Prairie Crocuses

Luna and I went in search of prairie crocuses on our walk today. Success! Like these wildflowers, I’m emerging after a tough winter. In December, our kid got sick with a bone infection. We had some scary moments, but thanks to the wonderful nurses and doctors at the Children’s Hospital, our kid is thriving again. For months, I couldn’t write anything—creativity provided little in the way of solace. Now that the kid is better and spring has arrived, I’m back to my daily practice!

For my novel Off the Mark, I created psychological profiles for the key characters. As many of my writing teachers emphasized, story emerges from character (and plot), and the profiles helped with this process. I love reading pop-psychology books, and just downloaded a copy of Midlife: Humanity’s Secret Weapon after listening to a radio interview with the author, Jungian psychoanalyst Andrew Jamison. His belief that a midlife crisis is an important developmental stage resonated with me. He says middle age is when our repressed potentialities, particularly creative ones, demand to be released. He calls it “a gravitational field of authentic need.” Love that phrase! My debut novel is testament to the process of giving your creative nature room to breathe and develop.

I just finished reading one of Karin Slaughter’s older crime novels—I’m working my way backwards through her Grant County series. Next on my list is the literary thriller Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton. I (mostly) loved her previous novel and I’m excited to read this one. I was lucky to see her in March at a Wordfest event. Intimidatingly intelligent and funny!

Catton said with both Birnam Wood and The Luminaries, she knew what the ending would be before she started writing, but she didn’t know how it’d all play out. “If you’re going to surprise the audience,” she said, “you have to have the capacity to surprise yourself.” In my first mystery novel, I surprised myself by not knowing the identity of the killer until I was halfway through writing it. I tried plotting out the sequel, but that hasn’t worked, and I find myself in the same predicament. My plan is to keep writing and trust I will eventually solve the mystery.