Storyteller's Journey

A Fantasy World

Since I live in the corner of the country made famous by Bigfoot, vampires, and werewolves, it's not surprising that when I began to write, I wrote fantasy stories, and still do.
Public Domain Photo

Writing (and reading) can not only be a form of entertainment, but a way of escaping a world too difficult to deal with - like the one we live in right now. For the most part, I try to stay out of the current chaos. It's not that I'm sticking my head in the sand during these tumultuous times, it's just that after a while, listening to the constant rhetoric reminds me of children saying, "You did it first!" However, I find the recent racial bent to the rhetoric, deplorable. This is not the example the young people of our country should be seeing! If adults act like this, how do we expect the leaders of tomorrow to act? Our youth are the future fabric of our nation. Will it be strong, or will it be torn apart?

This was, in part, my motivation for the protagonist of my middle grade novel to bring an era of peace to the world. It's sad to think that that idea would be set in the plot of a fantasy novel, but here we are. Maybe, by some miracle, my middle grade fantasy series - The Time Travel Tales of Livvi Biddle - will not only entertain young readers, but might introduce them to iconic historic figures, customs and cultures of different countries, and might plant a seed in their minds as to a better way to understand different types of people. We'll see...

(I'll be away from Writ of Whimsy for a few weeks. See you soon!)

Storyteller's Journey

Autumn's Arrival!

As I've mentioned many times on this blog, autumn is my favorite season! While that might seem strange to folks who know I live in the Pacific Northwest with its infamous rains, it's true.

This season with its cold, crisp air and colorful leaves, reminds me of my school days so long ago. It also triggers me to begin writing again in earnest.

Click here for my most recent quarterly author newsletter.

If you live in the PNW, I'd love to see you at my upcoming book event!

Wishing each of you a fantastic fall season!

Storyteller's Journey

New Book Cover Reveal!

Last June I posted about the cover art for my next novel; well, here it is, and I absolutely love it! Nimbus Over Normandy is the second novel in The Time Travel Tales of Livvi Biddle Series. While it won't be released until next year, I thought you'd enjoy seeing the cover. Below is the flap copy description of my new middle grade fantasy novel. (Original Art by Michael Lindstrom Copyright 2024)
 

Livvi, Caden, and Mia have barely returned to Chilcott's Academy of Creativity for a new school year before the magical and mysterious again confront them. Lord Abaddon has assigned the demise of Livvi Biddle to a new antagonist: the shrewd female agent, Lilith. In addition to the threat posed by that dark angel, the three friends encounter an enigmatic neighbor in the form of Mrs. Dinwiddie, who bestows a peculiar prophecy upon Livvi. However, it is the three girls' unexpected trip back in time where they meet an iconic artist in his French country home that presents a truly colossal problem to their survival. Livvi and her pals desperately search for a path back to the present, while dealing with the customs of the past, all as time is slipping away!

Creating and publishing a novel independently is not for the faint of heart. I couldn't do it without the efforts of my creative team! Many thanks to Kriston Clark of Tattered Page Ink for her incredible cover and book formatting. You're the best! (As always, I owe a big debt to my editor son, Kevin Zimmerman, and my artist husband, Michael Lindstrom, for their extraordinary contributions.)

Stay tuned for updates of my path to publication!

Storyteller's Journey

Sights of Summer 

The summer of 2024 proved to be productive as well as entertaining. The photo on the left is from my visit to Cannon Beach, Oregon last month.

One of my favorite things to do each summer is to enjoy a beautiful nature setting while reading, as my husband sets up his easel and paints plein air. Our trip to the Oregon Coast was particularly enjoyable this year!

Since we live in an extraordinary setting, at the base of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, there's never a shortage of beauty next to our home. We love sharing our property with several black-tailed deer.

I'm grateful to live in the PNW where there's no shortage of nature settings that have been set aside for the enjoyment of its people. (Salmon-Morgan Creeks Natural Area.)

We also journeyed to the center of Washington State, specifically to our state's capital of Olympia. Since my cousin lives north of there, and we live south, it makes a great destination to meet for lunch.

We enjoyed most of these sights in August. June and July were spent doing yardwork and landscaping. It's always exciting when fall returns; I treat it like the beginning of school and again begin writing in earnest! 

Stay tuned for more Writ of Whimsy blog posts coming soon!

Storyteller's Journey

Summertime Fun!

With summer just around the corner, I am looking forward to spending time in the beautiful countryside we share with our neighbors. I am so grateful to live in the Pacific Northwest!

We're also excited to be spending time with our three sons and daughter-in-law this summer. Our middle son, Kevin, is with us for a couple of months before he returns to Peru for an extended visit. Our youngest son, Brian, will be here from the East Coast in a few weeks for a visit, and our eldest, David, and his wife, Jessica, live nearby. It's always special when our entire family can gather together.

I'll also be working on the second novel in The Time Travel Tales of Livvi Biddle, as well as spending time in my garden!

I'll be taking a break from Writ of Whimsy for the summer but will be back in September with updates on my current work in progress.

Click here to read my recent quarterly newsletter.

Wishing each of you a fantastic summer season!

Storyteller's Journey

From Photo to Cover Painting

This image was taken by my husband, Michael Lindstrom in June 2014 at the home of Claude Monet in Giverny France. I absolutely love it!

When I began the second novel in my series of The Time Travel Tales of Livvi Biddle (set in France) I searched our photo archives for an image Michael could use to create cover art for my novel. The photo was great inspiration for the painting he created. (Painting by Michael Lindstrom.)

The cover reveal for book II in The Time Travel Tales of Livvi Biddle, Nimbus Over Normandy, will hopefully be coming next fall!

Storyteller's Journey

Music as a Muse

While I've mentioned on Writ of Whimsy numerous times, nature is my main muse. However, music is a close second. Whether it's listening to classical music streaming on my Bose speaker or enjoying tunes on my headphones, music always gets me in the mood to write. I especially like listening to movie scores inspired by fantasy novels or historical fiction. As I continue penning the second novel in The Time Travel Tales of Livvi Biddle (set partially in France) I've been enjoying the music of Edith Piaf: La Vie en Rose.