Oh the Places You've Been!

Yeah, I copied and twisted that title from Dr. Seuss. I admit it. Had to be done after Wednesday’s post.

So question. When you go somewhere new, do you wander around considering it as a story setting? Or when you meet a particularly interesting person, do you study them for use with character traits, or accents or other things?

Wait, why am I asking? Of course you do. Even people who aren’t writers study places and people in this way. Maybe not in quite such an observant manner (which is too bad, if you ask me) but still. We pay attention to the things that interest us, right? Because, well, if we aren’t interested, we don’t notice. Yeah. Logic.

Which leads to another question. How much do your life experiences—the places you’ve been, things you’ve done, people you’ve met—color or inspire your creative endeavors? (Aka writing, painting, music, crafting, sewing, decorating—whatever.)

There is no right or wrong answer here. I’m just curious. Because, you know, I’m a writer and writers are perhaps the most curious bunch of people on the planet—including five-year-olds.

Given my recent experiences, does it stand to reason that someday I’ll write about an extended road trip? Yeah. Probably. Seems like a good idea for some far-off-distant day. Would you? Could you? Do you?

Would you eat green eggs and ham? Or would you hate them, Sam-I-Am?

Confession of a Romance Reader

I once read a story (by Nora Roberts) about two photographers who teamed up on a cross-country road trip, taking pictures for a photo-essay book about America. It’s been so long that I don’t even remember the title, but the story and characters stayed with me in a recessed corner of my mind.

The feeling of awe, the shared sense of wonder between the characters, the romance of our country as portrayed by the author, is something I’ve remembered ever since I read the book more than six years ago. I can’t remember the title, but I will never forget how that story made me feel.

Breathless. Excited. Inspired by the simple beauties that exist outside my very own front door.

Nora Roberts is a master storyteller. For all that I’d NEVER let my kids read one of her books because of sexual content, I love her style. And I can admit that before I discovered YA, I went through a phase when I devoured her work. Certain books of hers moved me, changed me. And ever since the photographer-road-trip story, I’ve wanted to take a similar drive. One in which I could stop to experience a little taste of everywhere America. The cheesy, the beautiful, the amazing.

And then fate stepped in.

My husband was sent across the country for a lengthy, intensive training for which he needed a car. And because of the length and distance, he invited me to drive with him (because he’s sweet like that). I thought of the book—even though it was years ago—and remembered to take pictures. Of everything. Lots of them. We stopped to see small stuff, and big stuff, and cool places, and streets with names that made us laugh. We drove more than 2,500 miles in one week.

We saw America.

We would’ve made the drive anyway. But would it have been as enjoyable? Did a book I read years ago enhance or encourage or in some way affect my experiences on the road? And more, did it affect my husband’s experience?

I think it did. And I’m grateful. I want to be the author who moves people to think harder, to see a different view of things, to take chances. I want to help people learn how to soak up more of their own experiences.

It’s my ultimate goal. What do you think? Realistic? Crazy? What’s your ultimate goal?

The Road Not Yet Traveled

Today—probably as you’re reading this, actually—I’m taking off for a week-long road trip across the country. While I’m gone, I hope to visit places I’ve never been, see things I’ve never seen, experience new things, and gain inspiration and knowledge that will help me creatively. We'll be taken roads I've never traveled, which is great fodder for writing.

I like road trips. This country is beautiful, and I’m constantly amazed at the artful hand with which it was created. Also, I love adventure. And this promises to be a good one. So. Yeah.

Maybe I’ll get to see the world’s largest ball of twine. Or something equally cool. I will definitely be making stops at some of the restaurants featured on the food network. Specifically, DDD. Because, well, it sounds like fun. Who wouldn’t want to do that? (Come be my friend on Facebook, and I’ll try to post pictures as I’m able.)

Before I go, I want to continue the good news challenge I started on this post. Let’s keep the good news flowing, shall we? (If you just asked why, because it makes me happy. So there. *sticks out tongue*)

Okay, so my good news for the week:

1. Both my books won a Silver Quill award from the League of Utah Writers over the weekend. I’m honored and amazed. And humbled. Definitely humbled too.

2. The LUW gave me cute stickers to put on my book covers that say it’s an award winning book. Which, you know, is very cool. Stickers are awesome.

3. I’m up to 75,000 words on my current WIP. It isn’t finished, but is coming along well enough that I’m happy. And I like it—well, for a rough draft.

