MY FIRST LOVE

Here’s how I came to write my first novel.

Although my day job is in the visual arts (photography & design), I’m equally comfortable in the world of words. I’ve written short stories and magazine articles for many years, but I never dreamed I could one day write a novel. I remember thinking, how could I possibly sustain a story for that long?

And then three tornados hit me: Harry Potter, Humphrey, and COVID.

I was very late to jump on the speeding train that is Harry Potter and the Wizarding World, but when I finally got around to reading the books in 2019, I was hooked. I read all seven books in about six weeks. 

Around this time, my husband John and I welcomed a very active puppy into our home. He is a Portuguese Water Dog, and his name is Humphrey. (You’ll see his photos on my Instagram page.) Of course we immediately became obsessed with him, but that’s a story for another day. And what does one do with a long-haired puppy? Walk him and brush him. Every day. That was a lot of time to spend with Humphrey, and right away I started talking to him about Harry Potter: which books were my favorites, which characters were my favorites, why I’d rather have an Owl than a Frog or Rat, and why I was destined to join the house of Ravenclaw.

I started looking for something else to read in the same genre, but for adults instead. I couldn’t find anything that struck me, and I complained about this to Humphrey.

So I thought, I should write something myself.

I started thinking of what kind of magic system I’d like to read about. I came up with a system based on heightened senses: smell, sight, touch, etc. Then I imagined a main character. Then a setting. Then a plot. Then a hook. By then, it was early spring, 2020.

On our walks, I outlined the book to Humphrey over and over again, chewing on plot holes, pondering additional characters, solving puzzles, until the whole story finally came together.

Humphrey is a very good listener.

In March 2020, when Humphrey was about 10 months old, the third tornado hit: COVID. I was laid off to part-time hours at my magazine job, and suddenly had a lot of free time to myself.

The perfect time to write a novel.

So I sat down and wrote out the novel outline that had lived in my head during those long walks with Humphrey. The outline came to 20+ pages. I made character sketches. I researched the setting (Scotland). I studied how the human body processes sensory input, to make my magic system more believable. The outline actually took about a month to complete. Finally one night, I said: OK, it’s time to start writing.

Next thing I knew, I had written my first novel! (Or if I’m honest, about six months later.)

That novel got me signed with an agent. We went out on submission but it stalled — heartbreak. It’s still my first love, and one day it simply must be published. Some writers say their first novel lives happily in a dark drawer, never to see the light of day, but I’m proud of my first one. Some day, it will be published!

Meanwhile, I kept writing. I’ve now finished two more novels, both now out on submission. Waiting for that one YES.