EVERY NOW and then a book comes along that makes an author bleed. For me, this was that book.
An author is often asked which character of theirs is most “them,” or did any part of a particular book happen to you?
Well, not exactly.
But wow, does this one come close.
I was with a man for many years who treated me very badly and hurt my heart, and I did stay with him long, long after I should have. I didn’t think I was worth more. But I finally learned that I was. I finally learned to love myself, and I came to see that I would rather live in a cardboard box in an alley in the snow than be with him one more day. I left him despite the fact that he had pretty much convinced me I would be alone for the rest of my life.
That was in July, and I met Raymond, my future husband, in November of that same year. As I write this, we’ve been together over fifteen years. Love does come. Love worthy of any of us.
And yes, out of all my characters, Wyatt is the most me, although a bit crazier and more flamboyant—the inner me, my inner Little Bear.
There were also some very rough hospital stays…. And more….
It took me about three to four months each to write the first three books in this series. It took me over a year to write Winter Heart. For that I deeply apologize. I know you were waiting, but I hope it was worth the wait. It’s a big book! I think even longer than Summer Lover.
My next few novels are going to be much shorter with much less hardship and angst, I promise.
(Although there will be some angst of course—after all, how could it be one of my books otherwise?)
As for those plot threads that you might feel I should have addressed and didn’t, I apologize for that as well. This tome already weighed in at well over 130,000 words. I had to stop somewhere!
And know this! There are always more books! I am never going to stop writing.
Meanwhile, remember…. Never let anyone tell you that you can’t. You can. You’re worth it. You’re golden!
And it’s never too late to pursue your dreams. Leap! The net will appear!
Namasté,
B.G. Thomas