Yannick Trapman-O'Brien

November Reading and exciting news

Added 2021-11-30 03:45:03 +0000 UTC

Hello everyone,

This month I've been reading The Screwtape Letters, both because it is absolutely delicious and for a secondary, far more practical reason to be imminently discussed (!)

I think I must have dog-eared and even recorded 2-3 segments of it, because the whole damn book is so enjoyable, but this particular excerpt stuck with me. As someone outside the particular theological conversation being had, I am still struck by the resonance of the "dim uneasiness" Lewis evokes here. And as Screwtape simpers over how easily that uneasiness can rob a human of their pleasures and purpose, I can't help but find myself on the page. Ultimately, Lewis wrote to warn of "the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts" that leads a human into sinful temptation. But I can't help but notice how the opposite holds true; the road away from the things we really want and desire is often not a hard right turn, but rather a series of subtle detours. And so eventually, even when we resolve to indulge ourselves, we often miss the mark.

While I'm always one for idle speculation, all this thought is actually directly tied to a project I have in development: Immodest Proposal; a psychological thriller for an audience of one.

Interest piqued? What does that mean? Well if you're in the "Get-Hands-On" or "Pay-It-Forward" tiers, you could find out for yourself. That's right, I'm announcing my first in-person playtests on a project in development!

(cue horns)

This is an ambitious, curious, slightly feral piece built to make something truly large out of entertaining a small notion - and I for one can't wait for you all to get your hands on it.

Sign up for playtests here — or stay tuned, for more enigmatic dispatches.

But whatever you do, I'm grateful for your support

- Yannick