fondles

What surprising, fascinating stuff can you tell us about the origin, drafting, and/or final version of “fondles”?

“fondles” came together in one night as I was inspired by the discovery of triptychs in the Journal of Compressed Creative Arts. Originally, the text had been part of a novel in its 4th draft version and I wasn’t sure whether to keep this section. When I saw the triptychs and explored them, I imagined an Eastern Orthodox icon in triptych — where the eye is always drawn to the center panel first and then to other two, in response, as it were. We have a wood triptych in our living room and the more I stared at the triptych, the more the fondles came to mind. Honestly, I think there are times when you have an idea you are trying to force into the wrong form and when you are presented with the “right” form, it’s an a-ha moment. A very happy, well-lit, house-warming sort of moment.