgrimage, we knew that we had to submit stories. Amazingly, the editors accepted both of our stories, and we wrote them while in Italy. The espresso was essential fuel to write while in Sutri, our home for two weeks. We loved that town and the area when we walked the Via Francigena.
Inspirations for Our Pilgrim Tales Stories
Laura’s inspiration came from an observation that most of the people we encounter on our pilgrimages are not undertaking them for religious reasons, but rather they are undertaking them mainly for the adventure, exercise, travel, companionship, or bucket-list aspects. All of which are good, yet many pass by the gorgeous centuries-old churches, monasteries and holy sites without going in. She wondered if, given the proper incentives, a pilgrim would consider entering into the spiritual richness all around them. Her protagonist is named Pino, as in Pilgrim In Name Only. You can read more about her inspiration on the CWG Blog.
I, John, wrote several fiction short stories, set along the Via Francigena in the 1530s, as a way to flesh out characters and settings for a novel that I say that I am writing (just like everyone who is retired). My initial thought was to continue that series, but, the stories of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales, who were killed for their faith, inspired me to use their history instead. (See related posts: Our trip to York and Saint Oliver Plunkett). I used some literary license to place Saint Nicholas Owen in York, in a coming of age story where he finds his calling. The CWG has a blog post explaining my inspiration.
While our stories are personal to us, the other authors in this book opened my eyes to new ways of imagining the pilgrim’s path. It’s rare to find historical fiction and science fiction sitting side-by-side with romance and contemporary tales, but this mix captures the universal nature of the search for the sacred.
A Note About the Catholic Writers Guild
The CWG is a group of professional and amateur writers helping each other become better writers. We’ve attended their online and in-person conferences and interacted with others through their messaging system, helping us hone our skills.
