Grizzly Manor: Forward

A modern take on Wuthering Heights taking place outside of New Orleans.

Dear Readers,

            First of all, let me start off by thanking you for your wonderful response to my last novel.  Thanks to your enthusiasm and love for my characters, the film version of my little story is in pre-production, with plans for a release in February of next year.  It always comes as such a joy, and delightful surprise, when I receive an outpouring of passion from my readers, who can relate to my characters and enable them to live on, even long after the novel is finished.

            Another perk that comes with being a writer of several books that have been translated to film, is that my editor starts to trust me more, and the publisher gives me more room to grow creatively.  This faith in my writing, and your incredible support of my career, is why I now feel that I should warn you, readers.

            The story that I am about to tell is not young-adult science fiction.  In fact, I personally do not find anything “young” about it.  It is also not fiction, although it’s certainly not entirely fact.  Most of the information in this piece has been passed down to me secondhand.  There are bits and pieces that I have witnessed or holes that I filled in with my own research, or guesswork of how these people must have felt in these situations, but the truth is, lovely readers of mine, that the story that is about to be told is both fact and fiction; both fantasy, and the truth.

            The idea to put this story " part biography, part romance, and part tragedy " down on paper first came to me years ago, as I was beginning work on another novel.  It may surprise you to learn that one of the key players in this tale is the late rapper, actor, and entrepreneur, Garrod “Grizz” Lee.  Much has been written of Grizz’s life, simply because there always seemed to be so little to actually write about.  The man was almost as well known for his cherished and treasured privacy as he was for his platinum-selling albums, his Oscar nominations (and one win), and his countless business endeavors.  Alas, for all that we know about Grizz Lee, we actually know very little.

            It may also come as a surprise to you that I had the experience (for I could not reasonably call it “good luck” or even “a pleasure”) to meet Mr. Lee a few times myself, the last encounter taking place mere hours before his mysterious and still seemingly inexplicable death.  In fact, I would not be surprised to learn that I was the last one to see him alive.

            I have been privy to most of this information for quite some time, and have spent the last several months since Mr. Lee’s death wrestling with myself over whether it is my right to share this story with all of you.  Mr. Lee has very little family left, after the (debatable) suicide of his wife, Delilah, and the tragic overdose of his son.  He is survived by his daughter-in-law, his only heir, to whom he left his vast empire.  With her permission, I have now put this story down on paper in order to share it with you all.  Perhaps, after a life filled with more than his fair share of tragedies, a life which was most likely spent in a constant state of misery masked my mystery, Garrod Lee may rest in peace.

                      -E.B. Lockwood

Author's Note

This is a modern re-telling of Wuthering Heights that takes place in various places around Louisiana. It was hard to work out because Wuthering Heights actually has a really odd narrative structure. Any and all comments are appreciated, and if you have questions or anything is unclear please don't be afraid to say so.