Being William Bell

I am often asked about William’s origins. “Is he your dad?” No. “Is he your husband?” Nope. “Is he you?” I really don’t think so. I always respond that William is William! He appeared one day, and over time, he developed into his own quirky self. While we do have similarities, such as our coaching of others, he is unique. I wish I could say more about how he came to be, but he’s here and he’s pretty cool.

However, I had the chance to go a family Halloween gathering this weekend, and my traditional witch costume was getting old after decades of use. I wondered if it was time for a fresh look — perhaps Mother Nature, who is a favorite of mine. But then I got this great idea: Wouldn’t it be fun to go as William Bell? As it was a group of family and friends, most of the attendees would know about my efforts to write the novel, so hopefully they wouldn’t gaze at me blankly as I introduced myself at the gathering.

But it was incredibly interesting to explore how I would embody William. I made a distinct choice in the novel to say very little about William’s physical qualities as I strongly believe that readers should envision him as they wish. Now, I was about to pretend to be William, after stating that William is not me, and I was about to offer a view of what he might look like. But after a moment of reflection, I concluded that it sounded like fun, and I invaded my husband’s closet.

Decked out in a black blazer and jeans, I arrived at the party and solemnly introduced myself as William. William Bell. My brother dryly mentioned that he expected William to be taller. Others laughed; one asked why I was so serious. It was a lark and soon I was back to being myself as we watched the little ones — and my brother — bob for apples.

Insights: First, blazers are awesome. They have so many pockets and they are pretty darn warm. “William Bell: The Novel” fit nicely into a pocket, the title just peering out for all to see. Second, it was incredibly satisfying to attend a party without having put on make-up or blow-drying my hair. Third, and most importantly, I am not William Bell and William Bell isn’t me.