The Dancer – Book 1
Why she has no name
In the first book of The Dancer Series, there are a dozen or so main characters: The Director, The Dancer, The Boyfriends, The Hero, The Artist, The Shaman, The Shaman-in-Waiting, The Horse God, and The Author. We learn that the Boyfriends are Ramon and Raul. The Hero is Straight-Spear, the Chief’s son. The Shaman is Little-Flower. The Shaman-in-Waiting is Running-Fox. The Horse God is Walks-Like-Thunder. He is a Horse. He’s also a God.
That leaves, The Director, The Dancer, The Author, and The Artist. The Artist produces and sells his art under the name Jamil. That’s not his real name. He doesn’t want anyone to know his real name. Jamil has a lucrative deal going with an Art Gallery. He never has to interface with customers. He can just create his art and the Art Gallery takes care of selling it and paying him. They also send an unmarked van to pick it up. So, Jamil never has to leave his studio. He prefers it that way.
The Author is actively involved in the story. He or she shows up every few chapters complaining about the way the story is going. They want more action in it. But, they don’t seem to have that much control over the story. It seems to write itself. We never learn The Author’s name. Maybe, this person is The Author, but The Publisher is going to use the name of a famous person as The Author in order to sell more copies of this book. Maybe, this Person’s contract with The Publisher keeps him or her from revealing their name, for whatever other reason.
When The Dancer was young, she was called The Dancer with the Jewel in her Heart. She was a street child. But, she got taken in from time to time by those who could see that Jewel. Eventually, The Director took her in. She became such a good Dancer that her featured her in all his productions. When he featured her, he just labeled her as The Dancer. That made it sound like she was the best dancer in the world. And, from the story, she is.
Did The Director not know The Dancer’s name? Is she even aware of it? Is it lost somewhere in her childhood subconscious? Perhaps, but it seems like there’s more mystery to it than that. The Author thinks she should have a Goddess name – Dianna, Hilda, Venus, Marzetta, or something like that. Never heard of Marzetta? Isn’t she the Goddess of War?
Perhaps, The Director is trying to make The Dancer seem more famous or more mysterious than she is. Her Boyfriends and The Hero all rather like the idea that she’s mysterious. It makes them more eager to win her heart. Hold up a sec! What’s with The Director? He doesn’t have a name either. Perhaps, he goes by The Director to make him seem more famous or better than he really is. Maybe, he didn’t give The Dancer a name because he knows what it’s like to not have a name. Maybe, he honors that in her. On the other hand, maybe The Director has a deep, dark past. Or, maybe, as with The Dancer, there’s more to The Director than meets the eye. Find out in The Dancer.
Dale Stubbart | Author 130+ Books | Stubbart.com