Back when I started writing, advice frequently popped up in writing articles and workshops: “write what you know.” And, when I kept writing and eventually became published, some of the comments from acquaintances implied that this principle surely must be true: if I was writing scenes in a book, then I surely must have personally experienced those careers, adventures, or situations. Of course, the answer to that misconception is that writers of paranormal and horror don’t really have monsters under their beds. :)
Well, though my life has never been quite as exciting as those of my heroines in my romantic suspense novels (thank goodness) –or even as eventful as the lives of the characters in my inspirational romance novels, I have to admit that I enjoy living through their adventures as I write. And, extensive research on careers, locales, and other details is aways a lot of fun. From the hundreds of emails exchanged with various helpful people, to hands-on experiences on a gun range, or travel-based research, it’s fascinating to always be learning more! And goodness knows, as any author will tell you, getting all of those research details is terribly important. Because if an author makes an error, a reader will catch it!
All of that said, I do love “writing what I know” when it involves pets, country life, ranching, horses or veterinarians, to name a few of my favorite topics. Our kids grew up having every possible kind of pet, which has proven to be good research material for some of my books. Though the kids are grown and all of those snakes, lizards, rabbits, and many other small, furry creatures are long gone, we still have our own, much smaller menagerie. That’s Sage up there–snoozing on the sofa, and his buddy Elmo was at the other end of it. The first ones on the sofa have first dibs, in the evening! :) They both were rescue dogs, and in my December book (An Aspen Creek Christmas) the heroine runs a small animal rescue–a topic dear to my heart.
And my next Love Inspired, Falling for the Rancher, was great fun to write because it involves not one, but two veterinarians, and horses. I’ve had horses since I was six years old, and even now, my husband and I live in the country and we have three mares. This one pictured at the left is from years back, but I still like this shot of her having fun. I tell relatives that If I ever end up in a nursing home, they should find one that faces someone’s horse pasture. If I am befuddled and cranky, at least that view would make me happy! :)
What makes you happy? Do you have sports or hobbies or other interests that make you feel content?
Wishing you all the best for a wonderful spring! (It is around the corner, right? I hope so!)
Roxanne Rustand
USA Today bestselling author Roxanne Rustand is the author of over thirty-five traditionally published novels, and four indie novels. Prior to 2007 she wrote for the secular market, but since then has been happily focused on inspirational fiction and sweet romance. A Golden Heart winner in 1995, she has received two RT Bookclub Magazine Reviewers' Choice Awards, and has been nominated for an RT Bookclub Magazine Career Achievement Award. She is currently writing for Harlequin's Love Inspired line, and is continuing with self publishing. She and her husband live in the country with three horses, two goofy rescue dogs, and a half-dozen barn cats.
Hi, thanks for sharing your photos and thoughts. I enjoy being outdoors- biking, walking, the beach, basically anything outdoors, preferably with my family. My husband and I spent as many weekends as possible canyoning in the Blue Mountains while we were at uni. Now, I am enjoying watching my kids get excited about biking and exploring the outdoors.
Blessings:)
Hi Roxanne! Thanks for sharing. My family, especially my grandchildren make me happy. I am blessed to be retired and able to watch my grandchildren ages 11, 9, 3 and 2 months. It is fun to watch the little ones daily development. When the weather is warmer we enjoy spending time outside on our deck and back yard. Our family lives about a mile from the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan with its sandy beaches. Mornings before school we often first stop at Glenlord Beach and discuss the weather for the day. On a clear dry evening one can often see the Chicago skyline (90 miles across the water) in the sunset. We also have fond memories of our pets. Our 15 year old Sheltie Penny is our favorite. She was the runt of her litter, but an excellent herder of children. Life is good. Best wishes.
What a great photo of your horse, Roxanne. She’s a beauty. Knowing spring has arrived and the warmer temperatures will bring back my hummingbirds makes me really happy.
Love the picture of the horse. What makes me happy is a good book and being around my family. As for the weather here in Virginia, Spring was yesterday and dynis winter?. No wonder everyone is getting sick.
Spring is finally here and the birds were all out yesterday. Looking forward to being near children and grand children soon. I enjoy sewing, walking , reading, and being at the beach. We too had a menagerie of unique pets. I’m allergic to cats and dogs, so we had rabbits, hamsters,gerbils,birds, fish, hermit crabs, lizards, frogs, and turtles instead. Now that the kids are grown, we’re down to one rabbit and one hermit crab.
Loved your post, Roxanne…and pics of your horse! We had horses in our younger days. I am so ready for spring! And I want Jill to have those hummers soon!!
I’m “living the dream” this week with our daughter’s family visiting for spring break. Our son lives next door, so it’s Grandgirl Week on the farm, and this blessed grandma has four little girls around her, including the six-week-old youngest.
Wild spaces make me happy – crashing ocean waves, a tumbling waterfall, a mountain sunset.
When I have a free moment, I usually curl up with a book! When I need a break, then I go for a walk :-)
Hi Diana! Our family also had unique pets – a canary winged bee bee parrot named Laura, who loved to read the newspaper. We also had a hermit crab named Hermie, who was an escape artist and crawled out of his cage. My poor dad thought he killed him. We looked everywhere, but one day when he was hungry and thirsty he crawled out of our son’s closet. Our sheltie McBeth loved playing with him. Best wishes from a sunny but cold day in Michigan.
I have one word. Tennis.
I’m really happy to be around family (I thrive on big family gatherings) as well as walking at the beach and relaxing in a hammock with a good book.
Hi to all–sorry for my very brief answers…had eye surgery Monday and my vision is blurry…so I’m not typing very well today!
It all sounds lovely Priscila!
Sounds like a perfect day. Read, take a walk, read…. :)
What a wonderful week, have all the little girls to enjoy!! And six weeks—how precious!
Thank you, Jackie! I look forward to spring, too…and hope our hummers come back. So funny–they think they have to fight over the nectar feeders and if we encroach on that territory, they dive bomb us, too.
Renate, I am fascinated by your pets!! What fun! Love the name Hermie. :) At our house, the escape artist was our son’s corn snake…which liked to hide in my closet amongst my shoes.
Diane, you had quite a menagerie!!
It all sounds wonderful, Wemble. And what a wonderful heritage to share with your children.
What a beautiful tradition, stopping on a beautiful beach to talk, before sending the kids on to school. They will remember that always!
Hope your eyes are well soon Roxanne.
We had an escape artist gerbil who would come to me in the morning to be put back in his cage after a full night out. He would eat and drink and go to sleep. We had to put heavy books on top of his cage to keep him in it.
My 8 lb. cat thinks that he rules the roost (which is pretty accurate) and that he gets first choice of where to sleep on my bed at night. He often gets very close to the middle and starts crowding me out. I enjoy watching figure skating and am excited for the World Championships which begin next week.