Texas BlueBonnets. This native flower screams spring to me, although to be honest, I've never had the pleasure of viewing them when they are in full bloom. I've heard stories, been sent pictures and videos from Texas friends but have never been to Texas for the sheer breathtaking beauty of BlueBonnet season. Its always been a strange quirk of mine to have this connection to Texas. A New York girl born and raised, I have no idea why I'm so drawn to this state so very far away from our East Coast. But ever since I was a little girl I've had a thing for Texas. Celebrating my 40th birthday by finally visiting San Antonio and the Hill Country area was a dream come true.
When I write stories set in Texas, on the ranches, with cowboys and cowgirls or those that fall in love with them, I feel as if I'm right there. I smell the air, hear the sounds and live the life that for some reason is so deep in my soul. Other writing friends have this connection with places like England or Ireland, countries far away that they have no idea why such a place speaks to them but it does.
Do you have a strange connection to a place or time that seems to make no sense to you? Do you generally feel drawn to write about those places?
I'll be visiting Texas for the third time this May, going back to celebrate my 45th birthday on a dude ranch in Bandera, Texas and then onto San Antonio for the annual Merritt Conference with my buddies in the San Antonio Romance Authors. I hope each of you at some point in your life gets to visit the "home" of your heart. Its a feeling like no other. As John Denver once sang, "Coming home to a place I've never been before." That's the feeling I get when I'm in Texas.
Happy Spring everyone.
3 comments:
Roni, Colorado is the home of my heart. Given the chance to go anywhere, that's usually the first place I think of. If it weren't for my family and my hubby's family living in WI, I think we'd be out west in the mountains. Have fun for your birthday!
Stacey, isn't it fun to have a place that you can go to in your mind? Texas does that for me, there's also a place up in Canada where I spent some time every summer when I was a teenager and going there in my mind gives me a little mini vacation.
I see Chasin Mason is out! Fantastic read. I hope you do really great with it. Anyone who likes cowboys will love this story. I highly recommend it.
Roni, for me it's Ireland. I have Irish in my blood and was always drawn to anything to do with the legend and lore of the magical Emerald Isle. A few years ago, I visited Ireland and with the Cliffs of Moher at my back, I was inspired to write The Claddagh Ring. With all the other books I write or hope to write in the future, I don't think any will have the sentimental value for me. The Claddagh Ring was and is a part of me.
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