Before I was published, I remember seeing an author who had a charm bracelet with all her books on it and I knew if/when I ever get published I wanted to do the same.
Instead of having charms that represent the plots or shrinky dinks of the covers (though that would be cool, too), I decided to find reminders of the wisdom each of those characters shared with me. They always came with what I needed to hear, exactly when I needed it.
Instead of having charms that represent the plots or shrinky dinks of the covers (though that would be cool, too), I decided to find reminders of the wisdom each of those characters shared with me. They always came with what I needed to hear, exactly when I needed it.
" "We'll say the rosary, will we? For Da.' Mam handed me the rosary beads from the nail on the wall. I gripped them like a lifeline in a storm, and bead by bead, found my way to solid ground again."
Kit, Greener Grass
I always wondered how people overcome such tragedies like the famine or grief and still have faith, still dare to hope, still risk love. Kit showed me it's because of her faith and hope and love that she can endure. In fact, all three are made stronger by the journey.
"If you truly love Annie you will want what's best for her," she says gently resting her hand on my shoulder. "You will let her go because you love her."
Mother Bruyere to Kit, Wild Geese
Love means giving wings and letting go. Hope and Love go hand in hand.
"For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf. And the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.
-- Rudyard Kipling"
Timber Wolf introduction
Lost in the woods, Jack finds his independence, but more than that, he learns the value and strength of family. The Talking Feather is a reminder to really listen when someone shares their story.
"Will's just different," Katie says. "Nobody knows what it's like to be him."
"Who knows what anyone's life is like, really," I say, thinking of Shane. No one else knows what he's dealing with at home. Not that it's an excuse or anything, but no one really knows. "We all have our problems, right?"
Devan and Katie, Egghead
I started Egghead with Katie's point of view because it was familiar to me... but as I wrote the voices of Will and Devan I saw and felt those things in completely different ways. Imagine if we approached every real relationship with that same openness and empathy. Imagine if we stopped and asked: what's it like to walk in their shoes right now?
"Who knows what anyone's life is like, really," I say, thinking of Shane. No one else knows what he's dealing with at home. Not that it's an excuse or anything, but no one really knows. "We all have our problems, right?"
Devan and Katie, Egghead
I started Egghead with Katie's point of view because it was familiar to me... but as I wrote the voices of Will and Devan I saw and felt those things in completely different ways. Imagine if we approached every real relationship with that same openness and empathy. Imagine if we stopped and asked: what's it like to walk in their shoes right now?
"Greatness comes from
simple things
day by day
each season brings
amazing growth
and wondrous deeds
as promised in these
tiny seeds."
Poetree
If you know me, you know I love acorns. I've used them as a symbol in many faith-based talks, articles, devotions and poems and as a metaphor for brainstorming in my writing workshops.
So much potential in one tiny seed.
"I can be the victim of someone else's story,
but I choose to be
the hero of my own."
Ellie, Unspeakable
Unspeakable is about the sinking of the Empress or Ireland but it's really about overcoming tragedy, guilt, and regret. It's about speaking the unspeakable and discovering our true north and inner strength.
"It look dead.
But I lift it in my cupped hands,
and I know it ain’t.
I feel it --
that tiny heart tap-tapping, strong and true.
It feel like hope."
Phoebe, The Gospel Truth
Phoebe, a young slave in 1857, finds wisdom in the woods and the strength to speak her truth. A cage might be safe, but it isn't living.
But I lift it in my cupped hands,
and I know it ain’t.
I feel it --
that tiny heart tap-tapping, strong and true.
It feel like hope."
Phoebe, The Gospel Truth
Phoebe, a young slave in 1857, finds wisdom in the woods and the strength to speak her truth. A cage might be safe, but it isn't living.
The bracelet comes with this circle -- which reminds me of the hero's journey and how we always come back to where we started, hopefully a little wiser. I added the spiral because I do think that every story we live through brings us closer to our centre… a helpful reminder when it feels like we are just running in circles.
I've been collecting these charms for a few months now.. and I'm finally caught up with all the books I've done.
… I wonder what characters and insights I'll find next.