Inspiration for Emily's Trial at 35,000 Feet!
But there was a
problem. I didn’t have the money to go to Ireland. But that problem was solved when
I won a trip to Ireland in a radio contest – true story! Less than a month
after I’d prayed for the opportunity, my plane touched down in Dublin.
It was magical to
traipse around the Irish countryside, roughly following the path that my
characters tread in Emily’s
House. I smiled so much my face hurt!
That’s my head peaking around
an Irish Megalithic site.
Before I left for
Ireland, I’d envisioned Emily’s
House as a single novel, not a series. Written for a late tween to early teen audience, Emily’s House is a
classic hero quest. Emily learns of her ancient magical heritage; journeys solo
and learns secret knowledge from a wise mentor; receives magical objects; and
then defeats the bad guy and saves the day. A grand adventure for Emily and her
pals. One big story. The end.
Emily’s House, Book 1 of the
Akasha Chronicles
But on my way back
from Ireland, cruising at 35,000 above the Earth, something happened. Maybe it
was the lower-than-normal oxygen level. Or perhaps the white noise hum of the
engines created stillness and focus. Whatever the reason, my mind was open and
my imagination flowed.
And there, 35,000 feet in the air, three titles popped into my head: Emily’s House, Emily’s Trial, and Emily’s Heart.
On that flight, Emily told me that she had more
than one story to tell. In Emily’s
House, Emily was faced with obstacles, to be sure. But I hadn’t challenged
her as much as I could. I wanted to see what would happen if I pushed her to
the edge of the cliff. All I needed was a juicy catalyst of a challenge.
By the time I touched down back in the U.S., the theme of book 2 was clear to me: Fear.
What if Emily’s worst fears began to come true?
What if her friends’ nightmares became real?
My initial premise was born on that flight in
September, 2010. And by the time I touched down back in the U.S., I had a brief
outline of Book 2, Emily’s
Trial.
Last November (2011), I gave myself a challenge
and participated in NaNoWriMo (Nat’l Novel Writing Month). The goal: To write a
50,000 word novel in 30 days.
But I soon found that total immersion in the story
for thirty days straight was a blessing. I ate, breathed, slept and dreamt
Emily’s world and characters for a whole month. And as I lived with them, they
spoke to me more clearly than they ever had. The characters took the story to
places I hadn’t imagined. And I ended up with an ending that required me to go
back and rewrite the beginning!
It was wonderful fun for me, as a writer, to
explore the theme of fear with these characters. Poor Emily – I pushed her so
hard! But the reward is a character-driven action story that tests long-held
friendships and loyalties.
Emily's Trial,
Book 2 of the Akasha Chronicles
I may be crazy, but I’ll be doing the NaNoWriMo
challenge again this November, and banging out a first draft of Book 3, Emily’s
Heart.
So think of me this November, foregoing decent
food, sleep, fresh air and Facebook as I write the last chapter of Emily’s
amazing journey. Will Emily rise to the challenge left her at the end of Book
2? And will love flourish in Emily’s Heart?
I’ll see you in December ;-)
Happy reading!
Learn More About the Author:
Facebook: Natalie Wright, Author
Twitter @NatalieWright_
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Thanks for leaving a comment! :) I love reading each one.