As an author I'm often asked what I use for inspiration as I develop my characters, build their worlds, and pull the story together. The only answer I have is everything!
I grew up around Morgan horses and even today, my father still has registered Morgan horses. They were beautiful animals, trustworthy companions, and I still miss my wonderful friend, my registered Morgan Horse whose name was Rascal. We spent many hours riding, enjoying the outdoors, and I guess he understood what I talked about. Each time we had a conversation -- one-sided of course -- his ears would move and I knew he was listening. Even though he has been gone for many years now, I still use him and his mother and some of the others horses we had as the basis for so many of my characters being horse lovers.
I've been lucky to have been able to travel alot around this country as well as visit places in Europe, Mexico and South America. One of my favorite places is a little place outside of Glenwood Springs, Colorado. My sister lives in Colorado and we often meet in Glenwood Springs to enjoy the surrounding area of Redstone and Marble, Aspen and Carbondale. It's funny how so many of my characters just seem to be from places I've visited in Colorado.
Each character takes on its own personality, but often those personalities are pulled from bits and pieces of people I know, their likes, actions, individualness. For instance, Tricia, in my new romantic suspense, Can You Trust A Cowboy? is based around my daughter who is a commercial truck driver and a really good one. She loves cowboys. She was my inspiration and I hope some of her uniqueness comes through in Tricia as Tricia runs her trucking business and solves the mysteries surrounding it.
We have a lovable yellow lab named Max and I think everyone should have a loving pet. You'll find that many of my characters have a pet -- usually a dog because I'm a dog lover. Pets add so much to our world and I hope they add to my stories too.
As an author, I try hard to create interesting stories with characters you can fall in love with. Each have a little bit of me and my world woven into them, and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.
Have a great day.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
My New Book Cover!
I just received the cover for my story, Can You Trust A Cowboy? It should be released June 15, 2010 from Bookstrand Publishing.
This is my first romantic suspense and I'm really excited about it. It' a bit spicier than my other story, but if you like romantic suspense, you'll want to pick this up.
Here's a brief blurb:
Can Tricia learn to trust the man in the black Steton amidst deception and half-truths when violence threatens to destroy her world?
Watch for its release this summer!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
I went Ghost Hunting!
It was a stormy night with unusual energy in the skies, a perfect night for lots of paranormal activity. And I spent the night wandering through the old Tooele Hospital with only my flashlight looking for ghosts!
The hospital is reputed to be one of the most active places for paranormal activity in Utah. They have a team of psychics and paranormal specialists who meet weekly and have recorded some very interesting voices and sightings. They're dedicated ghost hunters who have developed new tools to enable them to record very unusual things.
Our guide was great. She'd personally experienced many unexplained voices, smells, and visitors while she's been in the hospital. She says there's even a cat spirit that has been seen. There's also a room that she refuses to go back into because of the weird things that have happened. Needless to say, I'm a chicken and I didn't go into that room either.
My daughter in law took some random pictures with her digital camera and at first glance, two of them have clear orbs in them. Orbs, we were told, are energy bursts that the spirits use to move around our world with. We showed her pictures to one of the specialists and were warned that we may have had a spirit following us -- definitely unnerving! Later, as we were looking at some of her other pictures, we found one that appears to have the form of a woman standing between two beds in the nursery. Can't wait to see them once they're blown up on the computer.
In the old conference room they've identified three small kids who hang out there. The little spirits play pranks and don't appear to be threatening, but they do like to surprise you by going home with you. We're told they'll talk and move things in your home and drive you crazy teasing you until you get them back at the hospital where they belong (that's what we're told any way.) The night we were there the paranormal specialists actually recorded some activity in the conference room and we got to watch it happen. Unreal.
It's reported that several of the spirits like to follow you home from the tour. Needless to say we definitely let them know they weren't wanted and they were not to go home with us. So far I think that did the trick because I haven't experienced anything unusual at my house. Relief.
Check out their website at http://www.asylum49.com/
Most cities have "haunted" places. Here's an interesting web site you might want to visit. Type in your state and city and see what comes up. http://theshadowlands.net/places
I really enjoyed the tour. Great fodder for a new story -- maybe a hero spirit who follows his heroine home, hmm, have to think about that.
Do you live in a city that's haunted????
The hospital is reputed to be one of the most active places for paranormal activity in Utah. They have a team of psychics and paranormal specialists who meet weekly and have recorded some very interesting voices and sightings. They're dedicated ghost hunters who have developed new tools to enable them to record very unusual things.
Our guide was great. She'd personally experienced many unexplained voices, smells, and visitors while she's been in the hospital. She says there's even a cat spirit that has been seen. There's also a room that she refuses to go back into because of the weird things that have happened. Needless to say, I'm a chicken and I didn't go into that room either.
My daughter in law took some random pictures with her digital camera and at first glance, two of them have clear orbs in them. Orbs, we were told, are energy bursts that the spirits use to move around our world with. We showed her pictures to one of the specialists and were warned that we may have had a spirit following us -- definitely unnerving! Later, as we were looking at some of her other pictures, we found one that appears to have the form of a woman standing between two beds in the nursery. Can't wait to see them once they're blown up on the computer.
In the old conference room they've identified three small kids who hang out there. The little spirits play pranks and don't appear to be threatening, but they do like to surprise you by going home with you. We're told they'll talk and move things in your home and drive you crazy teasing you until you get them back at the hospital where they belong (that's what we're told any way.) The night we were there the paranormal specialists actually recorded some activity in the conference room and we got to watch it happen. Unreal.
