A New Life for My 2011 Novel, The Book of Want

By Daniel A. Olivas

In 2011, the University of Arizona Press published my novel, The Book of Want. The novel centered on Conchita, a beautiful, single woman of a certain age, who sees nothing wrong with enjoying the company of handsome—and usually much younger—men. She then encounters Moisés, a widower with a penchant for levitation, and begins to think about how this unusual man might fit into her life. Julieta, Conchita’s younger sister, walks a more traditional path, but she and her husband each harbor secrets that could change their marriage and lives forever. Their twin sons, both in college, struggle to find fulfillment: Mateo refuses to let anyone stand in the way of his happiness, while Rolando grapples with his sexuality and the family’s expectations. And the chain-smoking, coffee-drinking Belén, the family’s late matriarch, serves as our host while she advises, scolds, and cajoles her hapless descendants.

The novel received some very thoughtful, positive reviews, and my public readings were fulfilling and enjoyable. This book was a departure—of sorts—from my usual literary vehicle of the short story, so I was a bit concerned about how it would be received. Luckily, I cheated a bit in writing it since the narrative is built on interconnected short stories. But it was a novel, nonetheless, and I was happy I wrote it.

Flash forward a decade, and that very same novel will be streamed live by Circle X Theatre in a Zoom reading of my new play, The Book of Want, which is an adaptation of my novel. Directed by Dr. Daphnie Sicre of Loyola Marymount University, the play basically follows the same storyline as the novel but with appropriate updates and abbreviated or wholly abandoned characters. I learned very fast that it was impossible to include an entire cast of characters and story digressions in a stage version of my novel. Yes, I killed my little darlings to make this thing work.

But I had a lot of expert help! I wrote my play as part of Circle X Theatre Co.’s inaugural Evolving Playwrights Group 2021 Reading Series.

Culminating its inaugural season, Circle X Theatre Co. will present the reading series from their Evolving Playwrights Group. This group consists of five emerging and mid-career playwrights, who were paired with mentors/playwrights in conversation, and were challenged to create the play they were scared to write. I submitted an application to be part of this group last year stating that I really wanted to adapt my novel but was scared to do so because of the complexity of the novel itself—not to mention that I had only written one play previously. I was startled when I was accepted into the group.

I was assigned the wonderful playwright, Donald Jolly, as my mentor. My fellow emerging and mid-career playwrights are Nina Rose Carlin, Peppur Chambers, Jonathan Ceniceroz, and Khari Wyatt. Our bi-monthly, Tuesday evening virtual workshops were moderated by Jen Kays, the Artistic Director of Circle X Theatre, and Lisa Sanaye Dring, the Associate Artistic Director. And we had guest playwrights drop in to discuss their craft and answer our questions about the art of playwriting. It was hard work, but it was also joyful, fun, and enlightening.

One of the questions Donald Jolly very wisely asked me during a discussion chilled me a bit: “If you were to describe your play in one or two sentences, what would you say?” After a few moments of struggling with the right words, I offered what I thought was a sufficient response. And over time, I took that response and massaged it until I was ready to offer it to Circle X Theatre for the promotional materials. This is what I think my play is about:

What is love? For one Mexican American family in Los Angeles circa 2006, the search for the answer is as heartbreaking as it is comical. THE BOOK OF WANT is an enchanting blend of social and magical realism that explores what it means to be fully human.

Now our plays are ready for sharing with the world in Zoom readings. One play has already been streamed: Khari Wyatt’s exhilarating Starchild.

If you wish to see the other plays—including my Book of Want—just drop an email to Circle X Theatre and RSVP for all or some of the plays.

Enjoy!

DETAILS

WHO: Circle X Theatre Co.

WHAT: Evolving Playwrights Group 2021 Reading Series

WHEN: May 22 - June 26, 2021 at 7 pm PST

WHERE: Live Streamed on Zoom

TICKETS: Free to the public rsvp@circlextheatre.org

For more information visit: https://www.circlextheatre.org/evolving