Trust. There’s a lot packed into that small word. Trust plays a large part in writing and creating story. As writers, we put faith in the process and faith in ourselves. I believe writers are superheroes, bravely going where mortals dare not tread. And part of the fun of fantasy fiction is believing in the unseen and putting that world on paper. I believe in the realm of imagination and everything that comes from that place is “real” in some way, even if only in a storybook. All great fiction has human truth in it. As writers we put ourselves into our stories through experience, through
archetype, through language. So coming from that mindset, I write my truth and hopefully that truth is conveyed to the reader, making the whole experience that much more believable.
In addition to my trust in the process, I had a mission to tell the story of the feminine heart. And the feminine heart contains a limitless amount of magic.
In my first book, the protagonist, Skylar had a mystical mother and a scientific father. At the start of the story, she leaned toward her father’s way of seeing the world. But after her mom Cassie died, Skylar soon discovered the mystical teachings of her mother were in fact “true.” We are all exposed to different worlds in our current reality. We all have a unique lens. Skylar’s eyes were opened to a new reality through loss. All loss is a catalyst, an invitation to a different life. And this new life of hers revealed the magic within her as her capabilities grew. And as she accepted more of the magic, more of it came forth to show itself to her. By the end of the first book, Skylar accepted the unexplainable in her life and was able to use magic as a
tool to get her mission accomplished. Much of the “magical” elements I use in the series are about energy and metaphysics, not black hats and bunnies. This magical energy wants a relationship with us if we’d just pay attention. It’s the realm of spirit. A trust in the unseen helps it grow. That’s a belief I carry in my entire being.
Writing fiction is really a dialogue with your imagination, your creative spirit and the characters that live there. That’s where I usually start – dialogue. My characters are always talking in my head. So I let them roll. Afterward, I ask where they are. Oftentimes I close my eyes while I’m writing to picture the scene, what’s going on, and let it lead me to places I have never seen with my physical eyes. I used that imagery in the second book. Skylar couldn’t see in a cave of ice until she closed her eyes. Then she could see the puffs of her breath turning into birds, leading her out of
the darkness.
Creating magic starts with asking questions. “What if?” is a great one. Good writers are curious seekers of solutions and beauty in the unlikeliest of places. A lot of words and scenes don’t make the final cut. Often scenes I love don’t remain. But all of the unpublished work leads to the next nugget of gold and all of it creates depth in my writing. I am grateful for every word.
We are at an interesting crossroad in history, many cycles of time are ending and a new world is beginning. We have the power through story to shape what tomorrow looks like. I wholeheartedly want that future to contain magic. It’s so much more fun that way. My brand of magic is beautiful because that is the world I want to see. Connecting to the beauty of your limitless, wild heart is a guaranteed ticket for you and your readers to an amazing magical ride.
