From the Academy to the Archive: The Story of Black-Eyed Susans

Welcome to the first official dispatch from my desk.

I am thrilled to launch my multimedia archive with a story that holds a very specific place in my history as an author. Black-Eyed Susans is one of the earliest pieces I ever wrote. It has survived multiple rounds of revision over the years. However, its core remains unchanged since its inception in a creative writing class at the U.S. Naval Academy.

The Challenge of Silence

The original assignment was a difficult technical exercise. We were tasked with writing a story that contained zero dialogue. Every beat of the narrative had to be conveyed through internal emotion and atmospheric description.

When the professor handed back the assignments, he chose to read my story aloud to the entire class as a stellar example of the craft. That was the first moment I realized I might actually be good at this. It was the moment I began to see myself not just as a midshipman or a future pilot, but as a storyteller.

A Maryland Tradition

For those outside of my home state, the Black-Eyed Susan is the state flower of Maryland. Growing up in Baltimore, I was raised with a specific rule. My grandmother always told me that you never pick a Black-Eyed Susan. It was considered disrespectful to our heritage.

I wanted to explore that rule through the eyes of a child. In this story, the protagonist, Joey, picks the flowers out of pure spite after fights with his mother. It is only when the terror of being lost sets in that the flowers become something else.

Terror as a Clarifying Agent

I believe that terror is often a clarifying agent. For a small boy, the fear of the unknown strips away his willful ignorance. Joey is forced to realize that his relationship with his mother is more complex than he admitted. He realizes that while his father provides the “fun,” it is his mother who provides the safety. It is a heavy revelation for a five-year-old, and it is the emotional heart of the piece.

The Multimedia Experience

I chose this story for my first YouTube narration because of its visual richness. The sun-drenched suburban streets, the hazy Fourth of July barbecues, and the vibrant yellow of the flowers made for a compelling animation. You can watch the full multimedia narration below.

Join the Journey

If you enjoyed the atmosphere of this story, I invite you to download the full Heart & Havoc starter collection. This free digital sampler features the text versions of two of my stories and is delivered immediately to your inbox when you join the mailing list.

Thank you for being part of this grand opening. This is only the beginning of the worlds we will explore.

Michael Patrick Coady Author www.michaelpatrickcoady.com