You’ve got a friend

Sometimes you just need a friend. 

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and things are a bit different this year. These are some very difficult times that we are living in right now. I am doing a Friend Check-in. Showing support for other people who might be struggling. We can’t connect in person, so let’s connect virtually. Leave a blog comment or a Facebook comment, however you got to this page. I promise to reply, because after all, we're all in this together.

I also promised you a sneak peek at the next cover. I think you'll like the story, and I included the original legend in the acknowledgments. What's it about?

The Legend People of canyon country are protected by the indigenous Tribes, but that protection prevents Nascha from finding out what happened to her missing mother. When another of the Legend People shows up in Nascha’s canyon on a quest to beg leniency from the ruling Coyote, Nascha is given the opportunity to get the answers she seeks. On their way to the Coyote’s canyon, they get caught in the downdraft from a plane that carries them off course to Illinois. Now they must enlist the help of the pilot to get back to Utah.

Pilot Devin Sike mistakes the mysterious woman who follows him at the airport for a Native American Princess. Lost, she asks him to transport her back to Utah—a request he’s disinclined to accommodate—until she triggers an echo in his heart, a pinger beacon that synchronizes when she touches him. The more he finds out about her, the more determined he is to come to terms with his own lost heritage.

Their journey enlightens them both to a destiny neither expected.

What do you think?

Yes, you can preorder it

 

Finally, I want to take a moment to be thankful for everything I have, and not feel victimized by current circumstances. While I may not be with family, which makes me sad, I am thankful for the family I have. We can still connect, even if not in person. I'm thankful for children, for grandchildren, for sisters and cousins and friends.

Wishing you a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Characteristics that shape a story

I've been in sort of a funk the past few months - heck, most of this year! Recently, however, I saw a headline that poked my inner muse.

When authors talk about what inspires them, you get a wealth of answers. The real answer? "Everything." The headline that caught my eyes this time was, unfortunately, one of the many obituaries that have been in the news. We've lost a lot of people this year, and often when we see "who died today," we remember them by a distinguishing characteristic. Sean Connery, for instance: "Bond. James Bond." with a hint of a lisp and one cocked eyebrow. 

One recent death gave me a brilliant idea for a character. I guess that means there will be another book to follow Hillendale 4!

What am I talking about? 

I don't want to give away something I haven't written yet, so I'll use COOKIE THERAPHY as an example. When I started writing it, I went with a characteristic for my main character. Elizabeth Lambert is a klutz. I started with an accident - minor, but you know how klutzes can be (speaking as one myself). I knew who the hero was, because I had to redeem a previous series character who had transgressed. Two compelling characters (or at least they were in my mind!). I had no idea when I started (this is called pantsing - flying by the seat of your pants) what her story was until I started writing, and right there, in Chapter 1, I found her backstory. A minor incident that triggers a hidden trauma. 

“That’s okay, I’ll buy the box.” She grabbed one from the stack and snapped it open—she needed a cookie now. While she headed to the checkout, Elizabeth took out a cookie, but when she tried to close the box, the plastic edge sliced her left palm. She dropped the box and clutched her hand to her chest.

What else could go wrong?

Blood oozed through Elizabeth’s fingers and she blinked to fight off the cloud of gray that threatened her vision. She squeezed her eyes closed while panic took over, screams echoing in her head, blood everywhere, people running, ducking under desks.

 A case of being inspired by a characteristic. 

I'm hoping to do a cover reveal for you next week, so you can see how nature has inspired me, and if I want to use the mysterious characteristic that inspired my NEXT book, I guess I'd better finish writing Hillendale 4!

What unique characteristics have you seen in your favorite book friends?

Virtual Vacations

I've been reviewing pictures of Bryce Canyon and Antelope Canyon and Zion National Park in honor of my upcoming release. Since a large part of the country is still "safer at home," I thought I'd invite you along on a virtual tour of canyon country through the pictures I took.

The swirls and slots of Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon

Hoodoos and grottoes in the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater

The brilliants colors of Bryce Canyon

Where the river begins in...

Zion National Park

Yep, that's me. Dwarfed beside the mountains

Impressive country we live in, no?

Reading, Writing and 'Rithmetic

 What was your favorite subject in school?

For me, it was (no surprises) English. For the most part, I was a good student, although I hated history/social studies. Not a fan of science, either, although I took the time to learn and got me a well-rounded education. Even in the subjects I wasn't fond of, I learned a lot. For instance, I remember vividly a social studies class where we were given a project, to pick stocks from the market and choose a country to represent. Then we had to figure out how to build our country's economy, which became a lesson on international trade (even if "international" meant the kid sitting next to me representing that country). And despite being bored to tears, I still remember learning about Charlemagne and foreign history. 

Reading opened up new avenues of learning for me. I found more entertaining ways to absorb history. Most importantly, I understood the value of learning from the past in order to shape our future.

George Santayana is popularly known for aphorisms, such as "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" and "Only the dead have seen the end of war." His words are especially important to me today. 

As much as I disliked learning about history in school, never understood the value of learning about all those dead people from the past that I had no connection with, we are all connected. Omitting "inconvenient" or "boring" lessons of the past creates a gap of ignorance that condemns us to relive painful moments a second time to reinforce the knowledge we are lacking.

However you learn, knowledge is a valuable tool. Whether you're reading from a textbook or reading for entertainment, I've found that books provide a wealth of information that fills in the gaps.

"The More You Know...."