It is the small, almost insignificant moments – the ones we do without a thought or reason that often bring forth a wave of change in our lives. I never imagined that a thoughtless New Year’s resolution or opening a blank word document would lead me here today. As I write these words a smile is across my face and gratitude for all that my life has brought me is beaming from my soul. I will never forget 1/1/09 - the first the day of New Year, the last year in decade and turning point in my life. I never expected that day would bring so many amazing characters, readers, authors and new found friends into my life – and now I live in a constant state of expectancy – I’ve learned to expect the unexpected because I have no idea where this series or my career will lead me – I just know that I plan to enjoy every smile and tear it may bring my way.
I cannot tell you how mind blowing it is for me to be releasing the second book in the Insight Series, Embody. The first flash – the vague image I had of Willow Haywood was almost painful. I remember feeling so sorry for her – heartbroken that she was where she was at that point in her life. I could only see Landen through her eyes at that moment and his urgency to reach her was alarming. I mulled over this image of a green eye girl in countless day dreams. I had to understand who she was – what her name was and what brought her to the moment I was seeing. Not knowing any of this I just began to write. I’ve said before I began Insight with “It was a warm day in Franklin” at that moment I had no idea that Chara existed – that Esterious existed – that the string was a breathtaking passage connecting all of humanity. All of the answers seem to rush at me at me at once and one by one the characters of the Insight series began to emerge and whisper their perception into my thoughts.
When I finished Insight I realized that the moment I’d seen had not come. It was an awkward moment in my life. One thought would tell me that I’d wasted three months of my life writing a story that would never be read – the next would tell me that this was simply the beginning. As I let my friends read Insight I found the moments I’d carved out to write in my life were empty – after successfully organizing every closet and drawer in my house my restlessness became too much for me to handle. Before I had the verdict from my friends on my story I began to write again. This time I didn’t start at the beginning like I had with Insight. I finally wrote the scene that I’d first seen in my mind’s eye. At first it felt like I was writing a book outside of the series but then Willow showed me how she reached that point. I’d written what is chapter 12 in Embody all the way to end before I had any feedback on Insight, at that point it didn’t matter if anyone else was in love with Willow and Landen – I was!
Undoubtedly through the life of Willow Haywood I have felt every emotion that the human soul can perceive. I cannot wait to share not only this story, but each one I have seen past this point with each of you. Thank you so much for experiencing this adventure with me!
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