Why I write:
I grew up in the boon docks of Wisconsin. My parents decided to raise our family in the country while Dad commuted to a city job. We were the Green Acres of our day. White collar dude buys some land and buys farm animals, or more accurately, pigs, to entertain the kids. Well, I wasn’t all that interested in pigs and the neighbors were distant farmers who didn’t accept us dumb city folk, so my time was filled with hours of day dreaming and exploring our acre of land.
In those days our TV only had three channels and didn’t offer much for a young girl. With two older brothers I was forced to watch Star Trek and Hogan’s Heroes after school. Daydreaming became a way to keep myself company. I never had an imaginary friend per se, but I did dream up an awful lot of stories in my head, mostly where my life was fabulous and resembled nothing of reality.
My other activity became reading. I still remember the first time I went to a public library. Wow! I know, how shallow a life I led, but that day opened a door for my lonely little life. My friend’s mother helped me fill out a library card. The first day I checked out three books. The next time I think it was twenty. I was in grade school, so they were quick reads. The other cool thing is that my mom never made us set the table or do chores if we were reading. So I’d bury myself in books where life came alive with The Box Car Children, Laura Ingalls Wilder and later Danielle Steele and Harlequin.
Never in a million years did I think about writing a book, let alone a short story. As the years passed I continued to be a dreamer. A few friends talked about writing books. I had no interest. More years passed and I had an elaborate story in my head that wouldn’t leave. Eventually it occurred to me write it down. Just for fun. Well, that was several years ago and now the proof is “Love ‘em or Leave ‘em”.
I no longer live in the country surrounded by pigs; however, I do have a lovely pig sculpture in my home. My head continues to be filled with stories and I’m working on getting more of them out of the vacuum of my mind. Hopefully they will all become published for you to see.
