Week Beginning 4-20-26

Week Beginning:  April 20, 2026

I decided to write some things about myself because I get a lot of questions. People say I’m interesting and have led a crazy life, and they have known me for many, many years and did not know that I could write. And they want to know when did I know I could write. Easy question, I didn’t. I’ve always had vivid dreams, so I didn’t think that was unusual. I’ve always been creative. It was just part of my life and didn’t think that was unusual. As the years progressed, the hidden memories in the dreams would come out more and more in various areas of my life. I’ll start with the writing - even though that is the latest part that has materialized. More on the other areas as I progress with newsletters. Can’t give my whole self away in the first one!

I think it’s important to note that I’m 76 and will be 77 in a couple of months. Almost a year ago, my son gave me an Agatha Christie online writing course. Agatha Christie has always been my favorite author and a roll model of mine. Oh to write like her! Oh to live her life! And then I would think, I could never do that. I’m of the generation of women who never thought they were good enough. It’s just an undefined something that we were raised with, and even though we (women of age) have done some amazing things- we never thought we could. But, I completed the course and loved it!. It was so methodical. Define your characters - what do they look like, what do they think, where do they live, etc… Define your genre: Drama, mystery, historical, fiction, fact, etc… Define your plot lines. Work sheet after work sheet of actual things you needed to think about and study in order to write a book, according to Ms Christie.

I did everything the course asked me to and when I finished, I read over my assignment pages and thought, this is my book. I had everything written down except the setting, though. I skipped over that assignment because I couldn’t get it straight in my mind. Then I visited my cousin at her winter home in a fishing camp in Central Florida and said to myself — this is where my characters live. This is where my plot can unfold. I took pictures of everything in that camp. It was so beautiful and I wanted to remember everything about it. Every flower, every tree, Lake Kissimmee, and all of the wildlife. Even some of the people!

After I returned to my home, it all came together so clearly in my mind and in my dreams. So, I made an outline of my first story and started writing. I could close my eyes and see everything as it was happening and my fingers flew across the computer keys. I would get a few paragraphs done and stop and read what I had written and think, I can’t believe I wrote that. And I still can’t believe ‘I wrote that’ after finishing four books.

When people say, I can’t believe you wrote that - or I didn’t know you could write - or where did that come from, I just have to say—I don’t know either. I just know that if you want to write, you can. Anyone can. Just get an idea, make an outline and start typing away. Don’t force it. Let it flow and watch the magic happen. Of course, when you read over it, you’ll make changes because after all of the years we have been around, all of the books we have read, all of the TV we have binged; you can see where some of the things that you type just don’t make sense. But, just change it. Of course there are people who write fantasy and their writing is supposed to not make sense, but for those of us who write cozy mysteries - there is a pattern you have to follow or you will be cheating your readers.

This is all I’m writing this week. I just finished Book 4 in the Lucy and Poppi Series and it takes a lot out of you to sit in front of a computer all those hours to write and re-write. So, I’m taking it easy for a couple of months, actually doing my laundry and cleaning my house. You get so caught up in the story that none of that is important. But, it needs to be done. I’ve already got the whole story for Book 5 in my mind and can’t wait to see how it unfolds on paper. But, for now, I’m just going to write some newsletters to share with my friends. And new friends.

Blessings, Linda