Whether you’ve just discovered my blog, or you’ve been following it for a while, you’ve probably put it together that in addition to reviewing books, I’m also an author of three books. I’m a romance writer, but there has to be substance to the plot. I’m a historical fiction writer, but one thing I strive to do in my fiction is to make the time period come alive through meticulous detail. Most of all, my faith comes through in my writing because that’s where my stories come from, so it only makes sense that my books begin and end centered around our Creator.
Writing takes time. The fastest I ever wrote a book was one year, but it felt like it went by too fast. (Then again, an editor’s work is never done). The hardest part about writing is the commitment – once you start writing, you can’t stop.
It’s like when you decide to date someone exclusively. You meet up with them at least once a week, you love spending time together so you work on that relationship, and you don’t start dating someone else.
Well, if you’re a smart person you don’t.
But sometimes relationships don’t work out. Sometimes your personalities don’t mesh, you can’t rationalize what the other person is thinking or feeling, or sometimes, something else distracts you and pulls you away from the relationship.
Sometimes you have to take a break, walk away, or just give up. Although that is the main difference with writing, at least for me.
I never really give up.
I stash drafts. I save drafts. I reread drafts. I daydream about drafts –
And then, something magical happens.
Suddenly I can see the character vividly in my head, sometimes played by actors from the last show I binged on Netflix or the last Hallmark movie I watched. But most of the time, I don’t recognize these people as anyone I’ve ever seen before.
Sure they have similarities to people I know, but statistically that was bound to happen. Like a good writer, I draw on the emotions in my own struggles and pour all that energy into the plot adding tension, drama, and life to the characters.
So what am I working on now?
I’m glad you asked.
Right now my dreams are staying in New Castle, Pennsylvania. The town doesn’t have British Royalty, but it has heart, charm, and most importantly it has history.
I dare you to take a drive through there – can you hear Tim Allen reading to blog post like those “Pure Michigan” commercials? – down Jefferson Street and around town. The sights are right out of a social studies textbook. There’s the late 19th Century architecture of First Presbyterian church, Street after street of turn-of-the-century homes, and – most magical of all – there’s Cascade Park, a piece of history.
Cascade Park, 1928 E. Washington Street New Castle, PA 16101
Cascade Park is the New Castle gathering place for people from all walks of life. If you’d like to learn more about it, click here.
That’s where I’ve been – New Castle, Pennsylvania in 1920. I can’t wait to tell you more. Rest assured there will be love, there will be tension, and there will be a story full of charm and heart steeped in history.
I’ll do my best to keep you updated and I can’t wait to introduce a new group of characters to you all.
Until then,
Happy Reading and Happy Writing!