Everyone gathers inspiration from somewhere, whether it’s an
actual physical place or an imagined fantasy location. When starting a new
novel, the first thing I think about is the setting. I close my eyes and picture
the scenery, the weather, the sounds, the traffic, the plant life, and the
smells. I always choose a place that speaks to me, somewhere that motivates my
creative thinking and nothing stimulates my mind like sun and sand. Even though
I live in the lush forest of Northeastern Pennsylvania, I am a beach girl at
heart.
There’s nothing more soothing to me than digging my feet in the
sand and closing my eyes as the warm ocean breeze caresses my skin, blowing the
strands of my hair around in a perfectly choreographed dance. I breathe in the
fresh scent of salty air and listen to the waves crash as the water meets the
sand with the call of the seagulls in the distance. An intense energy
invigorates my body and my soul, forming an endless flow of creativity.
I don’t know if it’s the escape from everyday life that fuels my
imagination or if I have some unexplainable connection with the sea. I can spend
the endless hours lounging on the beach. The funniest part of it all is that I
don’t actually go into the water any deeper than my knees. I think I may have
watched too many episodes of shark week. Lying on my beach chair with my
sunglasses on while digging my feet in the sand with a book in my hand is my
therapy. Everywhere I look is pure excitement and happiness. Whether it’s a
small child whose feet are touching the ocean water for the first time, a couple
strolling down the shoreline, teenagers focused on an intense volleyball game,
or kids making a sand castle, the day is filled with laughter, smiles, and love.
Some of my happiest memories are from our vacations at the
shore.
Since I don’t live at the beach I only get there a few times a year. My husband and I
make a point of visiting one of our favorite places, Cape May, Jersey, at least
once every summer. I’m an extremely lucky girl. I found my own perfect prince
charming and live out a love story every day. Some of the scenes in my stories
are based on some embellished real life experiences (no, not those scenes, ha
ha). Relaxing in the hot sun as a tropical frozen drink melts in your hand, two
lovers taking a late night stroll and walking hand and hand in the cool sand as
the moon shines above the sea, finding an empty life guard chair after hours and
climbing up to cuddle while the crisp breeze meets with your hot skin, and
dining with a glass of wine while looking out on the golden sunset. Everything
about the beach screams romance and I just can’t get enough of it.