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If only it was just about sitting down to put words on a screen, then my identity as an author would be real and satisfying. It's not always. If you get paid for writing, that's different, and I've done that in a past life.
I write novels now. I need readers. I need a team of beta readers, editors, marketing, layout, IT, artists. I'm happy to say I've managed to amass that team. I am one step closer to being able to share my novel with young adults. I figure, with the pandemic and remote learning, they need a break! My adventure, The Netahs, is on its way, ready to offer a different perspective, a taste for the great outdoors of Colorado! During this pandemic, a lot of us have been walking. We walk our neighborhoods, or if we’re really lucky, the trails in our parks. It’s the best way to get fresh air and exercise, since gyms are closed.
When you walk, do you experience it with all your senses? As a mom with young children, I'll never forget the hike we took with a park ranger. He taught us not to keep watching our feet. He said to keep our eyes moving around us, to take in the shapes of trees and bushes, the hillsides and boulders nestled into them, the colors of the wildflowers, and the flitting motion of birds and animals. When we stopped and listened, the woods came alive. We saw lizards, butterflies, insects. As a writer, I try to bring those details to the page. That's why the Netahs live in Colorado. I can bring a Colorado landscape to life because I live here. That's not to say Netahs only live in Colorado, but since my hero, Josh, can become an elk, he needs to live out west. His other animal companions are also native to this area. Next time you’re out walking, see if you can tune in with your eyes, ears and nose and discover new levels of enjoyment! |
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