Meditation on Friendship

Friendship is a major theme within The Calling.  As the often strained but nevertheless persistent relationship between the two main characters, Riley (a purple martin) and Hilton (a pigeon), develops within Kiefer's adorable yet gripping debut novel, a meditation on reality also develops.  The meditation is this: as a friend, where does one's loyalties lie?  How should one behave?  And why?

Riley is torn between his devotion to his family, their ideas, and their traditions, and the new urge to help an outsider in need.  His family, a clan of birds called the purple martins, is making their annual migration soon, which will be his very first migration experience.  Days before this migration, he discovers a "dirty, dangerous" (according to his family) pigeon blown in from a storm, wounded.  Conflicted between his idea of righteousness and his family's obsession with survival--with including no outsiders--he chooses to help the pigeon, Hilton.

As with all major relationships, twists and subtleties abound in the two birds' new relationship.  Starry-eyed about his good deed and newfound friendship, Riley quickly discovers the bitter aftertaste so many of us do: he was used.  He was never wanted as an individual.  Now he must decide if his decision retains value regardless of this betrayal as well as how to regard his "friend" from here out.  Is friendship dependent on another's actions or is it a devotion independent of factors beyond one's control?  Is love a choice or an exchange?

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I think my favorite character in the book has to be Backus. I'm not sure his character is modeled after anyone I know. I never really had a grandfather in my life, but I suppose he represents what I would have wanted in one. When we first meet him in the story he seems to be crusty and even a bit of prude. He is serious about his role as a leader in the colony and expects everyone to understand how important he is.

Even though he may have some not-so-lovable characteristics, I still find myself really liking him. I think its because he really believes in who he is, and that makes it easier to believe in him. And, of course, in the end, his true character is revealed. I mean when he . . . Oh, wait, I don't want to give that much of the story away! I guess you better get to reading!

I often get asked how I came up with the idea for The Calling. It is difficult for me to explain without sounding a bit off my nut, but I'll give it a try. I'm sure writers have their own way of developing stories. Some take a very business-like approach and outline and prewrite, and all that other good stuff that was taught to them by some well-meaning english teacher. That has never worked for me.

Believe it or not, I actually hear characters talking to me in my head. They kind of pop up on their own and beginning telling me a story. Sometimes they don't stick around very long, and I never really get a chance to do anything with them. However, some, like Riley, the main character in The Calling, won't leave me alone until I put something down on paper. Sound crazy? Yeah, I know, but that really is how it works for me.