Music makes me write

I reflect upon where the muse came from—conjuring a romantic suspense badass heroine like no other. Lots of inspirations. But I confess, the one that influenced me the most was music.

I’m obsessed. Every week, I find 5 new tracks to add to my WRITE playlist. I listen to Spotify to explore new artists. One will catch my ear and heart while I’m multi-tasking, and then I purchase it with glee.

Later that day, I step outside with my earbuds and new playlist and walk… for hours. The songs start writing scenes. The mode starts shaping characters. The rhythm builds the tension. Out of the ether of beats, chords and words… a story emerges.

Some tunes wrote chapters. Others wrote story arcs. Even more reflected what I wanted to write, helping me shape the emotion even more.

As I continue this journey, I must credit other artists who inspire me.

To all the musicians… thank you! Your music saves us all.

Fear does not make my decisions

I’m about to do it. I’m about to hit the ENTER button on my keyboard and expose my heart to world. I can feel it thumping now, pulse climbing, a tighening in my chest, a slight ringing in my ears. Seriously, I’m anxious about this.

Still, I won’t stop. I have too many years in this life and too many people loving me to give up. And I love this story.

Fear does not make my decisions.

It is a mantra I repeat to myself. Because let’s face it, too many people don’t fulfill their promise because they fear the risk, the exposure, the possible failure.

No. I fear what will happen to me if I don’t try, if I don’t put myself out there and go for my dream. I worry about that for everyone. How will you suffer if you don’t give this life everything you have? It’s such a gift—one left unopened if you don’t at least try.

So here I go. I’m about to release my books starting this winter. And I’ve decided to be proud.

You can control your creativity

In a time of uncertainty with nerves shot and anxious fears biting our nails, I’m so thankful to immerse myself in one of the few things I can control - my creativity. And so can you!

For years I was stifled with work, family, meetings, events. All of which I cherished and enjoyed but it left me with little to no time for my own voice and art. But now and always, we can find ribbons of grace and beauty in tragedy. We must. And one for me one has been the time to write.

I had to make myself do it at first. This story was rumbling in my head for a month or two. It especially liked to talk to me when I drove listening to Harry Styles and Bones UK (not safe, I know, but honest) and when I would start to wake up (thank you perimenopausal hormones that scream with 5am alarms). But like the stubborn, lovable bitch that I am, I didn’t listen to it.

But one day, tired of bad news and bad people, I had no place left to turn. And I had to make myself do it. Shut my office door, open up my laptop, put on some tunes (y’all know I got to have music!) and jump in. No fear. No audience. Just me and my story. And nirvana!!! My fingers flew across the keyboard - finally free and happy.

There is so much we can’t control. You do what you can and just pray (and I trust karma and time so I’m the eternal optimist).

But you can control your creativity.

Play with it. Trust it. And don’t judge it. Like a best friend.

And it will save you.

Reading inspires me to write…finally

Almost thirty years ago, I left the shores of fiction goodbye in undergrad and dove deep into the waters of nonfiction, theory, philosophy and research. Trust me, it wasn’t as boring as it sounds. But I did finally need to come up for air and sanity.

First, I took to my own keyboard. Conjuring a badass feminist character who I love and adore. You’ll meet her next year! And more is to come!!

Then, from my reliable and amazing beta group of readers and friends, a list of some new fiction I may enjoy emerged through their suggestions. At first, I was reluctant. I feared other’s writing would someone how seep into mine. And y’all got to know I’m a bitch for academic/artistic integrity.

But in a crazy, Covid world, I need some relief outside of my own writing. And I’m so thankful I told myself to get over it! I delighted in new characters, tales and genres. I’m inspired by the talent of other writers, knowing how much passion and time it takes to craft such stories and books. And when I came across a unicorn of a similarity to my own story, I took solace in it. Nothing is original anymore and now when we discover like elements, we can find peace in the things that continually unite and intrigue us as readers.

So hats off to all those fiction authors out there blazing the trails and our bookshelves.

I’m up ‘til 3am and hoping to join ya one day soon.

And so it begins…

Random quick musing upon what I call “Covid Creativity.”

Naughty Little Notebooks

One of the few damn redeeming things about a global pandemic is the space it created in my devious little imagination for three books and counting!! The first one is on the hard page and in edits while the other two are dripping wet from brain to the draft pages. And damn, y’all…it’s a fun feminist f*ck read if I do say so myself.

I started keeping my random ideas, inspirations and schemes down in notebooks. Shout out to MasterClass with Margaret Atwood and David Baldacci for this hybrid process I created for myself. Try it if you have a book brewing in your little brain, too.