4. It’s fall, which means all the hot fall book releases are getting ready to launch. (YAY for good books!)

So much good news! What’s yours? Feel free to share. Or tell me about a road trip turned adventure you've experienced. I want to hear that too.

**Since I’m out of town, chances are I won’t be as quick in replying to comments as I usually am (mostly via email, sometimes via return comment). Don’t worry! I will still read every single comment and appreciate your participation.


***Also, since I’m out of town, I will probably not be reading many blogs or commenting. It’s not because I don’t love you all, I promise. I’ll try to catch up when I get home.

From Utah to Virginia

If you were going to drive across the country from Utah to Virginia, which road would you take? What would you want to see the most? (Besides the "Virgins" I mentioned in Monday's post. Tee hee.)

I’m sure I’ll be telling you all about this opportunity in the coming months, but the short of it is my husband is going to do some specialized training in Quantico, VA, and because he’ll be there for an extended amount of time, he’s going to need a car.

This means he’s driving. And since he invited me(cuz, I don't know, I think he likes me or something), I’ve decided to drive with him, and then fly home. I love to travel, and this road trip is an opportunity to see parts of the country I’ve never visited.

So tell me. Which route will allow for the most impact in a few days? Help me out, here, friends. It's a given that I'll use what I see in my writing. And hey, maybe I’ll pick up some awesome blog giveaways while I’m at it.

Thoughts? Ideas?

A Lifetime of Funny

Okay, so you know that road trip we went on last weekend? It required approximately twelve hours of driving. Six there, six back. I know a lot of adults who don’t like being in the car that long, let alone kids.

Before you ask, no, we don’t have a DVD player, portable XBox, Nintendo, or Playstation in our family vehicle. (I know—so archaic!) So what’s a family to do for that many hours? Well, we aren’t completely in living in the stone ages. We do have iPods. But you can only leave those little buds in your ears for so long. We hadn’t gone far before we were chatting, being silly and laughing.

During the drive, I remembered why I write for children. They’re infinitely funnier than most adults, much wiser, and far less jaded.

Take my nine-year old. We’re on the road, driving past lots of billboards. He looks up, sees an advertisement for a casino and, looking puzzled, says, “Two dollar craps? What the…”

He was so serious. So truly confused. I’m still laughing. And I won't even discuss with you the ensuing debate over whether it’s pay or be paid.

Not much later, we passed a sign. Watch for falling rock. My DH pipes up, “When I was a kid, my older brother told me Falling Rock is a lost Native American kid. I spent hours and hours of my life looking for that guy.”

We had a good chuckle over that, but it wasn’t hilarious until the next day. We passed a gray-haired Native American man hiking nearby, and one of the kids shouts, “Hey, I think I found Falling Rock!”

Yeah. We’re a strange bunch. But living life through the eyes of my children gives me a since of wonder and fulfillment that nothing else in my adult life ever could.

Besides, they’ll always keep me laughing.

Road Trips and Dam Family Time

Today I’m taking off for Las Vegas with my family. It’s spring break for my kids, and we could all use some wonderful sunshine—which is clearly not happening in Utah right now. But really, the point is spending some time together as a family. Because no matter what happens in life, our family relationships are the most important ones we’ll ever build.

And as I’ve learned all too quickly, children only stay young for a very short while.

This is a road trip, and the plan is to stop off along the way for some hiking and a picnic in gorgeous Southern Utah—since we wanted to go to Moab and didn’t make reservations in time—and then at some point to pay a visit to the Hoover dam. My daughter is hoping to find a dam hamburger (remind me to tell you about Bill, the king of all hamburgers, whom she met—and then ate—in Hawaii). My sons want to see about getting some dam T-shirts, and the rest of us want to take some spectacular dam pictures.

And whatever we do, we’ll make sure to follow the dam rules. Wish us luck with that! (Yes, Mom, I’ll be sure to hold on to my shoes this time. I bet the fish that ate my flip-flop when I was three is long gone.)

The downside of staying in Las Vegas is that practically the whole city is blocked from wireless internet access—even on my awesome iPhone. **frowns** So I won’t be replying to comments until after Thursday. But it isn’t because I don’t love you, my dear readers. It’s just because I’m shopping, and sunning, and seeing a magic show. But whatever I’m doing, it’ll be with my family. My favorite thing in life. And that makes me oh-so-happy.

Have a great week, and happy spring.