Passion's Vision is the story of the love that grows between an agent in the court of King George II and a Cherokee Princess who would paint herself as a warrior and run through the wilds of a savage country to save the life of the man she has chosen. It is a story of lives filled with adventure and triumph, sometimes with loss and pain, but always with passion. Winner of the Betty Hendricks Award at the Dallas Writers Convention, 1994.
Most people have a vision. Mine is to create and share wonderfully passion filled stories, alive with action, sprinkled with humor and always, always -- a happy ending. Remember,only Passion can bring a Vision to Life.
After living many enjoyable years in Arlington Texas my husband and I retired to southeast Oklahoma. It is here that I finally realized my dream of becoming a published author.
When I decided to try my hand at writing, I did what every other aspiring author does... I looked back at my family history for a story to tell. To my disappointment, there was nothing very exciting in my family line. I haven't given up on my family. I'm sure there is a story there somewhere. But..., when I turned my attention to my husband's family... WOW..., I found a character on whom I just could not turn my back. This man inspired the entire Passion's series.
Again, like any aspiring author, I read everything I could find on this ancestor of my husband's. I read, took notes on the palm of my hand, the back of my hand, on my wrist, grocery store tabloids, gum wrappers, tiny notepads, anything I could get my hands on. I even carried a tiny recorder. I just had to do this because there is no timetable or appropriate location for inspiration. It just happens. During my more organized moments, I created a file to keep track of any historical events pertinent to my story. I created a basic outline containing interesting, exciting, death-defying and romantic escapades of my hero that I was sure would thrill my readers. The whole experience of writing is glorious in a way only an author can understand.
Then entered New Moon and my book became a whole different story. She did not like my hero James. She thought James was arrogant. True, he had a body to match any of the most beautiful of warriors....but he was self-centered. True, he had eyes that pierced her soul....but he was a No Thing with no understanding of The People. So she stiffened her spine and would have none of him. She tortured herself (or should I say me) with questions like.... Why did the Great Spirit send a vision to her of his arrival? Was it a warning? Was it just to cause her pain? Was it to test her will? As you can see, New Moon definitely had her own ideas and they did not lineup with mine.
For me, and I am sure for other authors, there always comes a point where my characters take on lives of their own. The timing of the craft comes when the author allows the characters to be who they are but gently weaves a story about them. For me writing is a passion. I don't mean to make writing seemed like all fun and adventure. It's hard work. It takes time and it takes determination. But is a journey worth taking. My mother used to tell me, "Anything worth having is worth working for, and it's all the more precious for the effort." The older I get the more I understand that.
Along with weaving stories into written word comes a responsibility, one I take seriously. I feel authors should express themselves, tell a story that needs to be told. But with that in mind I also know words are sharper than any two-edged sword. Personally, I do not choose to write stories that generate hate, or foster desperation or pain for my readers. There is already enough pain and desperation in the world. I write stories filled with hope, triumph and adventure. That is what I want to instill in my readers. I wouldn't say I have my head in the clouds. I am well aware of the hurts in the world. All the more reason, I say, to strive to bring an appreciation to all the good that is around us. Recognizing the good helps us to deal with or do something about what is not.
I hope all of you eternal optimist, and hopeless romantics, from whom all good things are born, will pick up a copy of one of my books and enjoy the story. If you do I would love to hear from you.