It's reported that several of the spirits like to follow you home from the tour. Needless to say we definitely let them know they weren't wanted and they were not to go home with us. So far I think that did the trick because I haven't experienced anything unusual at my house. Relief.
Check out their website at http://www.asylum49.com/
Most cities have "haunted" places. Here's an interesting web site you might want to visit. Type in your state and city and see what comes up. http://theshadowlands.net/places
I really enjoyed the tour. Great fodder for a new story -- maybe a hero spirit who follows his heroine home, hmm, have to think about that.
Do you live in a city that's haunted????
Friday, April 23, 2010
Spring is Here???
It's April, the tulips and daffodils are starting to bloom. Our grass is greening up, the snow is melting, excitement for warm afternoons and barbeques on the patio is in the air. And yesterday it snowed, today it snowed, and now I wonder, is it really spring or are we still in winter?
I'm being facetious. We need the moisture. We're way behind our water levels here in Northern Utah and with the rainy weather, I'm on my computer which is where I need to be. Writing. Answering e-mails, working. After all, I'm a writer. I have edits to do. I have stories to write. So instead of sitting here moping about the weather, I'm enjoying the time I do have indoors with my computer. I don't feel the pull of warm weather and sunshine. I'm working.
,
Happy reading -- if you're not working on writing a new story, then pull out a good book and let it take you away. If you'd like some suggestions, pick up a Rachel Gibson or Phyllis Campbell story. If you like spice and erotic, pick up a story by KyAnn Waters. Whatever you decide to do, enjoy the afternoon.
I'm being facetious. We need the moisture. We're way behind our water levels here in Northern Utah and with the rainy weather, I'm on my computer which is where I need to be. Writing. Answering e-mails, working. After all, I'm a writer. I have edits to do. I have stories to write. So instead of sitting here moping about the weather, I'm enjoying the time I do have indoors with my computer. I don't feel the pull of warm weather and sunshine. I'm working.
,
Happy reading -- if you're not working on writing a new story, then pull out a good book and let it take you away. If you'd like some suggestions, pick up a Rachel Gibson or Phyllis Campbell story. If you like spice and erotic, pick up a story by KyAnn Waters. Whatever you decide to do, enjoy the afternoon.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
What makes you different?
I heard the saying: What makes you different may also be your greatest strength.
It made me realize how nice it is that we are all different. What a boring world this would be if we didn't each have our own strengths, weaknesses and idiosyncracies.
As a reader, I'm so glad that each author is different. Each creates a story in their own unique way. The stories they weave are different from others, the characters they create are unique based on the author's background, beliefs, and knowledge. The settings they describe takes us to worlds we've never known. Thank heavens every place is different.
As an author, I find myself bringing in my own background into my stories. I was raised around Morgan horses and so many of mystories will have horses, ranches, and cowboys in them. I have a yellow lab and he is a loving part of our family and you'll also see that many of my stories will have a dog who adds a new dimension to my characters. I enjoy spending time in the outdoors, enjoying the mountain in northern Utah so you'll see many of my stories are set in or around the mountains.
Even if you are different, don't let it bother you. In fact, enjoy your uniqueness -- celebrate your differences. That's what makes you - you. It also keeps the world a fun, interesting place to be.
It made me realize how nice it is that we are all different. What a boring world this would be if we didn't each have our own strengths, weaknesses and idiosyncracies.
As a reader, I'm so glad that each author is different. Each creates a story in their own unique way. The stories they weave are different from others, the characters they create are unique based on the author's background, beliefs, and knowledge. The settings they describe takes us to worlds we've never known. Thank heavens every place is different.
As an author, I find myself bringing in my own background into my stories. I was raised around Morgan horses and so many of mystories will have horses, ranches, and cowboys in them. I have a yellow lab and he is a loving part of our family and you'll also see that many of my stories will have a dog who adds a new dimension to my characters. I enjoy spending time in the outdoors, enjoying the mountain in northern Utah so you'll see many of my stories are set in or around the mountains.
Even if you are different, don't let it bother you. In fact, enjoy your uniqueness -- celebrate your differences. That's what makes you - you. It also keeps the world a fun, interesting place to be.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Happy Easter
Just spent the morning with some of my little grandkids and they were all excited to show me the prizes they got from an easter egg hunt this morning. I smile because they are so full of excitement, energy and happiness. After they left and the house got a little quiet, it made me stop and think about Easter and the special day it is.
I just wanted to wish you all a very special Easter whether you are going to a religious service, enjoying family and friends, or playing easter bunny to your children. Life is so great - enjoy it to the fullest.
I just wanted to wish you all a very special Easter whether you are going to a religious service, enjoying family and friends, or playing easter bunny to your children. Life is so great - enjoy it to the fullest.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Enjoy Good Things
Life is a journey---
Enjoy good things!
I saw this saying on a T-shirt today and it started me thinking of the things I enjoy:
The first blooms of spring in their beautiful pastel colors
The giggles from my grandchildren when they are playing
A warm fuzzy feeling when I hold my husband's hand
Seeing how happy and loving my dog, Max, is when I've just come home
The warmth of the sun on my face just after a rain storm
Reading a good book
What types of things do you enjoy?
Enjoy good things!
I saw this saying on a T-shirt today and it started me thinking of the things I enjoy:
The first blooms of spring in their beautiful pastel colors
The giggles from my grandchildren when they are playing
A warm fuzzy feeling when I hold my husband's hand
Seeing how happy and loving my dog, Max, is when I've just come home
The warmth of the sun on my face just after a rain storm
Reading a good book
What types of things do you enjoy?
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