
Tonight we're expecting a 'ciclón', or the onslaught of a severe weather front. Gale force winds, torrential rain, maybe lightning. Why does stormy weather spur me to blog?
Did the headline draw you in? Do you hear stories telling themselves to you in your head? I do. I believe many (most?) authors do. It's a strange and wonderful thing.
Just to be clear, I'm in no way comparing myself to Ernest Hemingway, but the sentiment in his quote above has been echoed by many a writer. The creative process of writing changed my life and gave me an inkling into what Hemingway meant.
What happened to me is that Olivia, my heroine in my book Spring Rush of my Raven Harbor Novels series, came to me on a walk one morning with my dog Henry. Just like that. Popped into my head and started telling me her story. It was like listening to the radio. I swear. And Olivia would show up day after day and take me on her adventure. One of the smartest things I've ever done was to listen to her! At that time, I would rush home to write down what I’d ‘heard.’ These days I usually don't leave the house without a pen and paper.
I also sing to myself on my walks with Henry. Loud as I like when we're in the far fields. I keep hoping to be the channel for songs, too. Bittersweet heartbreak with a whiskey chaser. A country two-step twanged out on a steel string guitar. I visualize Patsy Cline or Johnny Cash dropping a 'done me wrong' ballad in my ear. Nothing's showed up, yet. No songs to send off to Keith Urban. But I'll keep listening.