What I've Learned

February 2006

The last time I wrote about what I've learned, I related that I had embarked on a grand experiment that was taking my writing career in a new direction. Those seeds have been in the ground for what seems like forever, but at last they've sprouted, and the first seedlings are ready to show off to the world. If you hadn't suspected I'm a gardener, the above was your first clue.

All of us have been in a process of reevaluating our lives since the events of September 11, and one theme I hear over and over again is the need for what we do to matter. Writing a novel that is meant first of all to be entertainment-escape-my work didn't seem "matter" in any significant way. I meditate each day, and that idea of having my work matter was a theme that kept coming up. That impulse of Spirit/God/Yahweh/Creative Energy/Love-whatever name most resonates with you-does find a way to express through each of us.

I'm now writing for Love Inspired Suspense, another imprint that is part of the Harlequin family where I've been publishing for the last several years. The books are still romantic suspense and still embrace the penchant for danger that creeps into my work even when I don't expect to find it. But they also now include another element that has always been a big part of my life - faith. For me, this was a natural progression since romance novels, perhaps especially romantic suspense novels, are about characters who are essentially hopeful, even when they profess not to be. Writing books that more overtly explore a character's spiritual life has been challenging and rewarding, and I'm happy for the opportunity to do that. THROUGH THE FIRE will be followed by SMALL TOWN SECRETS in May of this year and SHADOWS OF TRUTH in February 2007.

On the personal front, after living in Colorado for the last thirty years, I've moved to the central Texas coast. No more blizzards, but the preparation for Hurricane Rita was an adventure. My family was very blessed in that we escaped the storm without so much as a broken window. Our hearts and prayers go out to all those who lost so much during both Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina. The summer heat came as something of a shock (and makes me especially look forward to long visits to our summer cabin in Colorado ), but experiencing spring-time all winter long is something to look forward to. Leaving close friends behind was the most difficult, of course, but I've also found a whole new community of friends in our new home, which has made the transition easy.

As I've moved through all the changes of the last couple of years, that familiar Irish blessing has taken on new meaning for me, and so I leave you with that.

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind always be at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
May the rains fall softly upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Sharon

What I've Learned... Archive

Spring 2006
Spring 2004
Spring 2003
Spring 2002
Spring 2001