Journey to Truth

Alessandria’s journey is a tumultuous one for me. You see, I expected to be the helmswoman of this voyage but found early on that she was not having it. Actually, none of the souls in the story were. As we set sail and the words began to swell over the pages, my imagination and insecurities attempted to steer us in certain directions. Sometimes, fear pushed me away from topics. Other instances, the sheer raw intensity of emotion halted my progress. The entire process became one of utter frustration. Stopping. Deleting. Rewriting. Countless sleepless nights. Over and over and over again. Until finally, I understood what the issue was. Simply put, it was I.

And right smack in the middle of this epiphany? A friend, with no knowledge of any part of Meridian Stone: The Transition, offered me some sage writing advice. “Be rigorously committed to tell the truth!” A sign from the Fates? Maybe. Maybe not. But I certainly heeded it, bolstering what I’d already figured out. I had to be true to the souls in the book. If the story was to be told, it must be on their terms. Their truth. That meant I had to become as fearless as Alessandria and her warriors. It required some practice and more than a few pep talks, but eventually I learned to allow them to plot their own course.

No matter how I believe the events should unfold, they are destined to follow a particular path. Each soul carries a distinctive personality and voice, demanding that he or she behaves in a certain way, make their own decisions, and speak with their own words. Our first collaboration, Meridian Stone: The Transition, brought to me untold fits of giggles, teary sobs, painful cringes, and many moments I needed to pause, have a drink, and fan myself. Alessandria and her lifemates became living, breathing, beautiful autonomous creatures. I am merely the means to put their story to paper. Or screen. To share it with all of you.

In the end, I am overjoyed that I got out of their way. I still have countless sleepless nights, because their adventure continues, and they are adamant to ride through it with you. Meridian Stone: The Awakening, Book 2 in the Series,is coming soon, so stock up on your favorite beverage. And buy a fan.