Christian Kane
The Artist Behind Southern Folkore's Most Memorable Literary Character
May 26, 2014 8:30 pm
I was at my wits end. Literally.
I was 156 pages in concerning "The River" and all was not well.
The River has two half brothers not one, and Slick's voice was as silent as cold death itself.
From as far back as I can remember, told the tales about The Blood Brothers by my Aunt Jett and a few others, as a kid I idolized Slick and Benjamin, their lives seemed almost apart of my life, apart spiritual DNA. So when it came time to put all I knew onto paper for the world to enjoy, it was devastating that only one of the brothers had a literary voice.
As a writer, and I can not speak for other authors, I can not write about about or for a character that does not 'speak' to me. When I sit back, laptop on my lap or at my desk, that character has to come though loud and clear, they have to have a vested interest in their own creation. That is my process and it works beautifully.
In a sense I had taken Slick and Ben for granted.
These boys have been with me for so long, I always assumed they would be available when I needed them, when I got around to telling their story.
That was to be.
From hypo-therapy to weeks and weeks of meditation, I could not 'hear' Slick speak to me. Benjamin aka "Skeeter' was coming through loud and clear. His literary voice was a mainstay, keeping me going, inspiring me. If not for him, I would have trashed "The River' months before.
And I was going to - I had other projects, other stories to tell, but something kept me going. Maybe it was Aunt Jett, I knew I always wanted to relate what she told me those wonderful summer evenings; tales about mystery and intrigue, men who were men, doing as they wished, living fascinating lives.
I wanted to do this for her.
That night I was depressed but happy. I had did all I could do for 'The River' and had resigned myself to the fact that I was going to have to put it to the side as I had other books to write. I knew inside that my decision would be final, the last coffin nail in a project that meant everything to me.
I wanted to make Aunt Jett proud. I wanted to tell her stories, to share her love with the world.
I remember cutting on my PS3, and I started to stream Netflix.
I cut on "Leverage' the show had become a 'safe-place' for me when I was disappointed
or wanted a warm chuckle or take my mind off of things.
The Big Bang Job was on.
I had watched the show several times, enjoying the characters. I thought nothing of it.
Then my life changed -
When Eliot was speaking to the rest of the crew in the park about his ex-boss, the dastardly terrorist, I started to listen.
Then Parker asked Eliot a question.
"What did you do....?"
Eliot looked to the woman-child that Parker was, a skilled thief with the nuance and soul of a little girl, he wanted to protect her innocence, that part of Parker that he had grown love and appreciate. What he would never be.
"Don't ask me Parker....cause then I'd have to tell you," Eliot said.
In that moment, probably in front of a crew of twenty people, Christian Kane shined beautifully.
His character, a man with much blood on his hands, a human being that had done horrible things, this man was innocent in that moment, given a divine grace.
When I saw this, my earth shook, I literally heard a popping sound in my ears.
And then the tears came.
I cried for about an hour -
I had found my Slick.
Even now, writing this for the site, tears still come to my eyes.
I had tried so hard for over a year to find this particular character's voice, the reason for his creation, all to no avail.
Needless to say I have become a HUGE Christian Kane fan.
Am I a Kaniac?
Probably not, I'm just a writer deeply-deeply in love with my muse and his talent, happy with my process and thankful.
I feel Chris's spirit totem is a white majestic wild wolf; deeply curious, spiritually intuitive and loving to those he cares for. The same man can be utterly brutal and bloodthirsty if given the chance. Mr. Kane is a spiritual paradox, a riddle in a riddle amoungst riddles. A human being of endearing gracious love, yet malevolently cruel and dark when need be.
He is beautifully divine yet very human; wild and untamed, free, yet civilized and charming.
This makes him perfect as Slick Skate-Blade.
Chris IS Slick-Skate-Blade
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